$ 1,200 for 104 head gasket ? Can it be cheaper ?

[DMITRY]

Looks like its my turn now
Got some oil in the expansion tank, and the car was runing much hoter lately, oil was desapearing as well.
My tech quoted me $1,200-1,300 for the head gasket.
Thats just the gasket, no valves or anything else !
I see people talking about $800-1,000 here in the forum.
Is this too much? Any one can recomend a good (and cheaper)place to do this in Brooklyn, North Jersey or Pensilvania
( I get around ).
Thanks for help.

[G-Benz]

Definitely too much! You can get a fully rebuilt head for that price!!

Most of that cost is labor, so it would make sense that if you pull the head, you might as well go through it as well.

Shop around on the work though...it can be had much cheaper.

Also check the Good Mercedes Shop forum...might be some in your area...

[DMITRY]

I called one of the shops recomended in South Jersey.
Now the price is up to $1,500 but that includes the valve job. How does this sound ? Do I need a valve job on a 104 motor ? I thought only 103 valves go bad.

[J.HIDALGO]

How many miles do you have? and how long are you going to keep the car? Those are two questions that can help you make up your mind...$1500 sounds good!
Good luck!

[G-Benz]

The valve job should include seals, seats, etc. as well. It should also involve some machine work like polishing the ports and a 3-angle grind on the valves. Your valves may not be bad, but parts DO eventually wear out.

If you are going to tear off the top end, you might as well get everything in it freshened up while you are in there. Otherwise, sometime down the road, you will have to go back in to replace stuff you could have gotten done the first time around.

And considering the present value of money, it will cost you more the second time around...

[DMITRY]

Car got 95,000 and I think I'll keep it for a while.
The tech mentioned on the phone that it will take 4-5 days
couse he has to send parts to the mashine shop, so I guess
he really is doing the valve job.
I was calling arownd some more in NJ. "Contemporary.."
quated about $1,100 and a shop in Chery Hill $700-$900
but they didn't mention valves.

[Kebowers]

Be sure and do not let them grind or surface the head 'because it is warped or not flat'. The heads are very flexible and the tolerance is quite broad. If the head is milled to remove a bow or belly, then the cam bearings will not be in line when the head is bolted down and you have a real problem--seized cam bearings, broken cam, etc. etc.

[DMITRY]

Took the car to the shop in NJ.
Mechanick told me that he is going to grind the head but very litle. When I said that I was adwised not to do that, he replyed that he is grinding of four thousands of something ( not realy sure what he meant by the numbers).
Is this going to couse truble? He seemed knowlegable but who knows....

[stevebfl]

Cutting 0.004in from the head is fine. The problem, as Kebowers properly points out, is whether they are cutting it to make it smooth from surfaces imperfections (like corrosion)or from warpage. The 0.004in cut is about the limit if it was cut for warpage ( maybe too much, I would like less than .003).

Be absolutely sure a new Mercedes-Benz head gasket is used. They have improved the gasket where it leaks at the front cover. None of the OE gasket makers were using this gasket when I checked recently.

We do many of those head gaskets mostly for the front cover leaks. We never do a valve job. Those motors are going to go well over 200k before valves or guides start having problems. There is no sense in the extra money and the waste of good metal, cutting anything at 100k.

[DMITRY]

Well if there is no harm from doing it , I might as well do the valves anyway.
As far as gasket , the mechanick told me he is puting a coper coating on it and he had no comebacks yet.
He said he wil grind the head couse its warped.... He didn't take it off yet but said that it most likely warped.

Hi,
No offense intended but, who are these guys? DO NOT put Copper-Cote(spray on stuff intended for cast iron Chevy engines)or anything else on any Mercedes-Benz head gasket. But especially anything with copper in it. The difference in electromotive force between copper and aluminum sets up a chemical reaction making the aluminum the "sacrificial annode"....it will pit. This is the same reason Mercedes says not to chrome plate alloy wheels....they have to be coated with copper first in order to make the nickel and chrome stick to the aluminum.
Sorry to but-in....but I am getting a little concerned. First, they figure the head is "probably" warped and they want to cut it without even checking it yet. Then they want to spray "goo" on the gasket...Nah, they probably know what they're doing and I'm just being too picky.
Regards,
Randy D.