VW diesel guys (alum head) have been replacing the stretch head bolts with stud kits for ages to reduce head gasket problems on tweaked turbo diesels. It's a well proven tactic.
Maybe there's some technical reason it does not work with MB, who knows. But it works like a charm on VW's. You'll never replace a head gasket when using studs on a stock boost engine if you don't overheat and warp something.

Course I've never replaced a headgasket on one period, over a million miles in them between father and I.. ~shrug~

The Warden covered the rest of the common place diesel mods. People don't think diesel and performance, but the full size domestic truck crowd and especially the tractor trailer builders have been upping HP and keeping reliability and longevity for a very, very, very long time. It's not a black art, just expensive and uncommon to normal techs/hobbyists.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K