Took my '85 380SE, 107,000 miles, in for chain,guides, tensioner. Planning on taking it to Florida in a couple of weeks so wanted it in top shape. Indy called and said a guide was broke and he is pulling oil pan to retrieve the pieces. Glad I didn't put this off as I would not have been very happy stranded along I-75.

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95 E420 ( 76K) SOLD
85 380SE(125k)
95 SL500(72k)

Lucky you! As you know you just dodge a few thousand dollar bullet!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ew, you were lucky.

I probably have them broken all over- what, with 268K on mine and not having any clue when they were last changed- (if ever).

I just have too many other issues to put that much money in mine, so I guess I will drive it until something snaps.
I hate to say that, but its true. $500+ is alot of money to put into this particular car @ this time. I think I should sell mine and let a good DIY'er take it over and give it the attention it needs. I do not have that capability @ this time.



Have a nice trip.

If you wait til something snaps, you won't be able to sell it very easily, if at all. That $500 will seem like small change then.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

It was an expense I didn't want and probably could have done it myself but I ran out of time. Glad its done because there was 2 broken pieces of the guide rails down in the oil sump. Old rails were the typical beer bottle brown.
Now I have new chain, tensioner, tensioner rail, upper guide rails, 2 new cam sprockets, valve cover gaskets, oil and filter chamge, coolant change.
Car seems to now have better pick up ( maybe my imagination).

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95 E420 ( 76K) SOLD
85 380SE(125k)
95 SL500(72k)

Barring any major catastrophe, your engine is now good for another 100K miles. Keep that receipt!

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Indeed..by 207 you'll be in need of heads, hopefully not sooner..

To wait on this job is just asking for trouble.. 500 is a Whole lot nicer then 5000.. I've seen quite a few cars come in w/ cracked guides..some get lucky..others not so much

Jonathan

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Blue Ridge Mercedes
Jonathan Hodgman
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Enthusiast Service, Restoration & Tuning.
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Specializing in all pre and post merger AMG's including Hammers and DOHC M117 engines.
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I know..... I guess if that happens it will be on its way down the road to the salvage lot. As mentioned, it needs other things as well and would probably surpass what its worth if I paid someone to do it and I am not much of a DIY'er. I would still have the lifter noise, as well as that knock between 1500-1900 rpms, but I think auto-rx may help it. I am going to try it anyway. I may be better off selling it now and let someone give it the attention it needs. . I have 268K on mine and I am assuming that surely this has been changed at least once before... but when is the question.

I still have to shell out $500. to get the timing belt/water pump changed on my 2000 Toyota. Its 13K past the interval. And wouldn't you know its an interference engine as well? Timing belts/chains can get very expensive on foreign cars it seems.

I do not know why I keep getting cars with interference engines. At least my Pontiacs and Chevrolet are not.

Sorry to hi-jack your thread. You must feel relief now that this is complete.

Just replaced the chain and rails at 170,000.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL