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  #1  
Old 11-19-2003, 05:33 PM
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Exclamation '97 E320 Infamous Oil Leak

Ok here we go:
I have the awesome oil leak in my '97 E320 with 111,000 miles on the clock. So far, the mech. has re-sealed the cylinder head front cover and replaced the front crankshaft seal. Needless to say, I'm still leaking oil. SO, is this a classic case of the head gasket being gone, or is there other stuff to try first. I'm a little dissappointed that he never steam cleaned/gunked the engine bay to see where the leak was coming from. If it is the gasket, is there any possibility that the dealer will split the cost of the job, or even do it for free, on a car this old? I would hate to gett rid of the car, but I'd rather put my $2-3000 bucks into a nice CLK Anyways, thanks for any input.......

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'97 E320
'96 Saab 9000 CS ("AMG Eater")
'96 Saab 900 SE ("Backup")

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  #2  
Old 11-19-2003, 06:10 PM
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I can't believe your mechanic didn't look for where the leak was coming from.

The most common areas are the front timing chain cover where it meets the head, and the head gasket at the right rear corner (passenger side).

I don't ever remember reading on this site (or any other) about rampant oil leaks at the front crankshaft seal.

Maybe your car was leaking at both of the above places, as well as the head gasket, and your mechanic didn't notice the head gasket leak.

In any event, I'd have it checked again, and if it is the head gasket, I'd get a refund for the cost of the front timing chain cover as it would have been done anyway for the head gasket. There is no reason to essentially pay for it twice.

I don't see any way that you could persuad the dealer to pay for half of the cost of the repair, considering the year of the car.
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2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".
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  #3  
Old 11-20-2003, 09:18 PM
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hmmm

How much $$$ approx. will a gasket job be? Already put about $1600 into it with the other things....
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'97 E320
'96 Saab 9000 CS ("AMG Eater")
'96 Saab 900 SE ("Backup")

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  #4  
Old 11-20-2003, 09:24 PM
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Re: hmmm

Quote:
Originally posted by merzie250
How much $$$ approx. will a gasket job be? Already put about $1600 into it with the other things....
$1,600 for a head gasket job might be an average amount.

I'd suspect you'd pay from a range of $1,200 -$1,800 at an independent, and around $2,000 - $2,200 at the dealer.

You'd also spend about another $200 or so if you have the head honed for straightness (as you should do) and have the valve guides and seals replaced.
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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".
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  #5  
Old 11-20-2003, 09:29 PM
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I'm wondering...

I just wonder what else on this car will go soon....Today the check engine electronics thing went on....I may even decide just to trade it in for the CLK I've been lusting after......What is the point of honing the head?? I'm sorry to say I know almost everything about my Saabs but not a whole lot about the Benz.....
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'97 E320
'96 Saab 9000 CS ("AMG Eater")
'96 Saab 900 SE ("Backup")

http://home.arcor.de/madollie/avatar/saab.gif
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  #6  
Old 11-20-2003, 09:51 PM
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The head is made out of aluminum, and if it is not perfectly straight, the gasket will never seal properly and leak again.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".
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