RobertG

A friend of mine asked me to help him out with his 96 s420.
He told me that his timing chain broke and wants it fixed. I've done quite a few timing chains in the past as well as plenty of engine rebuilds but never on a Benz. I am wondering if you guys can give me some heads-up on things to look out for or tips any help is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

whoover

Any damage? Bent valves or broken pistons make this a very different topic. If it's just the chain, this may be of interest:

http://mercedesshop.com/shopforum/ar...p/t-82703.html

RobertG

From what I've found out about this engine is that it's an interference kind and it bends valves when the chain lets go.

sosh

Best just purchase another car!!

whoover

That answer may be a tad harsh, but it's not too off the mark. Mercedes parts are so outrageous that a valve job, much less repairing lower-case damage, may not be economically rational. If you confirm that valves or pistons have taken a hit, you should consider a short block or an engine from a junk yard, depending on budget. Doing the work yourself is likely to cost even more. You'll wonder if the valves are made plutonium, the guides from kryptonite and the gaskets from spotted owl feathers.

RobertG

That's very true about the cost of parts, I gave my friend some heads up on the cost and the option of getting another engine from a wreck. I'm planing on doing some checks to determine what actually happened and the extent of the damage.