92 400E Timing Chain - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-15-2002, 08:55 AM

Just got a 92 400e w/ 129K miles. A tech is telling me that I need the timing chain replaced (he has not looked at the car). I called 3 other shops who told me that it is not recommeded. This site has conflicting information on it regarding the same. Does anyone know if it is recommeded to replace the timing chain on this car at 129K Mi if the car runs fine?

Thanks!

Michael · #2 05-15-2002, 09:27 AM

My full-time, factory trained MBZ Lead tech friend constantly nags me to have him roll in a new chain-my '92 500E has 94k miles. I plan to do it at the end of the summer.

Unless the car's been on Synthetic changes every 5-7k miles since birth, and you have the documentation to prove it, I'd pop for a new chain & upper rails-reasonably cheap insurance, as the job should cost less than $1k parts & labor.

FWIW-if the chain lets go, and this is indeed fairly rare, you're looking at large to HUGE dollars

blackmercedes · #3 05-15-2002, 10:17 AM

I agree with Michael. It's cheap peace-of-mind insurance, as the M119 DOHC V-8 is an interference engine, and that interference is very expensive when it happens.

Given that you are not the original owner, I would have it done. And the advice about the top rails and tensioner is also well worth heeding. It doesn't add much to the cost.

BTW, I have a friend with a Q45 that needed a new timing chain. Labour? 40 hours. Parts? $600. Total bill? $4K with taxes. So don't gripe about the >$1K bill for this job...

carman850 · #4 05-15-2002, 12:08 PM

This topic always scares me.

My 400E has more than 210k km on it (130k miles), it runs fine, I already bought the parts, I am going to take a long vacation in July, hope I can have it done at home then. I couldn't believe how long the chain was when I saw the new part.

So I have to cross my fingers for 2 more months

kowached · #5 05-15-2002, 01:28 PM

Rule of thumb for the M119 seems to be as follows:

100K - Maybe a little early
150K - It's time
200K - You are on borrowed time

tvpierce · #6 05-16-2002, 10:30 AM

I was always told that preventive changing of a timing CHAIN is not necessary because it doesn't just fail without warning. (like a timing BELT does) It will start making a small noise that will eventually get louder, and that you will have plenty of time before things become critical. I'm by no means an "expert", but I know that many of you ARE. So I'm interested in your thoughts.

Thanks

Jeff Pierce

#7 06-16-2002, 11:36 PM

By louder, you mean excess engine noise right? My 400e has 143,900 and it has started to get really, really loud in the last week/500 miles. So is it the timing chain?

kowached · #8 06-17-2002, 09:23 AM

NoDubs,

Timing chain would be my guess, or one of the timing chain guides/rails has worn through and is now in your oil pan bouncing around.

tvpierce,

One of the reasons to change your timing chain and the guides/rails as a preventative service is so that you don't have to remove your oil pan (additionally) to retreive pieces of the guides/rails that drop down the front of the engine into your oil pan when performing this service.

Jim's500E · #9 06-17-2002, 01:11 PM

You don't need to replace a chain based on mileage recommendations...only when or if it starts to make clattering noises is it ready to be replaced. One of my techs say the M119 motors can go well beyond 150,000 miles without the change; another one says do it at 100,000 miles... depends on each individual case. I plan on doing mine somewhere before 150,000 miles whether it needs it or not(today it doesn't need it at 131,000).... I would like to keep the car a very long time and that's the last item on my list to do.