My 260E is using 1 qt. per 200 miles if driven 70-80 mph, and will go 450 if driven 50=60 mph. Mileage is 132K. Would this be valve seals, guides or valve job? There is no leakage under the engine. I haven't checked the compression yet but the engine performs the same as it did at 70K.

Thanks

Dutchman

Looks like valve seals/valve guides time to me.
I had the job done at 140K on my 260E.(valve guides)
At that time, the engine burned 1qt per 500mi.
After the job was done, 1qt per 2,000mi. I now have 278K on the car and it is still going strong.
Jackd

As a minimum you need valve guide seals, but once the valve springs are off a good tech can wiggle the valve stems and tell if the guides are excessivelly worn, so be prepared for a cylinder head overhaul.

The 103 engines have a reputation for valve guide wear and 132K is not unusual to require replacement, but once the head is refreshed it should go at least another 132K. I have a buddy who owns an engine machine shop, and a lot of his work is eighties and nineties BMWs and Mercs. He says the 102/103 guides are short and tend to be the first major wear item in these engines.

The bottom ends and rings/cylinders are pretty stout.

Duke

My '92 300e 2.6 was using about a quart every 500 miles. I replaced the valve stem seals and consumption went down to 1 quart in 2500 miles. I did the job myself, $10 for parts and didn't have to remove the head (used air compressor to hold valves in place).

My suggestion would be to try replacing the valve stem seals first, if that doesn't help, I would remove the head and have new valve guides installed.

-John