GLA 220d timing chain issue. OM651 Engine.

[Cheeseandbeans]

Hi all.

I took a gamble on a GLA 220d which was spares and repairs due to the fact the key didn't work with the car.

Got it up to me a couple of weeks ago and then went to mercedes to get a new key for the car. They started it Monday and said they had to turn it straight back off because the engine was making a loud noise. Basically the guy selling it has damaged the old key so it wouldn't work and I couldn't hear it start up, hence he's blocked my number now. Anyway they said they thought it was the timing chain which they quoted £1700 for but stated they didn't know if there was more damage and that would just be for starters. I decided to just get it trailered back to me. The quote when i got it back also mentioned the charge movement flap needed replacing??

Here's a link a video of how it sounds and I'm after some advice from you experts.

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Does that sound like a timing chain issue or potentially something worse? If it is timing chain is at engine out job on a GLA? What would I be looking at price wise for an indy to do the work for me?

Thanks.

 

[Pontoneer]

A timing chain rattle is a much more rapid , less regular and lighter sound than that . That is more like a valve sticking , wildly out of adjustment , could even be hitting a piston , or any number of other things - difficult to tell from just a few seconds of video , it is not a happy sound .

This video link below is more the typical noise made by a stretched or loose timing chain , and often stops after the first few seconds , it is nothing like the noise your engine is making

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If you don't want to spend a fortune diagnosing and fixing this engine , I'd hunt around for a replacement engine out of a crash damaged car , with the proviso that you would want to go and see the other engine running before you buy it .

An engine swap is easier , and cheaper , to do than repairing an unknown fault in an engine . You need an engine where the first six digits of the engine number , ideally first eight digits , exactly match those on your present engine ; either find it on the block , or on the registration document if you have it yet ; otherwise put the VIN into one of the online VIN decoders and it will come up with the engine number . The seventh and eighth digits just tell you whether the engine came from a left or right hand drive car , which market it went to and whether it was originally in a manual or automatic car ; nice to have all matching but not imperative .

The easiest thing is to look for a car of the same model as yours , but you may well find that same engine is used in other Mercedes models of a similar age , giving you more scope to find one ( possibly A Class , CLA , C class and a few others ) . Try to find a car that has been accident damaged at the rear or on either side , just preferably not at the front , since there is less chance of the engine having been damaged in any way during a crash . A used engine will normally come stripped of ancilliary items like starter motor , alternator , power steering pump , A/C compressor etc and you would be expected to swap these things over from your existing engine .

I would definitely want to see and hear any prospective engine running before buying , unless the seller is willing to warrant it . If you buy an engine that you have seen running , you can be pretty sure it is going to be OK once fitted ; versus repairing an engine with an unknown fault can very quickly become expensive and cost more than just putting a used engine in .

I have swapped engines on my drive in the past , last time I took one weekend to remove the faulty engine and the second weekend to put the new one in , but I have ramps for getting access underneath , plus an engine crane for lifting engines in and out . If you don't have , or access to , these things , then ask around local garages what they'd charge to do an engine swap ; I'd expect a local garage to do the job in one or at most two days given they should have a lift to get under the car , and a couple of guys to manhandle the engine at the crucial times .

 

[Pontoneer]

Just had a look on eBay and found someone offering to supply and fit a replacement engine , with 12 months warranty for £1995 ; given the other place wanted £1700 just for a timing chain , and then possibly more , that sounds like a better deal , even if it is a chunk of change .

Pardon our interruption...

Actually , there are loads of 651.930 engines for sale on ebay , some more expensive and others more expensive , but read what is on offer as it will vary , and most won't include fitting or any warranty .

 

[Jobsworth]

Fwiw that’s a bottom end knock to me.