Well, I neeed to try to determine what to do about repairing my 1990, 300e with 215k miles on it. The car ran very good, new tires, upgradae a/c, good interior and exterior. The head gasket went and I was going to attempt it myself but have spoken to a couple of friends and they suggested leaving this one to the pros. The problem is that I'm getting prices of around $2000.00 for the repair and valve job. I'm just a little leary about putting this much into it only to have another major failure(tranny, rear etc w/215K on it) Any suggestions or oppinions??
Thanks!

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!

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I recently came to the same decision with my 1993 300E2.8 - repair or trade-in? I decided to keep the car, and I opted to have the dealership replace the head gasket, timing chain (+ tensioner, rails and guides) and belt and belt tensioner. Current estimate is $3400, plus I got a '05 C240 to drive around in for the 4 days they have my car (woo!). Other repairs that the dealer wanted to charge the earth for, I did myself (engine and spark plug wiring harnesses).

My comments will echo G-Benz's, but at 200K+ I'd also have the timing chain replaced, and while the head is off, get the valve seals and stems done.

While I was there, I saw another post-1990 W124 up on a lift. The owner had taken the car to a local independent to have head gasket and timing chain done also, but had forgotten to replace one of the pins in the chain, causing the chain to skip a tooth - make sure whoever does the work is very reputable, or take it to the dealer.

Thanks for the replys , it sounds like the general opinion is a repair at this mileage is not unusual and may reap me several more years with this car. It reallly drives well and I would like to keep it. Is anyone familiar with the service manuals available from this site? Are they comprehensive yet straight forward enough?
Thanks again please continue to post

if your in the mid west i could help....

I could do it for

80 gasket kit fastlane
100 in valve stems
40 timing chain
18 dollar vavle cover gasket...
12 bucks spark plugs

250 to have head redone at napa

and a small gratuity,,,

Blueranger, I looked your thread last week, how did the job end up? I'm a little nervous about breaking more than I fix! What recommendations do you have?