I've called multiple cnc shops, they refuse to work with diesel heads. Am I forced to pretty much ship this thing out of state?

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

A few things to think about. I had a local shop do one of mine. Did a great job. HOWEVER, by the time you buy parts and then pay for the service, you might as well bite the bullet and contact Mike at MetricMotors in California. Overall, I don't think you really save a bunch locally and you will have a lot of piece of mind going with MM.

Could you tell me more about Mike please? He specializes in Mercedes diesel heads?

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Go to Metric Motors web site Metric Motors, Inc.

As a former CNC machinist, I understand some places not wanting to mess with such things. It's frustrating, I know, but the skills and knowledge you ask for in rebuilding your head is one that's only becoming more rare and I certainly wouldn't blame a shop for counting the liability higher than the potential profit. Besides, by sending it to an outfit with a reputation in *these* heads you know it'll be done right.

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'82 300CD
"Pearl", the very first turbo diesel 123 coupe
Totaled 11/23/18, rebuild in progress.
'85 300TD, "Artemis".
'78 300D euro, "Ol' Red", mostly retired.
'85 300D, "Gandalf".

I've let local shops do things and will always send an unusual head to a specialist. Take the advice above. The possible few penn,isn't worth the risk. Some things cost more and are worth it.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Thanks everyone. Before I prolong this thread, parts + labor + shipping will cost north of $1,500 correct?

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Not even close. not over $1,000

Oh ok, I was just expecting the worse.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I'm pretty sure Max is selling a complete #22 head for $800 in great shape. Why waste time on yours.

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

Edwards Automotive in Timonium, MD is an old-school engine machine shop.

They hot tanked, checked for cracks, replaced valve guides & seals, reground/seated the valves, and painted my 617's head for around $400. I dropped it off somewhat clean and fully dissembled.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Same issue here no one competent or willing to work on IDI heads. What no. head do you have?
Why do you consider CNC necessary?

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92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

No better place for truly excellent work by machinists with extensive MBZ knowledge & experience. Period.

When the official Mercedes Classic Center does a full restoration, guess where they send the engines for rebuilding? (Hint: it's not Germany.) It's not something that MBZ wants the public to know about, and Mike doesn't tell people about that. (in order to keep a mutually beneficial relationship intact.)

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

Is there something I'm not seeing here? A 60x head is no more complex than any other head. I had mine done by a local machine shop, Westchester Auto Machine, and the only thing special I had to do was lend them a spline socket to remove the prechambers. Hot tank, surfacing, new valves, seats, guides and stem seals. $600 and done. Maybe you'd need a specialist if you were doing a short block, but for the head? It's a flat, SOHC, two valve head. Tell me what's tricky.

The tricky part is the pre-chambers and proper pressure testing requires a Mercedes-Benz plate that is bolted to the face of the head so the coolant passages can be pressurized while the head is submerged in a tank of 80 deg C water. Parts are also not easy, I had to find and supply all the parts (valve guides and valve guide seals) for a head that I had done locally.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC