Timing chain broke
 

I have a 1993 Mercedes 500 sl. It was blowing white smoke then the timing chain broke. I have replaced the chain but nightmare re timing. Any suggestions besides junk yard. Although that is an option. Frustrated!

It sounds like there was two separate problems, white smoke due to a crack or head gasket and a worn timing chain that broke. There is also now a good chance of bent valves.

If the car is clean source a good used engine, install it and enjoy the car. If you want to fix it, get it in time and do a leakdown test to check for bent valves before putting more time and money in it.

Post pictures of the spark plugs as they came out.

Good luck!!!

Fix it yourself or basically give it away to someone who will

+1

If the rest of the car is in good shape you can have a shop put a used engine in and then sell it.

If you want to fix it then here's a M119 manual (for a w124 but should still work):

Mercedes Benz Model 124 - M119 Maintenance Manuals

I have a good engine in my garage right now, was going to use it as an exchange engine for a friends sl500 that overheated and due to miscommunication canceled the job but haven't used the engine, im in los angeles , a Mercedes tech, offer?

I'm going to second Sugar Bear: two distinct problems there - coolant in combustion cylinders came first, then the chain went.

And Christuna as well: fix it, or give it to someone who can. If you can get it within 500 miles of my house, I'll take. Or actually 300 miles. I think that's where my free towing deal kicks in.

But you never really know what's going on in there until you get it apart. So start pulling off bits and lay them out in the spare bedroom or the floor of the kitchen. Bluntly, at this point you probably can't make the problem any worse than it already is in there. So enjoy. Take some pics and you'll get all kinds of help figuring it out.

Experience has taught me two very important things about this process:

Barrier off the parts so the dog can't ingest any of them.

And ignore the threats from your partner to leave. You can't let stuff like that distract you. It's too late to turn back once the house stinks of oil and Rover has a chunk of valve seal lodged in his gut.

LMAO :D