Just bought a 1982 380SL need advice

[docpk]

I just bought a 1982 380SL with 84K miles, great body, no rust. Had a mechanic look at the car and said that it had a single timing chain. His advice was to sell the car as soon as possible due to the single timing chain and the expense to convert to a double chain ($5-6k). He said the car is a ticking time bomb. Should I sell?

[Bondavi]

Originally Posted by docpk

Should I sell?

Welcome to the forum!!

Depending on how nice the car is, bodywise and mechanically, if it was really nice, then it would be worth keeping. Changing to dual row does NOT cost that much, find another mechanic. More like $800 including new guides, tensioner, etc.

I did the chain/guides on mine, took me 45 minutes to do the chain, BUT I didn't have a single row chain to contend with, but shouldn't be too hard to convert.

Look for a few indie MB's. If you supply your location, someone in your area can refer you to someone who's good and knows real world pricing.

If you decide to sell the car, be sure you disclose the car is a '82 model, single row chain, never been replaced. Replace it with a '84 up model which had the most refinements. If you post how much you paid for it, maybe its high enough to grab a '86 560SL which has a ton of benefits over the 380.

Good luck and keep us posted....

[Roncallo]

The parts to convert this over would be about $700 to $800 if you can do it yourself with aftermarket parts from Fastlane (Click on Buy Parts above). If someone does it for you they are going to charge you list price on the parts which will be about $1600.00 and will also charge you about $1000 in labor. for a total cost of about $2600.00. My recomendation is to just replace the single row timing chain every 60,000 miles. And replace the guide rails and cam oilers every 10 years or 120,000 miles. Therefore do the timing chain, rails and cam oilers now. You should be able to get this job done by an independent for about $800.00

John Roncallo

[kbannister]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

The parts to convert this over would be about $700 to $800 if you can do it yourself with aftermarket parts from Fastlane (Click on Buy Parts above). If someone does it for you they are going to charge you list price on the parts which will be about $1600.00 and will also charge you about $1000 in labor. for a total cost of about $2600.00. My recomendation is to just replace the single row timing chain every 60,000 miles. And replace the guide rails and cam oilers every 10 years or 120,000 miles. Therefore do the timing chain, rails and cam oilers now. You should be able to get this job done by an independent for about $800.00

John Roncallo

I agree with everything Roncallo says except not doing the guides and oilers at the same time you do the chain. For the price of the parts (under $50.00) why not do them the same time you do the chain every 50,000 or 60,000 miles. These single row chains are not to be feared as long as you maintain the vehicle.

Oh yea, welcome to the board!

[FloridaGuy]

Guess I have the same problem but I keep reading such conflicting info here. I am actively looking for a car. There are some great deals on 81 to 83's with the single chain. If I'm buying this just as a weekender car and only going to drive about 4000 miles a year, isn't it just fine to redo the single chain and go with that instead the whole conversion process. Some people here seem to think the single is ok if you maintain it and others here on the forums I read say it should be converted immediately as it's a time bomb.
Ed

[page62]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy

Some people here seem to think the single is ok if you maintain it and others here on the forums I read say it should be converted immediately as it's a time bomb.
Ed

That's the beauty of a forum...everyone has different opinions!

With regards to the original post, if you don't have service records on the car indicating the chain has already been replaced at least once, do the replacement NOW. Then go drive the car and enjoy it.

Yes, there have been cases of single-row timing chain failures. But if they were ALL ticking time bombs, would there even be a single 81-83 380SL left on the road today? I don't know about you, but I see plenty...

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy

Guess I have the same problem but I keep reading such conflicting info here. I am actively looking for a car. There are some great deals on 81 to 83's with the single chain. If I'm buying this just as a weekender car and only going to drive about 4000 miles a year, isn't it just fine to redo the single chain and go with that instead the whole conversion process. Some people here seem to think the single is ok if you maintain it and others here on the forums I read say it should be converted immediately as it's a time bomb.
Ed

There is nothing wrong with the single chain, as long as it is changed every 40k. Single or double chain, they are the weak link on MB v8 motors till 1992. Frequent oil changes and awareness are the best preventive medicine. They can both fail in the same fashion, converting to a double chain only buys you more mileage before it has to be done again. I once had a 450SL that ate four timing chains in the 70k that I drove it, and it was a double chain motor. I would rather leave it the way it left the factory, because no shop can meet the same standards of cleanliness and procedures. The problem with doing a conversion is that the front cover has to be pulled AND reseald properly when reinstalled. It's like opening a can of worms. I had a 1967 230S with a single chain and was told the same thing about the ticking time bomb. Well, I simply maintained it and never had a problem.

[Alkraut]

If you like the car, runs good, rides and handles nice, and has been well-maintained (service records?) then you should keep it. I agree that the timing chain and guides/tensioner should get replaced. As was previously recommended, replacing the parts with a new single chain should be adequate, depending on how much you will use the car, and how many miles you plan to drive it. Definately check around, and find an independent who has worked on these and has done the chain. That mechanic can estimate the cost of straight replacement or upgrade to double row which is more labor time. Dealers will charge lots, and some do not have people who are familiar with the older cars. Good Luck.

[docpk]

Thanks for the replies. I am located in Eastern Mass. I have contacted Heritage and Benz Den. Neither will replace the single chain saying that MB no longer makes them. I said chains, tensioners and guides are available on-line here, but they refuse to do the work. The quote I got for conversion was $5-6K. Neither are willing to provide the labor if I provide the parts for the conversion. Any suggestions for independants in my area that can do the single chain replacement and/or conversion to dual chain at a reasonable price? Would like to provide the parts and they provide the labor. Thanks. again.

[JLJ133]

Face it, you like me have a single timing chain. Keep it serviced, keep an appropriate amount of oil in the engine. Do the service.

at $5-6 K, you can get a remanufactured engine. Don't change the chain, and if you like the car, why sell?

Enjoy it,and treat it like the lady it she is. She will treat you well in return.

If she doesn't, you can always part her out on E-bay.

[duxthe1]

No decent shop will do the single row chain b/c no-one in the know will stand behind such piss poor engineering. Those single row chains will break in less than 40k and no decent shop will risk their reputation to save you money. I know there are people who just love the 107 but after 10 years of working on benz's.... you couldn't give me that car. If you're gonna drive a quirky expensive roadster with jack for interior space, it should at least have some muscle under the hood. 5.0 maybe, 5.6 sure....3.8 why bother?

[Strife]

The real cost of the conversion is in the removal of the front cover, which as far as I know involves removing the engine.

Just a little conjecture here, but maybe single-chain timing chain failures are related to how the car is driven. Gunning the engine, flooring it a lot, etc might put more instantaneous stain on the chain than driving it like sedate old-timers would. This might explain why some break at 40K and some seem to outlast the guides, and the owners.

Personally, if I had limitless money/time, I'd convert it in order to get better sleep at night (and I'd hate to limit myself to drive "sedately"); on the other hand, I've replaced a chain and it's associated parts, have the tools, and I'm confident that I could do it in a day, not much of a price to pay for what would amount to 5-8 years of driving. It would be difficult for me to justify the up front expense.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by duxthe1

No decent shop will do the single row chain b/c no-one in the know will stand behind such piss poor engineering. Those single row chains will break in less than 40k and no decent shop will risk their reputation to save you money. I know there are people who just love the 107 but after 10 years of working on benz's.... you couldn't give me that car. If you're gonna drive a quirky expensive roadster with jack for interior space, it should at least have some muscle under the hood. 5.0 maybe, 5.6 sure....3.8 why bother?

I'm sorry, but this is just bull****! Such hyperbole needs to be carefully scrutinized. The fact that there are any left on the road (as pointed out in an earlier reply) should be proof enough of the efficacy of the single chain. As to the power, grunt is not for everybody. Keep your 380 serviced, maintained and enjoy her. If the guides are more than 10 years old, have them changed out, as well as the chain (and consider the valve seals and cam oilers) and start afresh! Enjoy.

ps don't forget the tensioner...

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by docpk

Thanks for the replies. I am located in Eastern Mass. I have contacted Heritage and Benz Den. Neither will replace the single chain saying that MB no longer makes them. I said chains, tensioners and guides are available on-line here, but they refuse to do the work. The quote I got for conversion was $5-6K. Neither are willing to provide the labor if I provide the parts for the conversion. Any suggestions for independants in my area that can do the single chain replacement and/or conversion to dual chain at a reasonable price? Would like to provide the parts and they provide the labor. Thanks. again.

I think I'm going to quite my job and start servicing 107's at home.

John Roncallo

[Strife]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I think I'm going to quite my job and start servicing 107's at home.

John Roncallo

I'm thinking about it too.