TomZVB

My SL63’s accessory drive is chattering, and using a wooden dowel I’ve pinpointed the belt tensioner as the culprit.

Anyone replaced by doing it yourself? How hard to get it done without pulling parts like the fan or radiator? Seems like there’s enough room to do it from the top or the bottom (with the pan removed). Would love to hear of others experiences specific to the engine bay of the V8 R231.

Thanks.

ToeKneee

It's very easy to do on the R231. I did mine last year although I changed all the pulleys as preventative maintenance, not just the ones making a slight noise. All doable from the top of the engine. Good luck!

TomZVB

Thanks!

I’ve seen a video of it being done on a W222… didn’t look too bad and all done from the top.

I will go ahead and do them all while I’m in there. Any tips or tricks?

I saw on FCP Euro that the Gates part was on indefinite backorder (Gates is the maker of the MB part from what I understand), but they had a slightly cheaper substitute available. Both the Gates part as well as the substitute originate from Turkey - same source maybe?

crconsulting

See Attached PDF's
It's a lot easier to work on these with the WIS. It can make things easier in the long run.
Those are nice cars, and XENTRY, WIS and EPC is going to be one of the cheapest things you'll buy for that car

Good Luck!

TomZVB

Thank you sir!

And I completely agree and that’s why I bought the entire system from another member to be able to do just that.

I haven’t gotten that far into it enough to feel comfortable using it but perhaps I crack it open tonight to walk through some of it.

crconsulting

The more you use it, the easier it gets. It's really not that hard, just have to get used to the "Teutonic" user interface.
Good Luck!

TomZVB

Ordered everything I need from FCP Euro - tensioner, three guide pulleys, and the belt. I have also walked myself through all the documents - should be a fairly easy job to knock out this weekend.

We’re planning to take a trip at the end of next week and we’re taking the AMG. It’ll be nice having this taken care of before then.

Appreciate the guidance!

TomZVB

Got the job done. Not difficult from a technical standpoint, but being overly cautious of the breakables around the engine made it more difficult than it might be for someone who does the work a lot (and has a parts inventory available in the event something pops).

I missed a part number when ordering from FCP Euro - there’s a steel guide pulley above the a/c compressor that I didn’t have - I bought via the part numbers from the manual but I guess misread something (I bought the three the manual stated including the extra plastic guide pulley). My steel pulley, other than being a little grimy, was in good shape - the bearing felt perfect. I cleaned it up by hand, no solvents, and put it back in service. I didn’t want to try using a plastic pulley because I believe the a/c compressor loads the guide harder than the plastic would tolerate hence the steel pulley. No biggie… I’ll have an extra pulley for another time.

The clacking noise was for sure the tensioner. It was starting to blow some aluminum flakes around the front of the engine so it was, for sure, done.

Took her for a spirited test drive afterward to get everything nice and hot - she’s now as quiet as she was when she got to me.

F’ing love this car!

Mission accomplished!