08/15/2026
It’s been quiet here for a while, but we’ve got a backlog of Mercedes projects worth sharing. First up is this W201 190D 2.5 Turbo.
Its OM602 was running reasonably well, aside from a slightly lumpy idle once warm. The owner brought it in for a head gasket and timing chain replacement.
Once apart, we found:
• Cam timing roughly 8 degrees out
• Four of the ten hydraulic lifters collapsed
• All five exhaust valve seats pitted
The cylinder head went out to have new exhaust valve seats pressed in. From there, the engine was reassembled with new hydraulic lifters, a new timing chain and guides, and a new head gasket. The engine and injection pump timing were then set precisely to specification.
The real test was the owner’s 10+ hour trip home to Northern BC, including the long Highway 99 climbs.
His update from the road:
“Car feels great. Way more responsive. Idle’s so smooth. Temp’s stayed within spec on those long 99 hills. Really happy with the outcome.”
And once home:
“Just got home. No hiccups... I want to drive it for another decade now that it’s running so good.”
That is exactly the result we want: address the underlying issues properly and keep another classic Mercedes reliably on the road for years to come.
More projects from the backlog coming soon.