Timing Chain, V12 = $$$$$$$$$$$$ - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pcmaher · #1 05-18-2005, 10:58 PM

Holy Cow! I got a quote back from my favorite supplier for the parts and tools needed to change the timing chain in my Beast. The parts total to $750.00, and the tools will cost $870! The chain itself is only $174.00...it's all the other stuff you need that increases the cost. This is quite a bit more than I anticipated. I have to keep remembering that this is cheap compared to what will happen if the chain lets go. My financial planner (wife) is going to flip! I'll have to negotiate this carefully. I'm wondering if there are any other V12 owners out there that need to change their timing chain as well.

Plan A, I'd be more than willing to share the cost of the tools and the tools with anyone interested. Any takers? The more there are to share, the less we each have to pay.

Plan B, does anyone know if and/or where these tools can be rented?

pentoman · #2 05-19-2005, 02:45 AM

Bonkers!

Would it be worth getting stopping by a friendly, reputable and experienced independant mechanic and asking for a quote from them (or just a labour quote)?

I realise, not as cool as doing it yourself but.. that's a lot of money for doing the chain!

good luck, and maybe take some pics to show us the inside of that impressive engine..

Russ

pcmaher · #3 05-19-2005, 08:31 AM

Even if I knew a good indy, it goes against my every fiber to let someone else do the work. I'll probably feel sorry for myself for a few more weeks, then get the courage up to ask for a raise in my allowance, and jump in. I will definitely take pics and put a tutorial on my webpage when I'm done.

Hatterasguy · #4 05-19-2005, 11:01 AM

When are you even supposed to change the chain on the V12's?

Look at it this way, every 5 years you have to spend $5k+ at the Ferrari dealer to have the belts changed. So the MB V12 is still a bargin with a $1k-$2k chain replacement once or maybe twice during its lifetime.

Since the special tools cost so much I would get a few prices from shops or the dealer. It might cost just as much to have someone else get their hands dirty.

#5 05-19-2005, 11:23 AM

I'm not familiar with the V12 and don't know which engines it's "kin" to. If it's kin to the earlier V8, then you should definitely overmaintain the chain and its components. If it's kin to the M112, and M114 engines, it's probably not as critical.

As far as the cost of these components go, when you are driving a $100,000 car it should not be surprising that you can't just "slam in a set of points and plugs" every once in a while and keep driving it. It is a given that such a vehicle will have much higher maintenance costs.

Good luck,

pcmaher · #6 05-19-2005, 10:32 PM

It's really the guides I'm concerned about...not so much the chain. But it makes no sense to tear the engine down to this level to change guides, and not change the chain. There is a guy on another forum who stated that the chain in his V12 let go at 100,000 miles. And yes, I know, I know, the car cost $130,300 brand new not counting taxes and gas guzzler tax, so I should expect the maintenance cost to match. Just because I happen to own a V12, doesn't automatically put me in the income bracket of the person that bought this car new. I am but a simple office worker, who has long wanted a vehicle like this. I get no sympathy from you guys!

It's the darn tooling cost that's really bugging me. I suspect that most of the tools are not absolutely necessary. For example, the separating tool...I'll bet a Dremel tool could be used to carefully grind off a rivet head instead of spending $250 for the separating tool.

Strife · #7 05-19-2005, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcmaher

...I'll bet a Dremel tool could be used to carefully grind off a rivet head instead of spending $250 for the separating tool.

It sure can (on a 117). Stuff everything with clean rags so that there is no chance any metal would fall in. I was so paranoid that I vacuumed the area and the rags before removing them.

Instead of buying the rivet press, I used a master link and e-clips. Some people don't like this, but this what was shown in the MB service manual. My fingers + pliers: 3.00. Tool cost: $200.

I think that tools make jobs both faster and idiotproof. There is a real possibility of dropping an e-clip. The swaging(?) tool to install the link makes the job foolproof. Two tools I would not do without, though, were the valve compressor and the pin puller. Other, more handy people made their own versions of these. The pin puller did the job perfectly and quickly.

Note that Performance Products (among others) rents tools.

lyonstexas · #8 05-19-2005, 11:47 PM

Chain breakers are used constantly on motorcycle chains. An aftermarket shop should have one like this in this price range.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product?storeId=10201&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2004178&TID=1544&productId=2004178&catalogId=10101

Tim

pcmaher · #9 05-20-2005, 08:29 AM

Aha! Now that's some good info! Thanks a bunch guys!

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