Which way does M271 27mm crank bolt turn to loosen? - Page 2

ambit · 04-07-2009, 02:55 PM

Lol,
Yeah I was looking for a way to rename the thread after we really got into the project but didn't see a way.

"Can you provide some detail on how you got the timing set up with the cams and all?"

As you can kinda see in this pic, there are 'arrows' molded into the metal frame that hold the cams down:

Here is a better closeup:

Those 'arrows' line up with the 'notch' in the cam (circled in red) that looks like this: |

We set the crank at Top Dead Center via the marking on the front of the wheel. It lines up with the protrusion from the timing chain cover circled here:

With the crank set at TDC, and the intake cam lined up, we used large crescent wrenches to turn the exhaust cam towards the intake cam. This pulled the chain tensioner tight, brought the links close enough and lined up the exhaust cam notch.

ghetto. but it worked

With the exhaust cam lined up we were able to slide the master link into the chain and clamp it down.

2 of the head bolts were broke because my friend and I are retarded and we both misread N/m as Ft/lbs and over-torqued them, lol.
Same issue with one of the 20 bolts that hold the cams down. Misread the specs and over-torqued it too. No big deal though, we got very good extracting them

I have put ~200mi on the car since the rebuild and it has been flawless. Took it to MB of Devon and it passed inspection and a more thorough checkever I requested.
I will actually be listing it for sale shortly, waiting for a PA plate to come in for it.

If you have any other questions please feel free. There are lots more pics available.

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darkcirc · 04-07-2009, 03:23 PM

It's worth noting that this was, as expected, the single most difficult part of the whole process.

I'm not sure that the 'Mercedes OEM' tool would have helped much as it wouldn't have compressed the tensioner; turning the cam, which is how we compressed it, wouldn't have been possible. The alternative is the loosen the tensioner, however, this would be less than ideal as well. For one, the access seal would have to be replaced, which isn't terribly expensive, but it would be annoying. The second issue is getting a socket in, IIRC it would have required a VERY thin walled socket(for it's size) to get through the chain housing, and getting to it without removing the alternator is either difficult or impossible (I don't actually remember).

For comparison, our biggest issue was preloading the crank and output cam enough that the motion of compressing the tensioner lined up TDC properly. It sucked, and took a couple of tries, but it beat the alternative.

med23 · 06-22-2009, 06:31 PM

hi i just have a quick question ... i have a 2002 c230 coupe also and I have been looking for those projector lights and i can't find them ... where did u purchase yours from?

thanks

med23 · 06-22-2009, 06:34 PM

hi i have a w203 , 2002 c230 coupe and me and my friend recently rebuilt the engine also but the only problem i am having is that my timing is off ?!! ... we replaced the timing chain tensioner but sometimes i have power and sometimes its off , back and forth ... would you know what we are doing wrong? thanks in advance

johndzul · 06-26-2009, 02:57 AM

Hello Guys,
I have a 2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe and I am tackling a very similar project with my car. The only thing stopping me from getting any further is allowing enough slack from the timing chain to remove the camshafts. Please help me out, I been trying everything to try to remove the chain but just can't seem to figure something out. By the way thanks for posting all info on the project.

ambit · 06-26-2009, 10:52 AM

Ohh hey forgot about this thread.
This car is for sale if any one wants it:
FS: 2003 C230 Coupe ~82K Leather/Auto Philly It actually runs/sounds better then the red one I have now.

med23: I don't have projectors. I'm not sure what you're talking about.
If your timing is still off you should be hearing it sound pretty bad.

johndzul: We actually just cut the chain with a hack saw:

Looking back now, it would have been like 5x easier to connect the new chain to the old one and feed it through the crank instead of tearing the whole timing plate cover off. I'll reply to your PM with more info.

drochin · 11-01-2009, 01:22 PM

Hi,, on quick question. did you have to replace the chain tensioner guide on the driver side. and the tensioner itself. i just had my head gasket blown and the mb mechanic says i got to replace these guides, im in mexico and it will take over a month to get those spare parts.. can i just keep the ones in the engine? what is your advice? thnks. DrochIN

04-07-2009, 03:23 PM	#27
darkcirc Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 Drives: 335i	It's worth noting that this was, as expected, the single most difficult part of the whole process. I'm not sure that the 'Mercedes OEM' tool would have helped much as it wouldn't have compressed the tensioner; turning the cam, which is how we compressed it, wouldn't have been possible. The alternative is the loosen the tensioner, however, this would be less than ideal as well. For one, the access seal would have to be replaced, which isn't terribly expensive, but it would be annoying. The second issue is getting a socket in, IIRC it would have required a VERY thin walled socket(for it's size) to get through the chain housing, and getting to it without removing the alternator is either difficult or impossible (I don't actually remember). For comparison, our biggest issue was preloading the crank and output cam enough that the motion of compressing the tensioner lined up TDC properly. It sucked, and took a couple of tries, but it beat the alternative. Last edited by darkcirc; 04-07-2009 at 03:26 PM.

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06-22-2009, 06:31 PM	#28
med23 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 Drives: 2002 c230 coupe	hi i just have a quick question ... i have a 2002 c230 coupe also and I have been looking for those projector lights and i can't find them ... where did u purchase yours from? thanks

06-22-2009, 06:34 PM	#29
med23 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 Drives: 2002 c230 coupe	hi i have a w203 , 2002 c230 coupe and me and my friend recently rebuilt the engine also but the only problem i am having is that my timing is off ?!! ... we replaced the timing chain tensioner but sometimes i have power and sometimes its off , back and forth ... would you know what we are doing wrong? thanks in advance

06-26-2009, 02:57 AM	#30
johndzul Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 Drives: C230	Hello Guys, I have a 2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe and I am tackling a very similar project with my car. The only thing stopping me from getting any further is allowing enough slack from the timing chain to remove the camshafts. Please help me out, I been trying everything to try to remove the chain but just can't seem to figure something out. By the way thanks for posting all info on the project.

06-26-2009, 10:52 AM	#31
ambit Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 33 Drives: 03' C230	Ohh hey forgot about this thread. This car is for sale if any one wants it: FS: 2003 C230 Coupe ~82K Leather/Auto Philly It actually runs/sounds better then the red one I have now. med23: I don't have projectors. I'm not sure what you're talking about. If your timing is still off you should be hearing it sound pretty bad. johndzul: We actually just cut the chain with a hack saw: Looking back now, it would have been like 5x easier to connect the new chain to the old one and feed it through the crank instead of tearing the whole timing plate cover off. I'll reply to your PM with more info.

11-01-2009, 01:22 PM	#32
drochin Newbie Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1 Drives: c230K	Hi,, on quick question. did you have to replace the chain tensioner guide on the driver side. and the tensioner itself. i just had my head gasket blown and the mb mechanic says i got to replace these guides, im in mexico and it will take over a month to get those spare parts.. can i just keep the ones in the engine? what is your advice? thnks. DrochIN

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