M103 Belt Tensioner Brand?

It's time to replace the belt tensioner on the 300E AGAIN. I used aftermarket last time and that wasn't all that long ago.

Fastlane has Febi and Laso listed. Are either of these any good or should I go get ripped off at the stealership?

Thanks for your experiences,

[haasman]

I have seen a listing of: Ina/Febi-Bilstein. I am not sure what this means.

Haasman

[Lenny Lipscomb]

I have 164K miles on my 88 300 and have never replaced the tensioner. You want to consider a factory part.

I found out that the Laso brand is the OEM unit.

Lenny,

I replaced the tensioner at about 175K, maybe later than that. The factory units don't last forever either.

When it comes time to replace the belt on your car, there is a bolt that you can remove on the alternator that allows you to swing the alternator far enough to replace the belt without disturbing the tensioner. This is documented in the factory manual and someone recently pointed this out.

By changing your belt in this way, not disturbing the tensioner, you can keep the tensioner alive. It is usually the act of slackening and retightening the tensioner that takes it out, even an MB brand unit.

Good luck,

[1991300SEL]

You're tensioner may be shot. Then again, it may simply need the following:

ACC Belt Tensioner Adj. part G6002-60237

Go above to FastLane and look under cooling system. I tried posting a photo, but it didn't take?

I thought mine was shot until I discussed the issue with an MB tech. I changed the piece above and tension was restored. That was about 3 years ago.

Yes if that mechanical adjuster link is broken you certainly won't be able to tension the belt. Mine, however, is solid and not broken.

Thanks for the feedback,

[radunegru]

Larry how many belts did you have over that tenssioner's life?
I had three on mine and is going to the forth one soon. My car have now 194K and the original tenssioner is still on. That is mainly because the tenssionr gets damaged when you untight the allen bolt. I doo mine by hand without loosening the tensioner bolt...15 min job...

Yes, now I will replace the belt by loosening the alternator and leaving the tensioner alone. I did not know that in the past.

I replaced my tensioner at about the same mileage that you now have on your car and I don't think that I had replaced the belt more than twice before that time.

I realize that the action of slackening and retightening the tensioner is what takes it out. That's what killed the original one.

Have a great day,