I have a 1987 190E 16V with 167,824 miles . Approximately 11K miles ago, at 156,199, I installed the upgraded timing chain tensioner because I was getting timing chain rattle after starting a hot engine, When I made the upgrade, my timing chain was tight and timing was within about 1 degree of TDC with the marks aligned on the camshaft sprockets. I concluded my chain was good. The chain rattle totally disappeared after the upgrade.

However, after only about 11K miles the rattle on start-up returned. The noise has gotten progressively more noticeable--a key difference is that the rattle now occurs almost always on startup, whether the engine is hot or cold.

What might have failed??

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Jim Herold--Current: 1987 190E 16V, 1999 ML 430--Past: 1971 280 SL, 1972 250