well guys, it looks as if the best option in my poor engine is to replace the pistons/rings with single oversized ones. my question is this: where can i find cheap pistons? i am not interested in origional german quality, just want to get a cheaper alternative that, unfortunatly, may not last as long. i do not want this project to break the bank. if anyone knows where i can get pistons cheaper than at the benz-bin ($110 bucks a piece w/rings) PLEASE let me know! thanks for all the help so far fellas.
william gum

I don't know that you will find many piston for less than that that will fit your car and not break or wear out fast enough to make you regret it. A friend of mine replaced the pistons in his DOdge Dytona. His dad works for Chrysler and he got them cheap, but he still paid like 85 bucks for them. Unless you have a 12 or 16 cylinder engine saving 10-15 bucks per piston isn't worth it.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

$110 per assembly.... that's actually cheap! I have seen them as high as $180 a piece for a 300SD.

If you are going with oversized, expect to pay a little more. This is not a bad price IMHO for oversized piston assemblies with rings.

Be sure you can use the oversized pistons... it may not be adviseable in your car. You may need to re-sleeve and stay with standard size. This may be cheaper in the long-run considering $440 for pistons.

Just my $.02

$110 is a good price.

Use the first oversize and bore the block. Make sure you take the pistons to the machine shop, so they can fit them to the bores when they bore the block.

Better yet, take the block to the machine shop for micing prior to buying the pistons. That way you know that it will clean up at the first oversize before buying the pistons.

The alternative is not cheaper. You would put in the sleeves, then bore to standard and top off the sleeve. More machine work, plus the cost of the sleeve.

Good luck,

Thanks for the correction, Larry. I have never done it that way, but had a thought it may be cheaper...

If you are going to the expense of an engine teardown and rebuild, I hate to tell you, but the extra $20 or $30 per piston you pay for OEM 1st oversize shouldn't be a major concern. Either that or go for a used engine, if you can find one.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.