xlr8tin

I was wondering how hard it is to fix this problem. There is a 1994 E320 with a blown head gasket. I'd love to do it myself, but wanted to know how much it could cost me, and what the difficulty level was.

Thanks guys!

Kestas

It's mostly nuts and bolts. DIY cost me not much more than the price of the head gasket. You'll need access to an engine hoist or the cross bar in the garage with a winch. This is to lift the head off the car and to slide the car out from under the head. The head is too heavy and cumbersome to lift out, even with two people. You're sure to damage something that way. The job requires a special triple square (12-point ) bit for the head bolts.

You'll also have to budget a lot of time for this. Some have done it within one weekend. I think that's kinda tight. You don't want to be rushed for this job.

ps2cho

If your up to the challenge, it is totally worth it. Once its all back together you can say job well done because you should go into it looking at fixing small details -- EG: Clean tops of pistons, flush block, massive degrease + cleanup and the ability to check everything over so YOU know in your head that your cars head is 100% perfect.

If you take it to someone, they will do none of that. Only the bare minimum. And it'll cost you anywhere from $1200-$1600 for the head gasket alone.

gorillajin

So without the engine hoist, it's impossible to do the HG job?
How heavy is the upper head? I know bottom one can stay....I wish I have a bigger garage so I have more space to put a hoist and other stuff. I have a garage, but sharing with neighbors...

epowers777

U dont need a hoist look at ps2cho new link m103fixing list he has a diy link for head gasket. Its easy done alot of them.

ps2cho

Well he has the M104 which may be much heavier...so he may at the very least need another person to help remove the head or he'll get a hernia from it....

xlr8tin

Crap! I have neither a hoist of garage...Some of the guys at Benzworld said I'd have to have the head redone. The car has a little over 200K miles on it. Others warned of the transmission being weak. Also seller mentioned coolant in the cylinders..hopefully because the gasket is bad.

I'm sure it really isn't all too bad, but it's starting to sound like it could end up being over $5K. I could get something much nicer that runs for that price...Thoughts??

ps2cho

If you have no opportunity to do it yourself, its probably not worth getting it all done. Heck, you could probably find a lower miles e320 for $3000....

If the head also needs a rebuild as well as the head gasket, you are probably looking at $2000 at a good indy.

Coolant in the cylinders seems a tad odd though. Usually you will find oil in the coolant if the head gasket has gone on these engines.

gorillajin

I think it depends on how much you love your car. Is it worth spend $5000 repair fee to you? Some poeple spend $10000 to a car that worth $2000. It is all up to you. If you love your car, and want to keep it for a long time, then fix it. Otherwise, just sell it cheap and buy another car.

Saijin_Naib

My dad said the M104 has an aluminum head and cast block. That is part of the reason for the head gasket issues: two metals with two different thermal properties strain the gasket too much.

In other words, the m104 head shouldn't be too heavy.

xlr8tin

I'm sure I could find a nicer one for a bit more, but $1000 is pretty much what I want to spend on the car right now. Yea, it sounded a little confusing to me as well...

Well, the thing is it's just the one I was looking at. I haven't bought it, and at this point probably won't since the seller is an ***. I've asked a few questions and pics, and he response by saying look at the CL add for pics. He offers no info. So forget it. Not worth my time on this one.

This makes sense about the two dissimilar metals. I deal with this as an electrician on our boats in the Coast Guard with corrosion.



Well for now, I've found 2 BMW E32 750il's. It's hard to pass up a V12

epowers777

Sounds like ur in the military. You on a post they should have a shop there that u can use. I know theres a guy on the forum that does his work outside. Heck Ive done a turbo kit and a head in the barrack parking lot!!! Ive done lots of work outside just how bas u wanna do it. Find a friend with a garage!!

xlr8tin

I am, but I'm on medical leave for my chemo treatments. Otherwise I'd be on a buoy tender that goes out almost every other week during summer. I'd love a project like this, and I'm sure I could find someone to help. I'm done with this car anyhow, so it doesn't really matter. The seller isn't the helpful type