
This rare Mercedes-Benz M117 ECE left side camshaft is a NOS (New Old Stock) part that is intended for a Gen II M117 with option 822 which spans the years of October 1985 to September 1987 with the catless ECE engine. This left side camshaft has never been used and comes in the original Mercedes-Benz tube and original packaging. This rare Mercedes-Benz M117 ECE left side camshaft is being auctioned out of Charlotte, NC and the seller is able to assist with worldwide shipping needs for the buyer.
This original Mercedes-Benz M117 camshaft reads part number 117 051 24 01 and was installed on cars with option code 822 which was offered on cars from October 1985 to September 1987. These “high output” engines were built to compete with BMW’s V12 installed on the E32 7-Series. 822 cars came with the free flowing exhaust system, 2.65:1 rear end, 10.0:1 compression engine, modified ignition timing, and more aggressive camshafts.
These camshafts are identified by looking for a stamped 16 or 17 on the barrel – 16 being left and 17 being right. This example shows a L and 16 stamped onto the camshaft. There were three different camshafts for non-AMG 5.5-liter M117 cars: ECE (16/17), RUF (24/25), and KAT (26/27). High output engines (ECE/RUF) both had higher compression, different pistons, auxiliary oil cooler, free flowing exhausts, and similar fuel distributors to the Euro 5.0-liter engines.
This rare Mercedes-Benz M117 ECE left side camshaft is being auctioned out of Charlotte, NC and the seller is able to assist with worldwide shipping needs for the buyer.
With high output engines becoming more and more sought after (and increasingly rarer) bidding on a leftside camshaft is highly recommended if you plan on owning an ECE car or already own one. M117 engines typically need a top end rebuild between 120-150k miles. Head gaskets will let loose on the rear of the block, timing chains begging to stretch, tensioners get weak, chain rails need replacement, and more importantly, the rocker arms like to flat spot which will cut into the cam lobes. This can be diagnosed by listening for a cyclic tapping noise from under the valve covers that correlates to engine speed. It sounds similar to an exhaust leak at the header. These camshafts are not available anymore and ones that can be found on eBay or places like Benzworld have been removed from cars and will have seen use. This is a NOS unit and eye-wateringly rare in this condition. It’s a sad reality seeing Mercedes-Benz Classic Center not support parts for their classics like Porsche does. Depressingly, it’s getting hard to find quality aftermarket parts as production has moved to China and India. Split open a Meyle ball joint made in India and you’ll find almost no grease in the boot. They build them to a price point and imminent failure is engineered into the parts. German made parts from the manufacturer will be built to original spec. That’s why it’s important to buy NOS Mercedes-Benz parts as these cars will last longer and operate as they did when new.
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