very bad news......

[Ashman]

My headgasket is out, coolant is seaping out the side of the engine at the head gasket. taking it to my mechanic in the morning to get it looked at and fixed.

Alon

[dtf]

Sorry to hear about your head gasket. You'll only have to do it once though.

[xp190]

Make sure you get the head checked for warpage.

xp

Don't even think about not doing a valve job while the head is off.

My $0.02,

[Ashman]

Head shouldn;t be warped, car never overheated and is still driveable. noticed temp a little higher than normal, checked, and car was making pssssssst noice from engine. crawled under and spotted coolant corrosion at head gasket on rear right side of engine above the freeze plug. no oil in coolant and no coolant in oil. My mech has been working on benzes for 40 years, and his passion is rebuilding engines, so he knows his way in and out.

What I plan on doing is the following:

1. Complete head job valves etc etc, as larry said.
2. New Timing chain
3. New Serpentine belt

As long as its open I might as well do the chain.

Hopefully that will be the worst of it, who knows if the engine is totally gone which I doubt as it still runs fine, I'll have to investigate a C36 engine swap. but lets hope I don't have to go there.

Alon

[Theurig]

I am sorry to hear bout your headgasket. I have a question, where did you get the bulbs for the switches and interior lights, did you also do the climate control ?? I am curious to see how it looks.

[Ashman]

blue led's I had to opent he climate controla nd solder them in and add extra led's to brighten the controls up.

Lots of work, but can be done. I even did the lcd temp display, and my old alpine radio until I get my ne radio.

Alon

[Freestyler]

Originally posted by Theurig
blue leds??

Sorry about the head gasket. But think of it this way.. You will have peace in mind when all this is over. The engine will practically be like new.

How about posting a nightshot of those blue led's? It's a mod i have been thinking about doing for a while now, but i haven't had the guts to tear everthing apart yet.

Freestyler

[manny]

Ashman

Don't consider the headgasket problem a disaster, look at it as an " opportunity ".

[Ferdman]

Depending on the mileage and recent maintenance I'd consider replacing the water pump and belt tensioner shock absorber while the front of the engine is apart. I suspect that you plan to replace all the timing chain guide rails when you replace the chain.

[MB Life]

I live in So Cal too and I was curious about which mechanic shop your taking your car to.

Also, what are they asking to do that job on your car?

[suginami]

I'm sure he's taking it to Mr. MB Motors in Tarzana.

Ashman referred all of us to this shop, and there are tons of threads in the archives with happy customers and testimonials.

Do a search under "Enrique" who is the owner.

[MB Life]

ok, thanks

[Ashman]

my water pump isn't very old, it was new when my car was purchased by me a couple of years ago...

Tensioner shock is fine too, my mech knows mercedes inside and out, he has been working on them for over 40 years.

if something needs replacement, he will let me know.

When he does the chain he will be replacing the guide etc.

Alon

There's no advantage to replacing the water pump during this operation. Almost nothing of what needs to come out of the way to get at the pump, gets taken off to remove the head.

If you are one to remove the manifold WITH the head, which is not my preference, then I expect that it would help some, but I think the P/S pump would still have to come out. I might be wrong because I've never pulled the manifold with the head.

Good luck,