Part 2 2012 Mercedes C250 Timing Chain Replacement 

Your welcome and it is a tedious job but if you take your time it is way cheaper than a shop lol.

Your welcome and Thank you for watching it and it is a fairly straight forward job if you have some car knowledge and the tools. This a common issue with these cars as well.

Your welcome. I try to add torque specs on every video just so the viewers are not trying to find them. Now I have had some of the specs be wrong but these came directly from Mercedes so they should be correct lol

Thank you. I appreciate you watching the video. I hope it helps/helped you out.

More than happy to help. If you need anything else, feel free to ask.

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it and hope it helps/helped you out. Thank you again for watching.

​@@operationoverhaul I've never done a job like this . I have a question for you . Why did you replace the variable camshalf sprockets? They were noisy , check engine light on due to timing chain was stretched? I'm asking cuz on Hondas 2008 til 2014 intake vtc sprocket are noisy on cold start .

@zcaraiasreal8389 these should not have any play on the sprockets and they were loose. Plus I bought the entire kit with them in it.

@@operationoverhaulthanks for answering!

@@zcaraiasreal8389 your welcome

I typically charge more for European vehicles when I work on them because they do require more specialty tools for things like this and the shear fact that it harder to find people around this area that are willing to work on them.

@@operationoverhaulwhat was the name of that cam holder tool or which one did you get?

@@ToonYourCar I got it off of amazon actually and worked pretty good for me. I thought I linked it in the comment. Ill look and if not, I'll get you the link tomorrow.

Thank you. I tried to cut out all the small stuff to make it shorter and not so boring.

Thank you very much!

So, to apply tension with the tensioner you will just rotate the engine over by hand and at about a quarter to a half of rotation the tensioner should release and apply tension on its on. I explained it a little around the 11:30 mark on the video. It is also good to rotate it about 2 to 4 full revolutions after as well just to ensure nothing is binding.

That is awesome that it has never had it replaced. Normally I see these chains go within 50k miles. It helps with the routine maintenance you have performed it seems.

L​@@operationoverhaul

No these are not an interference engine. You actually have to rotate the engine to put the chain on.

@@operationoverhaul thank you

Thank you, I appreciate it. I bought it from Amazon actually. I'll get you a link to it if you would like.

I know that there are two different version of this same engine but I do not know what the differences are right off the top of my head. But I do know that the cam gears/sprockets torque to two different values so the cam or sprockets one may be different. I would check to be sure that the alignment dowels are the same size holes and that the cams journals inside the sprockets are the same diameter as well.

When doing this did you replace the main guides or leave the originals the kit from Mercedes doesn’t include those main guides they are purchased separately just wondering how those are removed and installed

I do not know why they fail but I think it is an oiling of some sort personally

You can look it up by your vin number to see which engine you have as there are two different variants of this engine they use. You can call a Mercedes dealership and give it to them and they can let you know which one you have. And as far as interference engine question goes, an interference engine means that if the timing chain or timing belt snaps/breaks then the pistons will hit the valves and causing damage where a non-interference engine will not contact the valves. If you have any other questions just ask and I will be happy to help out.

This kit right here will have everything except you valve cover gasket. www.fcpeuro.com/products/mercedes-timing-chain-kit-febi-46374 This is what is in the kit: (1) Timing Chain - with Master Link, (1) Timing Chain Tensioner, (1) Timing Chain Tensioner Bracket, (1) Left Guide Rail, (1) Right Guide Rail, (1) Upper Guide Rail, (1) Timing Cover Plug, and (2) Camshaft Adjuster Magnet Seals.

I appreciate it. I know some people are not willing tackle this on a European car but if you take your time and have the tools, it is not half bad.

After the tensioner is in and torqued down. Remove all the holding tools and rotate the engine over by hand. This will activate the tensioner and cause it to apply pressure.

My wrenches are a little thinner than must so you may need to get a thinner wrench to fit behind it

Not really. As long as you are certain everything it at the correct orientation, then it does not matter where the chain is on the gears.

It does not matter where the master link falls as it will change positions as the engine rotates but I would line up the colored links (if there is any) with the timing marks.

You do not have to change the chain if you do not want to. That is up to you. I figured while I am already that far I would do it. But that is up to you

You can put the chain any position you would like. The most important thing is to be sure the timing marks are aligned.

This is a common problem on these. It does not seem to matter what the maintenance habits are, they seem to fail regardless. I think it just a poor design more than anything.

Sorry it took so long to respond. I was looking to see what additive/formula they used to minimize wear. I could not find anything in my research. If I happen to find an answer for you I will let you know because now I am curious as well. If anyone finds out, please let us know as I would like to know so I can relay the message to people who drive cars prone to timing component failures.

I don't have one right now but if I get one of those I will post a video of it.

So, I have come across this before and no I do not think it is damaged. Some of these need to be rotated a little further to line up the marks. I do not know which years it was pertained to but I do know this is a problem. You will need to line up the marks and then you will be in time correctly. If you do not do this then the car will throw a crank/cam correlation code.

Several ways actually. You can do a compression check, a cylinder leakage test, borescope the cylinder, or even remove the valve cover and turn the engine over and see how much they move.

To do all the chains on it calls for 18 hours of labor and that would run about 3500 dollars for me to do.

There should be a link to the tools that I used in the description. But I can get the links for you if you would like as well

Can you see why the rocker fell off? I would investigate the cause of that first before just putting another rocker on it and make sure there is not damage to the cam and spring before replacing as well.

@@operationoverhaul no i can not tell . I ordered the timing toolkit with T100 in order to remove the adjusters and cams.the rocker arm is still connected to the push rod .it fell to the right side and the camshaft lobe got a little scratch on the right edge because it was touching the rocker arm.

@@operationoverhaul one think i can tell is that the intake camshaft has been replaced it looks brand new . I just bought the car one week ago i do not know why.

@Bo Kzader then I would definitely look everything over then just because if a major component like that was changed then some significant happened.

How did you line up everything. I have the camshafts timing tool installed but the line on the exhaust camshaft doesn't line up perfectly with the mark . Maybe 2mm. Does it have to be perfect? Because i saw many other videos on youtube and it also doesn't line up perfectly when they are done.

When you say pins, are you referring to the chain link pins?

First off. This is very much so an interference motor. Second. What this means is that if the chain breaks it will have piston, valve contact. Be careful with this one.

@@trelipscomb8137 it’s not an interference engine u have to turn the crank or cam to put the chain on

@@5ivestarJaayy I've rebuilt several of these engines. 2 back to back this year. Both had valve to piston contact after the chain skipped. One of them had a hole in the piston. The 2014 C250. And a 2013 C250 so I would say from experience if the chain skipped or broke, the piston will hit the valves.

No, it called for engine removal in service data with 11 hrs of labor and the rail was in really good condition as it had really low mileage so the customer opted to not change it

I took them out so the engine would be easier to rotate.

I moved the alternator to the side to get to the tensioner. Not seeing it in your video how to remove. Is it best to leave the new one out until the new chain is installed?

After I put the new tensioner in and activated it, no longer on Top Center. Exhaust cam gear is a few degrees off now too

@@jcar716 you will need to redo the timing because it will throw a code for it being off. I have had a person say that some of these engine will throw the timing off if you use the cam tool as tdc can be different and you need to manually set the timing and not rely on the tool to hold it in true TDC.

To remove the full cover, it states that the entire engine needs to be removed to take the cover off.

Are you wanting all the torque specs for everything?

That is correct. If the chain breaks it will not make contact with the valves. You have to rotate the engine to put the chain on it as well.

It all came as a complete kit from fcp euro I believe. If not there then ecstuning

@@operationoverhaulI just need the tensioner cap and can’t find it

@maxxiidabeast1080 www.fcpeuro.com/products/mercedes-plug-febi-0009976220 this should be what you need

The tool to break the chain?

this is for the chain breaker tool kit: amzn.to/41l40ir and this is for the phaser bolt: amzn.to/3EsvHfC and this is for the cam holding set: amzn.to/3YVU0un

Thank you. I had approximately 4 to 5 hours total in it. It does not take much once you get the valve cover off

Having the same issue did you ever get it fixed? And if you did how much did it cost you ?

Yes, you have to remove the alternator to remove the tensioner. It is behind a plug behind the alternator.

@@operationoverhaul Thanks, looks like a lot of work.. once you disconnect a battery to remove the alternator, do i need to setting/synchronize back all the setting in the car feature console ?

@@operationoverhaul sorry for asking, because before this i never have experience with disconecting the battery since i buy this car 10years ago.. i use jumper technic when replacing the battery..

@@harisyoung4110 Sometimes you may have to do that but I have done it where I did not need to. This one did not need it.

@@harisyoung4110 its okay. You should be okay just to disconnect the negative side of the battery only.

You will need a torque wrench.

I meant where do I find if my engine needs to be torque to 90 or 130nm

@TijuanCrittenden sorry I misunderstood. You can call the dealership with your vin and they should be able to tell you which engine code you you have

So, I called the dealership three dealerships to verify if it was an interference engine or not and 2 said yes while one said no. So I would say yes to you possibly needing another engine.

Leak down test with compressed air to see if valves are bent

Book hours it calls for 11 to do the guides, tensioner, and chains. But just chain and tensioner is 7. But it took about 6 hours for me to do the chain and tensioner while filming.

​@@operationoverhauldo you know why it failed? I'm about to do one and believe it's because of the guides, I've heard you have to pull the engine for the guides, do you have any advice?

@@Grab123on in the ones I have done, it is the tensioner and chain that fails. I have only had one that I worked on that had the guides fail. But that is 1 out of 5.

These have a breather hose check valve rather than a pcv valve. The part number is 2710180329. Here is a link to it on FCP euro: www.fcpeuro.com/products/mercedes-breather-hose-check-valve-febi-2710180329

Thanks ' so if I need installation oil cache can How can i install it?

Most people I have seen use a kit from www.addw1.com/ and here is a link to a forum of someone who shows pictures and kind of goes over it as it would be hard to type out everything you need to do. Here is the link: www.benzworld.org/threads/oil-catch-can-for-c250-1-8-turbo.3062268/

I could do it but the car would have to be towed or driven to me. I'm about an hour to hour and a half from columbia.

yes that is correct.

@@operationoverhaul me I have this w204 but the timing chain is in the back...

@mnicolae1541 which engine do you have?

@@operationoverhaul c 250 204 horse.. engine 2145 cc

I just looked at it and I sent you one back. Sorry about that.

Do you by any chance live in south Florida I have same car & issue & need a good mechanic