In February I started using water and traced it to the head. Biting the bullet we pulled the head and found a small crack from a water galley to a valve seat. (The car is a '93 320CE with 200K.) The rest of the head was in great shape leading us to think that the head may have been off before. The machine shop repaired it and an adjacent one that showed a possibility. Put the head back on and 5000 miles later the problem has returned. We plan to pull the head next Monday and take another look.
Am I just lucky or are the 104 heads more "delicate" or temperamental? I realize that the head design is new and was only used for a few years. Now a car that I thought was bullet proof has chinks in the armor and my boast that I would drive it cross country has lost its bravado.
Anziani
'93 320CE 200K
'95 E420 125K

i have a spare 104 head is yours the one with a plastic intake manifold? do you have a picture of front of head? part no? or casting number? im in los angeles area too!

It has the plastic intake headers. Wait until next week when we take it off to see where the problem is. You can email me at
Anziani