Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-15-2002, 08:55 AM
MFulmer
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Question 92 400E Timing Chain

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!

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-15-2002, 09:27 AM
Michael's Avatar
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Boston, USA
Posts: 2,701
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
__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-15-2002, 10:17 AM
blackmercedes's Avatar
Just a guy
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,492
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...
__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-15-2002, 12:08 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 298
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
__________________
99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-15-2002, 01:28 PM
kowached's Avatar
Rising Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 74
Timing Chain

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
__________________
Thanks,
Dave

1998 BMW 540i Sport
1995 E320
1992 400E
1989 BMW M3
1979 Triumph TR7 (1st car)
1986 BMW 735i (Sold)
1980 BMW 320i (Sold)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-16-2002, 10:30 AM
tvpierce's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 612
Question

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
__________________
Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-16-2002, 11:36 PM
NoDubs
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
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?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-17-2002, 09:23 AM
kowached's Avatar
Rising Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 74
That would be my guess

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.
__________________
Thanks,
Dave

1998 BMW 540i Sport
1995 E320
1992 400E
1989 BMW M3
1979 Triumph TR7 (1st car)
1986 BMW 735i (Sold)
1980 BMW 320i (Sold)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-17-2002, 01:11 PM
Jim's500E's Avatar
Large Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Manchester, Connecticut
Posts: 1,325
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.

__________________
Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page