M104 Timing cover gasket
 

What is the secret to finding the hole in the pulley for the clutch fan removal?

a smaller directional flashlight....knees slightly bent... and wiggling your head inbetween the nooks and crannies behind the fan pulley bracket.

i am not kidding.

Got it.

Now, how does the upper timing chain cover come off. I can't seem to get it to move. Heavy silicon. Tried to wedge with a screw driver but....no avail.

Any special knowledge or tricks??

This is where I am at.

Do I take out the torx screw where the cap and rotor go?

Do I take of the brass type long nut that I see in the picture on the face of the cover?

Got it taken care of. Thanks guys.

Norm, remember to apply a dab of sealant (preferably the MB black sealant) only at the ends of the U-shaped gasket. Also, practice setting the upper timing chain cover in place a few times before applying the sealant so you avoid disturbing the gasket.

Take your time and be sure to install the upper timing chain cover bolts in their former location ... they are different lengths as I recall. Clean the bolt threads and tighten to the proper torque setting, otherwise you risk stripping the female threads in the head.

Good luck with that small U shaped gasket. My seasoned, experienced indie made it in two tries. We just finished replacing the head gasket on my 300CE
Anziani:o
'93 300CE 194K
'95 E420 122K

I need to have this done because my slow leak at the timing cover has become a fast one. Is it a DIY job or should I just let a pro do it?

Eric, depends on your DIY skill level and available tools whether you can replace the upper timing chain cover gasket. It's a staightforward job, but you need to pay attention to details and use a torque wrench to tighten the timing chain cover bolts properly so as not to strip the threads in the head.

Given your 1000+ posts, I have to assume you're not a stranger to DIY. If you can handle a valve cover job, then you're 80% there. On my '95, what I recall being critical was pulling out the threaded dowel (using a bolt and stack of washers) to allow the cover to be seated properly without disturbing the new gasket. The only other thing is deciding whether to use a lot of sealant or a little: I've heard varying opinions from different MB mechanics.

I've tackled a lot, mostly on my previous car since the current one has been mostly trouble-free, but steered clear of internal engine work.

Because of the accessibility of the timing cover it would seem a straightforward task but if I have learned one lesson about these cars it is that there is aleways one little detail that gets overlooked or is not considered in advance (i.e., your threaded dowel solution) that can potentially muck things up.

But I will keep researching it and decide.

I was finally able to do it but did not touch the threaded dowel. Here is my write-up:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/296070-m104-992-95e320-timing-cover-seal-replacement-steps-pics.html

Great write up. I don't see the dowel in your pictures, though. IIRC, which is doubtful since it was 7-8 years ago, there was a dowel in the center of the cover that needed to be removed in order to seat the cover without rolling the rubber seal. That would cause a big oil leak and require a redo.
Short of pulling out my W124 CD, I'd have to ask if the engine versions are the same.

The dowel is located on the left side of the engine it goes through the timing chain guide rail. There is a small plug (5mm or 6mm allen) in the cover that you remove to access it. This is on the M104 not the M103 engine as far as I know. Never pulled the cover on a M103.

-Jim