E420 (M119) Timing Chain Tensioner
 

I talked to a dealer master tech yesterday about whether I had to take off the valve cover and pin the cam sprockets on the passenger side before changing my chain tensioner, as per the shop manual. He said that the clearance between the chain and the bottom of the valve cover is so tight that there is no way--with the engine off--that the chain could jump a tooth when the tension is relieved. Therefore, he believed I could do the job without even taking the valve cover off. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Also, today, I read an old post on this forum that the new tensioners do not use oil pressure in addition to spring pressure. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks.

Ive replaced several chains and guides, etc, you will need to remove valve cover and pin it otherwise you wont be able to reinsert the tensioner and overcome the cams that are going to rotate without it being pinned.true the chain wont jump a tooth but the tensioner wont go in easily either, at least you dont have to pin the drivers side.

I knew there was a catch. That makes perfect sense. Thanks!

Camshaft Pin Tool
 

Does anyone know the diameter of the pins used to pin the camshaft sprockets on the M119 (Part No. 111 589 03 15 00)? I read somewhere that a specific size of drill bit could be substituted for this $37 part. Thanks.

i've used ate brake pins to do the job. i think it's 4mm diameter. good luck, chuck.

I JUST MEASURE THE PIN TOOL AT 6MM OR .02360 IN OR 15/64 DRILL BIT IS CLOSE ENOUGH.

Thanks! I love this web site.

Just a follow up on the chain tensioner. I previously mentioned that I had read that the new tensioners do not use oil pressure--only spring pressure. The Swag tensioner I got today appears to have the hole in the tensioner for oil (picture) as well as a hole in the gasket. So I guess it's still using oil pressure.

Also, the box is labeled Swag, but there is a paper in the box that says that Febi inspects all Febi hydraulic chain tensioners. Are Febi and Swag the same company?

I checked out Swag's web site. The contact for the US is Febi.

SWAG international

X
Lateer, Jeff
Managing Director
febi North America Corp.
Tel.: Toll free: +1 800 798-febi (3324)
P.O. Box 329 Valley Ford
Mobile:
94972-0329 California
Fax: +1 707 665-9752

febi@comcast.net

Follow Up
 

Thanks, Nulu. The drill bit worked perfectly! The new tensioner seems to make the chain much tighter. I was concerned that the chain had stretched so much that the tensioner had just reached its limits, but once I bolted the new one in, the difference was apparent. I had to use a mirror to see the tensioner since it bolts in from underneath. The hardest part of the job (as I'm sure you know) was dealing with the brittle hoses on the air pump, which I deferred by unplugging and capping off until I can order all replacement hoses.

Anyone doing this job should order the breather hose on the rear passenger side valve cover since it will probably break on the way out. Also--and I was lucky I ordered it--the 110 degree elbow on the front driver's side valve cover broke too.