Do all W202 have a shock on the serp belt tensioner?
 

My 1998 C230 needed a new serpentine belt tensioner. There is no tensioner dampener ( shock absorber) on the one I took off nor is there an attchment point on the tensioner I took off. The new tensioner has an attachment point for a dampener. Is my car supposed to have a dampener and/or is this the wrong tensioner for my car?

I just looked at mine and it has no external damper on it. I think there is a spring inside. Sounds like you have the wrong one maybe. Where did you get it? Did you need the whole thing or just the pulley?

I got the tensioner without the pulley. I used the pulley off the old one. The bearing was fine. Got from FCpgroton. Guess I gotta return it.

Just called the dealer and they said the new updated tensioner has the separate shock absorber. Apparently the type on my year car is the older no longer made version. So now I need to determine where on the front of the motor the shock would attach to and get the shock.

All M111 engines with new version tensioner must be retro-fitted with a belt shock!

M.B.DOC,

What was wrong with the old kind?

They rattled & went "bad" too often! So MB had it re-designed.

Mine started rattling at 130K miles only when in drive or reverse. I ordered the shock. The bracket to attach the top of the shock is next to the thermostat. The bracket is threaded. Anyone know what size bolt to use for the top bracket?