Geting ready to R&R the head gasket on my 1993 300E 3.2 (oil in coolent) I have already bought Elring headgasket set, Hepo waterpump, belt tensioner and adj bolt. I have read all information on the forms and will be pulling with exhaust and intake attached. Should I replace the 14 head bolts. And does anyone have a PDF/link to cam timing? Waitng on tech manual to cover head bolt torque. Cover me I'm going in.

Had my indy replace the head gasket on my 89 300TE he replaced the bolts, I think they were about $35.00 why not do them lots of stories on the old bolts stretching

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'05 Ford Escape 100,000 miles
'87 560SL 92000 miles
'89 300TE 199,000 miles
'02 Audi TT 100,000 miles
'00 Ford Excursion V-10 121000 miles
'92 Mercury Capri 100000 miles
'02 BMW 325XI 60000 miles
'92 230CE 160000
'87 BMW 535SI 160,000 miles
'93 Rinker Captiva 209
5 Kids
2 Dogs
1 Wife

Everything you need to know is in this very thoughtful thread:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=147315&highlight=head+gasket

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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".

corndog

what tests have you done to establish that it is indeed the head gasket gone.

Could problem be the transmission oil cooler and engine coolant crossover ?

It does happen. They share the same radiator.

Corndog:
Definitly re place head bolts. I have manual if you need any info. I did the head gasket on my 300CE last May - not too hard, but takes time.
Cary

Cary,

I ordered the head bolts from phil today so it will next weekend before I pull the head. My goal for this weekend is to get everything disconected, replace water pump and tensioner. I also went to the MB dealer today to get the two sealeants for the front cam cover one was $25.00 and the other was $30.00 did you use the MB sealeant? Also were did you get your manual from.

Check for my posts as well, I have some pictures included from when I did the job. john90290 is the user name.

You must replace the bolts as they are a one time use item.

Good luck! Take your time, buy the right tools and take a few breaks. It's not hard as much as time consuming.

Head bolts are NOT necessarily a one time use item. Check your shop manual. The head bolts can be reused. I don't understand people's aversion to reusing head bolts. As long as the bolts aren't beyond the reuse length, they're good.

When I did my head gasket, the bolts were within spec so I reused them. No problems 25K later. I'd reuse them again in a heartbeat if they stayed within reuse limits.

People have a lot of fear and misapprehension over reusing torque-to-yield bolts. If you understand how torque-to-yield works, and have intimately studied stress-strain diagrams as much as I have, and know when necking occurs in a stretched bolt, this removes a lot of angst over reusing these rather tall bolts. Bolts have a lot of usable stretch. Only a small part of this stretch is used each time.

Some people can lose track of the bolts they tighten or get easily distracted, and can end up unnecessarily torqueing a bolt twice. In part, these specs are written to protect the next person who will use the bolts from such hiccups.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

Is the head gasket between the head and the head cover?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

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1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

No, it's between the head and block.

Thanks, I am asking because I intend to remove the head cover to paint. Is there a gasket between the head and the head cover?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

Found it at ******** az, it's called valve cover gasket

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE