Mercedes now has an engine with a Cam Belt...urgh!

[BTB 500]

You mention plastic front wings. Body panels play little part in the crash performance of the car, it's the chassis rails and safety cage and front crash structure. The wings are merely cosmetic. I wish more of my car was plastic body panels.

The 639 Vito / Viano had plastic front wings up until the most recent facelift when they were replaced with steel ones

 

[st4]

The 639 Vito / Viano had plastic front wings up until the most recent facelift when they were replaced with steel ones

Shame, a new rust spot for them to refuse warranty on.

 

[flango]

lmao, you joker.

Name a good diesel MB engine? there isn't one they all fail because of basic engineering design flaws. The early non turbo stuff were good in their day but modern MB diesels light years behind the competition.

 

[Dieselman]

I wonder if the new engine happens to be a non-interference design... that would be nice.

If impossible for a diesel.

 

[Dieselman]

My Renault seems to be made up of plastic, mostly, the front wings definitely are, yet it scored full five-star NCAP rating.

Why wouldn't it? The exterior bodywork makes no difference at all to crash worthiness.

 

[st4]

Name a good diesel MB engine? there isn't one they all fail because of basic engineering design flaws. The early non turbo stuff were good in their day but modern MB diesels light years behind the competition.

The pre BE 220cdi. Like in my C class.

 

[Terry_]

Name a good diesel MB engine? there isn't one they all fail because of basic engineering design flaws. The early non turbo stuff were good in their day but modern MB diesels light years behind the competition.

So why does almost every taxi driver in southern Europe use them? Not many lagunas on show.
This my friend is b......t in its highest form.

 

[mct_cars]

Well I never thought I would see the day, but the new Mercedes A Class fitted with the smallest 1.5 diesel has a cam belt rather than a chain

Reason for this.....the 1.5 diesel is supplied by Renault!

Whilst I don't like many things Renault....apart from RenaultSport products, their little 1.5 is a cracking little diesel.

The first Diesel I ever drove with a bit of poke was a Renault. Megane 1.9 - I think 120BHP about 10 years ago. Of course it was a hire car which of course always drive a bit faster anyway!

Cambelt is always about cost though, so it appears Mercedes are moving even farther away from their heritage in an effort to sell more cars.

 

[Dieselman]

Cambelt is always about cost though, so it appears Mercedes are moving even farther away from their heritage in an effort to sell more cars.

Really?
Most manufacturers went from chains to belts for quieter engines coupled with better reliability.
Even W203 have premature chain wear issues 50-60k miles. A belt would last longer.

In addition a belt cannot stretch, but chains always do causing the timing to retard.

Personally, I can't see what the fuss is about. I'd rather change a belt than a chain.

 

[Biglips]

And (for the information of a non mechanically minded owner with a 124 on 272000 miles with original chain) the symptoms of a chain that needs changing are......

 

[mct_cars]

Really?
Most manufacturers went from chains to belts for quieter engines coupled with better reliability.
Even W203 have premature chain wear issues 50-60k miles. A belt would last longer.

In addition a belt cannot stretch, but chains always do causing the timing to retard.

Personally, I can't see what the fuss is about. I'd rather change a belt than a chain.

I'm betting there are more snapped belts than chains. Personally i've never noticed the difference in volume between belts and chains - the noise is mostly overwhelmed by the explosive stuff that goes on nearby them.

Chains can be as easy to change as belts - all depends on the engine.

 

[clk208]

Slightly off topic but I've just dropped my classic hack Volvo 244 off at my friendly and competent local garage for a cambelt change. I supplied the parts, his estimate for labour to do the job is £50.

The belt was last changed in 1998 - 14 years and 70,000 miles in that time. It looks fine but thought it was about time to get it done. Being a non-interference engine there was no danger of damaged engine if it did snap, just the inconvenience of being stranded.

I can see that having to get a timing belt done every 3 years or whatever the general recommended interval is though with the threat of potential engine damage if it snaps would be a bit of a hassle though, particularly if you don't do many miles.

 

[grober]

And (for the information of a non mechanically minded owner with a 124 on 272000 miles with original chain) the symptoms of a chain that needs changing are......

Noise basically. The duplex chain setups [if adequately lubricated] like yours last forever- it tends to be the chain guides or tensioner mechanism that goes before the chain itself.
The scenario might go thus- you are driving along without a care[ the stereo turned up a bit to drown out the engine noise] when suddenly you get what is described euphemistically as " sudden mechanical noise" Put in layman's terms this is a signal the engine is broken. Your car is recovered to a) the local MB agent ---where spotty face youths gather round it in the workshop amid whispers of " I never dreamt they made cars like this" before wandering off to play on their Star machines again.
or b) your local diesel engine specialist-- where grizzled men in oil soaked boiler suits will suck breath through their teeth and hold back the tears while shaking their heads

the moral of the story being ---- with a chain change the oil regularly----- with a belt change the belt frequently---- not forgetting all the little gismos associated with them too -------and everyone lived happy ever after.

 

[flango]

So why does almost every taxi driver in southern Europe use them? Not many lagunas on show.
This my friend is b......t in its highest form.

I never said they wern't reliable and went on forever which is why the taxi drivers use them but said they fail technologically speaking as they are sh*te, light years behind the competition. Just look at the fuel consumption and emissions of a MB diesel compared to a BMW diesel no comparison. If you want to screw performance out of a small diesel the Renault or PSA have it sewn up and are unbeatable that's why BMW used them in the Mini until the redesigned their own engine to fit. Volvo use a 1.6 d PSA engine in the S80 which is E class size and whilst it wont win any traffic light grand prix it is an adequate performer and cruises well and you would never know it had a 1.6 under the bonnet unless you were told.

So please read my post's thoroughly before spouting your own proverbial bovine faeces

 

[Biglips]

Noise basically. The duplex chain setups [if adequately lubricated] like yours last forever- it tends to be the chain guides or tensioner mechanism that goes before the chain itself.
The scenario might go thus- you are driving along without a care[ the stereo turned up a bit to drown out the engine noise] when suddenly you get what is described euphemistically as " sudden mechanical noise" Put in layman's terms this is a signal the engine is broken. Your car is recovered to a) the local MB agent ---where spotty face youths gather round it in the workshop amid whispers of " I never dreamt they made cars like this" before wandering off to play on their Star machines again.
or b) your local diesel engine specialist-- where grizzled men in oil soaked boiler suits will suck breath through their teeth and hold back the tears while shaking their heads

the moral of the story being ---- with a chain change the oil regularly----- with a belt change the belt frequently---- not forgetting all the little gismos associated with them too -------and everyone lived happy ever after.

Nice post. Thank you for making me smile!

 

[Darrell]

Cam belts, the scurge of Escort vans.

 

[DSM10000]

Cam belts, the scourge of Escort vans.

I thought that was their drivers?

 

[Dieselman]

Noise basically. The duplex chain setups [if adequately lubricated] like yours last forever- it tends to be the chain guides or tensioner mechanism that goes before the chain itself.

I know of a few W124 that have snapped chains under 200k miles.

Before they snap, all cam chains stretch, which causes the valve and possibly injection timing to retard, in addition they wear the sprockets too, so more aggro when the change does come.

 

[mct_cars]

I know of a few W124 that have snapped chains under 200k miles.

Before they snap, all cam chains stretch, which causes the valve and possibly injection timing to retard, in addition they wear the sprockets too, so more aggro when the change does come.

Porsche's 16v 2.7 and 3.0 4 pots are renowned for needing new sprockets with every other belt change. Belt changes every 45k, but cams are driven from a chain which wears the sprockets. Don't know why they didn't just wrap achain round the lot, but figure it was due to development of the 16v from the 8v.

Anyone know how the AMG M116/7 handles it's DOHC's?

 

[Crespo]

Why not?

Blind prejudice against the French is a national sport I know (and one I have indulged in!) but they do make and sell a lot of cars and I believe that the majority do not blow up?

Errrrrr the 1.9 dci engine fitted to the laguna fails as often as I have hot dinners, even the die hard Renault fans over on the Renault forums will advise you to stay away from them. Google 1.9 dci turbo problems for 3 billion threads on why you shouldn't invest your hard earned on a dci engine.

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