Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-16-2006, 03:48 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
M103 Interference or not

Hi
I've searched through the forum and didn't get e definitive answer as to whether or not the M103 is an interference engine or not. I'm in the midst of doing a head job and everything went well except at the last moment while pulling the head I snapped the upper portion of the chain rail (right side not the tensioner) and want to know if it is absolutely essential to replace the whole rail. I realize it would be the right thing to do, but with an enigine with 308K miles and planned retirment of the car in a couple of months I didn't want to have to pull the bumper and radiator and everything attached if it wasn't absolutley necessary. Thanks for any insight and info.

My fear would be the chain jumping ( I doubt it will) and slamming my pistons into my valves! Ouch

Thanks in advance
__________________
1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

Want to put a tank in the trunk for WVO/SVO in the E300 Need to find a place to store my OIL!
Still procrastinating about the biodiesel/WVO
Made some biodiesel but so afraid to pour it all in - I've added some and think I'll supplement my fuel to see how I make out

Made some biodiesel but the process scares me - methanol fumes are not your friend! Need to do this outside.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:12 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 8,150
All Benz engines are interference engines.

Whether or not you replace that rail would depend on how much vibration you thing not having it in place will cause -- the chain isn't going to jump a tooth, but excessive vibration will cause it to fail much faster than normal, and I'm betting it's pretty ancient.

Peter
__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:21 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
As far as I know

It's the original chain. In the world of MB's I think it's not too old, however the service manual supposedly suggests changing it every 100K miles. My head gasket has gone 2x in the life of the car once at 72K and again at 308K. I don't plan on driving it more than 15- 20K miles more (4 months of my driving).

What would you guys do?

thanks again

next mileage badge is 310,500 miles (500,000 Kilometers.....I'm so dang close!
__________________
1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

Want to put a tank in the trunk for WVO/SVO in the E300 Need to find a place to store my OIL!
Still procrastinating about the biodiesel/WVO
Made some biodiesel but so afraid to pour it all in - I've added some and think I'll supplement my fuel to see how I make out

Made some biodiesel but the process scares me - methanol fumes are not your friend! Need to do this outside.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:33 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
V10s & V8s FTW!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,147
Why are you going to retire it? Has it lost a lot of compression?

Keep it alive if you can...
__________________
2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:40 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 8,150
Those single row chains really only last about 100,000 miles before they get too long and the valve timing gets late.

I would replace it, they aren't expensive.

Those 103's live forever (500,000 miles and up) if you keep good oil in them.

Peter
__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:46 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
Alot more work?

Quote:
Originally Posted by psfred View Post
Those single row chains really only last about 100,000 miles before they get too long and the valve timing gets late.

I would replace it, they aren't expensive.

Those 103's live forever (500,000 miles and up) if you keep good oil in them.

Peter
To change the chain and rails, I have to pull the bumper and radiator right? Or is this something that can be done without pulling extra stuff off?

thanks
__________________
1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

Want to put a tank in the trunk for WVO/SVO in the E300 Need to find a place to store my OIL!
Still procrastinating about the biodiesel/WVO
Made some biodiesel but so afraid to pour it all in - I've added some and think I'll supplement my fuel to see how I make out

Made some biodiesel but the process scares me - methanol fumes are not your friend! Need to do this outside.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-16-2006, 04:44 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
I'd love to

Space and money prevent me from keeping it alive. Honestly, if I found an enthusiast that would take it to 1,000,000 km I would sell it cheap as dirt with the clause that i could visit once in a while. best car I've ever owned and probably the best I ever will. I live in a place that doesn't have a driveway, so parking is expensive. Then if it needed to pass inspection I would have to do the following:

brakes $500-900
windscreen $300
and the tranny is original another $1500 soon

so with the idea that close to $3000 to keep it running and I can't easily keep it near by (parked at work when driving the W210)

I earned my 250K km badge and I would love to have my 500K km badge to memorialize the car
__________________
1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

Want to put a tank in the trunk for WVO/SVO in the E300 Need to find a place to store my OIL!
Still procrastinating about the biodiesel/WVO
Made some biodiesel but so afraid to pour it all in - I've added some and think I'll supplement my fuel to see how I make out

Made some biodiesel but the process scares me - methanol fumes are not your friend! Need to do this outside.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page