Original timing chain at 371,000 km – Replace it or leave it alone?
Hey everyone,
New W204 owner here with a (hopefully not too stupid) question.
I recently bought a 2013 Mercedes W204 from a close friend.
It has 371,000 km (about 230,000 miles) on the clock, but it’s honestly in excellent condition.
The car has been meticulously maintained, every scheduled service was done on time, and it’s spent virtually its entire life doing highway driving.
The only thing that concerns me is that it’s still running on the original timing chain.
The usual warning signs aren’t there at all—no rattling, no noise on cold starts, no rough running, nothing that would suggest the chain is worn.
Would you replace the timing chain as a preventative measure purely because of the mileage, or would you keep driving it until it actually shows symptoms?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people with experience on these high-mileage OM651 engines.
Thanks!