Read over the FSM to prepare mentally. It is a pretty easy job all things considered. I pulled my intake plenum so I could remove the rest of the EGR crap. The hardpipe was beyond caked up so the system was not working anyway.

Consider a front main seal if yours is suspect or leaking. The tool to lock the crank is $40, well worth it, seems silly to pay rental fee then pay postage both ways including time lost going to the post office. I would do a coolant flush while apart, inspect ALL rubber while the stuff is apart... motor mounts, motor shocks, CIS hoses, belt, etc

I paid ~$325 to have my head rebuilt, plus parts. I did guides, springs, stem seals, skimmed (bring upper timing cover too!), valves reground, AIR injection blocked with freeze plug, etc, etc.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]