Vintage Cars: Timing Chain on 1981 380SLC, best gas mileage, interference engine

Question
What is the usual cost to replace a timing chain on the 380SLC?
A local mechanic said that his book says 24.5 hours.
That makes the cost about $2000, plus cost of parts. Of course he has never done the job. I am buying a 380 and it has 98K miles on it for a really good price. Thanks in advance.
Tom

Answer
Hello Tom
Does it have a single timing chain or has it been upgraded to dual
Why do you think it needs replaced?

380SLs are considered the least desirable of the US spec 107s. Mostly because of the single row timing chain they used from 1981-1983, but also because they have the least power of any of the 107s. However, they also get the best gas mileage apart from the Euro 6 cylinder models.

The problem with a single row timing chain is because MB designed an interference engine. At different points in the engine cycle, the pistons and the valves both occupy the same space. If the chain stretches and jumps a tooth they can meet catastrophically and you wind up with a very large paperweight where your engine used to be. All MB engines are susceptible to this, but the 380SLs made 1981-1983 with their single row timing chain are more likely to have a problem than earlier or later 107 models that used the double row chain.

Cost to replace by someone that knows what they are doing - shy of $1000, to convert to dual chains - 2-3K

Good luck and hope that helps