My 1979 W116 450 SEL right side cam was replaced after 12 years, 80,000 miles. An experienced MB mechanic, after his first inspection of my recently purchase 11 year old car, that I listen carefully to the engine at idle-there was in intermittent slight tappet noise every ten seconds. He said that within the year or so the right side camshaft would start to go - a known flaw in this engine due to oil delivery issues. The right cam is furthest from the oil pump. He pulled the cover and found the oiler ok. Drive it, he said, but I would be forewarned of its coming demise when suddenly there would be a steady noticeable constant tappet noise and then you had 100 miles of grace to deal with it. Not even a year later he was right. Faint but steady Tic, Tic, Tic. I immediately took it to MB Manhattan where they had two gray haired mechanics check it out - “It's the right side camshaft”, they declared in a thick German accents. They said I was real smart to have brought it in, most people do not and face a real expensive engine rebuild. They would replace the cam and ‘anything we can touch that is worn and especially all the plastic bits, cam oiler kit, and the timing chain guides, and check the timing chain and tensioner (afterward they said the chain was OK but that I should come back at about 125-150,000 miles). Cost me 1991 $1000 but the engine never sounded better.
Hello, during the video you indicated you were going to get to the part numbers - was this going to be in the part two video were you going to post in the description?
Hi Pierre. Good video. It could’ve been a great video if you would have spent a little time before hand preparing better. The visuals were useless as you are scrambling around looking for parts and waving them around and looking closely at damage From 1 inch away that the camera could never pick up from 3 feet away.Hope you find this comment constructive. Peace, Andrew.
Informative as usual. Perhaps add an inset close up pic of the worn parts/oiler tube holders or maybe zoom in on what you're holding whilst you're talking about it so we can get a clear visual..
Dumb question. This seems like a design flaw if it is something that needs to be done as frequently as you suggest. Why hasn’t anyone come up with a fix so it isn’t necessary?
@Pierre Hedary
Little morsels like this show us that you know your stuff.
Excellent work, thank You
My 1979 W116 450 SEL right side cam was replaced after 12 years, 80,000 miles. An experienced MB mechanic, after his first inspection of my recently purchase 11 year old car, that I listen carefully to the engine at idle-there was in intermittent slight tappet noise every ten seconds. He said that within the year or so the right side camshaft would start to go - a known flaw in this engine due to oil delivery issues. The right cam is furthest from the oil pump. He pulled the cover and found the oiler ok. Drive it, he said, but I would be forewarned of its coming demise when suddenly there would be a steady noticeable constant tappet noise and then you had 100 miles of grace to deal with it. Not even a year later he was right. Faint but steady Tic, Tic, Tic. I immediately took it to MB Manhattan where they had two gray haired mechanics check it out - “It's the right side camshaft”, they declared in a thick German accents. They said I was real smart to have brought it in, most people do not and face a real expensive engine rebuild. They would replace the cam and ‘anything we can touch that is worn and especially all the plastic bits, cam oiler kit, and the timing chain guides, and check the timing chain and tensioner (afterward they said the chain was OK but that I should come back at about 125-150,000 miles). Cost me 1991 $1000 but the engine never sounded better.
Great video, thank you Pierre.
Nice info. 👍
Those shafts are indeed very calm
Stay Calm and be like Pierre Hedary.
My wife loves my calm shaft
Short or long duration?
Glad know for my great-running M116.028, Pierre.
Hello, during the video you indicated you were going to get to the part numbers - was this going to be in the part two video were you going to post in the description?
Great
For the record, I let all the advertisements play through. ;-)
Great advice...
Such a mellow video.
Hi Pierre. Good video. It could’ve been a great video if you would have spent a little time before hand preparing better. The visuals were useless as you are scrambling around looking for parts and waving them around and looking closely at damage From 1 inch away that the camera could never pick up from 3 feet away.Hope you find this comment constructive. Peace, Andrew.
Informative as usual. Perhaps add an inset close up pic of the worn parts/oiler tube holders or maybe zoom in on what you're holding whilst you're talking about it so we can get a clear visual..
Clam shaft failures
The message of the day is Stay calm when you face a camshaft failure!
And it seems not all shafts in cars are calm...some can go bad in a fury.
Love your channel. I'm at beginning/learning phase of collectable Mercedes. Can you tell me a good reference book for them ?
Can someone tell part number of those parts?
Good video. So what does it mean if you have a damaged rocker & lobe but you DO have good oiler clips?
Dumb question. This seems like a design flaw if it is something that needs to be done as frequently as you suggest. Why hasn’t anyone come up with a fix so it isn’t necessary?