assuming my AC isn't totally kaput, my wife has ok'd the head gasket replacement on my 300E.
For those of you who've had it done, what sort of price should I be looking at for the head gasket, machining the head and a valve job?
Also, I know this is a 'how long is a peice of string' question, but how long should I expect the new gasket last before it leaks again?

cheers.

__________________
1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

My 92 300ce overheaded and blow the head gasket in june of 2002. When I did the work I also replaced the timing chain and had the head redone. The cost of the parts ran me about $1200 that also included new wires,ends cap and rotor. I did the job myself it took me 2 week ends but I'm just a do it yourselfer not a pro. It will be 2 yrs next month and all is well. Also my car had about 120,ooo miles when I did this and the chain showed very little signs of wear but did it anyway. Also there is a bypass heater hose under the intake manifold on the drivers side of engine. It's very hard to get at with the car intact but is easy with a head gasket replacement. Make sure it is replaced during your gasket job. Good luck Ed

i'd love to be able to do it myself but I'm not up to that standard yet.

by the way, if anyone fancies making a 'how to' weekend with my car as a guinee pig for some cash and some beer let me know

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

I paid the following at a Mercedes dealer in Scottsdale, AZ a year and a half ago:

- Labor $1,140
- Head gasket set $148.52
- Coolant $17
- Cleaning compound to flush cooling system $18

No work on the head was required.

They also replaced the serpentine belt and a short hose while the head was off.

It's the labour that's the killer then...

Really rather frustrating that the part is only $150, but it's a major PITA to get to it.

I'm taking it into the shop tomorrow to see what the diagnosis on the AC is. If it's the evaporator I won't be able to afford that and the head gasket so you'll see it for sale...

Either that or I'll move somewhere I don't need AC

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Well, I just answered your question before reading your string at the oil in water 300TE, my first fail on a 91 300E 3.0 was at 75k....lasted to 225K....all w/MB coolant , no dogging and no overheats....so that's abbout a 150K DIY job...I'd say not bad considering it was just a lift, clean, drop job at 75K, but a warning, .......I could not get to the last third 90 degrees of torque as called by the book on account of a stripped torx head so I left it at that and at 226K...where do you think it failed?........you guessed it ....where I could not get to the full spec torque at bolt 14...so follow instructions....Later
91 300E 226K

__________________
Adam Reinosa
91 300E 190K
81 911SC 210K
61 MB 190C 90K - sold...sigh.
70 914-6 - DUI victim - sigh
911T - Fire victim
Renault Dauphine '62
67/Cougar GT;70 Challenger 440 Mag
www.wetstart.com - OEM future option coming soon

last year I had the work, you mentioned, done on my son's '88 260E, and the total cost was right around $1800. I believe my mechanic also replaced the distributor cap and rotor at that time.
The engine had 108K miles on it.