Newbie here but been lurking for a while.

I have an 87 260E with 155K. I just bought the car and it is in really good condition and was always well maintained. Runs and drives beautifully (I think)
The engine starts easily hot or cold, idles very smoothly, has good power, shifts smoothly, makes hardly any noise and got 22-24 MPG on the first two full tanks. There is a constant tick in the valve train that varies with RPM. I real all the posts and felt there was a good chance it was a lifter. Thanks to the info here I was brave enough to try a DIY. I used a stethescope, tried the hammer handle push and thought it was the exhaust valve on bank 5. Changed the lifter but it is still there. I ordered all new lifters and 3mm cup washers.

While turning the engine I noticed when there is no spring pressure on a cylinders valve that the rocker is very "sloppy" I can wiggle it on its shaft.

Couple of q's

Could the tick be more severe than lifters?
Is this wiggle normal?
can I assume I have a good engine if it runs as well as it does?

Thanks

Charlie

From my knowledge the early 103 motors had Cam and rocker wear issues.
They cured it in 88ish by using a chilled iron camshaft and hardened pads on the rocker surfaces. My son(Ps2cho) has a "87 260 and the rockers are showing sighs of wear..
Maybe thats it?

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Thanks for the reply. I visually gave an ok to the cam referencing the pictures I saw of bad ones. The rockers are just so wobbly I figgered someone would have the same observation if that is the way they should be.
Makes sense they could be a cause of noise.

Charlie

I don't think you can "visually" detect all of the cam wear. You need to run your fingernail across the lob to feel for a dip or other non uniform wear. Had the same problem on a Land Rover with the lobs wearing and causing ticking sounds. Replaced the cam and lifters as a set.

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Tim

05 E320
86 930
05 Range Rover HSE
95 Range Rover SWB
63 Series IIa
Several boring BMW's for this kids....

Thanks Tim, gonna look ,more closely at the cam.

Charlie

It was a bad cam. THANKS

Charlie

You will need to replace the cam + rockers. You cannot mix and match an updated cam with early rockers unfortunately.

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I got a used head on ebay. Will pull cam and rockers as a set

Charlie