My M156 Engine Mods - Future Proofing

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Hi John, just tuning in to this thread.
So this rattle you had, was it something that you noticed since you've had the car or has it "developed" (see what I did there? ;):D) since you got it?

How loud was this rattle too?
Was it something you could hear from inside the cabin when you started it?

Bit concerning that this issue showed its face after 70K miles! :crazy:
 
I am changing mine and it's only got 23000 miles on.
It's a "well known" issue that the "old style" valve tappets and head bolts were a weakness which is why anything newer than a 2010 will have the "modified" components fitted. There are loads of horror stories on the mb world forum.
statistically you are probably safe....however I have never been known as lucky Lee.
Getting it done on warranty is the way forward and I am pretty sure MB will want to keep it quiet how many are being changed out.
 
My C204 350 has that 1-2 second rattle on cold starts only, it's actually booked in with MB to investigate… it's done 17K miles. :S
 
My C204 350 has that 1-2 second rattle on cold starts only, it's actually booked in with MB to investigate… it's done 17K miles. :S
I'm assuming that yours is the M276 engine? If so, take a look at this thread.
 
John was your problem related to this issue which has been discussed on the forum previously -


http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=716192

Yes Sukh, and it was this document that I sent to the dealer along with a video of my cold start.

I subsequently found out there is a similar TIPS (?) document for UK dealers.

From then onwards, MB Central did the rest, and MB Warranty changed adjusters and buckets as described above.

The head bolt change is something completely different and was really peace of mind for me.

I'll post the video later if anyone wants to see it :dk:.

My engine number is 55570, so the later fix on the pdf applied.
 
Last edited:
My car seams perfect at the moment and she as covered 76k but that problem always bugged me !!!
I don't rag it as much I do on my 55 because I'm afraid something like that happens!!!
It's really annoying mercedes should make a recall to all of those cars regardless !!! At the end of the day we bought an AMG for a reason and that problem only puts people of to buy one or keep one for long .
I already asked mike my mb tech specialist to quote me to have it done ASAP and he said we will do it if car starts to make the noise but for now we should leave it .
 
My car seams perfect at the moment and she as covered 76k but that problem always bugged me !!!
I don't rag it as much I do on my 55 because I'm afraid something like that happens!!!
It's really annoying mercedes should make a recall to all of those cars regardless !!! At the end of the day we bought an AMG for a reason and that problem only puts people of to buy one or keep one for long .
I already asked mike my mb tech specialist to quote me to have it done ASAP and he said we will do it if car starts to make the noise but for now we should leave it .

I can see why MB never did a recall, if you imagine the amount of M156 engines kicking about with the "issue" then I bet it's only 1 or 2% that have a failure so financially it makes more sense for MB to just honour the repair on warranty........however if you invalidate the warranty (like I have) then you run the risk or do the work prior to a failure.
Still shocking really that they know about the issue as the changed the parts after a certain engine number and it's only through forums and a failed legal case in the states that owners find out about it.:dk:
 
My car seams perfect at the moment and she as covered 76k but that problem always bugged me !!!
I don't rag it as much I do on my 55 because I'm afraid something like that happens!!!
It's really annoying mercedes should make a recall to all of those cars regardless !!! At the end of the day we bought an AMG for a reason and that problem only puts people of to buy one or keep one for long .
I already asked mike my mb tech specialist to quote me to have it done ASAP and he said we will do it if car starts to make the noise but for now we should leave it .


You need to maintain some sense of scale here - there have been tens of thousands of these powerunits made across a range of models and a forum will reveal the few bad apples - it's the forum way.

Weistec told me they have customers cars who exhibit the same symptoms as mine did yet run perfectly well - and Weistec are in the business of selling people modified M156 parts...

Anyway, as requested, here's the video - you're listening for the initial start up rattle - can you let me know if it works please?

 
developer said:
You need to maintain some sense of scale here - there have been tens of thousands of these powerunits made across a range of models and a forum will reveal the few bad apples - it's the forum way. Weistec told me they have customers cars who exhibit the same symptoms as mine did yet run perfectly well - and Weistec are in the business of selling people modified M156 parts... Anyway, as requested, here's the video - you're listening for the initial start up rattle: http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/developer215/W211 MIB/S212/VIDEO0035_zps3f5b4621.mp4
so do you agree with my mechanic?
I'm a mechanic myself and I'm very picky with my cars and I always say better safe than sorry !!!
If you was in my place would you leave it for now?:)
 
so do you agree with my mechanic?
I'm a mechanic myself and I'm very picky with my cars and I always say better safe than sorry !!!
If you was in my place would you leave it for now?:)

Sorry but I can't advise you, other than to say if it's ok I wouldn't be worrying.
 
so do you agree with my mechanic?
I'm a mechanic myself and I'm very picky with my cars and I always say better safe than sorry !!!
If you was in my place would you leave it for now?:)

If it's under warranty then leave it.

If it's not under warranty then change them and have no worries.
 
Video worked fine by the way John.

Did sound rattly but, as you say, all's well now.
 
Lee C63 said:
If it's under warranty then leave it. If it's not under warranty then change them and have no worries.
my girl is a 58 plate so no warranty and I skipped the last service at merc was done at mike mb of medway!!
I think depending what the price is to have it modified I'll leave it for now and keep an eye on it !!!:)
 
Nice clean engine bay I've got there eh? :cool:
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom