1979 450SL cam replacement
 

I took my 79 450 into the dealer for a small tappet noise in the top end?? The word back is both cams need replacing and 16 rockers. Total estimate $3,800.00 The car has only 151,000 KLM on it and I know the original owner and she never drove it hard. The dealer says the cams are worn round but the car runs fine just a noise. Any advise would be great as I am not able to do any work myself. I did not approve the work until I get some additional advise. Also the alternator was replaced by them for $800.00

Cams Replacement?
 

JBA, Your dealer seems to have developed a love affair with your wallet with a possessive emotional intensity bordering on the psychopathological!. The alternator for your car cost $163 and is replaced in less than 1 hour. The camshafts on these cars are the hardest to be found in any car and would withstand tremendous abuse an neglect. At 150k KMs they are as good as new if the car has had a fairly regular oil changes. I suggest to open the oil cap on the valve cover and take a look at the cam lobe, then compare with other 450 you might have access to and see if you can tell the difference. The most likely culprit of the tappets noise are the ball studs as they wear without proper lubrication. They cost $27 each and if you wish to replace the rocker arms they cost $15 each.

Your wallet's emotional wellbeing dictates you terminate this unhealthy relationship with your current dealer and get acquainted with another with more empathy with your purse.

Be well

Thanks I had decided to pick up the car and take the winter to think about it. It is just a weekend car and I have extra space in the garage. I will return for some advice when I get it back.

top end noise
 

I had the same problem and the same response from two mechanics.
A third mechanic replaced a single rocker arm and other small things for around $300.
No noise now, no problem.

450SL Cam
 

I had to replace the right cam in my 380SL. A person I know John Tucker came up with a pair of cams, cam towers and rocker arms out of a 450SL he thought might fit but he did not know the year, he has an engine number though. I did not want to take the chance and got a new one for the 380SL. You may want to check with him at 913-621-4046 ( Kansas City, KS ) and see if these items would be compatable. Probably I would get brand new rocker arms anyway as he did not have them seperated according to cam lobe. The cams etc. looked good to my untrained eye, much better than the one I had to replace. He was asking $300. for everything.
John