Head Gasket Stuff

[jeffsr]

Benzmac. Finally got the head off the '89 300e.(One day of warm weather). Looks as if the head gasket blew between 2 3 and 4. Also 4 looks as if it blew into the water jacket and oil galley. Such a mess!!!
Question, do you know if this is the usual sort of pattern for blowout, i.e. middle cylinders in the nest? Also, when removing the head bolts, the center four came out real easy. To me this indicates stretch. Am I on target here? The local machine shop (they do a lot of foreign and aluminum heads) told me they don't bake the heads to straighten anymore. They mill them as long as the deck height removed does not exceed 3 to 7 thousanths, otherwise, it's a new head.. Any thoughts??
Thanks

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325