More research shows me that the head was not scraped beyond spec. I keep forgetting what the metric is but you can take up to 13 somethings off and he took 9. There are some heads that you can get thicker gaskets for for various reasons including the head was shaved beyond normal limits. There are also 'shims' of some sort that can be used in certain situations for certain heads. My MB 1995 E320 does not have a thicker gasket made for it though I would assume you could get a custom made one.

My head gasket is the Victor Reinz, less expensive, not cheaper, one and does have what look like perforated metal tabs at the front corners where the timing chain cover juncture can cause oil leakage. My oil leakage was coming from a slightly bowed head though I do not remember overheating it I will certainly accept that that was causing the leak. An exhaust valve or two got too hot also. Bottom line is that I am very glad I bought it to the machine shop to be looked over. I was just going to replace the gasket and hope for the best. The 'best' in this case would have been one large dissappointment.

For those of you who are thinking about not taking the head down to a machinist I will show you the cost....which in a world where lower ball joints for this car cost about $400 each seems to me to be money well spent.

Valve Job...................................$180
Pressure Check............................$45
Resurface...................................$45
R&R cam.....................................$60

Total.........................................$330

Those costs look a whole lot more normal than the costs I have seen for any parts available for this car.

On to learning reassembly lessons.

Jim Lee
1995 E320 Wagon