Hi folks,
after replacing my timing chain on my 83 230CE I decided to set my ignition timing. As I didn't have a timing light I used the by ear method and the difference it made to the running of the car and the fuel economy was huge.
While I was setting it I pretty much moved the distributor from almost fully turned clockwise to almost fully anti clockwise.
In the interests of setting it up more accurately I invested in a timing light. I looked up the workshop manual and see the setting for my distributor at idle with the vacuum attached is 3 degrees btdc. I dialled in 3 degrees on the back of my light, turn the dizzy so the tdc mark lines up with the pointer and now its back at almost fully clockwise again and running crap. I retarded the timing about 5 degrees more to allow for the 95 octane petrol we have here but it's still running a lot less smooth than it was.
Any ideas?