SLK 230, when is it recommended to change the Timing belt/chain.
Hi gang. I've been wondering if any one has any idea at what mileage/KM it is recommended to change the timing belt and/or chain {have they a chain or belt?}on a SLK 230.
Mine has 146km and been wondering when or if it should be changed or checked.
Any one had one break or heard of one letting go, if so at what mileage!!!
These cars have a chain and I'm hearing they're good for 100k miles.
I don't know about the 100K miles thing but chain are good until it start to make noise. My e30 m3 got over 175K miles and no noise what so ever. When we open it up for cams mods, the only thing that was wear was the chain plastic guider.
The 100k miles that Kevin and I mention is the service interval recommended by the manufacturer. However, Linh makes a good point - these chains may go longer than that. Keep in mind that the life of the chain depends upon many variable factors that are not necessarily the same for every car.
So for me, I'm not going to do anything until at least 100k.....unless I hear some rattling!
Vehicle: 2002 SLK 32 AMG, bone stock. 1987 190E 2.3-16 Valve, NOT bone stock...
Location: Near Washington, DC
Posts: 8,333
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheJimbo
The 100k miles that Kevin and I mention is the service interval recommended by the manufacturer. However, Linh makes a good point - these chains may go longer than that. Keep in mind that the life of the chain depends upon many variable factors that are not necessarily the same for every car.
So for me, I'm not going to do anything until at least 100k.....unless I hear some rattling!
Two things you may want to keep in mind, and they ARE conflicting:
( 1 ) The service interval was developed before the common use of full synthetic motor oils, and the interval IS conservative as you would expect. Since most of us use Mobile 1, that's something that would most likely extend the life of the chain, a LOT.
( 2 ) With all the noise these engines make, and the fact that there is a chain tensioner inside the housing, you may NOT hear a rattle before the chain lets go. Some of the SL 560's (?) had a single chain, which was later increased to a double chain because of the chain failure rate. Point is you don't always get a signed and sealed notification that the chain is about to depart. The results are quite expensive...
I wouldn't get to worked up about replacing the chain at 100K miles, but until we have a base line to go with, I think I'd want to take a close look at the chain at 125,000 miles or less.
The 380SL had a single row chain from 81 thru 84. Before that and after that, the 450SL and 560SL had double row chains. The single row chain was a bad idea that didn't last long.
That said, the recommend interval is 100K miles. Anything beyond that is up to your own discretion...
Again we enter unchartered territory.
100 miles is the factory recommendation whether it needs it or not.
Big gamble to take , as Bruce mentioned you are not going to get a written invitation to change the chain and when they go they do just go.
A rattly chain is not always indicative same as a chain thats done the miles that is quite is not indicative.
I wouldnt play with fate or you might just end up with a real big rattle as valves give your piston tops a little kiss...kiss.
And even if the German engineering prevents piston tops kissing valves it is a horrible sound and sight watching the front of an engine disintergrate.
Winding a new chain on will solve all your concerns.
Does anyone know if the information or procedure for doing this is in the new CD manual from Merc? I'm currently at 104K mi and increase around 3K per month so I need to understand this issue soon!
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