300E 89 205k miles - head gasket

[think300E]

Hi all,

I have owned a 300E 89 for a couple of years and due to commuting have put about 103k of the 205k miles myself (about 160miles every day).

For the past 1 1/2 years I have not driven the car much due to telecommuting, mainly quick trips to the store and once a while a longer 40mile trip, otherwise the car has been parked. The shorter trips have probably been 2-5miles. There are times when in a week I may only drive the car on Saturday.

Last time it had service (see below) was some time before I stopped driving every day.

Last Friday my wife and I were getting ready to go to the store. Turned the car on and a second or two after the engine was running we heard a loud tack tack sound. To me it sounded like something slip and started to make that noise.

We didnt go anywhere that day, instead what I did was open the hood and see if i could tell where the noise was coming from, couldnt pinpoint it (ie. was it towards the valve cover or the belt tensioner)

Noticed that the coolant level was down, and it seemed to be low in oil (car in general uses oil and it has a leak but didnt know where exactly was leaking).

Added coolant (non mbz / premix 50/50 from Kragen - that is what i had available), added 1/4 quart of oil and restarted engine, the sound diminished, i could hear it but below the normal sound of the engine.

Next day went to the store and purchased some 20/50 (before i was using 10/40, car was serviced before w/ 20/50) and added just a little bit of that oil to full mark lvl in dipstick

Had a 30k service done in the car yesterday (included replacement of oil/filter etc), car is quiet, while the car was being serviced the engine was degreased and mechanic said located the source of the leak. Head gasket - front right side

Suggested a new gasket and since the head needed to be removed, they suggested to do valve job as well. (total assesment $3,500 per dealer but not a firm price as they said they do not know what else they may discover once they remove the head).

We were planning to take this car on a long trip 2k-3k miles and are concerned about the head gasket. We are also concern about the large quantity of repair costs, however we would like to keep the car as the body is in great condition and the interior is as well - car is paid for and car insurance is low. Other things car needs are front shocks and A/C work (blower, which i will try to fix myself).


Questions:
Should the headgasket be changed and only the head gasket? If only headgasket was changed how much $$ average does that cost.

Since headgasket is being replaced I guess it makes sense to do a valve job given the miles, would asking them to only change the seals save money and add some life to the valves per se? or should a complete valve job just be done since the head is coming out anyways?

While researching this issue I came across rebuilt engines and rebuilt heads. Prices for the engines were around $3600 plus 400-800 core and for the head around $800 + 400+ for core.

Which made me wonder if one is to spend that amount of money why not just get a rebuilt engine, on the other hand it all seems overkill since all I currently seem to have is an oil leak.

Suggestions and advice greatly appreciated.

[J.HIDALGO]

and that is probably why I did my own with a member from this forum. For the record, I am a very basic DIY'er with MB manuals.
What I can tell you is that I paid around $500 for parts and machine shop rebuilt my head (car). Do a search...I posted some pictures but, they may not be there now.
My advice...look for another estimate!

You need to either do it yourself or find a good independent to do it. For them it would be a routine job in the $1200 to $1800 price range. It could be that there is a corrosion problem in the aluminum head if the coolant has not been changed OFTEN. If that is the case there are plenty of good shops that can weld it up with no trouble.

Definitely do the valve job while the head is off. These engines respond REAL well to this work, but DON'T pay $3500 for the work. In fact, bring it to me, and I'll do it for $3475!

Best of luck,

[think300E]

Thank you for the replies.

What would be a more realistic price for the valve job/headgasket?

Would the [$1200 to $1800 price range] apply to both the valve job and the replacement of the head gasket? or just the replacement of the head gasket?

That price range sounds a lot better if its for the whole thing.

====

One other thing, the following was shared by a neighbor not sure if this is an educated or non-educated guess.
His opinion was that currently the bottom of the engine is settled with the presure offered from the top of the engine, and that if the valve job was to be done, then it would put a lot more pressure to the bottom portion of the engine and eventually that lower part would go out too.. Is this right?
Thanks again

[stephenson]

I am not in the rebuild business, nor an expert, but unless your neighbor can see the condition of the bottom end, he may be smoking something ...

[softconsult]

My '92 300E, same engine as yours, has a slight head gasket leak. Has had it for 100K miles more or less. Car currently has 233K and runs fine with no oil in the coolant.

Quote from my indy is 1200 to 1500 dollars for valve job and , of course, new head gasket.

I it was me, I would want crawl under there and look closely for the leak. From what I have read the leak on this engine is normally passenger side toward the rear of the head. That's where mine is. Could it be that your leak is actually from the front timing cover? This is also common.

Steve