On a Benz, I'm not sure. A buddy of mine has an '89 Ford Bronco; I helped him do it himself; it was a pretty easy job.
I'll bet you money your fan clutch's dead. If it's spinning that easily...it should feel like you're trying to spin it but a fairly thick oil's keeping it from going (which is actually just about how the clutch works; as it gets warmer the fluid gets more viscous and makes the fan connect better to the shaft).
On the lifters, again, I'm not 100% sure...probably better for someone with more direct experience with these engines to step in here. But if the valves are adjustable, I'd start there...if they're hydraulic, it's probably okay to leave it at that unless the clicking gets noticeably worse...
Just some thoughts...good luck! Again, I don't know on Benzes, but on my Ford diesels, the fan clutch bolts are a left hand thread. I guess they were worried about the engine spinning the fan so fast as to make the bolts undo themselves...kinda like quite a few older vehicles that have left hand threads on the driver's side tire lugs...in fact, my van has left hand threads on the driver's side rear wheel...
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