Hi,
I just purchased a 1991 420sel with 124k mi. Everything indicates the car has been very well taken care of. I have been unable to determine if the timing chain has been replaced, so I guess I have to assume it has not. There is no irregular noise at startup. Generally it runs smooth as silk in fact. But attached are pics (sorry, best I could do by myself). This shows how much play there was when I pressed up with my finger on the chain (please note one pic is chain in resting position), and shows the color of the guides. The guides have an almost imperceptible ridge in them. This is a weekend car (maybe every other) and I'd obviously like to not spend half the price of the car on timing chain and related parts, but of course don't want to trash the engine. Would replacing upper guides and tensioner be a rational choice, or is doing the whole thing the only way to go in you opinion? Thanks as always.

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