Timing chain query

RickC

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Hi all,

I have a 2006 C200k estate.

Can anyone advise me whether my engine has a duplex timing chain and if so are these more durable than the much maligned single item?

Thanks
 

Wighty

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Yep , single chain same as me buddy :D . What mileage has the car got now ?
 
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RickC

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Its on 87k mate
 

Wighty

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Its on 87k mate
There are a lot of horror stories on forums about the M271 chain , obviously not all have problems .
But those that do start around 80k , the lucky owners hear some extra noise from the chain for a few seconds on cold start as a warning before the chain jumps on the worn sprockets .
It can cost just over £1000 to have a new chain and sprockets fitted .
 
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RickC

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Thanks. Is there a tensioner upgrade or similar?
 

Wighty

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Thanks. Is there a tensioner upgrade or similar?
I can't answer about upgrades , I think the replacement sprockets are made of stronger steel ?
Plenty of stuff all over the tinternet/forums if you search M271 chain problems .
There is a company called www.m271 that sells all the kits/parts
 

LostKiwi

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As Wighty says the sprockets are the issue. Some seem to have as much resistance to wear as brie. The teeth wear down and the chain then skips a tooth or three or more. Usually they do this at start up ( no oil pressure on the tensioner, most resistance to turning).
A rattling noise on first start of the day is an early warning.

I did see a thread on another site about a tensioner produced by another company that has caused non return valve in the tensioner to hold oil pressure but not sure how much if any help that would be.
 
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RickC

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Brie...
 
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RickC

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I know. I added a smiley icon but for some reason it didn’t happen.

Very good-made me laugh
 

rifiki

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M272 have same problem, how many actually fail? Nobody knows and on a forum you usually only head bad news.
 
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RickC

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M272 have same problem, how many actually fail? Nobody knows and on a forum you usually only head bad news.
Thats true, thanks. Guess I will just listen carefully in the mornings...
 

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M272 have same problem, how many actually fail? Nobody knows and on a forum you usually only head bad news.
No, M272 have duplex chain. M272 suffers (or at least the early ones) from balance shaft sprocket wear - also made from cheese. Plenty of detail on here and there's lots of websites where you can check your engine number to see if it's affected.
 

Wighty

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Thats true, thanks. Guess I will just listen carefully in the mornings...
It also depends on how long you intend to keep the car and what it's worth to you . I recently took the top cover of my engine off to check the chain and sprockets (70k) and all looked good .
I'll keep changing the oil every 5k as protection , but I'm probably only looking at keeping it for another 1-2 years ?
The cost of doing/paying £1000+ for chain and sprockets on my car is probably near 25% of the cars value .
I will keep weighing this up though the longer I keep the car , sometimes it's easier to stick with a reliable well serviced older car where all its faults are known already .
 

John Laidlaw

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It also depends on how long you intend to keep the car and what it's worth to you . I recently took the top cover of my engine off to check the chain and sprockets (70k) and all looked good .
I'll keep changing the oil every 5k as protection , but I'm probably only looking at keeping it for another 1-2 years ?
The cost of doing/paying £1000+ for chain and sprockets on my car is probably near 25% of the cars value .
I will keep weighing this up though the longer I keep the car , sometimes it's easier to stick with a reliable well serviced older car where all its faults are known already .
Between that and the fact you service yours every second week :rolleyes:
 
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RickC

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It also depends on how long you intend to keep the car and what it's worth to you . I recently took the top cover of my engine off to check the chain and sprockets (70k) and all looked good .
I'll keep changing the oil every 5k as protection , but I'm probably only looking at keeping it for another 1-2 years ?
The cost of doing/paying £1000+ for chain and sprockets on my car is probably near 25% of the cars value .
I will keep weighing this up though the longer I keep the car , sometimes it's easier to stick with a reliable well serviced older car where all its faults are known already .
Totally agree with that. My last car was a £50k + Discovery and I had 11 warranty claims in the first 12 months. What is the point? And it is very satisfying, finding something older that you love and looking after it...
 

mattkh

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.....A rattling noise on first start of the day is an early warning.
Surely, this means that the tensioner should be the first one to be invetigated/changed rather than the chain.
 

Oldspanners

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Totally agree with that. My last car was a £50k + Discovery and I had 11 warranty claims in the first 12 months. What is the point? And it is very satisfying, finding something older that you love and looking after it...
If you have just bought this car apart from checking the timing chain and sprockets, I would check that the gearbox has had a complete oil and filter change (assuming it's an automatic every 40K miles) at least once and if one hasn't been done recently another is due and prudent.
 
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