Wow, Pierre knows his sh*t. I have dealt with old Mercedes for 38 years and did not know the depth of this problem. Maybe because I never drove one particular car long enough to run into this scenario... Thank You
Thanks again for your informative and passionate dissertation on the W126 kettenspanner. T chain/ guide work is a tricky endeavor that requires serious concentration and experience. I turn the crankshaft by hand to put all the chain slack by the tensioner to make the tensioner bolts easier to start.
The Forums tell me to get Genuine, the cheap side tells me to get the Febi, but I’m am removing the timing cover to replace lower guides and chain, so I guess I’ll just go get a genuine just so all my work don’t go to waste, Thanks ! I would of threw the Febi in and didn’t know about the 30k
I bought a used 16V from Sports Leicht. His mechanic replaced the timing chain tensioner with a “superseded” one. No surprise catastrophic engine failure! I found the P/N from the old repair and noticed it was different from the one going into the rebuild! Quite a price difference as well. Called M-B in Chicago. That is where I learned what “superseded” means. I asked the if superseded parts were those M-B figured out were no bueno. Bingo. He said no shop should be without their online parts searching software. The updates would have not even referenced the superseded one. Shady mechanic who wanted to offload obsolete parts. Live and learn.
ive got about 4 of the v8 ones..including 2 brand new febis sitting on the bench.. so guess i got about 60 000 miles worth of tensioner before its time for ANOTHER one...thanks for the info..
Hi there I like your videos because you are expert in Mercedes engines my question is I have a 2005 e320 with the m112 engine and has a ticking sound and no mechanic can find out what it is they check everything and is normal but the ticking sound never goes away what do you think might be?
Hi Pierre, I just came across your channel, love all the work you do and the advice. Iam currently on the hunt for a classic Mercedes I'm chasing down a 1976 450 SLC in Chicago... looking at importing it to Canada so buying sight unseen... risky I know. Any advice on the 450. Thanks Jonathan
Hi i gat merc 420 sel 91 Mdl . I did changed new chaine but I rotate 4 time didn’t get timing mark . What ihv done mistek could u explain about little informations
Thx. Brother! Keep safe, corona here Belgium very severe, the wave is comin yr way. ITS more danger then u think, England and America underplay the danger! Please.! Thx Pierre!
My older friend is trying to fix his 50’s 190 ponton and Has the tensioner with a gasket, I’m curious if anyone knows the part number for the replacement tensioner with the o-ring? Seems like crucial info but I haven’t yet been able to find out how to find one. Any help is much appreciated.
Invaluable advice, delivered ala Incredible Hulk. It's particularly useful to know when aftermarket suppliers simply don't make the cut for a particular component and that genuine Mercedes should be their only choice. A list of these "dealer only purchase" parts would be very useful for the community to know.
I have an important question to ask about the timing chain tensioner for my 1985 380SL that had a Febi I replaced with a Mercedes Brand after watching this and other videos. The new Mercedes Brand is missing the bleed hole between the inside chambers that the Febi had. Ironically.. there is a small hole opposite where the hole was on the Febi that apparently leads to no where. Do I have a factory defect from Mercedes.. or is the hole's absence an upgrade.. or is it correct that there should be no bleed holes between chambers? Please help me as I cannot find anyone who knows. Thanks.. and Merry Christmas!
Hello, Paul Baker and thank YOU so much for your question(s), we want to answer you as quickly as possible. By signing in our Patreon www.patreon.com/thomaspolk page and making a donation of $10 your are assured of a 24 hour email response from Pierre. If you are already a $10 member please mention along with your question.
Hi. What was the MB part number of the original MB tensioner you bought? have you installed it and any issues knowing that it got no hole? I bought a Febi tensioner and i decided not to install it after i read all the reviews, so I ordered an original MB tensioner and expecting to receive within two weeks then will let you know if it got any hole or no (my car is 1984 SL380).
If you buy your own parts and have a mechanic do the work. Watch them to make sure they use your parts and do it correctly. Okay so I have had some problems with professional mechanics. Not Pierre. could probably trust him/
This is the sort of really valuable advice that you can only get form somebody who lives with these cars everyday. Thanks for the tip!
Wow, Pierre knows his sh*t.
I have dealt with old Mercedes for 38 years and did not know the depth of this problem.
Maybe because I never drove one particular car long enough to run into this scenario...
Thank You
If the Febi tensioner is good for 30k miles then it's worth it. You can get 9-10 febi tensioners for the price of 1 genuine.
Thanks again for your informative and passionate dissertation on the W126 kettenspanner. T chain/ guide work is a tricky endeavor that requires serious concentration and experience. I turn the crankshaft by hand to put all the chain slack by the tensioner to make the tensioner bolts easier to start.
I was just willing to buy the Febi tensioner for my 450SL and after that video, I'll search for the original. Thanks again, Pierre.
wow good info my Friend🤓
The Forums tell me to get Genuine, the cheap side tells me to get the Febi, but I’m am removing the timing cover to replace lower guides and chain, so I guess I’ll just go get a genuine just so all my work don’t go to waste, Thanks ! I would of threw the Febi in and didn’t know about the 30k
Best o luck in the new year cobba , luv it
Thanks!
You bet!
Great sound level, thanks.
Rich thank you for noticing, as I'm trying to improve the quality by staying with what works and cutting back on the experimenting.
Regards
Thomas
Stay calm and wrench on! Thanks for info.
Luv it
I bought a used 16V from Sports Leicht. His mechanic replaced the timing chain tensioner with a “superseded” one. No surprise catastrophic engine failure! I found the P/N from the old repair and noticed it was different from the one going into the rebuild! Quite a price difference as well. Called M-B in Chicago. That is where I learned what “superseded” means. I asked the if superseded parts were those M-B figured out were no bueno. Bingo. He said no shop should be without their online parts searching software. The updates would have not even referenced the superseded one. Shady mechanic who wanted to offload obsolete parts. Live and learn.
Gonna wrench some this wknd. Thanks for the motivation Pierre
ive got about 4 of the v8 ones..including 2 brand new febis sitting on the bench.. so guess i got about 60 000 miles worth of tensioner before its time for ANOTHER one...thanks for the info..
Genuine only. It’s a shame so many mechanics don’t care and say it’s fine to save money.
Excellent
Always good info thanks Pierre,,,,,,,,,
Hi there I like your videos because you are expert in Mercedes engines my question is I have a 2005 e320 with the m112 engine and has a ticking sound and no mechanic can find out what it is they check everything and is normal but the ticking sound never goes away what do you think might be?
Hi Pierre, any harm in replacing the cam sprockets with Febi?
Good informative video, thanks.
Hi Pierre, what about m110 280e tensioner? Do they play up?
Hi Pierre, I just came across your channel, love all the work you do and the advice. Iam currently on the hunt for a classic Mercedes I'm chasing down a 1976 450 SLC in Chicago... looking at importing it to Canada so buying sight unseen... risky I know. Any advice on the 450. Thanks Jonathan
What would be a symptom of a timing chain tensioner that isn’t working properly on my ‘83 300d (OM617)? How do you know you have an issue?
Hi i gat merc 420 sel 91 Mdl . I did changed new chaine but I rotate 4 time didn’t get timing mark . What ihv done mistek could u explain about little informations
I've used SWAG guides and tensioner for a m117 with good results. I wouldn't trust a Febi tensioner, from prior experience with other parts from them
Febi aka Bilsteingroup owns SWAG
Great video Pierre. May I suggest a video about adjusting the sunroof? It is a pain of a job.
Agreed !
Thx. Brother! Keep safe, corona here Belgium very severe, the wave is comin yr way. ITS more danger then u think, England and America underplay the danger! Please.! Thx Pierre!
My older friend is trying to fix his 50’s 190 ponton and Has the tensioner with a gasket, I’m curious if anyone knows the part number for the replacement tensioner with the o-ring? Seems like crucial info but I haven’t yet been able to find out how to find one. Any help is much appreciated.
What is the recommended interval to change the upper chain guide rails on 560sel
I bought a tensioner last year from main dealer for my 500SEL for £85 ... bargain 👍🏽
Invaluable advice, delivered ala Incredible Hulk. It's particularly useful to know when aftermarket suppliers simply don't make the cut for a particular component and that genuine Mercedes should be their only choice. A list of these "dealer only purchase" parts would be very useful for the community to know.
Is an INA replacement ok for a 104.995?
i need to do this to my 300D
I have an important question to ask about the timing chain tensioner for my 1985 380SL that had a Febi I replaced with a Mercedes Brand after watching this and other videos. The new Mercedes Brand is missing the bleed hole between the inside chambers that the Febi had. Ironically.. there is a small hole opposite where the hole was on the Febi that apparently leads to no where. Do I have a factory defect from Mercedes.. or is the hole's absence an upgrade.. or is it correct that there should be no bleed holes between chambers? Please help me as I cannot find anyone who knows. Thanks.. and Merry Christmas!
Hello, Paul Baker and thank YOU so much for your question(s), we want to answer you as quickly as possible.
By signing in our Patreon www.patreon.com/thomaspolk page and making a donation of $10 your are assured of a 24 hour email response from Pierre.
If you are already a $10 member please mention along with your question.
Hi. What was the MB part number of the original MB tensioner you bought? have you installed it and any issues knowing that it got no hole? I bought a Febi tensioner and i decided not to install it after i read all the reviews, so I ordered an original MB tensioner and expecting to receive within two weeks then will let you know if it got any hole or no (my car is 1984 SL380).
Check if you have the single chain, if so change to double row set up on the 380.
I splurged for a genuine one for my 4.5 and it leaks :( lol
I hope i can talk with you & tell you what's my w126's problems (420 se 1989)
That looks like the tensioner on my 98 Yamaha R1
If you buy your own parts and have a mechanic do the work. Watch them to make sure they use your parts and do it correctly. Okay so I have had some problems with professional mechanics. Not Pierre. could probably trust him/
When I had to replace the tensioner in my car, I simplified by doing an LS swap.