300CE front cover job

[TonyC]

Hi folks,
realized my 90 300CE is leaking a LOT of oil from the front cover area (~1 qt/400 mi). One mechanic quoted me ~ $700 just for labor, I'm just curious if that's a tolerable price. If not, I might just open up the service manual I recently bought... TIA

Anyone know where I can get a 5 speed auto tranny for a 300CE 24V?

quote:

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Originally posted by TonyC:
Hi folks,
realized my 90 300CE is leaking a LOT of oil from the front cover area (~1 qt/400 mi). One mechanic quoted me ~ $700 just for labor, I'm just curious if that's a tolerable price. If not, I might just open up the service manual I recently bought... TIA

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TonyC!

I had a oil leak on my '88 300CE 3 years ago from the little seal in front upper part of the engine just under distributor cap. Went to the mercedes dealer and they fixed it for
$450 with 1 year warranty. Two years later I had to change timing chain, so I went to a local Shop to save some money on labor. Month later I had the leak again!! Dealer uses their own Black Silicon and local shops usually use orange one witch will always leak. Guys at the mercedes dealer shop work on this kind of problems daily and they have special tools to save time. Many times they spend much less time to fix a problem (usually problem they worked on before)then local shop mechanics and that's why they can charge you less for labor.
Good luck man!!

[Rob Pruijt]

IF it is the small cover under the distributor it is about 2 hours work max.
If the main cover is leaking it will take much longer. Both cases no special tools needed, only for the fan you will have to make a tool (very easy) because there is not enough room for normal tools.

There are lots of very good sealants.

Dealers charge way to much for these repairs. I once had a oil leak in my old 280S, the dealer estimated a 2000$ repair, our independed shop (who unfortunately retired) fixed it for 150$. It nerver leaked again for the remaining 150.000 miles.

[Benzmac]

We charge less than $300 for the whole front upper cover re-seal, we do use a special sealant that works for a long time and we have a special tool for installing the cam seal. If the cam seal leaks, it will kill a dist cap worth over a hundred bucks. Let the shop do it!!!!

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM