I have a '89 300E that is losing a quart/500 miles. It seems to have very good power, so there might be hope I still have good com- pression. A valve job will run $1500=1900
but a local shop says they will replace valve guides if compression is good and charge much less without R&R the head and redoing valves and seats. Is there anything wrong with this? I notice some shops do not offer it as an option.

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I don't fully understand your question, but I do have an opinion on the subject. The 103 engine has the strongest bottom end of any Mercedes engine built. The compression will be fine as long as the engine has never been over heated. Once the head is off, be sure the valve guides are replaced! If they have over 80K on them they are worn!

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Sorry if I was unclear, but my question is:
is it possible to replace the valve guides without removing the head, and is there anything wrong with doing this to stop oil usage, as long as compression is good?

A local shop says they can do this for approximately $300, which I can find quicker than the $1800 or so for a valve job. But when I ask other shops about my oil loss they only offer a full valve job. So I must wonder if replacing valve guides without removing the head is ineffective, or inadvisable for some other reason.

To replace the guides the cylinder head must be removed!! The valve guide seals can be replaced with the head on. Be sure to have the valve springs replaced, M.B. redesigned them because of breakage in 1991!

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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS M.B. TECH

To replace the valve guide seals only is a bandaid fix. It will work for a while but the guides are worn and the new seals will fail. The seals will be replaced at no extra labor cost if you do the valve job...Just keep that in mind!

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

My 88 300E is also leaking oil like crazy. When the car is warm/hot, I see white smoke coming out from the bottom of the engine. Which is more likely? due to a coolant leak? or is it due to the host headers buring oil leaked from the head gasket?

Thanks.

Usually if the exhaust is burning the oil it is the valve cover gasket not the head gasket. Non mechanics can confuse this. Good question

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM