Looking for a used head for 1998 E300D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BigRed0803 · #1 02-05-2010, 06:44 PM

I am looking for a used head for a 1998 E300D. If anyone knows of one please let me know. Also if you have a good line on a rebuilt head let me know, I am having no luck finding a used head and I am having no luck finding a rebuilt at a good price. Thanks

Big Jim · #2 02-05-2010, 08:09 PM

Adsit seems to have access to many hard to find hard parts like that. Their paper catalog lists many rebuilt heads but not yours, but it says to call if you dont see it in their catalog. Jim

BigRed0803 · #3 02-07-2010, 05:15 PM

I have tried adsit. They do not have a head for this car. I would really prefer a used head if anyone knows where I can find one.

mplafleur · #4 02-07-2010, 11:59 PM

From the customer service I've heard others have gotten from Adsit, I'd stay away from them (IMPO).

glenlloyd · #5 02-08-2010, 09:37 AM

According to car-part.com there isn't one available in the whole of North America (of the yards that subscribe to their service).

That's pretty astonishing....not one. Then again some yards are reluctant to sell a good head off of an engine if they can sell it whole.

Steve A

Big Jim · #6 02-08-2010, 07:53 PM

If they are that rare, that means most of them are still on the road. Its a nice feeling.

Jim

d.delano · #7 02-08-2010, 08:36 PM

Did a glow plug break off in the head? If you're careful you can save it. Do a search.

BigRed0803 · #8 02-09-2010, 08:19 AM

I bought this car from an individual who told me that he just had changed all the glow plugs, there was no way I could see them with the intake covering them up. I took his word for it, I get back home the next day it struggles to crank, I drove the car for around a month like this. One day I had the time and I pulled the intake off. I found two plugs broke off in the head and where one glow plug should have been was a bolt. I took the bolt out of the head and coolant began to gush out of the glowplug hole. I don't know what has happened to that for it to be losing coolant for the gp hole. To make a long story short I am beyond pissed and now I have a huge money problem on my hands. I found one head but had it tested and it was cracked. I am having a bad time with this situation and I have a 6500 dollar car in the garage that needs a new head.

d.delano · #9 02-09-2010, 03:08 PM

Yikes. Sorry about that, the '98s are supposed to be really sweet turbodiesels as long as the glowplugs don't seize in the head. Are you absolutely sure that the bolt you pulled out was from a glowplug hole? At least in the case of the m103 gas engine there are bolts in the head that if pulled a little coolant will drain out. I'm not an expert on how the coolant channels are routed through that cylinder head, but you should be sure that the bolt was from an actual glowplug hole. That's kind of a weird situation, like a GP siezed and then somebody drilled it out but drilled too much and into an adjacent coolant channel or something, and then tried to solve it by plugging with a bolt. Seems implausible but not beyond the realm of possibility. Wouldn't you have coolant in the combustion chamber if that were the case? Somebody would have to be super retarded to do something like that. Have you gone to visit the guy you bought it from yet?

check this thread out
Finally - Step By Step Glowplug Change - '98-'99 E300!

then check this guy's website
http://jakesbenzconversion.blogspot.com/2008/02/glow-plug-disaster.html

I hope you get this fixed, don't give up. Take some photos- there are some '98-'99 owners here that might be able to offer help.

Try looking for a replacement head at Potomac German Auto, Sun Valley Mercedes Dismantlers, Silver Star Recycling, eBay, etc.

BigRed0803 · #10 02-09-2010, 07:52 PM

Yes I asked myself the same question "is this really a GP hole". The connector from the glow plug harness laying right beside the hole was a big sign. It is indeed from the glow plug hole, the surround of the hole has alot of markings on it from what looks like to be a drill or a chisel. I can't believe someone would try to fix that problem and do shaddy work like this. If you don't know what your doing leave it alone.

Another question I have the head I purchased that is cracked, can that be repaired or is the head TRASH? I was wondering if it could be welded up or not? Thanks

barry123400 · #11 02-09-2010, 08:39 PM

The used head might be weldable. If you are in a position of paying to change it I would not take the chance. A really good head repair shop might enlighten you about the chances if they weld it and if it is really practical to do it.

I personally would look very hard for another. These cars are being smashed up on a regular basis. I guess the problem with that is the wreckers want to sell complete engines.

You could try posting in the parts for sale portion of our site. The exposure is pretty good there. I am sorry to hear about when a member is into a money pit type of situation.

I guess we all get into them one way or another on some item in life. For example. I got married under the belief two could live as cheaply as one. My head must have been cracked. It very quickly became a very high maintenance crowd.

Hatterasguy · #12 02-09-2010, 10:08 PM

Metric is the best place to go. They just did the head on my friends E300D for like $1700. Lots of new parts, and the car runs great now.

When its 0 out you just need to touch the key and it lights up, a tight 606 is really runs nice.

atikovi · #13 02-11-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed0803

I bought this car from an individual who told me that he just had changed all the glow plugs, there was no way I could see them with the intake covering them up. I took his word for it, I get back home the next day it struggles to crank, I drove the car for around a month like this. One day I had the time and I pulled the intake off. I found two plugs broke off in the head and where one glow plug should have been was a bolt. I took the bolt out of the head and coolant began to gush out of the glowplug hole. I don't know what has happened to that for it to be losing coolant for the gp hole. To make a long story short I am beyond pissed and now I have a huge money problem on my hands. I found one head but had it tested and it was cracked. I am having a bad time with this situation and I have a 6500 dollar car in the garage that needs a new head.

Did it run fine once it warmed up before taking it apart? If so, and if as you say you actually drove it for a month like that with the hard starting, I would just put that bolt back and the head back on and live with it. In a month or so it will be getting warmer, and the car should be easier to start. At which point you may want to consider dumping it. Or at least while it's out replace those two broken plugs. Starting a 6 cylinder on 5 glow plugs shouldn't be too bad.