Engine, Gearbox & Exhaust issues!

[jaymanek]

Hi all,

I recently found myself the 107 that i had been searching for over the last few years. :bannana:

Its a late 500 in light met blue, later engine and box as i wanted... Will post pics soon...

Anyway, few queries....

Engine -
Slightly noisy tappet. Not v loud and infact other modern mercs ive had, have had louder tappets.... But as im planning on keeping this car 'forever', really would like it sorted. Is this something i can adjust myself?

Just taking the oil filler cap off, i can see there is a rail delivering oil to the tappets at the top. What are the chances that this is blocked near the offending tappet causing the noise? Anything else it could be.
Oil looks v clean, service was done around 2000 miles ago..

Gearbox-
Changes are lovely once in motion, but the problem is when initially putting it into gear. Sometimes theres a split second delay before it kicks into gear and sometimes does so with a clunk, once its away, its fine. Its like something is worn out, but not sure what? There isnt much play at the diff so im lost?

Exhaust -

The day i bought it, a looney in a focus went into the back of me.. No visible damage, so i took his car details and left it at that. But when i went up the road, the exhaust was blowing badly. Got it on the ramp and he had obviouisly hit the backpipes so that it had cause a hole/rupture at the middlebox... I have welded it up for now, but i dont think the back/middle box have an eternity left so will change them.
Problem is that the two boxes will cost me £460 from the dealer (with my special good customer discount! ). The parts from Euro car parts will cost about a tenner less.

So does anyone know a good place where they do s/steel exhausts. All the places i have come across are either too expensive, or are experts with the nova brigade. I would prefer to take it somewhere who will spend a bit of time doing it properly, but at a reasonable price aswell! Even though all offer a lifetime warranty, i would like it to be done right first time...
London or around coventry area would be ideal.

Ok thats it i think...

thanks in advance..

 

[Robby]

You can't adjust hyraulic tappets, but a combination of a good hard thrash and an oil change with some engine flush should clear out any gunk. It could just be that the camshaft is getting worn out, or it could have the wrong viscosity of oil.

My 190 has a bit of a delay first going into gear, I just attributed it to a bit moving slowly in cold ATF with low vacuum pressure working on it. No problem when its warm, so best ignored.

And as for the exhaust, you have the details of the person that run into the back of you, so get them to pay for the damage. For a custom stainless exhaust system, have a look in the back of a kit car magazine for fabricators.

 

[jimmy]

Jay,

Just finishing rebuilding an engine on a 500SEL, that a noisy tappet/valve but was caused by the hydraulic tappet allowing the valve to slap the top of the piston, did not cause any damage apart from a bent valve. I would try one of the additives and a good thrash to see if that frees it up.

Could I also ask a favour? Seeing as somebody else dismantled (ripped apart!) this engine 4 years ago before sticking it in the back of the garage, I am at a loss as to where exactly all the vacuum pipes are supposed to be connected. Some are obvious and others are not. The engine runs like a sewing machine and sounds lovely but I know the pipes are not all coneccted right. Is it possible to take a picture of your engine, particularly the front end around the distributor, thermostat housing etc? Would appreciate it.

 

[jaymanek]

No problem jimmy, but i have parked it up for the week on the other side of london. Can it wait till the weekend?

Hmm, i will try an additive, and then a flush/oil change when i get a chance. I was advised that i should not use synthetic or too thin oil in these old v8's. Any recommendations??

Thanks

Jay

 

[Satch]

No matter how old your motor is, you should be able to get a suitable oil from here:

http://www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk/

Find out the original spec oil was & call them up if in doubt

 

[andy_k]

as has been said earlier go through the kit car magazines for specialist exhausts. If "Mike the Pipe" is still advertising give him a ring. I had one of his custom systems on my one of my old V8 powered projects - it was a work of art

Andy

 

[Will]

I never used to use a flushing additive on any of my cars, but after the result with a recent car (Lexus LS400) I am a convert.

The car in question was low mileage (85K), well serviced but little used. When I took over the car, it was overdue an oil change, and had been little used for a few months (left in garage after new car was bought!)

I changed the oil as soon as I got it, and despite it having one the most refined, quietest engines in the world (4.0 32V V8), I was sure that at times when it was cold you could hear the very slightest of tappetty sounds! I confirmed this to myself when I parked it next to a solid object (garage) and you could hear it, relative to engine speed. Although the oil in the car had only been changed circa 100 miles before, I popped out and bought a can on Wynn's flushing additive, and some 5W/40 Fully Synthetic oil.

Poured in the flushing additive as per the instructions, ran the engine for 20 mins (or whatever it was), drained oil, fitted new oil filter again, refilled with fresh oil and the engine is now totally silent. This was 2,000 miles ago and not a whisper out of it since It has still not used a drop of oil, and the oil genuinely looks totally brand new still (makes it awkward for checking the level, as it is transparent )

In fairness, it was probably just because the last owner had hardly used the car in the last few months, and perhaps a few long motorway journeys may cleared it out, but I was impressed to say the least. Even on a lowish mileage, reasonably modern car, the oil that came out when I flushed it (it had only been in for about 100 miles!) was darkish brown. I think the flushing additive helps to clean out horrible deposits from everything (ie top end etc).

If your car has been run on old fashioned oils, it may have built up a lot of deposits over the years. A good run, followed by a flush and new quality oil has to worth a try. Even if it doesn't solve your problem, it can't hurt.

Good Luck,

Will

 

[jimmy]

I think a 10w40 semi-synthetic is recommended and that is what I have used. I used a hydraulic tappett additive in a BMW recently, left it in for a few days and then did a oil change, seems to have done the trick.

 

[jaymanek]

jimmy, any idea what the additive was? Will def give it a go.

 

[jimmy]

Most motor factors and even Halfords do one, I used a Wynn's additive. We just started selling the Comma one, an engine flush, although not specifically a hydraulic tappett additive it says on the can that it can help free up hydraulic tappetts whilst cleaning the internals.

 

[jaymanek]

Thanks Jimmy

Anyone help with the s/steel exhaust??

Thanks

 

[andy_k]

Thanks Jimmy

Anyone help with the s/steel exhaust??

Thanks

http://www.exhausts.uk.com/home/?a=1

http://www.zorstec.net/flash.htm

http://www.racecarnewmedia.co.uk/quicksilver/stock.asp

to name but 3

Andy

 

[jaymanek]

Ok have just ordered my s/steel system from http://www.stainlesssteelexhausts.co.uk/.

They were the cheapest i found, offer a lifetime warranty and most importantly, a member of another forum has had one on his SL for three years and thinks its a great system.

Only glitch is that it will take up to four weeks to manufacture...

Also something i thought was strange was that they think the back and middle box were the same on all 500SL's from 1980. I was under the impression that they changed with the engine update in 85??

So i hope i get the right one now....