Find an independent mechanic who rebuilds engines and get a price from them on rebuilding your old engine. Tell them what your want done (new pistons, sleeves, bearings, gaskets & seals, timing chain & guides, and valves & guides). I guarantee they will be cheaper than Metric Motors. Sounds like Metric Motors does a lot more than needs to be done, basically a new instead of rebuilt engine.

I also do not understand the religious observance of 'The Great Metric Motors' on this forum.

these are not rare cars by any stretch.

plenty of machine shops have experience with these engines and MB in general. There's nothing 'special' about them.

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Here are three reasons why buying a used engine is scary, you never know if some joker tried to rebuild it on the cheap:

Consider myself, and others on this forum, officially insulted.

I will remember this.

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I Rebuilt mine a few years ago and here are the options I considered.

Mercedes rebuild from dealer $12,500.00

Metric motors rebuild $8,000

Junk Yard motor $200

I rebuilt it myself in my apartment!
For $3,700

long block

I blueprint and balanced the whole thing and rods.
New mercedes oil pump and sleeves.
New pistons and many parts.

If I had to do it over again I would Buy a new crank for $550
But I had the crank ground so I have beefier bearings.

I would also powder coat the aluminum parts instead of bead blasting and clear coating them. So It looks like one of Jay Leno's cars

Shark

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1984 W123 300CDT

So, despite the insult, though, if you get the engine for practically nothing, who cares?

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition