I went ahead and go the head work done. Two valves were visibly destroyed (one burnt, one split ), and all 8 of the exhaust valves need to be replaced because of 'mushrooming'. All guides were done, along with timing chain and tensioner and one cam gear (although I don't know which one!). I don't remember the last time the engine ran this smoothly (at least 80k ago), the idle is rock solid, but does dip a little low when you engage the clutch and let off the gas (i.e. coasting to a stop).

Brutally expensive, but the shop owner said he was impressed with the rest of the engine, and believed this would keep me on the road for another 150k+. I go back in after 500 miles to get the valves checked/adjusted against initial wear on the valve seats (to my ears, they sound loose, we'll see). For anyone in the cape coral/ fort myers area, i do reccomend 'Better Cars Service Center'

cheers,
dan r.


On a slightly more philosophical note-part of the mystique of Mercedes reliability is that owners are willing to pay more to keep the car on the road...hence there are more oldies with high mileage out there. If this sucker was a honda, i'd have trashed it.