Aside from engine OIL leaking all over the place, what other issues can I expect when I have a Head Gasket leaking (front & back) on an M103 Engine?

- oil leaking...
- compression issue?
- other performance issues?

REPAIR COSTS:
$2300? (remove/machine/replace gasket/all labor) - reasonable?

thanks in advance!

Kieran-

__________________
Kieran K
Jersey Shore
1988 300CE (for sale, AUG. 2013)
1995 SL320 (88K) - terrific car
1983 300CD
-1993 400E (sold w/74k)
-1988 560SEL (sold w/49k)
- 1995 S420 (sold w/75k)
- 2005 E320 CDI (sold)
- 2007 E350 4M (sold)
- 1984 300D, sold w/305k, CA car, zero rust & over $12k invested
- 2001 E55 AMG (sold w/81k), I really miss it.
- 1982 300CD (sold, all stripped down)

That price seems a bit high. Don't have the shop manual, but I can't imagine it being too much over a grand....


-tp

I have been quoted $1300 before for the head gasket. Machine shop to get it skimmed costs about $200 so you are overpaying by about $700 once you factor in parts and all. I'd ask around somewhere else if you don't want to do it yourself.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

how often do M103 head gaskets go bad?

$200 is alot to surface a head most shops are 65-85

It seems they all eventually do.

Mine was done for $1000 less (M104 engine) than the OP's quote a few months ago.

If the car is eating coolant along with the oil leak, then it is doing damage to your engine.

__________________
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!!!

**** So if I am not experiencing Coolant leaking or eating then the head gasket leak is NOT causing damage to the engine?

__________________
Kieran K
Jersey Shore
1988 300CE (for sale, AUG. 2013)
1995 SL320 (88K) - terrific car
1983 300CD
-1993 400E (sold w/74k)
-1988 560SEL (sold w/49k)
- 1995 S420 (sold w/75k)
- 2005 E320 CDI (sold)
- 2007 E350 4M (sold)
- 1984 300D, sold w/305k, CA car, zero rust & over $12k invested
- 2001 E55 AMG (sold w/81k), I really miss it.
- 1982 300CD (sold, all stripped down)

I got a call from my indy today, I spoke with him a few months back about replacing the headgasket in my 300E . He wanted to let me know that they were offering 10% discount on parts and labor during the month of February. I guess they don’t have much work…

He quoted me the following back in Nov 08:
• R & R Cyl Head gasket , replace front upper timming cover reseal
$410.00 parts
$1335.00 labor
$174500 sub-total

• R & R Cyl Head Gasket Replacement , front upper timming cover reseal, new valve stem seals
$450.00 parts
$1513.00 labor
$1963.00 sub-total

• R & R Cyl Head Gasket Replacement , new valve guides, valve seals front upper timming cover reseal and Cyl Head Refurbishing
$575.00 parts
$1335.00 labor
$450.00 machine Shop
$2360.00 sub-total


The following new parts are included on all the above:
• Coolant
• Breather hoses
• Spark plugs/wires
• Oil
• Valves will be cleaned ( replaced if necessary)

The last estimate is close to what you were quoted, I wonder if we can get both HG replaced for the price of one???????

Good Luck!!!!

__________________
GC
1987 300E 104K
1984 300CD 112k R.I.P

what is wrong with engine? massive oil leaks typically don't involve the cylinder head....that more coolant related

Thank you for the excellent information; this really helps me out as now I can match/reference what my Indy is telling me here. He wants to completely re "dress" the head/valves etc. He would also replace the crank seal.

Right now I just have oil leaking from the valve cover & a "slow trickle" also leaking from the front of head gasket. No coolant reported in the oil.

thanks again,

Kieran-

thanks again

__________________
Kieran K
Jersey Shore
1988 300CE (for sale, AUG. 2013)
1995 SL320 (88K) - terrific car
1983 300CD
-1993 400E (sold w/74k)
-1988 560SEL (sold w/49k)
- 1995 S420 (sold w/75k)
- 2005 E320 CDI (sold)
- 2007 E350 4M (sold)
- 1984 300D, sold w/305k, CA car, zero rust & over $12k invested
- 2001 E55 AMG (sold w/81k), I really miss it.
- 1982 300CD (sold, all stripped down)

They always eventually fail due to the different expansion rates, plus the valve guide wear of the M103.


Seems awfully high, but I haven't a clue what the labor per hour the shop is charging nor how many hours they're asking for... hell, it could be their machine shop that's adding the extra costs.

I'd take a three day weekend and do it.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

$1300 to $1500 was what I was quoted recently for M104 at independents. Dealer wanted $2100.

__________________
John Gillespie
1988 560sec - 192k miles
2006 CLK500 - 40K miles
1995 E300 - 202k miles

Check the block gallery freeze plug for leaks. It is located along on the block underneath the exhaust manifold at the end. It is round and requires a 19mm socket IIRC.
It is a common thing to leak and when it does -- it generally makes a hell of a mess.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

IIRC, most head gasket leaks on the 103/104 engines are at the rear. Most all of these engines develop a leak around the top timing chain cover at the front of the engine, just under the valve cover and it makes a real mess there. When the valve cover gasket leaks, it may run down between the plugs and down the side of the block. Had a trained MB mech. tell me I had a head gasket leak when he saw oil on the right side of the block. Very careful inspection revealed the leak to be from the valve cover. Easy and cheap fix. The valve cover gasket will also often leak at the back where there is a dip in the casting of the head. As said in a post above, the top timing chain cover can be re-sealed fairly easily. If you do the job, use the special sealant from MB. Costs about $12-13 a tube. It sets very fast so have the job all planned out before you apply the sealant. You will also need a new rubber gasket. Apply the sealant liberally. You can always trim the excess the next day after it fully cures. Did mine last year and it is still dry as a bone. Usually when the head gasket begins to leak, oil will get into the coolant, leaving small brown globules in the overflow tank. Most of the time the oil leaks into the coolant but it is possible for the coolant to leak into the oil and produce engine bearing damage.