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The 4K price tag would not be totally unreasonable for a pristine car. There will be expenses and work to be performed in the future as with all MB. However, if the chassis is solid (no rust at all) the coolant system and coolant look oil-free, the engine is not overheating, the compression tests good, and the front end shakes out OK, I would spend that kind of money for a somewhat rare vehicle.
The head gasket issue could be a deal-breaker. Closely examine service records if they exist. The turbo engine head gets a lot more punishment. FSM 01-0400 states:
The cylinder heads for turbo-engines 602.96,
603.96 and 603.97 are reinforced at the water
jacket due to the higher combustion pressures.
On turbo-engines the diameter (d) of the precombustion
chamber bore is 15 mm, on naturally aspirated engines 14 mm.
After careful review, my FSM does not call out specifics on what was done after September '87 production break point except for the NA engine (OM602.911) Only head gasket modifications are mentioned for the turbo engine. I mistakenly referenced the weak head issue from the FSM for the NA engine and erroneously attributed that problem to the turbo head. Sorry about that.
I have pulled the head on my engine and found it to be free of any cracks and in good condition (see my "memory lane" link in my signature) and this is one of the heads that were modified later (09/87). I think the only concern you would have for that turbo engine would be the head gasket, not the head. Thats where the service record may reveal a changed head gasket and in that case you would be golden.
Last edited by sasquatchgeoff; 10-18-2009 at 03:00 PM.
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