My 86 560SEL w/ 64K miles was running smooth as silk. Was sitting or a few days. Went out to drive it, started it up and it sounded terrible. Made loud knocking sounds but ran smooth, oil pressure gauge all the way up at 3 bars. I turned it off and now it won't even turn over!! Turn the key, everything lights up, turn key to start and just a hear a clunk. I've had a little trouble with the neutral safety switch, but could always jiggle the shifter and get it to start.

I'm worried the engine locked up from the terrible clunking sounds when I started it before.

Haven't gotten it to a mechanic yet. Obviously will need towed.

How could an engine that was so smooth and quiet just all of a sudden make such knocking sounds?

Could it be something simple or should prepare for the worst?

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

Sounds like the timing chain ate a plastic rail guide and then the chain jumped out of time and the valves hit the pistons. A standard way of failure for these engines. Expensive to fix at this point.

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I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave

78 Corvette Stingray - 3k
82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k
86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k
87 420sel - 240k
89 560sl - 78k
91 420sel - 205k
91 560sel - 85k
94 GMC Suburban - 90k
97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k
00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k

If that were the case, would it still run? The car started up fine and I let it run for a couple minutes. It didn't run rough, just made a loud knocking sound. Engine wasn't shaking or anything like that.

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

I think your going to find out that your 560 didn't have 64K on the clock. Have you tried turing the motor over by hand?

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It checked out with autocheck.com when I bought it with 53K. Also, service stickers and books would support the mileage represented.

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

Did you inspect the engine for visible damage?

T- chain will sometimes knock a hole in the valve cover.

Perhaps an ancillary component failed- belt or pulley?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Nothing appears amiss.

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

here's an account of exactly what happened...

i got in the car, turned the key and started engine. shifted into reverse. HMMM... engine sounds different. shifted back into park. opened door. WTH?? sounds like a really bad valve tap but more clunky than that. opened the hood. car still running. everything looks ok. got back into the car. pressed gas to speed it up just a little, like maybe 2500rpm. still same sound. hmmmm... i better turn it off. turned engine off. tried to restart. turn key, just hear click. wiggle shifter cause i've had it not start a couple times cause it didn't seem to be in park correctly. just hear click. thought, oh f...

got into my trusty 85 300SD w/ 238K and went to office

560 sitting in the same place since then

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

From the limited description, IE not being present, it sounds like it jumped time.

The rails are plastic and should be replaced every 10 years regardless of mileage.

I'd remove the valve covers and take a look.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

a mechanic friend who works on mercedes came by today. he wasn't able to turn the engine by grabbing the belts and turning. said that doesn't necessarily mean the engine is locked but he is usually able to turn an engine that way.

what's the chance if my timing chain has slipped that the engine ISN'T trashed??

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

rsmartin said: what's the chance if my timing chain has slipped that the engine ISN'T trashed??
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Two chances...... slim and none. And Slim just left town.

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1986 560 SEL (159K miles)

You might get away with just doing the heads.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

That was my first thought also, the plastic rail guide disintegrated or broke.

It ought not to have happened at just 64,000 miles, but then 21 years without having had it changed is a LOOOOOONG time on the original one.

Mileage and time causes the original ones which are white, to become root beer brown, and over time and mileage they develop hairline or big cracks, and eventually they let go. There is no set way to tell, on the 560, it varies engine to engine, but the best bet is to change them along with the chain and tensioner at 100,000 miles (typically driven in 10-12 years)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Yikes
My mechanic says wait for the rattle

Not feeling very comfortable here...

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

If you "wait for the rattle" you are really taking a chance...many times "the rattle" is the first and last thing you will hear as the chain jumps time and the carnage begins inside the engine. 10 years and/or 100K miles...when you hit those numbers it is time for a new chain, tensioner, guides, etc.

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1986 560 SEL (159K miles)