MB Doc,

Thanks for the post. Actually, I did already know that the long/old style bolts (105mm), when used with washers, were replaced by the new/short(102mm) bolts, and the thread length was the same. I guess I didn't clearly write my first post.

What I found on the M103 I'm doing is it had the new/short bolts, but ALSO had the washers. And since it seems to me this is the original head gasket, I'm concluding this arrangement (new bolts with washers) was done at the factory. WHICH is something I didn't think happened.

I was just curious is anyone had ever come across this arrangement before.

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Syntax26

1995 MB E420 (lowered)
1989 MB 300SE (sold to brother)
1975 MB 280 (sold)
One damn fine jacked-up golf cart