I bought my 380 (single-row) SEL over a year ago. I am the 3rd owner and it has 85,000 miles on it. I bought it from the brother of the original owner, garaged all its life. Books and records a touch incomplete.

Interior is mint except for the leather on the B pillar near the seat belt has torn a little. Exterior is original paint with 1 scratch on the bumper, tiny dent LF corner. Real nice car. Champagne w/Brazil Brown. Would prefer another color but the interior and price were right.

On first oil change I found aluminum in/on the oil filter and in the can. Called a Benz indy and he said go ahead and drive it since it was running great. No odd sounds. Parked it. Never started it again. Called Phil and he said to talk to Roy before proceding. Thanks Phil and Roy for the help.

Finally rolled her into the barn for a chain, guides, tensioner, hoses etc. I popped the valve covers and look what I found...




My timing chain has worn through the tensioner rail lining AND the tensioner rail itself. A piece about 1 inch long was found inside the head, lodged in what looks like an oil return galley. I meant to take a pic before removing the piece, but forgot to. Those marks in the metal fit perfectly over the chain.

Notice how the chain rides right through the lining.

Make your stomach turn? Kinda does mine.

Anyway, I will be tearing into it soon, will probably pull the timing case and oil pans to check for more debris. Looking forward to seeing how well the broken piece fits up with the rest of the rail.

Anyone ever seen this before?

Eep... Luckily it was on the outside of the chain, rather than one of the guides inside, but that is still not a good thing to have happening!

Have fun digging in, and take pictures!

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-Josh
Testing the cheap Mercedes axiom, one bolt at a time...

A few more pics...





Looks like I'll be going into the timing case next, follow up with an oil pump.

Itching to get her back on the road.

Anybody have any clues as to why this happened?

4 years later.....

I'm almost finished!


The project got put on the back burner while I got lazy, discouraged, had deaths in the family, relocated etc etc...

I chose to open timing case to inspect for damage and found severely worn guides.


Sitting 5 years in a barn was hard on the gas tank and fuel. I did not put stabil in like I should have. There is a layer of crusty stuff in the filler neck and the gas stinks. Will attack the tank tomorrow and hopefully have it running by sundown.

Cool! This makes me feel better, as my oldest project yet to be finished is only ~3 years old .

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I think those engine have a double row timing chain kit.My engine did the same thing,aluminum in the oil. I'm replacing engine,as I don't know if aluminum go in the crank bearing.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

If it dies prematurely due to aluminum contamination I'll probably put in a euro 500, if I can find one.

Finished today. Will fire it up tomorrow after cleaning tank, lines and neck.

Back in the saddle again...runs great.

Nice picture Very good looking car good luck with it after all the hard work

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88 W124 3.0
96 R129 119eng
06 ML350
98 ML320 sold
02 CLK55 amg

Thanks. I hope to put a gazillion miles on it.

Four years...wow. Good on you for staying with it.

She's a beaut, I'm glad she runs like it now, too.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg