I just replaced the belt and tensioner.
I bought them from some regular old parts store.
The new belt doesn't have deep V grooves, they are more like shallow w grooves.

I sprayed a squirt of water to confirm it was belt, not tensioner.
It is belt.
I sprayed belt dressing on it. Stopped for a few minutes then just became a constant squeal.



Do I need to buy the continental belt?
Or does it matter?

Out of curiosity, what was the brand and part number of belt?

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Being a serp belt, it shouldn't matter who made it, they are supposed to be standardized. I have whatever the Duralast part is in my SDL and it's been fine.

How is the belt tension? Is it actually tight? Pulleys properly aligned and nothing stiff to turn? Water on the belt only tells you that the belt is the source of the noise. It doesn't tell you why.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

Chris, I always buy the Contitech serpentine belts and have never had a problem. It's odd that a brand new belt would squeal. Recommend removing the belt and confirming that all pulleys turn freely ... except for the crankshaft pulley, obviously.

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Fred Hoelzle

Are you sure its the correct length? Compare it to the old belt.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words