check timing chain?

My car has 161k miles on it, Should I check the timing chain?

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What model Benz is this?



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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Sorry some how signature wasn't marked, here it is: W124

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87 300D 161k
00 S2000
87 944S 89k
99 Yam M/C R6

In the last few months, I've checked an /81 300D timing chain with 180K miles and an '86 190D with 150K miles. They were both right on the money. Both of these cars were bought used and supposedly had regular and frequent oil changes. This tends to suggest that IF the oil changes have been done there is probably no problem. But it sure wouldn't hurt to check yours.

It would be very unreliable to depend on timing chain tests done on cars other than on the car you're concerned about. Checking the timing chain is very quick and easy.

I'd suggest that you do it, if for no other reason to allow you to sleep better at night.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Thank you, I suppose I check it by removing
the valve cover and check for proper slacks and abnormal wear and tear?

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87 300D 161k
00 S2000
87 944S 89k
99 Yam M/C R6

[P.E.Haiges]

NO. You check it by lining up the timing marks on the camshaft and checking the degrees on the vibration damper on crankshaft. Replace chain or install offset woodruf keys in camshaft gear if off more than three degrees. Tensioner (if it is working properly) will keep chain tight even though the chain is elongated due to wear. So if there is any slack in chain, the tensioner is bad. Parts shop has replacement tensioners.
P E H

very interesting. How do you line up the timing mark on the camshaft?
What exactly is the vibration damper on the crank?

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87 300D 161k
00 S2000
87 944S 89k
99 Yam M/C R6

[P.E.Haiges]

To line up the camshaft marks, turn the engine in direction of rotation (never turn backward) using a 27mm deep socket wrench on nut in center of vibration damper(balancer). This is the "wheel" on the front of the engine that has the belt pullies attached to it. This is best done by 2 people: one turns, one watches for the marks to line up. If alone, turn only 3 clicks of the socket wrench at a time and check for alignment each time engine is turned.
The marks are lined up when the notch in the spacer behind the cam drive gear lines up with a short line on the cam tower. There is a more accurate way of doing this by checking valve movement with a dial indicator
but I don't deem this necessary.
After the marks are lined up,look down between the radiator and engine on driver's side, you should see a pointer that will point to the degrees stamped into the balancer.
If the engine is perfect, when the notch is lined up with the line, the pointer will be at 0 degrees on the balancer. Normal wear will increase the chain length and the pointer will be at higher numbers. Although not specified in MB manuals, there seems to be a consensus that 3 degrees is a maximum before the chain is replaced or an off set woodruf key is put in camshaft gear.
The chain should be tight at all times. If not, the chain tensioner is bad and must be replaced. It is available from parts shop.
P E H