hey: sorry to repeat but 84 500sel 215k perfect except uh....engine, i.e. #3 blowing oil and drowning plug. all mechanics seem to want to junk it- dont even want to look at it. please weigh on this (not so?) exciting topic

oops i meant w126 i am an idiot

With the miles it has, in strictly economic terms, even if it only needs a valve job (and it could!!) the car is basically what is called in the Insurance business, a driveable total loss.

However it is a good car basically, a wonderful car, and if there is no leaks, rust or collision damage issues I would personally fix it and keep driving it.

But that is just me...

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

i notice you have a ..uh ..similar vehicle - so you now what i would be giving up. what would a valve job cost, and would you do one side only?

Not only IS MY CAR SIMILAR, but I am a moderator on the most likely best board for this engine and car also.

Join up on the W126 section on the www.benzworld.org discussion forum, sign up the profile, state the year, make and model of the car, and WHERE you live, and you will get good answers, better than mine.

Specifically, I will say this. A car can keep running for a very long time if one cylinder is "wet", why don't you buy a set of NGK plugs, put them in, after they are perfectly gapped and check things for awhile. Keep the oil level topped off but note how much oil is being burned and leaking. These are very good cars, and if you are happy with the body and interior and paint I would keep it. Even over 20 years old, they are marvelous.


My own 560SEC is getting a set of AMG headers/manifold installed today at my favorite shop www.toplineautomobile.com (near San Francisco airport, 200 miles from where I live) right now, as we speak. I will probably pick it up sometime tomorow, it should be done

Meanwhile, I have been driving an '87 30SDL Turbo diesel sedan that has 238,000 miles on it, the shop's loaner, all day today and I like it. The Diesel engine failed and he put in a 300 CID inline Mercedes Benz six in it, (177hp) and it cruises VERY well.


A valve job on these might cost anywhere fom about $3,000 to $10,000 depending whether you did it yourself, an independent shop did it, or a Mercedes Benz dealer did it.

It is hard to say, and I am not convinced you need one or not.

Where do you live? Is the car otherwise good? Have you had reputable second opinions?

What about taking a chance on a junkyard motor for cheap if this one is dead?

And as to your question about doing one side only, I would only do it on one side only if it were the inline six cylinder. ..never with a V8...



PS: for future reference, car model-specific Mercedes questions like this will get a better response if posted in the Technical section, above.

This place here, where you posted is the off-topic (General Discussion) part.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

thx jim b.

i am in l.a. and yes, the car is perfect otherwise- well, seats have a few rips and antenna is shaky, no problems otherwise. This was my mechanic's loaner car; sadly, he closed shop last august, and i have no one that i really trust. I may not have mentioned that i had a 69 280s (yes, dual zeniths, standard column shift) that he kept running for six years, by constantly fine tuning the uh valve guides, seals etc. Sorry for my ignorance about the v-8.

uh, will the ngk plugs uh repel oil?

oh, and dont you think its worth investing two hours of labor (at 70-80 bucks per hour) to be sure how bad it is?

again thanks for your patience and info. will sign onto the other site as well

Enrique at MR MB in Tarzana. Best shoip in the state for your Mercedes Benz, far and away.

Tell him Jim B with the black 560SEC from up near Sacramento recommended you. Yes, I came from far far away for him. He even had customers from Montana and Texas; cars trucked in to him. Very reasonable prices, he will tell you the truth, and do the work right the first time, and WON'T try and sell you anything you don't need. He told me to sell stuff not neeeded is like cheating his customers and he won't do it.


He is also a total expert on your make and model of car (W126 500SEL)

Just look at these testimonials!!

MR MB Motors Tarzana, CA

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)