Well I did it. Today I'm picking up my 86 420SEL. Thanks to this group I had the timing chain and guides checked out. The dealer who is also my Benz mech. is replacing the chain and guides. The car has 114k on the clock and I kept seeing where at around 100k the chain et al should be looked at. My question is, if the nylon guides breaking is the cause of such havoc, is there an after market guide made of metal? Perhaps with a nylon insert bonded to the metal? It seems I must be missing something. Why would they make such a great car with such a catastrophic failure point?
I traded in my 81 300CD as part of the deal and I must say I will miss the little guy.

It will be hard to beat the CD!!
The new guides will be fine. Just have them replaced every 80-100k.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope :)
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM