After buying my 1991 300e 3.0, I pledged to keep it through thick and thin. I have discovered I need a head gasket replaced, which will lead to new valve guides and such. I was quoted $1500 by a reputable private European auto mechanic (his name is Helmut, what else needs to be said!). I was told that this was typical and that the repair will give me another 100K of life. I have 185K now. Anyone with a similiar experience? Wondering if it's really worth keeping 'ol Mary Beth?

If you're a DIYer, who really likes working on it, it MIGHT be worth keeping, otherwise no. It's a great car but that doesn't mean it's econmic to keep it on the road - parts have just gotten too expensive, to say nothing of labor.

What is the condition of the body and paint, the interior and the rest of the car? If everything else is super clean and some engine work is the only thing in your way, than fix her up. If it has rust, needs suspension work, tired interior...than bid her farewell.

__________________
1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

It has quarter damage (I spun out) but I plan to fix that as I go along. Other than that, it's great, straight, and clean!

This is the rationalization that sells new cars to folks eager to throw away $$ on depreciation.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Its just alot of nuts and bolts and you need to follow specific instructions
either found on the mb cd's or posts here about taking the head off.

chain tensioners/guides would be good to change when its done

I would drive a decent distance and pay a few bucks to watch a clinic on head gasket repair.....

it's an inevitable job..... I think if they had that as a clinic for Star Tech, I might have gone........

don't really need clinics on detailing....need it for the real stuff like evaporator cores, head gaskets, valve seals, and suspension rubber replacement.

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

my 89 300te has about 223,000 miles and is just getting broken in. But then again I like to tinker and replace things like the hvac blower and the ball joints. Couldn't justify keeping the wagon if I was having Hans put it on the charge card. I don't think the parts are all that expensive, it's just the practice of diagnosis by replacement that adds up very quickly.

__________________
89 300te 222,222
92 300e 190,000

If you foresee yourself getting tired of your 300e then it is probably not worth the expense to maintan. If you were to compare the cost of maintaining the 300e to the cost of purchasing another vehicle and the inevitable repairs that will come with the other vehicle you can make a decision based on the comparative cost.

MB provides a secure path for maintenance, and if I remember correctly they routinely make parts for about 20 years after a production line ends, and frequently for much longer. So if you find value in the car, MB offers the equipment to keep it running for many years to come. IMO there is no car more suitable for enjoyable long term ownership than the 300e

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I myself was debating on getting a head gasket done. I have 94 C280 with 93,000 miles. Its definitely leaking but cant find the leak and could be towards the back of the engine and cant see it. I was quoted around $1500 for a head gasket job. I was wondering if getting a head gasket done with this kind of mileage is worth it. I plan to keep the car for at least 3 years.

Any advice will help my decision. Thanks

There is NO car that has EVER been built that doesn't require some money put into it from time to time. How many new car payments can you make for $1500?

If you are changing oil frequently and taking care of the car, there is no reason that it will only last 100,000 miles after the head work. These engines have incredibly well built bottom ends. When I pulled the head off mine at 170 something thousand miles, there was still crosshatch everywhere in all cylinders. The engine now has 278,000 miles and is in great shape, using no oil and running like a champ.

Just use a good oil and change it often and the engine will stay under you for a LONG time. That said, you have to prepared for the little things on these cars. Things like blower motors, water pumps, belt tensioners, etc., etc. are what test my patience. I can do all this work myself, so the expense is not near as great. If you are not a DIYer, this will be a relatively expensive car to keep on the road, BUT not that much more expensive than other cars while being a MUCH GREATER car to drive than other cars.

Good luck,

Thanks Larry. I usually do my own work as well but the head gasket work is a bit too much to be an average diy. If I get the head gasket done, what else should I get my wrench to do while the top end is off?

I think it is worth having done. I think you can get it closer to 1k if you look around though.

Mine is the same year as yours and has 91.5k on it. It drives SOLID and is a wonderful car. I saw the same year on ebay (probably a salesman) with 404k miles!! I think if you did the gasket you can drive it another 100k EASY. I have that much faith in this model. (watch it die today)

1500 bucks for 3 years is worth it to me.

__________________
1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

I bought a 1989 300E (187,000 miles on it now) from my sister in December '04. She had the car serviced only at MBZ dealerships, never missed an oil change, etc...so I know the car has been properly maintained. I drive a lot more and am a little rougher on my car and I also live on a much tighter budget than she, but I found a mechanic that retired from a MBZ dealership that seemed ok. He did some minor repairs on a couple occasions and was nice enough to let me pay later-which I did as agreed!! I was satisfied with the work but annoyed by personal questions he was asking (I'm a female). I expressed that he was being too nosy and paid him the balance of what I owed. I took the car in yesterday because it runs hot in traffic but not on the freeway. I just had it repaired for the same problem 6 months ago. He said it was the thermostat back then (I paid $200 )-now he said it's the water pump and he said my "tensioner" needs to be fixed or tightened (or whatever you do to a tensioner). He gave me a quote of $330 for the water pump, $200 and change for labor and $35 for the repair of the tensioner and some other stuff . It came up to over $600 when he added it all up. His attitude is not as friendly anymore and said he was looking for a car for his daughter and would "take the car off my hands" for $300 The car can't be in that bad of shape because it has been perfectly maintained in the past. I was insulted by that comment and left the garage. I want to know if the quotes he gave me are even in ball park range of what the norm is. I feel like he is being indifferent now because I wouldn't disclose my personal business to him. Any input will be appreciated

My indy quoted me $600 for the head gasket but said if it didn''t bother me, I didn't need to get it done.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)