Timing chain and tensioner

[Tashman]

When I collected my car from my local indie the other day after some work, they said the timing chain and tensioner need replacing because they're getting very noisy now and the engine could throw off its chain with the resulting engine damage. The car is a 1987 W124 230 TE.

I've been hearing the noise for a couple of thousand miles or so now and the car has done 202k miles.
They've quoted 6 hours labour ( £458 ) plus the cost of the parts to do the job.
Does this seem reasonable?

Is it a very difficult job to do?
Since I only paid £500 for the car I'm relucted to fork out more than that for the repair...
Having changed my own hydraulic valve lifters last month I'm full of mis-placed confidence about my ability :-D
Is it a job a DIYer could handle or should I bite the bullet and leave it to the garage? Anyone had this on they're car?

 

[jibcl500]

£46 for the tensioner and it took me about an hour to fit so for me to do it for it would be about £80 there abouts.

jib

 

[kth286]

jib

You are misleading him.

He was quoted for the whole job of new timing chain and tensioner.

 

[jibcl500]

Yes sorry should have read the whole question, my fault !!!!

Price actually sounds ok, I wouldnt want to change the chain as it is a big job.

jib

 

[Tashman]

Could I just get away with changing the tensioner then?
Do the chains actually ever break?
He was saying something about it having stretched, but surely the tensioner is there to take up stretch?

 

[jibcl500]

Yes the chains do snap, on the early 124's like yours and mine they only fitted the single chain, if it is worn then get it changed as the costs should it snap will be far greater.
You can fit the later duplex chain but it is expensive for all the parts.
jib

 

[Tashman]

Just taken it to a more 'back-street' style garage thats specialises in mercedes and german cars and they've agreed to do the whole job - parts, labour and Vat for just £260! Much happier!

The mechanic doing the job drives an identical 230TE so he should know them backwards.

 

[and11]

Yes the chains do snap, on the early 124's like yours and mine they only fitted the single chain, if it is worn then get it changed as the costs should it snap will be far greater.
You can fit the later duplex chain but it is expensive for all the parts.
jib

Would that apply to my 1989 300d? It's very rattly on tickover but not so when i have rapeseed oil in. Im told the noise is common with this engine and its called 'diesel knock'. I have posted on here before about this but im surprised this rattly noise isn't doing some type of damage.

 

[Bolide]

I wouldn't say nailing was common on the early engines. I've heard it on a few and it's pretty off-putting. I suspect a set of new injectors might go a long way to curing the problem

Normally, most of the noise at idle on these is the tensioner spring top mount rattling and noisy tappets. I don't think I know what a rattling chain sounds like

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk