500E timing chain

[pietrogiovanna]

Hi everyone,
This is the first time i write in tthin forum and I would appreciate your input, I just bought a 92 500E with 95K miles, I have been told that the timing chains need to be replaced at 100K. Talking to my shop's mechanics they told me they have never replaced a chain in an M119 motor in the last 10 years, does anybody have any experience with these chains?
Thanks for reading.

[DSLPWR]

While I appreciate the MBCA Forums immensely, the better location for information on this topic is probably at www.500ecstasy.com. Those guys live, breathe, and eat this model Mercedes-Benz all day long. Every day. They salivate at the mere mention of "124.036."

DSLPWR

[pietrogiovanna]

Thank you very much for the tip.
Have a great day.

[Jimbo]

The M119 chains easily go 150-200K without much more than a chain tensioner replacement and regular oil changes. Itsa big chain !

Don't mess with it unless you hear noises I would say. My 500E has 146K on the original chain...did the tensioner at 135K...original one was getting tired, everything else like guide rails and such were fine. :)

[pietrogiovanna]

Thanks for the input, that's what I thought but I wasn't sure because some info I have gotten in other forums and sites implied that the chain was a "must" replacement item at 100K miles. I think I mentioned it before, my friend, who is also my mechanic has not replaced a chain in an M119 motor for the las 10 years. He has quite a number of years of experience working for Onager Corp.and then for So Bay Autohaus.
By the way, do you know how to get to the front turn signal lights, they look buried in there behind the intake ducts.
Thanks for the info.

[gerryvz]

As long as the engine's oil is kept changed at regular intervals, and there is no obvious noise coming as the result of a bad chain, there is no need to replace it. You will hear when the chain is going bad, and there is plenty of warning as to when it needs to be replaced. Automatically changing it at 100K is absurd. I would say, likely, that it would need to be changed by 200K miles, but even then, its life is directly proportional to the frequency with which the oil is changed.

So don't worry on the chain, you'll know.

The front turn signal lights are held in by plastic spring tabs inside the fender. You just need to look down there and find the tab that holds it in, press the tab inward, and press the light forward out of the fender. It's quite simple. The turn signal comes out independently of the headlamp.

Cheers,
Gerry

[Ferdman]

Remember to unplug the turn signal bulb before pressing the release tab to remove the bulb/lens assembly. Slide the turn signal assembly straight forward being careful not to break off the plastic alignment tabs that secure it to the headlight assembly.

[pietrogiovanna]

Thank you very much, Gentlemen, for your help. I do agree with your statements about the chain, is not even mentioned in the regular scheduled maintenance. I wouldn't think that the engineers at MB forgot to include it in the maint. program.
Also about the lights, thanks; I also got a demonstration on the replacement at my local shop, I love those guys, my light sensor light (is that the correct name?) was turning on constantly but I had no burnt lights anywhere, it turns out that if you use american made light bulbs, they might set off the indicator light.
I changed the center stop light to a German one and the sensor light does not come on anymore.
What do you think about that?
Thanks again.

[gerryvz]

I just use the "Osram" bulbs that you can get at most auto parts stores here in the US, which are European made, and have never had a problem.

Cheers,
Gerry

[pietrogiovanna]

Thanks Gerry, that's very good to know, I'll check next time I go to the store.
Do you know if changing the headlights to a silverstar 65/45 will affect the heat load in the headlight housing?