My '87 came with the 2-piece shroud, probably installed to repair accident damage. I have since that photo replaced the fan and clutch with the 606-style clutch and plastic 9-blade fan. The shroud goes on easily. You drape the round section over the fan blades, then slide the rectangular section down the radiator and clip it into place. Then you move the round piece forward and rotate it so that "Tab A" goes into "Slot B."

Chain stretch also can result in worn sprockets, as those of us with motorcycle experience know. Due to my limited experience, I've not seen a worn timing chain sprocket in a Mercedes engine. AFAIK, the stretch (within limits) is taken up by the chain tensioner.

You should be able to detect chain stretch by pulling up on the chain at the top of the cam sprocket, as if you were trying to lift the chain off of the sprocket. A new chain won't move at all; a worn chain will lift up a little. More stretch = more lift. I'm sure there is a spec on how much timing error is permissible but I don't know what it is.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970