m111 startup rattle

[bembo449]

my 2p worth , a friend of mine tried 0w oil in his petrol Renault , it instantly started making a similar metallic rattle on start up , switched back to 10w oil the noise went , I really don't feel you need to be running such thin oil in an engine like that pal and service so frequently is certainly not required ! Modern oils are designed to handle heavy OR lack of use , my V8's oil is as clean as the day I put it in 1500 miles ago / 18 months since I dropped it out

 

[Mercfreaks]

Hi guys I have a 2002 c180 m111 NA engine done 80k miles and running on Mobil 1 0W-40 oil with oil changed every 2k miles as I dont drive it often. since I have owned it 3 years + it has always made a rattling sound on cold startup that lasts 2-3seconds when not started for more than 3 days. I have read extensively about this issue on this forum and had asked previously before also, many said it was the lifters and common on m111 to make noises like that, dealer said the same though they said might be chain tensioner but they said they cant order any parts for m111 any more in South Asia so I did nothing about it. Recently reading some threads on this issue I thought illl ask once again if its safe for the car and what are my options considering it wont be worth opening the head to see if its a chain or lifters issue especially when I cant find any parts, the best I can do is swap it to a M111 Kompressor engine as I cant find parts for a NA one. any had this issue before, to me the rattle sounds rattlier than the tick tick of dry lifters but at the same time the rattle is not a quick high rpm rattle like I have heard chains on m271 sounding when bad, its almost like a misfire rattle. there never been any codes or other issues while driving, pulls strong on the rev range, should I loose my sleep or not? Should I consider starting it and idling for a few min every 3 days just for this reason?

I just came across this thread and realise it is old. I use to have same model 2002 C180 with 2 second cold start rattle after sitting for day or two. IT IS NORMAL for this model (and others) with M111 engines. MB Star Bulletin of November 30, 2004 P-B-05.20/14 confirms that it is normal operation since the engine oil bleeds completely out of the camshaft adjuster and will rattle until oil pressure builds up. After 210,000km I had no problems.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I just came across this thread and realise it is old. I use to have same model 2002 C180 with 2 second cold start rattle after sitting for day or two. IT IS NORMAL for this model (and others) with M111 engines. MB Star Bulletin of November 30, 2004 P-B-05.20/14 confirms that it is normal operation since the engine oil bleeds completely out of the camshaft adjuster and will rattle until oil pressure builds up. After 210,000km I had no problems.

You will have the M272 engine though which has long term issues with the chain and the corresponding sprockets characterised by chain rattle on start up..

 

[LostKiwi]

You will have the M272 engine though which has long term issues with the chain and the corresponding sprockets characterised by chain rattle on start up..

Only if it's a Kompressor will it be an m271 . The NA c180 is an m111.

 

[Blobcat]

You will have the M272 engine though which has long term issues with the chain and the corresponding sprockets characterised by chain rattle on start up..

M272 is the most excellent V6
M271 is the slightly weak IL4

 

[John Laidlaw]

M272 is the most excellent V6
M271 is the slightly weak IL4

Thanks Russ I did mean the 271, tiredness !!

 

[Mercfreaks]

Only if it's a Kompressor will it be an m271 . The NA c180 is an m111.

Spot on LostKiwi - C180 W203.035 - M111 1998cc fitted in 2000-2002 models.

 

[LostKiwi]

Spot on LostKiwi - C180 W203.035 - M111 1998cc fitted in 2000-2002 models.

Yep...I had one too

 

[Mercfreaks]

T

You will have the M272 engine though which has long term issues with the chain and the corresponding sprockets characterised by chain rattle on start up..

It is definitely C180 W203.035 M111 1998cc (non Kompressor) engine fitted in 2000-2002 models. My son now has the car and it still going strong. Yes I agree M271 had issues, I believe, due to a single timing chain which is prone to stretching. The M111 has a double timing chain and other than the problem with oil leaking out of cam solenoid/magnet (which is an easy DIY to fix) the car is/has been extremely reliable after 17 years. After extensive research of the cold start rattle when I first got the car, I'm convinced it is simply oil draining from cam adjuster as described in the 2004 Star Bulletin mentioned above. The rattle has been the same for 17 years - no better/no worse. My aim in responding to this thread was to inform other owners of C180 W203s with M111 engines not to tear their motors apart looking for a cause of the rattle. Arzaam's recording of the rattle above is identical to the cam adjuster rattle on my son's car. While not the most powerful unit, there are still many MBs with this engine on the road and according to my reliable MB indy, it is one of the most bullet proof engines made by MB.

 

[ajlsl600]

Age, poor maintenance, incorrect oils.

and mb metal having characteristics of Plasticine ..

 

[LostKiwi]

and mb metal having characteristics of Plasticine ..

Only on M271s. The m111 is quite robustly made.

 

[ajlsl600]

Only on M271s. The m111 is quite robustly made.

right ,m271 bits china, m 111 german ? lk hope you have a grand xmas . i in nigeria 10 weeks setting up airport runway refurb and staying out of cold,30 here right now ,grand,mostly !!

 

[Arzaam]

I just came across this thread and realise it is old. I use to have same model 2002 C180 with 2 second cold start rattle after sitting for day or two. IT IS NORMAL for this model (and others) with M111 engines. MB Star Bulletin of November 30, 2004 P-B-05.20/14 confirms that it is normal operation since the engine oil bleeds completely out of the camshaft adjuster and will rattle until oil pressure builds up. After 210,000km I had no problems.

sorry for the late reply but yes its M111 and its normal its been two years since my query I still have the noise if left for 3-5 days in cold upon startup for a seocnd or two, but no other issue timing chain doing fine its normal, what I found is instead of using 0W-40 oil I now use 5W-40 oil so now sound is hardly a second long so the little thicker oil helps