85' 190E 2.3L
I think I am the only one with this recurring issue. Can't understand why..what is causing it to fail in my car ONLY.

Total of "FIVE" have failed on me. When it fails, burning rubber smell & smoke will be coming out under the hood. The rubber piece breaks apart, I think it's due to heat.

They were all replaced at the dealer & they have no clue why either. Did they install it wrong somehow, causing a lot of friction & generating a lot of heat?

Please give me some comments why this is happening.

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Found some used ones, but they didn't list the P/N..but indicate they will fit 84-93 2.3L models?

1) Are vibration dampers all the SAME for 84-93 2.3L models???


Did find one that listed the P/N 1020302403 & claims to fit 102 engines.

2) But mine has P/N 1020300074, so will above P/N be compatible???

Can anyone tell me what 190E model/year this P/N 1020302403 is for????
Many thanks!

Too much tension on the drive belt ?

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1971 280SL ROADSTER
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO WIDEBODY
1994 E320 CABRIOLET
1999 C43 AMG
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Thanks for the response!

The one came on the car failed in 91 (6yrs) & was replaced. Than between 1991-2007...replaced three more times. Now the one that was replaced in 2007 failed yesterday (~3yrs/30342km). So a total four + the one came on the car..."FIVE".

During all those years, tensioners, absorbers, belts, etc. been replaced by the dealer, so I would think it's properly adjusted (sure hope so).

Please keep ideas coming, I sure want to find out the root cause. bc this part is dealer part only (no oem/aftermarket available) & it's $996.

Ouch!

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=214269

Item Number MSRP Core Price Price
1020300074 $875.00 $0.00 $787.50
Engine - Crankshaft & bearings - Vibration damper
Vibration damper, 190e 2.3 - 4 cyl, 2.3l, w/0 16 valves 1985 - 1993

http://genuinemercedesparts.rtrk.com/?scid=1191126&kw=704098&pub_cr_id=3381536415

Item Number MSRP Core Price Price
1020300074 $875.00 $0.00 $700.00
Engine - Crankshaft & bearings - Vibration damper
Vibration damper, 190e 2.3 - 4 cyl, 2.3l, w/0 16 valves 1985 - 1993

http://www.mercedespartscenter.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=215720

Item Number MSRP Core Price Price
1020300074 $875.00 $0.00 $673.75
Engine - Crankshaft & bearings - Vibration damper
Vibration damper, 190e 2.3 - 4 cyl, 2.3l, w/0 16 valves 1985 - 1993

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1993 190E 2.3
2001 SLK230
1971 LS5 (454) Corvette Convertible

OUCH is RIGHT & that's 4 times already.
WOW, thank you!

bc I get 15% off $996 ($846,60) & it's shipped from Germany (not old stock). The reason I mentioned "old stock vs new stock"...the 3 times they replaced it with the part they had in stock, it lasted 3-4 years. But the one time they shipped it from Germany & only charged me for the part at their cost & gave me free labour...this part lasted 9 years.

BUT the price is really attractive for me to take a gamble, hmmm...am I a gambling man.

Possible but not likely. Unlike the 112/113 harmonic balancer, the M102 belts are driven from the pulley which is bolted to the metal portion of the balancer which is bolted to the crankshaft. The pulley is not driven by the rubber portion of the balancer. I can't believe the balancer is that expensive. I have never heard of the M102/103 balancers needing replacement. Maybe your engine wasn't balanced properly from the factory causing undue wear on the harmonic balancer. Mark

How do you know when this goes bad?
Do you start feeling vibrations?

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Smoke Silver 1994 E220 Coupe Automatic
0 kilometers 6 September 1994
100,635 kilometers - 6 September 2010

Install went smoothly, pretty basic..can't really screw it up.
Everything checked out fine & working as they should.

The problem is simply BAD design/engineering, as you can see in the pics, the "rubber flange pulley damper" just separated due to continue stress. Everytime you press the gas pedal, the rubber damper is stressed. Heat, played a BIG factor too, bc all five failed in the summer time.

You can see the replacement part I used is "ALL METAL" & the manufacture date is "11 86". So you can see, took them a bit over a year to take out the "rubber" from the design.

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I would think that would have been a dealer recall or at least some type of warning from MB to the Dealers...

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James A. Harris

Boy, I was almost in tears when I had to pay $550 for the one in my M103. I don't know how it took you until the 6th failure to figure that something wasn't right, especially at $900+ a pop. You're a patient man.

I forgot about this thread. That's bc they treated me real nice & with respect.

Couldn't find anybody have same issue as me, even dealer was scratching their head on this one. I thought it was my fault, too much engine degreaser (my engine/bay is spotless).

1st one didn't cost that much (~$300+).

2nd one went up to $800, I complaint...stating even with annual 20% increase does not justify the $800 price tag. They agreed, gave me instant 15% parts & labor discount and 20% parts & labor discount for next service.

3rd one, I didn't even say anything. They told me they'll ship one in direct from Germany (they think it might be a bad batch they had in stock). They offered to charge me for the part at their cost & free labor.

So only when I took my car to this new indi mechanic did I knew I have other option to finally fix this design flaw..even though 25years later.

My problem is NOT resolved after all.

Thought my "ALL metal" vibration damper will not break apart, but seems the stress/vibration is causing the tensioner shock bracket (item #33) to break at it's weakest points. I have already replaced the bracket two times already in a little less than two years.

From my research, it appears they have not only updated/redesigned the vibration damper to an all metal version in 1986, they have redesigned this bracket as well. It is now "L" shaped with a couple of stand offs behind, mounted to the timing cover with two M8x70 bolts.

I don't have access to the EPC, can some one help...190E 1986, 2.3.........
I need to find the part number for this new bracket, it's #32 in the diagram, I also need part numbers for the two stand offs as well.

See last pic, I believe that's what the "L" shape bracket & stand offs looks like, that pic is from a 1986, 2.3 190E.

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85' 190E w/collector plates

The belt spins true. Had this problem since from beginning, I am more inclined to think the motor was not balanced properly at the factory, like hookon210s said. Also, like francotirador said...I been too patient, I should have look into this 10-15 years ago.

I am pretty confident this extra support bracket will help. Even if not, replacing a $35 bracket is lot cheaper than the $1K vibration damper every few years.

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85' 190E w/collector plates