Woke up this morning to the dreaded timing chain noise in my 500E. Only on cold start, only for a few seconds, but none the less it appears that there is a serious problem.

Can Timing chains be rolled in on a 500E like we did my 380 last fall?

Would it be safer to tear down, inspect gears, replace plastic rails, etc.

Please also comment on master link vs. crimped link.

It has also been brought to my attention that the center gear on the timing chains appears to be cast iron. I would have expected "machined steel" or "investment cast steel".

A 500SL is in the shop beside my 500E with the same problem (timing chains). In his case, he noticed low oil pressure in the upper RPM range. It turns out a rail broke and was clogging the "oil pick up?" It also stripped some teeth from the center gear (which drives the timing chains?).

As we determine more, I will post results.


Thanks

Dwight

[Edited by dwight hinton on 04-11-2001 at 01:24 PM]

I have done this repair on these cars. I would replace the timing chain and the upper rails and the tensioner. Leave it there, you don't have to go further in most cases.

I have replaced the check valve in the oil filter canister as well, they were updated.

Dwight, what exactlly did you hear, and when did it make the noise? I am trying to determine if it's time to do the chain on my 92 400E. I here a faint rattle when the car is cold and I drive in reverse, but thats it. It dosen't do it in drive or when the motor's warm. Thanks...

Peter

I would also be most curious as to the sound you speak of!

I am in the process of setting aside the fund-age to perform this task, being is school really sucks financially! :)

As a side note, I have been playing around with the idea of recording audio of my car. What I did was purchase a Sony MD (MiniDisk) player/recorder ($200) and a surround type microphone($20). This picks up decent audio but I have yet to find a decent location for picking up good exhaust audio for blasting threw the gears. :D

I must defer to the guys who know this stuff, but my car makes a rattle in the engine area when it first cranks up cold. I suspect that the oil pressure does not build up for a few seconds and therefore the pressure fed tensioner system does not tighten the loose timing chain. As to the cause of my rattle (loose chains?)I will not know until Saturday's investigatory activities reveal more, but I do understand that when the car cranks, it immediately develops oil pressure which feeds the pressure fed tensioners which tightens the chains and the noise, of course, then disappears. I further understand that check chain tension while the car is anything less than "overnight" cold will not reveal much as the pressure fed system does retain pressure when you turn off the car for some period of time. The Chains will not rattle on restart unless the engine has cooled and had sufficient time for the system to loose pressure.

I'll update after Saturdays education.

Dwight

Question for Pbalias
 

Peter I'm in the midst of upgrading the wheels on my ride. Are those 16's you are riding on, what size tires ? Also did you lower it ? It looks perfect, just like I would like my car to look like.

Thanks, Y.O.

Yury...

The rims you see on the car now are the stock MB 7X15 chrome 8 holes. I just bought today 17X7.5 giovanna rios in chrome. I have dropped the car using H&R springs.


Peter

Peter,

Has your ride quality(smoothness) diminished with the H&R springs. Do you get any tire rubbing after you lowered it. I hope you don't mind all the straight forward questions...I'm new to the wheel/tire lowering scheme, any information you can give is really appreciated.

Thanks, Yury

Yury...

Sorry I didnt reply faster, Easter Holiday. Anyway. I cant really see any difference in smoothness. Th car handles 1000 times better though, even with stock tire and rim size, which I must say stinks. Like I said, I bought some Giovanna 17X7.5 Rio chrome wheels and sould be installing them tomorrow (Monday) if everything goes right. I'm sure the ride will be a little stiffer but thats ok, I'm young! Right now, there is absolutely NO tire rubbing, and I have the smallest spring pads on the car. I hope it dosent rub with the new wheels, but if it does, I'll find a way to fix it. Good luck....

Peter