Do the easy stuff first (too late, you already pulled the tranny!!) and replace the rubber valve cover gaskets.

I am betting you have the dreaded head gasket leak though, higly prevalent on the rear left head (drivers side) and to some extent the right side, on the 116 and 117 engines. There is a oil return channel on the rear of both heads, the gaskets get petrified, lose their seal and can leak oil badly.

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Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.