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#1
11-29-2006, 03:14 PM
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Consensus on rebuild
I have a 1991 190E (190k miles) with a blown head gasket. A head gasket, valve job and coolant flush will cost me $2400. Overall, the car is in very good body shape but it does have a lot of miles on it. Do I fix it and have virtually a new engine or do I look to replace it with one that's running. There are many 190s to pick from here in the Bay Area (SF) for the price of a rebuild.
__________________
 W124 The Ultimate Taxi 
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#2
11-29-2006, 03:44 PM
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Your third and least expensive option would be to replace the head gasket, unless it was overheated and rattled itself apart.
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Terry Allison N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama 09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA) 09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
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#3
11-29-2006, 03:44 PM
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My take on it is to rebuild the engine.
You can replace your whole car with another one for the same dollar amount, but then you have a car with a lot of unknowns. With your current vehicle, you at least know the maintenance record and what works / doesn't work.
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Paul S. 2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior. 79,200 miles. 1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".
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#4
11-29-2006, 04:20 PM
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hmm.. tough call..
if you have storage space... i would think about spending 3500 for another with much less miles... and storing the other one in a garage for parts.... or part it out.. i once parted out a 300e...and got a total of 2200 out of it... pain in the butt..but i also kept some parts for my current fleet... just a thought.
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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]
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#5
11-29-2006, 04:39 PM
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if the car is not using excessive oil just replace the head gasket and do a valve job. the bottom end is probably good for 300k more.
tom w
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.  [SIGPIC]..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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#6
11-29-2006, 05:38 PM
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t'was clean
Thanks for the input. I'm assuming this to be a head gasket considering the amount of oily goo in the expansion tank. Somehow a black sludge poured through the exp tank cap down the side. This is something that popped up in the past week because I check all fluids on a regular weekly basis. I had a coolant system flush six months ago because the level sensor had corroded badly from the prior use of lousy coolant. My mechanic, also a dismantler, claims that non-Mercedes coolant is a major culprit in heads going bad.
My wife drives the car daily to work. The car smogged extremely clean a couple months ago. Oil barely shows dirt after 3000 miles, when I change it. I took the car on a short drive and oil press was 3 bars and the car didn't heat up past 80c. I didn't detect coolant on the dip stick. I actually would store the car and save it for later but oil in coolant hoses is not good.
__________________
W124 The Ultimate Taxi
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#7
11-29-2006, 06:30 PM
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I agree with Tom about just doing a head job, which would run you only $1,000 -$1,200.
The bottom ends on any Mercedes engine virtually never wear out. I'd replace the valve guides and seals, a new headgasket and button it up.
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Paul S. 2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior. 79,200 miles. 1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".
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