Snapped timing chain - SLK 230K

[Deborah]

Hello everyone!

Has anyone ever experienced a snapped timing chain on a SLK 230 Kompressor? I have a 1997 model that I bought when it was 18 months old and it has a full service history and never been thrashed. The garage tells me I need a new/second-hand engine but finding one appears to be a mine field. Is it worth the labour cost to have the head removed to assess the damage with a view to maybe repairing it?

Help!!!

 

[jaymanek]

i would at least get them to look a bit deeper into it to see exactly what damage has been done... may just be the head...

 

[BTB 500]

Out of interest, what's the mileage?

I'd have thought a second hand engine would be the most cost-effective option.

 

[seymansey]

I would have thought that you would be able to get a 230K unit fairly easily since they are fitted to a wide range of MB Vehicles.

Taking the head off to assess the damage is viable, but as you say labour will ramp up the cost. At what point did the chain snap? Motorway? Low speed cruising? Starting up? The smaller the amount of work that the engine would have been doing at the time of failure, the better - or at least the chance of few valves being bent.

 

[Will]

Hi Deborah,

Very sorry to hear of the problem you've experienced.

It's very unusual on your model, in fact I've never heard of any such failures on these engines, certainly not on these forums, even with high mileages.

Can I please ask - how often and where your car was serviced, what oil was used, the mileage of your car and also what sort of journeys were covered?

Is it a manual or auto car BTW?

In what circumstances did it fail? I while driving, on start up - what sort of RPM?

FWIW, on your car I would certainly look out for a 2nd hand engine. It's the same as used in the W202 C230 Kompressor as well, and they should be fairly cheaply from a breaker's yard.

You could look at removing the head, but with the cost of gaskets, new chain, tensioner, the guide rails, the labour - that's without any damage to the 16 valves or even worse - bottom end damage. This route could well be more troublesome and more expensive.

Good luck

Will

 

[television]

Who is looking at it Deborah and where are you based

 

[recycled]

sorry about this. quite rare as well.

 

[Deborah]

Out of interest, what's the mileage?

I'd have thought a second hand engine would be the most cost-effective option.

Hi Bill

It's done 105k miles

Deborah

 

[Deborah]

I would have thought that you would be able to get a 230K unit fairly easily since they are fitted to a wide range of MB Vehicles.

Taking the head off to assess the damage is viable, but as you say labour will ramp up the cost. At what point did the chain snap? Motorway? Low speed cruising? Starting up? The smaller the amount of work that the engine would have been doing at the time of failure, the better - or at least the chance of few valves being bent.

Hiya

I was pulling off a roundabout so was probably only travelling at about 25/30 mph

Deborah

 

[beacham]

if it wer me i would get it repaired rather than take a chance on a second hand engine, i know second hand spares have come a long way and you should be OK, but i would not think a head repair would cost much more if at all, usually its just bent valves

 

[Deborah]

Hi Deborah,

Very sorry to hear of the problem you've experienced.

It's very unusual on your model, in fact I've never heard of any such failures on these engines, certainly not on these forums, even with high mileages.

Can I please ask - how often and where your car was serviced, what oil was used, the mileage of your car and also what sort of journeys were covered?

Is it a manual or auto car BTW?

In what circumstances did it fail? I while driving, on start up - what sort of RPM?

FWIW, on your car I would certainly look out for a 2nd hand engine. It's the same as used in the W202 C230 Kompressor as well, and they should be fairly cheaply from a breaker's yard.

You could look at removing the head, but with the cost of gaskets, new chain, tensioner, the guide rails, the labour - that's without any damage to the 16 valves or even worse - bottom end damage. This route could well be more troublesome and more expensive.

Good luck

Will

Hi Will

It was always serviced at its programmed time/mileage and always by a MB garage. I don't know what oil was used but am presuming it was the recommended type. It has done 105k miles and has an automatic gearbox. It was mainly used for shorter journeys, say 10/15 miles round trip with the occassional longer one of a couple of hundred miles.
I was just pulling off a roundabout when the chain snapped so was doing no more than about 30 mph. The garage tells me that considerable damage would have been done regardless of the speed I was doing which is why they are recommending another engine.

Thanks

Deborah

 

[Deborah]

if it wer me i would get it repaired rather than take a chance on a second hand engine, i know second hand spares have come a long way and you should be OK, but i would not think a head repair would cost much more if at all, usually its just bent valves

I think I'll get the garage to quote me for both jobs and see which one is likely to empty the contents of my bank account the most!!!

Thanks
Deborah

 

[Deborah]

Who is looking at it Deborah and where are you based

Hi Malcolm!

I am based in Kent. A local BMW/Mercedes garage are looking at it for me. I am also in communication with the MB garage that serviced it in July!

Thanks

Deborah

 

[Deborah]

sorry about this. quite rare as well.

It would seem so!!!!

Deborah

 

[BTB 500]

As an observation, 105k miles is pretty high for an SLK (but obviously the same engine reaches that sort of mileage in saloons much more often).

The amount of damage would surely be based on engine RPM rather than vehicle speed. Presumably there would be a high chance of piston damage, possibly even conrods. With cheap labour a repair/rebuild might be feasible, but at garage rates a replacement engine would surely be the cheapest option.

 

[mr. shr]

If the car has FULL MB service history then ask if they will offer you any compensation.
The timing chain broke on my Dad's first merc years ago. After a bit of discussion, MB agreed to supply a new engine but we had to pay the labour (about 1k at the time I think)

I believe someone else on here also had the timing chain break on his (I think) S Class. He got a discount on his next purchase.

So it's worth pushing them on this as timing chain's are not supposed to break. That's why Merc fit them. And it's one of the (few) reasons why I buy mercs.

 

[Will]

Timing chains are not supposed to break, but then so are a lot of other things. Cam belts aren't designed to break either.

I'm more satisfied that it actually broke at a slightly higher mileage/age than it could have been. (ie, 10 years/100K miles+)

I'm not expecting you to have noticed, but do you by any chance recall any strange sounds with your engine leading up to this? Ie, rattle/metallic sounds on start up, backing on/off the throttle at low engine RPMs etc?

Have you ever had any other work carried out on the engine other than routine servicing?

A replacement engine is easily the best option here I would say, you'll be most likely to get one with lower miles (hence probably better condition than your current engine anyway). Can't see any real advantage on rebuilding your engine (with the mileage/problem it's suffered) than sourcing a good replacement. Certainly, the issue you've experienced is pretty much a one off, not heard of on these forums before AFAIK.

Will

 

[mr. shr]

Cam belts aren't designed to break either.

Indeed, but you are supposed to have the belt changed after so many miles to catch it before it breaks!!!

Chains are supposed to live forever!!!!

 

[Will]

But how long is forever?

And, do cam belts never break before they are due to be changed?

Will

 

[Howard]

Thought chains were mean to be done between 150 and 200k ?