I am not suggesting that you do this yourself, but it is possible.

There is a special tool that hooks under the cam or the rocker ball that compresses the valve spring so that you can get the keepers out and remove the retainer and spring. You can then get at the seals.

Believe it or not the keepers are called "collettes."

The trick to all this is to do it one cylinder at a time, bringing each to TDC and supporting the valves with compressed air blown in through the spark plug hole.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe