I know, I know....
Join a tech forum or user's group and read all the horror stories and then lay awake at night and worry.

What's the scoop on the 95 E300 timing chain? What's wrong with them and what manufacturing date or VIN did they make a change or improvment? I read this in passing on another thread.

Mine has 60K miles and could be covered by a recall I suppose...I just need the facts on it or a place to find out. Thanks,

Mike

No recall, as Recalls are for safety related problems.
ON diesel engines from July 1992 thru April 1994(production) MB installed timing chains that didn't last long (sub-standard quality) so they issued a service bulletin to that effect. Most of the substandard chains BROKE between 30K & 75K miles. IF your car was produced between those dated then HAVE the cam timing checked. SI number 05/93 dated Nov 1995.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

My door sill plate indicates a 7/94 production date. I will presume it to be outside the realm of possible chain problems by 3 months. The original owner would have had it changed if he had been notified as he was pretty careful with this car.

I'm going to drive it - it has 60K miles and the dealer did the cam timing check-up at 30K per the book.

Thanks again,
Mike

Just to clarify to anyone reading this:
Previous post:

What my investigation revealed:
I joined a service that allows me to parse and read all TSBs for the 95 E300 3.0L diesel and get the factory info on correction. That TSB says:
=====================================
SUBJECT:
ENGINES 602, 603 AND 606 ENGINE RELATED COMPLAINTS DUE TO STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN

In model 124 equipped with engines 602 and 606; and model 140 equipped with engine 603 built between July 1992 and April 1994, the following complaints may he the result of a stretched timing chain...
=====================================

I read that sentence to say ALL 606 engines are affected AND 140 chassis with 603 between the dates listed. The chassis numbers for the 606 engine in a W124 chassis listed in the TSB included my car. So I believe all 606 engines are affected.

I plan to just have the timing checked at 30K mile intervals as the problem is NOT the chain breaking suddenly per the TSB but the stretch that causes rough idle and poor performance. Yes, if it does stretch and the timing is off >10 degrees then piston contact with the valves is a BIG possibility!

Again, it does not mention chain breakage just stretching and ruining the performance. My 95 has 60K miles and I would have thought that the stretch would take place gradually so it should be out of timing now by a few degrees. Will check and post my results.