M51: timing chain needs replacing?

[mitch2k]

Hey folks,

When my car is idling, its making a 'sawing' sound, it goes up and down. When driving and changing gear, the car bumps a bit.

According to my local mechanic, my timing chain needs replacement, because its getting longer, and there's not enough tension. He says I can still drive a while with this..

He says it will cost me about $1500 dollars. This is including an new headgasket, 'making the valve head flat again' (don't know how you call this), 2 new chains, the sprockets, the tensioners, and lots of work...

How hard is this to do this myself?

(ps: sorry for the bad english )

[pingu]

How many miles have you done? I was under the impression that timing chains last almost for ever - like at least 200,000 miles.

[92E34]

Mine cost about that and I did it myself.

[632 Regal]

chains are supposed to make it easily past 300k miles, belts are of another story.

How many miles have you done? I was under the impression that timing chains last almost for ever - like at least 200,000 miles.

[stu1]

Why does the mech want to change the head gasket? And what do you mean by 'sawing' sound? Is it coming from the timing chain area?

[mitch2k]

With the sawing sound I mean a jumping idle RPM. Espessially when there is much power taken from the battery/alternator with airco and headlights on. When idling, the RPM needle jumps up and down between about 700 and 1000 RPM.

Right know my car has done 262000km (about 162800 miles).

The mech says he has to remove the valve head to replace the sprockets. When reinstalling the valve head he'll change the gasket to be sure there are no leaks...