Noisy engine

[Hocky]

I am looking for UK owners of C180 models to respond to my enquiry regarding the 4 cylinder engine noise. Mine is a 1994 C180 auto and the motor is quite noisy as compared to another I saw yesterday with only 103000kms, also 1994 C180. Mine has 197000kms. Do I expect any trouble coming up with valves, pistons, timing chain, guides, main bearings and so on. Hooked on to computer analyser(Benz) does not show any fault codes. This was done at an indie shop. The noise sounds very mechanical chattering unlike the smooth idling of most other cars. The 103000km car has a much smoother idling and much quieter engine. Even when revving up, the low km car is a lot quieter. The higher km car had a total exhaust change 15 months ago. Please please response with your own experiences, thanks.

[Hocky]

Still no reply from anyone regarding my noisy car engine. When I start the engine, the noise is loudest near the driver's door side like its coming from the back of the engine. Its noisier when cold. Sounds like the mechanicals are loose towards the back of the engine and creating unnecessary noises. Can this be due to lifters, valves, camshaft, main bearings, timing chain going bad or what???? Other C180s do not sound so bad, but the high mileage ones do sound something like mine. Was there any change in the engine parts done after 1994 or improvements made to quieten the engine??? It really doesn't sound like a luxury or entry level luxury car. Even the Japanese and Korean cars do sound better and quieter. One thing is when I rev the engine either in N or D(car moving), the exhaust and engine revving noise is also quite loud and sounds like something is wrong, but everything goes ok, starts on first turn. Also no excess metallic or other bits in the oilpan. Can the exhaust noise be caused by valves staying open or what? Anyone out there please help solve this strange behavior.

[PHAEDRUS242]

the m111 engine is noisy. very noisy. and harsh. with that level of mileage it is completely normal for your vehicle to sound loud. some are louder than others. of course yours will probably be a little louder than one with half the mileage. if there aren't any drivability complaints, you are just opening the proverbial "can of worms" trying to seek out the cause. chalk it up to wear and tear.

[yal]

Find out if it has a chain tensioner. If it does it is probably causing the rattle and has to be replaced. The 2.3 engine has one so it wouldn't suprise me if the 1.8 does.