I'm doing a head gasket on my '88 M103, and would like to change out the plastic guide (tensioner side). BUT...I don't want to pull the lower timing case, if it can be avoided.

Yesterday I spoke to a mechanic who owns an independent (mostly MB) shop, and he said that I could remove a bolt in the lower timing case cover--the one just to the left of the crankshaft nose, presumably--and pull out the banana-shaped guide rail.

I interpreted him to be saying that I DON'T have to remove the lower cover to change the guide rail. Does this seem right? He may have been confused about whether I already had the cover off. I'd rather not do everything else to pull the lower timing case cover, if it can be avoided.