I recently posted about hesitation around 2000rpm on my Brabus. When cylinder leakage was measured it ranged between 52%-64%, heard from the bottom end! So I've now stripped the engine down completely.
The block has 2-3 thou of wear and so is shot. I'm getting a standard 300e block and having it bored to spec (92mm). Brabus want £800 ($1600) for piston rings and £580 ($1200) for a headgasket, ridiculous.
So, I think I may go with Gapless Top Rings, which seem like a more advanced piston ring than would have been offered at the time my engine was built.
As for a headgasket, it seems the basic gasket layout (position of bore, water & oil galleries and sizes) is the same as an M120. Cosmetic's left hand bank Zonda gasket(!) seems to do the trick but is 1mm small in bore size. I've sent a gasket over to the US for inspection and I'm praying the gasket is the same bar this as Cosmetic will do a custom bore size. Anyone ever used an MLS gasket on a benz, I'm guessing it's a better solution than copper?
Incidently the Brabus gasket blows around every 10,000 miles anyway and is just a standard Victor Reinz, nothing special!
Any tips on re-assembly (i.e. assembly oil?) and running in etc?