I'm in the middle of updating my '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603) from the original #14 head to a #20 (ex-Sixto) head. The #14 head was replaced by a PO before I bought the car (car now has 160,000 miles) so I don't know how many miles are on some of the parts. I suspect the timing chain was replaced with the head since there is no measurable stretch (probably about 30,000 miles on the chain).

When I pulled the valve cover today, I discovered that the upper timing chain guide had broken and a fair amount of it was missing (see photo). Fortunately the guide is plastic and I have a new one ready to go in. Hopefully the pieces are sitting at the bottom of the oil pan. Next oil change I'll pull the side pan and see what is down there.

Anyone ever have this happen?

Jeremy

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________

"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

Make sure you replace the oil pump chain tensioner too.

__________________
Jim

How do you get at it? Isn't it buried somewhere down below?

__________________

"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

bits in the oilpan can work/chew thru the oil pickup screen

Oil pump chain tensioner is a mechanical/spring, is below the crank and IIRC can't be replaced without pulling the timing chain cover and/or oilpan.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Not certain on the 603 engine but you can do this job without pulling the oil pan on the 606. You do have to take the front cover off though.

__________________
Jim

Should be the same on the 603 then.

GSXR's photos: http://www.w124performance.com/images/OM603_timing_cover/front_view1.jpg

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I wasn't planning to pull either the pan or the front cover.

__________________

"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