1986 420SEL with (more than) 220K miles.

I paid $1,000 for the car a year ago. I have spent a lot on this project car.

I figured that being a DIY-er, not a qualified MB mechanic, that replacing the timing chain and guides/tensioners was something that my good friend who owns an indy shop should do, not me.

He quoted between $2K and $3K depending on what was found.

Not sure that I want to invest that much in my $1,000 project car (did I sound like my wife?).

Thoughts?

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Simon Shearer

1986 420SEL

2000 Porsche 911 Millenium Edition Carrera 4
2010 Lexus RX 350
2002 Kia Rio
2002 Hyundai Accent

here's my plebian response....can you start and run the engine? You never mentioned if you ever got the engine running dig? Detail does count

Here's a link to my post when I changed my guides and chain.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=185820

First, examile the upper chain guides. The drivers side upper inside guide is the one that causes the most damage. Carefully inspect that one first.

Replace the guides first and then check for chain wear. If the offset is too much, subjective but post a pic, replace the chain.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

It cost me $165 for a new OEM chain, 4 OEM guides and an OEM guide rail - shipped. The whole thing took about 8 hours, but that's because I spent 75% of my time cleaning off 24 years of engine gunk (my PS pump went from black to silver).

There's a very good DIY article on rolling in a new chain (if your guides aren't dark brown). If all I had to do was the chain, it probably would've taken 20 minutes, tops - you only have to remove 1 valve cover. I decided to replace all 3 head-mounted guides and the guide rail as well, which adds a bit of time.


Oh, and yes, since this is an interference engine, it is definately worth replacing unless you know for a fact it's been replaced within the last 100K miles.

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

Not worth doing on a 1000 project car. Worst case scenario, the chain snaps, and you can get yourself a $500 junkyard motor and have extra parts.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

A lot more effort involved to install that $500 engine IMHO. If it were me, I'd replace the chain and guides.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

That's ridiculous.

If he doesn't have the tools to do a simple timing chain switch, he damned sure isn't going to have what he needs to swap a motor.

I mean christ, if his indy is going to (over)charge him $2k-$3k for a simple chain swap, what are they going to want to swap out a whole motor? $10k?

I got my project car for $100. Are you trying to say any repair over $100 isn't worth it?

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

Firstly, I certainly have the tools, and even the inclination to do this project.

Cliffmac: yes it has run (well) from the moment I bought it; sorry to leave out that detail, although I would have not been considering timing chain as a first option for a non-operational vehicle!

I have never done it, but with both my project cars EVERY attempt at being an MB mechanic is a first!

I work for AMF. We operate 310 bowling alleys in the US and Mexico. I've been with them for 28 years; 20 years in the US as (now) head of construction and facilities management; but before that, in 1977, I started as a bowling alley mechanic in Australia. I am not afraid of new technical challenges and I believe I have the aptitude.

I was not able to find a complete DIY description on multiple searches; and got a bit scared and decided to ask first. Thanks for your link wbain5280...

The car runs and actually runs quite well, given the PO was a filthy cretin who couldn't give a crap about it; I have achieved so many positive improvements to it that even my wife has changed her mind about the car. I couldn't list the upgrades; most of which I have forgotten. Needless to say that original $1,000 has been amended by about another 4 grand so far - it will never be a profitable endeavor but that isn't the point. I cannot claim to be a W126 expert, but I am getting better at it every day, and I love the learning experience.

I am with you dhjenkins - the investment in time, effort, sweat, tears, heartache and muscle cramps (I'm in my mid-50's so yes muscles are not so forgiving these days!), is absolutely worth it and you have to forget the sunk cost.

These are just nice cars to drive; especially when you've done a brake job and your car stops at the traffic light; a silent fist pump in the air is something visceral, personal and rewarding and a) it doesn't matter how cheap the acquisition price was, b) it doesn't matter what the investment has been, and most importantly (at least in my conversations with my wife), c) it doesn't matter that there is no return on investment calculation that makes financial sense; it's a project, and it's fun! I am very lucky; I have a wife that truly understands that. It is my birthday tomorrow and although sadly it has not arrived on time, she bought me back passenger footrests I found in the correct color (Brazil Brown) BECAUSE even though it's a 560SEL accessory (and wasn't offered in the 420SEL, to my knowledge), it will be cool to have.

I really appreciate the encouragement to make this a DIY project; I am actually keen to do it myself. I am also prepared to purchase the necessary tools if I don't have the right ones.

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Simon Shearer

1986 420SEL

2000 Porsche 911 Millenium Edition Carrera 4
2010 Lexus RX 350
2002 Kia Rio
2002 Hyundai Accent

If you've got tools, you can do the work. You don't have to be an expert MB mechanic to work on one; I'd never worked on an MB before I did my chain and it came out fine.

Check out the DIY section at the top of the pages under "Resources". I think the timing chain switch is for an M117, but it works for the M116 as well.

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

You have answered your own question. As to how urgent it is, you can measure for stretch and check the guides first.

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Prost!

Excellent advice...

Pop your valve covers off and take a look at your plastic guides when you check for chain stretch. If they're still white-ish and you have minimal stretch, you *may* not need a new a chain.

However, if one were to place importance on engine parts (as far as keeping the engine from being ruined), the timing chain would be at the top, followed by the oil pump.

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

For that money ($3K), I got the timing chain, guides, and tensioner, 2 new rockers, oiler tubes, complete replacement of the intake O-rings, the injector cups and seals, an injector, a used fuel distributor, an intake plenum boot, a TPS, a new 02 sensor, new ignition wires, a tune-up and lambda adjustment, an oil change, replacement of the two kidney mufflers, and several other things I can't seem to recall off hand. Oh yeah, also a new fuel filter and accumulator.

And that was from a German car specialist who charges $90 an hour.


And that was on a 560SEL that sat for over a year.


Your guy's price seems a tad high.

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-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

I don't think there's any question that the price is absurd (jenseits von Gut und Böse, to quote Nietzsche). An 8 hour DIY should be <6 hours shop, so do the math. Either he thought you were doing something else, or he values his labor particularly highly

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Prost!