104 Engine Head Gasket
 

Could someone please help me!!! Why does the 104 engine family have such problems with the head gasket leaking? I have a possible problem with the gasket leaking after 16 months and 24000 miles. Just curious why an excellent engine has such pesty problems?

Thanks so much!

-according to MBNA - there is no problem with the head gasket on the M104 engine.

-according to "Subject Matter Experts" on this forum, there is a redesigned head gasket from MB that has special steel inserts that appear to prevent it from creeping back and creating the gap between the block, cylinder head and upper timing chain cover which seems to cause that pesky leak. makes one wonder why they redesigned a component to address a non-existent problem, eh?

BTW, i had that problem and upon reviewing the repair history from the PO i discovered that the head gasket was found to be weeping at 15k miles. the dealer didn't do anything about it, many moons later i had it replaced at 52k miles as it was gushing by then...