on a post on this forum, someone mentioned, "Mahle Aluminum backed Timing Chain Guides". It sounded as though they may be of superior quality than the standard mercedeso OEM. any idea where one could purchase these for a 1991 560SEL? thanks!

The chain guides you mention are made by Meyle, not Mahle. As far as I know, they only seem to be available for the M116 engine. (See, e.g., EuroPartsDirect.com.) I have had them in my 380 for some time. When I did my chain last year, 70,000 miles after their installation, they still looked like new. It sure would be nice to have that peace of mind for the M117, too.

It seems he's right. I would have thought the 116 and 117 would share parts like this but maybe not.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

...suitable for:

Cabrio (W 111)
01.1969 - 12.1971
Coupé (W 111)
01.1961 - 12.1971
280 SE 3.5 (111.026)

S-Class Stufenh. / Sedan
(W 108, W 109)
01.1966 - 08.1972
280 SE,SEL 3.5 (108.057, 108.058),
300 SEL 3.5 (109.056)

S-Class (W116)
08.1972 - 07.1980
350 SE,SEL (116.028, 116.029)

S-Class (W126)
10.1979 - 06.1991
380 SE,SEL (126.032), 420 SE,SEL,
420 SE,SEL (126.034)

S-Class Coupé (C126)
10.1981 - 06.1991
380 SEC (126.043), 420 SEC
(126.046)

SL Coupé (C 107)
01.1972 - 09.1981
350 SLC (107.023), 380 SLC
(107.025)

SL (R 107)
05.1971 - 09.1989
350 SL (107.043), 380 SL (107.045),
420 SL (107.047)


http://www.meyle.com/pdf/12606.pdf
http://www.meyleusa.com/
...I wish they made these for all MB models...

Go to a junkyard, find a 108/109 or 116 with a 4.5.
As long as nobody replaced the originals, they should have aluminum-backed rails.

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

So the guides on my 450SE s/b the "good ones' and should work on either 420SEL?

Cheers!

__________________
'91 420 SEL @ 199K, '92 SVX @ 181K, '93 SC400 @ 86K, '93 Kaw ZX-11 @ 30K, '87 F250 @ 181K , 2001 Valkyrie Interstate @ 6K, Y2K Honda NightHawk 250 with 1.5K, '88 420SEL I.@ 179K & the 2nd latest, an '88 420SEL II.@ 210K runnin' parts car, '85 F150 300/NP435

I just put two of these in my 380SL after an "unfortunate incident". It's too bad that they aren't available for the 5.6 117. Seems that there would be a market for it. It could be machined from aluminum by an enterprising person...

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

To answer StorminNorman's question, no, they're not. Your 450SE is a W116 chassis/body style, but it has an earlier iteration of the M117 engine. Your W126 420SEL has an M116 engine (a development of that in the earlier 380 cars). The old chain rails in your 450 would be transferable to a 500 or a 560, which are later M117 engines, but not to your 420. The suggestion by Tomguy is an interesting idea, but won't work in your case.