Why would ignition rotor bracket differ on an M103?
 

I bought a new ignition rotor bracket as mine broke off:

http://www.ps2cho.net/downloads/phot...otorholder.jpg

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/hir...1626817APA.JPG

Guy at dealership says there are TWO versions depending on VIN. Why would a stupid bracket be different on an M103? I am stuck with the car in my garage and he said its special order only.

The OEM bolt is slighty slightly too big for the bracket.

Anybody think I could make this bracket work if I found another bolt that would fit? They both look identical other than the hole?? Very frustrating because I can't just go to a junkyard to find one as they will all most likely be the same one.

For my 1987 260E.

Maybe the 260 engine's is different? Who knows....some minor update the engineers felt was necessary.

How did it get broken in the first place?

There are subtle differences between the 2.6L M103 and the 3.0L M103. You need to use your VIN and engine number when ordering parts for them. Even the Transmissions are different between the two.
e.g. even though the W201 190e 2.6 and the W124 260e share the same engine there are many subtle differences in parts.
You also need to be careful when ordering parts because some specs were changed in the model update in 1988/89.

There are countries in the world where the size of the engine was restricted. Other countries charge logarithmic tax charges vs increase of engine size. M.B. does various cost options for differing engines.

I don't know why a marketing decision was made by MB to introduce the 260 engine into the U.S. market.

Well that's what I thought too...but then why would there be two different brackets for the 2.6 M103? Because I had a choice of two it showed on his system. I bought the only one they carried, but obviously its the other one. It wouldn't have showed up if it wasn't for the 2.6...

The original one is made out of some cheap metal. It rusted + expanded so when I removed the rotor, (edit: part of) the face cracked off leaving that bit stuck inside. It was a nightmare to remove. Maybe that has something to do with a little rough idle it has...but who cares at this point. I just need this thing up and running asap as I am moving house. Its obvious this has never been removed including the rotor...all original. Got the upper timing cover gasket replaced so no more leaks from it, but I am stuck with a dead engine without the correct bracket.

I'm really hoping "special order" doesn't mean from the motherland otherwise I'll really be screwed.

Someone P.O. may have put an el-cheapo made in place other than authorized part in.:rolleyes:

Order an OEM part with your VIN and engine number and best of luck getting the old one off.

Even calling your local MB authorized Stealership may get you some info.

the question I would ask is...screw the part..why would the rotor break the part in the first place? what the heck...really? sounds like something else is wrong to begin with that caused this right? and what happened to the original rotor and cap anyway? they should have been destroyed in this massive mechanical meltdown I would guess...

I think you are looking at a lot more than just this part....looks to me to around, I don't know, $2000 in work and parts. That part doesn't shear like that, I looked at it carefully...that's a stress shear, that means something caused a continual, yet short lived, out of balance condition, I suspect the cam shaft has an issue. Possible journals on the cam, unlikely, but there is no way you are going out of this without doing some cylinder head work...something is wrong there. That kind of stuff just doesn't happen to a Mercedes unless the previous owner didn't install stuff properly...that could be too....this is not junk metal....someone did something wrong to cause that..that doesn't happen on these cars...

Didn't the O.P in another thread say that he broke it while trying to get it off?

See http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=256216

They are different because MB re-designed them back in 1987..

Different bolt size as well.