The 'Time Bomb' went off this week! My friends brother in law was driving the 190D and there was a loud noise and the dash lights came on followed by clouds of smoke.
I lookd at the car today and apparently some stray fragment of the late vacuum pump must have wedged between the timing chain and the front cover. Now there's a fresh hole where the chunk of timing cover, that holds the serpentine belt tensioner, used to be.
The engine still starts and runs but it sprays much oil and there's no way to drive the alternator or waterpump. My friend will park it until he decides when or if he can afford a new timing cover, etc....
(GLad it's not my car!)

Happy Motoring,
Mark

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DrDKW