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| View Poll Results: How much oil does your M103 use? | |||
| None to minimal: unmolested top end |
   
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12 | 20.00% |
| Some: less than a quart every 1000 miles |
  
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21 | 35.00% |
| Moderate to high: More than a quart every 1000 miles |
  
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16 | 26.67% |
| Top end work performed to address issue |
  
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11 | 18.33% |
| Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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#1
11-11-2008, 11:18 PM
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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.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k  1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k  1980 240D Stick China 188k  2001 CLK55 AMG 101k  2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!! 
Last edited by TylerH860; 11-12-2008 at 02:59 AM. 
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#2
11-12-2008, 12:42 AM
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'91
300E 193K None None Head gasket @ 191K, previous owner stated the car had at least one other head gasket and possibly two... -GH
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For Now: 1992 Mercedes Benz 500SL 1998 BMW 528i 2003 Honda Element 2002 CBR600F4i 1977 Coachmen Motor Home
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#3
11-12-2008, 02:56 AM
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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.
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Regards Warren Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL ENTER > = (HP RPN) Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.
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#4
11-12-2008, 02:58 PM
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For the benefit of the forum, and myself
 , please don't just click the survey... Post please.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k 1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k 1980 240D Stick China 188k 2001 CLK55 AMG 101k 2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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#5
11-12-2008, 07:59 PM
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Since new it used a lot of oil at highway speeds. Replaced valve seals to totally eliminate oil usage.
DG
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#6
11-12-2008, 08:11 PM
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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.
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 Gone to the dark side - Jeff
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#7
11-12-2008, 08:17 PM
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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!
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1993 190E 2.6 135k 1989 Ford Thunderbird SC 5 Spd 79K Last edited by riorust; 11-12-2008 at 08:21 PM. Reason: addition
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#8
11-12-2008, 09:53 PM
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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)
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#9
11-12-2008, 10:29 PM
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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
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I never go far without a little Big Star 1994 E500 199/Gray 82k 84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k 88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes. 88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k
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#10
11-12-2008, 10:50 PM
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Quote:
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#11
11-13-2008, 08:29 AM
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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)
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#12
11-13-2008, 07:53 PM
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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.
__________________
 90 300TE 4-M Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim T04B cover .60 AR Stage 3 turbine .63 AR A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control 3" Exh, AEM W/B O2 Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys, Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster. 3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start 90 300CE 104.980 Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression 197° intake cam w/20° advancer Tuned CIS ECU 4° ignition advance PCS TCM2000, built 722.6 600W networked suction fan Sportline sway bars V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff
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#13
11-13-2008, 08:32 PM
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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
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#14
11-14-2008, 08:59 AM
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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
__________________
Bob Kopicki Massillon OH '97 VW Cabrio (POS) '93 Miata '87 300e '76 GMC C-15 '67 TR-4a
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#15
11-21-2008, 09:15 PM
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No idea, only driven mine 11 miles.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-  '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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