A few months ago I changed the plastic guides to metal backed guides. It was a preventive action. At that time I check the chain stretch by rolling then engine clockwise until the timing mark on the right cam lined up exactly. I found the mark on the left cam just a degree or two past it's reference mark. The crank balancer showed about seven degrees past the zero mark.

I ordered a new timing chain from phil along with a tensioner and some oil rail parts for the cams. Yesterday my son and I rolled the chain on with no problem.

I have not replaced the tensioner yet. I rolled the engine around once and got the timing mark on the right cam zeroed. The left cam mark looked the same as before and the crank balancer marks were exactly the same as they were with the old chain, seven degrees past zero.

Please give me your opinion on what the problem may be.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic