M103 Oil Consumption/Head Gasket Poll
 

I've been doing some research on the M103, because I'm thinking of purchasing either a late W126 or W124 with one of these engines. Oil consumption and head gasket issues seems like the most common problems, so I'm curious how many forum members have encountered this.

Please post if you have a W124 300E, CE, TE or W126 300SE, SEL and include the following:

Year:
Model:
Mileage:
Oil Consumption:
Oil Leaks:
Any top end work:

*edit* Also include if the car has a complete documented maintenance history, spotty, or non-existent.

'91
300E
193K
None
None
Head gasket @ 191K, previous owner stated the car had at least one other head gasket and possibly two...

-GH

I recently did a valve job on my M103.

Year: 1989
Model: 300SE
Mileage: 170Kmi
Oil Consumption: 800 miles/qt
Oil Leaks: Slight
Any top end work: New guides, faced valves and seats, new seals. I did this work in my auto repair classes at the local community college. I bought the parts and did all the work myself. This includes pulling the head, the machine work, replacing the head.

The guides were worn but the valves were fine.

For the benefit of the forum, and myself:rolleyes:, please don't just click the survey... Post please.

Since new it used a lot of oil at highway speeds. Replaced valve seals to totally eliminate oil usage.

DG

Mine is long gone, but I owned it through about 120,000miles, and the engine never leaked a drop. If not for the transfer case leaks (re-sealed twice), I could've carpeted the garage.

I don't have a W124 300E, CE, TE or W126 300SE, or a SEL, but I do have an M103 in a 93 190E, 2.6 at 149K miles.

When I got it a year ago it leaked about a quart per 1500 miles. My mechanic said it needed a head gasket, but I replaced the upper timing chain cover gasket and the leak stopped. Now I may use 1/2 quart between 3K mile oil changes.

No top end work reported by the only PO (my father) and none needed at this time...X'ing fingers.

Happy in SO CA!

M103 1988 190e 2.6.
113,000 miles Required head gasket, valve seals, valve guides and timing cover gasket.
Previous owner was a contractor that worked overseas for long stretches of up to six months and the car was left idle while he was away. mechanic told me that this would have contributed to the fact the the above work was required at such a low mileage.
Car leaked so much oil via the valves that clouds of blue smoke would emit from the exhaust and the spark plugs would fowl within a thousand miles. After repair used less than quart of oil per 1000miles
Cost of repair US$ 1050

M103 1990 300e 2.6.
90,000 miles. No repairs to top end. No leaks and car uses less than a quart of oil per 1000 miles.
However when I bought the car at 85,000 miles, changed plugs, leads, distributor cap and rotor, oil and filter, fuel filters and air filter, serpentine belt and changed coolant fluid. (to ensure ongoing trouble free motoring). (All easily done by myself)

1988 300CE, 150k.

Used to use a quart every 2k miles, then, ca. 120k, did valve seals and oil consumption disappeared.

Camshaft and rockers replaced @ ca. 135k, but no other engine work at all.

Mark

That describes my car exactly ('87 300E) but I have not replaced the upper timing chain cover gasket. That's where it leaks, though.

89 300E with 215 Kmi, Got it in May 04 with 164 Kmi with no record.
I believe it's still with original engine and transmission. Since I got it, the car use oil may be 2 1/2 quart between oil change (5000 mi) seem like the leak's coming from the timing chain cover. Just replace the upper timing chain cover gasket this past summer and it help a lot. As of now the engine run strong and use little oil between oil change (less than a quart)

90 300te 4-M 237k

Not burning any oil but leaking a fair bit into the cooling system. Now that I've fixed the hard start, a head gasket replacement is my next project.

leaks
 

Seems the engine has a slight leak near the top end gasket , but the 103 300se is avery nice and reliable car .lovely ride.
no engine work as yet. clicking tappets were sorted by two rapid oil changes.

mak
1990 300se

160KM

Year: 1987
Model:300e
Mileage: True mileage unknown, estimate 150k
Oil Consumption: was 1 qt/250 miles now 1qt/1000 miles
Oil Leaks: seepage only around timing chain cover
Any top end work: replaced valve guide seals, cam shaft and rocker arms at 140k and consumption dropped substantially

No idea, only driven mine 11 miles. :D :D