m271 engine woes

[dubnut16v]

Hi all.
I have a 05 c180 which was running fine and then wouldnt start.
Threw a inlet cam sensor fault and garage
Replaced. Car still wouldnt start.
Removed cam cover and cams are way out of timing. One cam is out by about 90 degrees.
Worn teeth on cam gears and oil in loom.

Is this beyond repair?

 

[BlackC55]

You will also need a new chain.

Its up to you if you think its worth it. Lack of fluid changes and/or crappy oil is usually the cause of the wear.

 

[rorf]

Wow that is the worst I've seen on a 4 pot

Cam out by 90 deg surely the pistons have hit the inlet valves by now.

 

[dubnut16v]

And it hasnt run. Happened on turn of key.
Owner repeatedly tried to start.
Cheapest cam gears ive found is 400+ for the pair 2nd hand!!!
Engine has done 140000.
Without internal damage (unlikely) it needs...
Inlet cam sensor
Both camshaft adjuster sensors
Both cam gears
Chain and guides
Really cant see it being financially viable

Oil in loom is quite extensive..has reached ecu...maf..inlet sensor

 

[dubnut16v]

Serviced regular every 10000

 

[martyz]

Sell it spares or repair.

 

[jaymanek]

Buy a guaranteed engine from a breaker for around £1500.

 

[shorty]

I had simlar problems with a 200k , the chain had only jumped 3 teeth and I didnt damage any valves .
I remember contacting Dronsfield and they where qouting me 150 each for the cam gears or 500 for a complete head . I ended up buying two new timing gears for MB , cost me 320 euro each .

 

[dubnut16v]

Thanks all
Contacted dronsfields today
They have a couple low mileage at reasonable cost
Seems like best idea

 

[M271]

You can buy re manufactured gears online

 

[Terry_]

You can buy re manufactured gears online

How can they re manufacture the gears??

 

[Auto-mobile]

Liquid metal?

 

[M271]

M271 Timing gear replacement

The old gear face is removed and a new steel hub attached making it stronger and more durable than the original as they are made from cast iron and wear down very quickly thus you hear the rattling on start-up. Replacing the chain only helps but only very slightly, its the play on the chain and gear teeth that cause this noise. Mercedes wont admit it but they made a mistake by using a single row chain as in the older kompressor motor the M111. I think the reason was because the crank sprocket has a double row but one row drives the oil pump/lanchaster balancer and the other the timing gears. So all the load is on the chain and gears and with the gears being made of cast iron and the chain of steel the weaker metal wears first thus the gears and the inlet (E) more than the other.

On start up the adjusters are locked in place by pins inside but as the oil pressure builds these pins are released and the adjusters outer surface with the teeth on can move on the central hub and thus the rattle disappears.
Funny enough the chain replacement isn't even on the Mercedes service schedule so its presumed to be there for life strange but true.

My advice is if your engine has above 80k miles i would start budgeting for gear and chain replacement, sooner if it has not been maintained properly (regular oil and filter changes)

Check M271 Parts - Home to buy these gears

 

[zenman63]

I have some Sprockets on the way, there struck in UPS!
I will get some pictures up when they arrive.
My chain had stretched a full link!

 

[E270 Owner]

The oil deposits on the cam cap bolts suggest burnt oil or incorrect oil or poor servicing or ............ add whatever else

Bottom line is replace the engine.

 

[M271]

Yes replace the engine with new new one as you never know the condition of a used one it might last a few miles then have the same problem better to take the head off check it and repair if needed then fit a new timing chain kit and Camshaft adjusters then you are sure its good for thousands more miles.

Used engines are like russian roulette most come out of accident damaged cars and are rarely tested and if it starts it doesn't tell you the condition of the timing parts not until its too late. But it carries a warranty which normally turn out to be not worth the paper they are written on and don't cover all the labour/parts involved in taking it in and out.
So best advice better the one you have than taking on another unless the piston has come through the block or something drastic like that

 

[ABTguy]

Hi all, I have a R170 SLK 230 Kompressor while my younger has a R171 SLK 200 Kompressor.

So I am on the M114 Evo and he is on M271 engine. Wondering anyone has any idea whether Mercedes solved this weakest link in their M271 engine in the subsequent years ?

I meant let say car built after 2008, do they still experience the same timing chain issue ?

 

[M271]

The R171 used the M271 engine upto 2011, a rule of thumb if it has a kompressor it has the M271 engine from late 2002. On the newer engine with the turbo some bits are the same but different timing gears and chain setup.

 

[Terry_]

I've had a later cgi engine in with a rattling chain as well

 

[M271]

Same engine just different injection system