Rough Price for M271 Premptive Chain & Sprocket Change ?

[poormansporsche]

Morning,

Im thinking of buying a 55 plate W203 C200 with 80K - there is no timing chain problems at the mo but would like to factor in a rough price to change the above to save any future problems.

Whats the likely cost there and abouts from the likes of Ollie or Terry or anyone else who knows what they are doing ?


Cheers


Brett

 

[neilrr]

More than the car is worth?

 

[motodrb]

My old car; 2005 C180K needed this work at 77k miles with FMBSH.... it was around £2k to do at the local independant specialist.

 

[shorty]

There is a company my MB mechanic uses that will supply hardened steel replacement gears and chain for 500 euro.
Its much cheaper than using genuine MB parts and should be longer lasting. When I had this problem a few years back I used MB parts, the sprockets retail at 720 euro each and the chain is 160 euro.

 

[bolide]

Why would you spend £2k on "pre-emptive maintenance" on a £2500 car?

Nick Froome

 

[malluboy77]

I went through this thought a few years ago. Bought my W203 C180K with 62k on the clock in 2009. It's done 130000+ now and still going strong.

 

[malluboy77]

I would suggest getting the 'jumper cable' from Mercedes to avoid oil getting into the ECU from camshaft sensors which is a known fault on many M271s. Drop mea PM if you want me to get the Merc part numbers. Paid something near £30 for one from my faint memory.

 

[markjay]

Why would you spend £2k on "pre-emptive maintenance" on a £2500 car?

Nick Froome

He didn't see he would.... he just asked how much it was.

And I think the cost from an indie using non-MB parts (which in this case are actually better) would be around the £1.5k mark.

 

[MercWerx]

Hi
Apologies as this is my first post and I have been more of a watcher than a doer!I have done a few of these with my friend who has been a top tech with MB for 15 years and we used the M271 gears from Gavin at Mercedes M271parts and they are good and the kit is £550ish. If the chain/or gears haven't already gone you could just change the chain and clean up the tensioner which is not very dear. I understand there is an breather pipe under the intake manifold which leaks and causes problems as well as the wrong oil spec being used. if it hasn't gone you can look at the teeth on the gears as well to check wear and the guides. When they go it often screws a few valves so head off which racks up the hours as well so cant see why a bit of pre emptive work would cost the earth.

 

[190]

I went through this thought a few years ago. Bought my W203 C180K with 62k on the clock in 2009. It's done 130000+ now and still going strong.

Interesting that the failure doesn't happen to everyone. Just worrying that it might happen spoils the ownership experience. I wonder what factors determine how long the chain and sprockets will last. It would be easy to say lack of maintenance but it seems to affect FMBSH cars too. My 59 plate has only 51,000 miles so far but I wish there was something pre-emptive that could be done that doesn't cost thousands. Perhaps the first thing to do is just look at chain and sprocket to see if there is any wear evident or perhaps open up and examine a used oil filter for wear debris. I suppose a used oil analysis would also show something up. For now I'm changing the oil at 4000 mile intervals.

 

[motodrb]

Hi
Apologies as this is my first post and I have been more of a watcher than a doer!I have done a few of these with my friend who has been a top tech with MB for 15 years and we used the M271 gears from Gavin at Mercedes M271parts and they are good and the kit is £550ish. If the chain/or gears haven't already gone you could just change the chain and clean up the tensioner which is not very dear. I understand there is an breather pipe under the intake manifold which leaks and causes problems as well as the wrong oil spec being used. if it hasn't gone you can look at the teeth on the gears as well to check wear and the guides. When they go it often screws a few valves so head off which racks up the hours as well so cant see why a bit of pre emptive work would cost the earth.

Great info, should be pinned in the relevant section to save lots of people money and stress when sorting this issue.

That looks great; Mercedes M271 Kompressor Engine Store | Mercedes M271 Kompressor Timing Gear Hub Service Kit

 

[motodrb]

Why would you spend £2k on "pre-emptive maintenance" on a £2500 car?

Nick Froome

Not much choice when you take the cover off and see no teeth left on the sprockets The car was worth over £5k as it was few years ago.

 

[Howard]

Pre-emptive means before it happens.

If your teeth had already fallen off , then it's happened , you have no choice.

If the teeth havent fallen off and you choose to do the work , then you are pre-empting it happening.

A mate of my dads has just bought a c180 with the 271 engine at 105k despite me warning him ... Just counting the time now lol

 

[neilrr]

Howard you are wasted on that lock. You should be on the stage as a stand up.

 

[motodrb]

I will probably still drive the car not knowing about the issue as it didn't have no malfunctions, error codes, wasn't even noisy at start up. Only checked for a peace of mind after reading similar topic on the forum mistake...

 

[markjay]

Engine useage in cars is measured in miles because cars cover distances.

Engine useage in mechanical equipment is measures in hours because they are either stationary or move very little.

But both are geusstimates....

You could very well have two identical cars, one covered (say) 120,000 miles, the other 50,000, and both engines will display the same level of wear due to these cars having been driven under very different conditions.

And them there's also the engine oil.... both quality and change frequently.