103 Front Cover Leak- Where exactly?
 

Got oil?

Front Cover Leak:

Front cover has been leaking oil somewhat since I have had the car. Not so much, but messy nonetheless. Obviously a very common problem based upon posts...

But where exactly is the source of the leak?

In the diagram below, is the problem child #143 (Cam Gear Cover Gasket) or #142 (Cam Gear Cover Seal)

Or both for good measure? Neither? Am I even barking up the right tree? :confused:


Extra credit question:
Is part #139 (Distributor Rotor Bracket) a 'wear' item? Hate to reinstall marginal parts because replacements are not in hand...

TIA for any help.

I see yours is an M103. You want to replace #143, the cam gear cover gasket. ;)

Untrained eyes mistakenly associate this type of leak to a faulty head gasket...

The front cover is a tricky beast to seal. Getting part 143 (horseshoe gasket) in place properly is most but not all of the battle. The rest is using and applying the proper sealant. Check the archives.

Part 142 is just a seal but you might as well replace it when replacing part 143. In fact I'm from the camp that says to put part 143 in place then fit part 142, as opposed to the manual that says to fit part 142 into the front cover first. The front cover has to come in at an angle to keep part 143 in place so there's a chance to nick part 142. At least that the easy way to get the front cover in place.

I think part 139 is noted as a replacement item because if it takes a set on the cam, you can damage it when removing it.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

M103 front oil leak
 

Mine's also been leaking from the front for quite a while. Replaced 142 and 143 a couple of times (my tech did it) and it still leaks, although less now. The second time they did it, the leaking slowed quite a bit. What I have since found out is that it is also leaking from the head gasket slightly. Most of the leaking was from the camshaft cover (from 142 and 143), but some is from the head gasket at the passenger side front corner of the block. Fun, fun, fun.

A member here has a good quote under their username - "If it's German, it leaks". Seems to be true. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help!

Glad to hear it is not generally the LOWER cover that leaks.

Now that would suck...

I just completed this job in July. It was very easy to do. You must use the proper sealant (loctite 5900?) from the MB dealer or Fastlane. Make sure you put enough in the corners between # 143 and the head. Replace #142 while you are at it. I also replaced the vave cover gasket for good measure. The most expensive part is the sealant

My car is now bone dry for the first time in years.

Ed C.

88 300TE

csnow,

Where are you getting the diagrams you use in your posts? I own 3 different W124 manuals and the Service CD's and I haven't seen these diagrams in any of them.

Thanks,

Gary

diagram
 

I was able to get a diagram from the catalogue I got from Performance Products. Just visit www.************************ and request a catalogue once you've specified your car. It has what you're looking for and more.

If anyone else have a diff source that'll be nice... :)

late,

Yes, no offense to our sponsor, but I do find the online performance products diagrams very helpful in discussions here.
Actually, their old site was even better, since it had an exact copy of the drawings in their catalog, covering more items. Old site was slow and unreliable though.

The service CDs in particular have awful drawings. No context at all. I swear MB just likes to leave us in the dark. The most useful manual I have for the 300E is actually a 'Parts Identification Manual'. Nothing but drawings (not even a brief description for each part) , but at least you can see how bits go together. Also you can fax (or scan) a copy of a page to Phil so that he knows what the hell you are talking about.

I recently rebuilt my manual shifter mechanism, and there was absolutely NO WAY I could have done it without this book as a guide! Best $40 I have spent on my MB.


Link to "1986-89 124 Parts Identification Manual" at books4cars.com

Do you have any way to post a representative image from the Parts ID Manual so we can get an idea of the quality of the diagrams?

Gary

Sure. Quality is actually better on paper, since I had to drop resolution to post.

More. This page did not lose so much in the conversion. Actually, to give proper credit, Phil converted this one.

nice pics
 

Now those are diagrams. Looking at drawings all day (P&IDs), one can surely appreciate this kind of quality. Time to buy a book...

The shifter parts page might be a screen shot of the EPC. Why would Phil use a hardcopy resource?

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

csnow wrote:

"Nothing but drawings (not even a brief description for each part) , but at least you can see how bits go together."

Then the item numbers don't refer to anything in the book at all?
Any idea if these drawings were taken from an old parts fiche, with the part number/descriptions left out?

Gary