190E 2.6 Head Bolts

[shimmey]

I have a 1992 MB 190E 2.6 that needs a new head gasket. I am trying to remove the head bolts. Could someone describe the type of splined socket that I need to remove these bolts.

Thank You,
Mike Cihlar
Stillwater, Minnesota

[sixto]

It's a 10mm double hex (12 points). At least I'm 90% sure it's a 10mm double hex, might be 12mm. You can get expensive specialty tools or go to your equivalent of Pep Boys or Autozone and get a ~$10 set including 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm double hex bits that fit in a 1/2" socket and be ready for the head bolts of many modern cars.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

[MTI]

Sixto, is it a Torx T-55?

It's not a Torx, it's a double hex and I believe it is 10MM on gas cars and 12 on diesels.

I know that Lisle makes them. I have the German ones, but a friend of mine but a Lisle set at O'Reilly's pretty cheap. He has done several heads with them and hasn't broken them yet.

Good luck,

[pmizell]

I'm pretty sure it's a 12mm (if I recall correctly ) and your local Autozone should stock the tool. The brand is "OEM" and it costs around $10.

Getting those bolts off isn't too bad, but you'll get a nice workout torque'in them down.

Good Luck!

**10mm, 12 point sounds right (got the 2 #'s mixed up)

Yes, it is a serious workout torquing them back in place. Make sure you follow the procedure and do it when you have little chance of interruption. You don't want to lose your place in the sequence or you might not miss or add an extr 90 degrees to one or more of the bolts which is not good. You will need a quality breaker bar for the job along with a good torque wrench.

Have a great day,

[md21722]

The bolt head are XZN also known as triple square.

The size will be M10 or M12. I think its M10 on the newer cars. The older diesels used an M12.

[sixto]

After setting the torque spec (50Nm or 70Nm depending on which MB manual you read), I put a dab of paint, white-out or whatever on the forward edge of each bolt to keep track of which I've turned and how much.

As you tighten some bolts, there's a sound like a submarine breaking in half. It sure feels like something's gonna snap.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Yes, you absolutely feel like you are just twisting the bolts in half. You also should not do this if you're a heart patient.

Have a great day,

[Gerard]

I did the bolts on the 3litre M103 today. It is a nerve racking job alright, no need for interruptions!! I really thought I had stripped threads the first 90 degrees.

About those 12 point tools, I bought a cheap set of them for my 300D a few years ago and I've never had any trouble with them. They also fit the rear axle to diff bolts.

Gerard