Rattle on startup 2013 E350 4matic 178 k miles

1. Timing tensioner or oil check valve under tensioner
Mercedes Timing Chain Rattle Repair Kit - Genuine Mercedes 276050 | FCP Euro
2. Cam Adjuster most probably intake passenger side. This one can be tested by rotating crankshaft and see if it jump.
But based on mileage 180 k miles maybe I just replaced 1st both tensioner and oil check valve under it.
The timing kit from fcp had 16 aluminum bolts which cost around $97. Should I replace that aluminum oil to save cost?




Consider the RTV sealant is really what's holding the covers, not the light aluminum screws.
Your engine will run smoother with tight stable timing. It's not just the noise, the camshaft timing is loose when VVT wobbles around.
Good luck 🤞
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jun 24, 2022 at 07:33 PM.
The only tool I need is the press to push oil check valve as shown below which cost around $50 compare to mercedes around $280
6637 Inner Chain Check Valve Installer 276589003300 For Mercedes Benz SLI M276 | eBay




The only tool I need is the press to push oil check valve as shown below which cost around $50 compare to mercedes around $280
6637 Inner Chain Check Valve Installer 276589003300 For Mercedes Benz SLI M276 | eBay
With your engine mileage, I bet the VVT lock-pins ate worned out regardless of oil check valves.




I wish there was an upgrade path to a reliable RATCHETING tensioner instead of this simple spring with a leaky seal... ouch!
Having a tight chain tension gives a stable base camshaft timing. When the tensioner seal leaks too much pressure, the VVT low oil pressure causes lock-pin to wear out by locking in/out too frequently. Without a stable camshafts the engine shakes from different bank contributions.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jun 24, 2022 at 03:56 PM.
Is it critical to fix the rattle asap to prevent more damage to timing chain are?
Last edited by andynmaas; Jun 24, 2022 at 05:57 PM.
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B -- Personally I would leave both timing chains and guides untouched. Inspect the wear while you're inside timig cover.
C -- Lockpins rattle further damages. I think the No1 issue are metal particules roaming around passages. I don't think oil galleries have strainers that can get packed.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jun 24, 2022 at 06:40 PM.
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1. Timing tensioner or oil check valve under tensioner
Mercedes Timing Chain Rattle Repair Kit - Genuine Mercedes 276050 | FCP Euro
2. Cam Adjuster most probably intake passenger side. This one can be tested by rotating crankshaft and see if it jump.
(37) how to fix M276 engine rattle on startup. timing gear replacement - YouTube
But based on mileage 180 k miles maybe I just replaced 1st both tensioner and oil check valve under it.
The timing kit from fcp had 16 aluminum bolts which cost around $97. Should I replace that aluminum oil to save cost?





Since M271 is a 4 cylinder, so INLET and EXHAUST VVT sprocket , both oil control valve and tensioner.
Timing chain and plastic guide still good.
For ur 178K miles, I would do chain and all the plastic guide as well aside from all above mentioned for m271
Not cheap the parts alone...... use genuine one from MB
If you want to DIY, you can buy the camshaft locker bar and the special tool to remove the oil control valve. China made is good enough.
I already bought the tool...so cheap.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001...80644010%21sea

Many claimed it caused by bad oil and recommended one Liqui Moly instead mobil 1. Actually i just switch to liqui on last oil change and I also use liqui oil flush last time so maybe it affect that.
Last edited by mercyfan; Jun 25, 2022 at 03:10 PM.




The passenger side VVT lock-pins and camshafts bearings tend to suffer from oil starvation caused by internal leaks through the original tensioners loose bore and weak seals. Replacement tensioners simply reduce leakeage with a normally tight gap.
When the oil has drained out from the heads through the conveniently missing check valve ports, you better have a good dry film like Ceratec to help while oil is coming up towards the camshafts rear - This old lubrication problem is a feature of V8/V6 engines that MB engineers perfected with managed oil pump output with normal/low pressures.
So I'd say cut this game short... replace leaky tensioners + add missing check valves sooner than later to lubricate passenger side camshafts rear bearings - Evidences learned from Master Tasos
Ultimately I think it's funny how well tolerated missing oil parts and defective tensioners are compared to discolored wood trims lawsuit - LOL
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jun 25, 2022 at 04:20 PM.

I also found almost all Cam shaft and Cam Adjuster revised by Mercedes to resolve problem by searching part number in EPC. The CA even revised twice as you see below:
The good news the one we suspect good candidate is revised two times and the new revision is cheaper than the original but it back ordered must be everyone favorite and sell like candy.
The reason it cheaper it remanufactured because MB must get a lot of them replaced under warranty and they only replace the one it broken which is the bottom part and the lock pin plus spring (JHM sold only that part for Audi to fix CA). Below from mbpart.mbusa.com
The problem can we used that with original camshaft because all camshaft also revised.

Maybe just buy this and just take bottom plate and the lock pin to reman the old CA




Amazon.com: 4x Camshaft Adjusters (Intake+Exhaust) kit 2760503600 2760503700 For Mercedes W222 W166 M276 E350 C350 : Automotive
Maybe just buy this and just take bottom plate and the lock pin to reman the old CA
As far as quality, the way MB builds them to fail, we might as well buy them straight from their China source

Do a quick quality control on each part before installing.

but it only mentioned chain tensioner and oil check valve. The stranger thing there is 4 VVT but in all site FCP, Partgeek RM European, ECS one of VVT or camshaft Adjuster Intake left are out of stock. It will not that difficult to guess which part that I need to replace when that one of four VVT are out of stock.
Actually Mercedes had 4th revision of that part 2760505100 replacing 2760503600 but it cost around $1000. I did order from FCP chain tensioner and oil check valve. But still looking cam adjuster intake left. which the one made in germany cost around $200 are all out of stock. So maybe I just bought the one made in china in amazon or ebay.
I got result from Xentry Passthru using Tactrix Openport 2.0
I need help from expert here in forum which cam adjuster are the bad one.
Is that cylinder bank 2 mean cylinder on passenger or driver side?
Last edited by mercyfan; Jul 13, 2022 at 01:39 PM.





Avoid the term driver side or passenger side, it can confuse LHD/RHD car owners

M276
So bank 2 is LEFT of engine and Bank 1 is RIGHT side of engine. Seen from driver seat to hood or seen from flywheel/rear of engine
Sorry I can't access my WIS, but this will do, Arrow means front of engine
https://f01.justanswer.com/nmwagscha...ylinder_ID.pdf
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Jul 13, 2022 at 10:54 PM.




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The DTC you got is based on an assumed healthy camshaft sensor.
It was a STORED code and not a CURRENT one, so don't jump to conclusion yet... it could be a cam sensor glitch.
The values of SPECIFIED camshaft degrees for Intake and Exhaust to what is read ( actual ) by sensor is only 2 degrees OFF and that is not DTC material yet.
There is a camshaft VVT/phasor commanded vs actual test Xentry can do, I forgot the name of the test. Do that test.
Attached is the test page
ADD : Use a minimum clean DC power supply/charger of 15Amps when using Xentry.
Low voltage can cause BAD/Wrong result. I see your battery voltage in the data freeze frame is 11.76V & 11.96V so low.
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Jul 15, 2022 at 02:14 PM. Reason: add info





me IT stupid and lucky Windows 10. I also chosen older Xentry passthru 2020 hoping it will be easier to run.So far so good.
It will take time for you to play with Xentry if this is your very first time ever using it.
I have Autel to compare against, so at least I have a slight head start.

me IT stupid and lucky Windows 10. I also chosen older Xentry passthru 2020 hoping it will be easier to run.So far so good.
It will take time for you to play with Xentry if this is your very first time ever using it.
I have Autel to compare against, so at least I have a slight head start.
I still can not decide should i replace all 4 selenoid considering my car mileage 180 k miles


