irokdastar

Hello Everyone i just purchased a 2004 clk500 with 63K miles. The car is pristine and very clean but i have 2 issues that my mechanic told me about .

1. Passenger side valve cover is leaking from the topside . its not leaking on the exhaust of coils . whats the deal with the valve covers . should i just replace the gaskets or do i need a new valve cover as well ?

2. The Rear main seal is leaking . Mechanic told me its ok for now but in the future it will need to be done . Should i just do it now or wait ? also what can i expect to pay to change it?

Thank you gents!

Rudeney

The valve cover seal is a common source of leaks. You only need new seals. Use genuine MBZ gaskets as the aftermarket Victor Reinz are not thick enough and will continue to leak. Also, there are breather covers on top of the valve covers that need to be removed and resealed with black RTV. Also, when the valve covers and breather covers are removed, they should be properly cleaned. Also expect the rubber hoses connecting to the breather covers to be rotten and needing replacement. AS a DIY, it's a nice Saturday afternoon project.

As for the rear main seal, unless it's making a big mess on the garage floor, I'd hold off on that job.

irokdastar

Thanks for the reply . Do i do both sides or just the one side that is leaking?

Amir_AMG

i would do both sides at the same time..very common area of leaks for our engine..and I wouldnt touch the rear main seal either, unless its a huge leak

irokdastar

Thanks guys . I will go ahead and order the new gaskets