PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

G-Benz · #2 08-01-2005, 03:45 PM

It can be done at home if you're patient and careful. Save a ton of money too! Many here have done so with success...I will add that a few have made some mistakes and paid for it!

Personally, I plan to fork over the dough and hand the job over to my indie.

I assume you have the M103, in which doing the gasket and valve stems and seals is a good idea. Price is about right, depending on where you live. Quotes i've seen run between $1200 for the gasket only, to about $2K for top end reconditioning.

At your mileage, if your timing chain and assorted items haven't been replaced, it's best to get those done too.

To answer your final question, the repair probably exceeds your car's value, so you have to decide whether to look for a lower-mileage example or keep what you've got. The gasket issue is typical for this model until the improved head gasket is fitted, but the bottom end is capable of another 100K before you even have to think about looking down there.

In short, I plan to keep mine, despite knowing that the gasket replacement is inevitable, and I have several tired suspension pieces that are in need of attention. Despite all of this, I still gave mine a shiny new set of rims and tires, did a few interior mods, and am repairing some smaller items.

The engine still sings, and I'd rather take a money hit now and then, than to have to keep sending someone a payment every month for the next umpteenth years!