Simes.m

Hey everyone,

Over the last 6 weeks, my car slowly started to make a rattling noise. At first, it sounded like the supercharger coupler or bearing going. I spoke to a few different mechanics and they thought the same. After 'some diagnosis', I had it replaced. Nothing changed.
At first I wasn't too concerned as I didn't notice any symptoms other than a weird noise. But then fuel economy and power dropped. Now I was sure something more sinister was happening. After continuing my research, it seemed like it had to be the timing chain going. It made a little 'clunking/rattling' noise on start up and rattled the whole time, with a drop in power/fuel economy. All signs of a dodgy timing chain system.

I was quite fed up at this point and decided to take it to the dealer. After spending a night in the shop, they confirmed that it was a stretched timing chain.

Well, the quote I received from them was quite alarming. I will attach it for humours sake. These are all of the parts and labour costs for the job.

Oil Pump PN#1111801501 $925.22
Seal Ring PN# 0279973848 $8.62
Oil pump seal ring PN#0199978048 $10.53
Roller Chain PN# 0039977494 $129.64
Clamping Bracket PN# 111180007101 $55.18
Camshaft Adjuster PN# 1110500947 $1944.27
Nut PN# 1040510272 $27.28
Armature PN# 1110510043 $14.42
Screw (M111/M162) PN# 1049901004 $9.01
Magnet Plug PN# 1119970186 $16.15
Timing Chain PN# 0039971794 $474.35
Sliding Rail (M111/M161) PN# 1110521016 $32.37
Sliding Rail PN# 1110501416 $92.38
Sliding Rail (M111/M161) PN#1110501116 $65.66
Chain Tightener PN# 1110500411 $346.63
Spring PN# 1030520193 $3.60
Sliding Rail Pin PN# 1119970410 $5.03 x2
Pin (OM603/OM662/M161) PN#6010520674 $25.86
Head Gasket cover PN# 1110160221 $68.60
Gasket Seal PN# 1110160721 $23.72
Seal Ring PN# 0179972148 $15.30
Gasket PN# 1112010080 $15.04
Seal Ring PN# 0159972348 $10.97
Seal Ring PN#0219970748 $10.53
Expansion Plug PN# 000443045001 $17.62
Cylinder head gasket Kit PN# 1110106820 $335.37
Belt screw PN# 1029900810 $27.07 x10
Seal Ring PN# 1209970346 $60.84
Metal Ring PN# 007603024105 $3.67 x2
Injector pump seal PN# 0129975648 $10.97
Manifold Gasket PN# 1111420880 $50.48
Intake Manifold Gasket PN# 1111411380 $21.59
Gasket PN# 646014032201 $132.86
Seal Ring PN# 007603014106 $3.96
PARTS TOTAL $5248.18
LABOUR $3445.20
TOTAL $8693.38

Well, I am not paying that price for a car that is worth only 6kAUD...

I spoke to one of the dealer's mechanics today and queried him on a few things.

They didn't confirm that the Oil Pump or Camshaft Adjuster were damaged, so I won't think about replacing these until I take it apart and look myself. Fingers crossed these bits are fine.
I think they charged something like 21.5 hours of labour for the job.
- Is this a good estimation of a job like this?
The mechanic said the cam timing was out by 6 degrees.
- Would a stretched chain account for this amount of mis-timing? Would I have a chain that has jumped time and wrecked some expensive sprockets? Will I have to do some cam aligning when I take the chain off?
Car has 185,000kms on it. Serviced every 10,000kms.

I will be doing this repair with a friend of mine in the next few weeks. I haven't done much work on a car before but decided, the only way to learn is to actually do it. My friend has a lot more experience with engines than I do. My indy mechanic is willing to come and check on our work to make sure we stay on track. Another reason I want to do this myself, is that the car isn't worth a hell of a lot and I can't justify spending thousand more on it.

I will be ordering parts for it soon and wanted your opinions on which things I will actually need to get started.
The things I will be ordering first are:
- Head Gasket Kit (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HEAD-GASK...IAAOSwdvpWD6Dw)
- Timing Chain Kit (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Timing-Ch...-/371799623312)
- Head Bolts (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000-2002...sAAOSwL7VWpILX)

Do these parts seem suitable for the job? I don't think they are all OEM, so what are peoples opinions on that? Is there any other parts that I will desperately need ASAP before starting?
It is much cheaper for me to order them online through this method than buy them here locally.

I have been scouring the internet over the last week or so compiling information on how to do this job. I found there was not heaps and heaps of info for M111.955 engine available (I have gone off a lot of info from the M111 variants), but I think I have compiled enough tutorials, diagrams and WIS snapshots to get it done.

One other thing that I am not sure about is how to get the chain on and off? Do I have to cut the chain, tie the new chain to old one (with string), thread though (without turning any of sprockets) and then use a chain riveter to connect the new chain?

This is quite a nice tutorial. Even though they are slightly different engines, I don't believe there is too much different with them.
http://www.kokes.net/slk/Engine_head...ead_remove.htm

Do people have any warnings or tips that i should know before undertaking this job? Anyone done this job?

I would like to thank everyone on this forum and the other forums for their wealth of knowledge. If it wasn't for you all there would be no way I would even think to undertake a job like this. Thanks so much!
I will keep updating this page as things progress. Thanks everyone for your help!

Cheers,

Sim

Simes.m

I have ordered the Timing Chain kit and Head Gasket kit. I also ordered a copy of the Hayne's Repair and Service book.
All of the parts should arrive in a couple of weeks!

SweeneyD24

Hi Sim,

Did you actually finish it?

I've been having the same rattle for a while now, but only on cold start. Noticed a loss in power recently. And, the car has always been slow to start since the day i bought it.
The car is currently at the mechanic and has not started for two weeks now. His guess is a loose timing chain, but will confirm later today after a full diagnostic.

I'm looking for a timing chain kit w/ the 2 sprockets but can't find one anywhere. Do you have the sprocket reference number by any chance?

loggato

When I did the head gasket on mine (SLK230) the hardest parts were accessing a couple of the supercharger bolts, removing the exhaust heat shield and then getting the timing chain tensioner back in. other than that, it's a straight-forward job. just unbolt EVERYTHING and it makes getting to everything else much easier.

C230 Sport Coup

Don't you guys have junkyards where you live?
If you like the car and want to fix it, don't bother tearing apart your high mileage
motor, just replace it with a low mileage one.
I'm at 241K miles, not km.
Head blows water out the side, timing chain is probably shot, but for now, it runs good, I just top up the coolant, and at some point I'll probably just toss another motor in there.
Poor Simes. Sorry I didn't see his thread, at least he found the Kokes site with
all the nice photos. I almost went this route, have the gasket set and all..
but nyah...just gonna toss it when the time comes, the motor I mean.
Hell there's a C230 at the pick n pull, if I was really crazy, I could get the whole motor
for $150 if I pulled it myself, but it has ~140K miles on it...still 100k less then mine.
Probably get a lower mileage one out of the vehicle for less than $500.
See them all day long on ebay and car-parts.com

C230 Sport Coup

That's hilarious that to you the SC bolts and the allens on the heat shield were the worst things you encountered.
I've found them not so hard, had the SC out on several occasions, used 'universal' swivel extensions. Used to have a header, but went back to stock,
and had to buy a new heat shield, and yes bolt it in since I cut up the original to cover the header.
I just used some 45 degree angled metric allens, and some allen sockets.
No biggie compared to tearing the head off. For me, I just don't have anywhere to do the work.

loggato

Yeah we have salvage yards, I just prefer to fix what I have and another engine would be multiple hundreds more than a gasket set. Mine was in an SLK and a couple of those bolts were a little tricky for me.

SweeneyD24

I do have junkyards where i live. Since there are not so many, they tend to raise the prices on parts a little. Recently i saw a guy who wanted to sell me used indicator lights for the same price as a new one. So, chances that i can get a good deal at a junkyard near me is low.

Anyway, my mechanic suggested that i swapped the engine to a low mileage one instead of doing the timing chain repair since it's gonna cost around the same for doing either job.

C230 Sport Coup

For me, I've never done a head on a 2 cam before, so that's something I'd find challenging without someone helping.
Here's an engine 106K miles. Could probably find something better.2001-2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 R170, 2.3L, 4-CYL, M111 KOMPRESSOR ENGINE 106K (Fits: Mercedes-Benz)