'02 E320 Vent Chamber/VC Gaskets///

[hisport]

Anyone resealed the valve covers on a W210 e320?

Our '02 (72K mi) has an oily RH valve cover; coil packs are getting oily. Dealer wants about $900 to replace "Vent Chamber" and valve cover seals.

Assume the vent chamber is the plastic(?) stuff above the RH VC. Can it be resealed, or does it have to be replaced? Assume the VC seals or gaskets are pretty straightforward?

Thanks for any advice!

[clm]

Have done several- pretty strait forward- not a cake walk though- need to replace all the pvc hoses. use only m.b. gaskets. use the black m.b. silicone for the vent chamber.You also need to clean out the pin holes for the pvc on the chamber- very important!.
It is very easy to mess up the valve cover gaskets- you will need to be very carefull not to "loose " the gasket when you flip the v.c. over to put it back on the head. If you are not very mechanically inclined it might prove to be quite a challange.

[hisport]

Appreciate your advice.

I will search (on this site) for the parts, including the PVC hoses and MB black sealer. I will post the pn's here.

john

[hisport]

Still didn't find "vent chamber" (is it A1121400087 AKA "damper"? Is there a seal ki for this? EPC says "See chassis parts kit...").

Is there a pn for the MB black sealer? A1120180209

Are the "connectors" ( ) someting that should be replaced with the hoses? Not sure if they have metered orifices or something

How about the PVC manifold that these hoses connect to? (A1120180209) Should it be replaced?

Here's what I found:

- A1120160321 RH VC Gasket

- A1120160221 LH VC Gasket

- A1120180482 Hose (LH VC to intake)

- A1120180182 Hose (LH VC to connector)

- A1120180282 Hose (LH VC connector to connector/PVC manifold)

- A1120180382 Hose (RH VC to connector/PVC manifold)

[clm]

Pn for the sealent is A 003 989 98 20 10. You have to clean those vent chambers very well. Then install new sealent aroud the perimeter and bolt it down with in 10 min. ( chambers to the v.c.'s)

[Johnhef]

They want $900???? Yikes!

Our dealers charge $230 to do both breather covers. I do about 3-4 a week. The only hoses you will usually ned to replace are the two connected to the left side breather cover. They get brittle while the right side stays flexible.

[Oracle12345]

yikes $900 ??? you sure?

takes about an hour to do both. guess that dealer is out to make a killin

[hisport]

Appreciate all your help!

In fairness, the dealer estimate as I understand it was to reseal chamber(s), replace hoses, and replace VC gaskets.

My look see at parts (this site) involved says all (4) hoses and both gaskets would cost about $70 with shipping. Add another $30 for sealer and solvent and I guess about $100 should cover it. Unless I'm missing something. Maybe the MB parts prices are way higher?

Otherwise, that leaves maybe $800 for labor (think they're $125/hr with shop supplies). So, about 6 1/2 hours?

Are there two "vent chambers". Looked as if the whole mess was on the RHS, over the valve cover. Only thing I could find on EPC was one "damper" (A 112 140 0087).

Like my Audi, I think I will end up doing all the service and maintenance on this car myself.

Bests,

john

[Johnhef]

The VC gaskets rarely leak on their own, if its just the right side leaking, remove the breather, reseal it and clean off the mess and youre done. The only hoses needing replacement are the two on the left valve cover. The right side one will come right off easily.

fwiw, book time for VC gaskets on your car should be in the 4-5 hour range, and thats including resealing the breather covers.

[hisport]

I'll do just as you say.

Appreciate the help.

Saw MBCA in your post - is this another forum?

john

[Johnhef]

there is a forum, yes. MBCA stands for Mercedes Benz Club of America. If you're not a member you can click the link in my signature to sign up.