Overheated

Read recently about an E350 with 98K timing chain broke sending the engine to Valhalla. Is this, could this be an issue with the V8 E500 as well? Is there maintenance, rather prescribed timing chain replacemment intervals? Can't sleep over this.

juanmor40

You probably need more context on the situation.

• Was it an early generation engine, i.e. balance shaft issues?
• Were the timing parts fixed previously, i.e. someone already opened the engine?
• Was it maintained "properly" and "treated with love", i.e. not abused heavily?

Never heard of people complaining about timing chain breaking that early on MB's. In fact, it seems they last quite considerably on well-maintained vehicles.

If I recall correctly, there is a way to evaluate the camshaft angle timing offset using XEntry, and if they are out of range (even if the engine runs decently), it is time for timing maintenance, i.e. once open may as well replace as much as you can.

=== Additional info ====

4 cylinder cousin of the M272 (3.5L) engine

tjts1

Your E500 has a double row timing chain. These never fail unless the engine had been run out of oil. E350s and subsequent engines had several design flaws like poorly made balance shaft and single row timing chain. It's a non issue on your 500.

Overheated

Thanks for the videos. Although I lived and worked in Moscow for five years, my Russian is still limited. I however find that Russians are the best hackers and are able to explain MB issues in their own inimitable, insightful way.

My engine is an early 2003 V8 M113.967. No previous internal work, meaning it hasn't been opened up. There appear to be no evidence of mistreatment and runs well at 188K.

Overheated

Thanks for the good word. Now I can get some sleep.