E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

300E turbo head gasket?

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Old Jan 30, 2010 | 05:47 AM
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300E Turbo
300E turbo head gasket?

Sorry if this isn't the right section for posting this thread but I am despirate I hope to be a regular here as I just stumbled upon this site now

I have just purchased an 87' 300E that has been modified with Garrett T03 high-flowed to T04. Has been over-heated & I suspect, run with no coolant or, old, useless coolant over last 2 years as it has sat except for starting.

Head gasket blew & now I have sourced a reco head here in Vic, Australia. The head has been repalced 3 times & each time it has blown between fire rings & water jackets. I guess stock gasket is not good enough for turbo stresses? Bottom end has Aires Forged internals done 1k only!

I don't want to use stock head gasket a 4th time. Is there an AMG HP gasket I can use? I know they make one for the 3.2L (for the 3.6L AMG). Is this the same as the 3.0L engine? Which is the right one?

Thankyou heaps for your time & help!

Also, no:1 pot/bore is missing it's o'ring? & the othger o'rings are proud of the head surface. Is the head surface meant to be flush all over? I am baffled by this as engine was built by reputable build shop?

engine was dynoed @ only 8psi. Engine was barely run in prior to first gasket blown. Engine builder states the head was 'porous'? They couldn't source a 2nd hand one so just replaced it.
I noticed the block o'rings (thin band that surrounds each pot/bore) sit up proud of block surface. Are they meant to be dead flush with surface? Also, no:1 o'ring is missing on block?

Here are pics of the head. I have a reco'd one here already. This old one is to be sent back as exchange. I have purchased head bolt set too





Here is the block:




Last edited by BAD300; Jan 31, 2010 at 02:18 AM.
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Stock head gasket on a M103-12V is fine for turbo applications.
The stock engine has a 9.2:1 compression ratio which easily can do 10psi boost with the proper AFR.

You look like you have a bit of heat in two of the cylinders...
What are you using for fuel management and what is your AFR under boost ?

I'm running twin Garrett T2's on stock internals with about 68K miles on it.
At 7 psi it pulled 300 lbft torque at the rear wheels on a load dyno.

Currently increased to 10 psi but not yet dyno'd.
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Old Feb 1, 2010 | 05:20 AM
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Originally Posted by RBYCC
Stock head gasket on a M103-12V is fine for turbo applications.
The stock engine has a 9.2:1 compression ratio which easily can do 10psi boost with the proper AFR.

You look like you have a bit of heat in two of the cylinders...
What are you using for fuel management and what is your AFR under boost ?

I'm running twin Garrett T2's on stock internals with about 68K miles on it.
At 7 psi it pulled 300 lbft torque at the rear wheels on a load dyno.

Currently increased to 10 psi but not yet dyno'd.
Engine has forged pistons. EMS is stand alone MSD. Runs LPG mixer. Block has o'ring & grooves. Engine has been sitting too long by seller & probably suffered severe head corrosion as a result. I just picked it up. I am having the engine rebuilt as the bores are rusted. I can't tell the oversize of the pistons as they have no markings on top so, if they're stock size, I'll need a really good 2nd hand block otherwise, forgies won't be worth a spit. I wasn't able to run it more than 5 mins before it overheated. Done only 4k since rebuild & turbo is shagged already. I'm the mug that has to fix it now
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Old Feb 1, 2010 | 12:50 PM
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300TE / 300E / 300CE
you may find more help here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...isplay.php?f=4
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Old Feb 1, 2010 | 02:59 PM
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thanks for link
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Old Feb 1, 2010 | 08:04 PM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Very interesting... I wonder if he will post dyno results ever?
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Old Feb 2, 2010 | 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Saijin_Naib
Very interesting... I wonder if he will post dyno results ever?
only dyno recorded was done to tune LPG & they weren't willing to open it up with less than 30 miles on rebuild. Obviously now, I wont' be able to dyno it for quite a while

will be taking comlete block to my engine guy this week so he can look at it & advise me from there.

Here's a few pics of car:










Last edited by BAD300; Feb 2, 2010 at 01:23 AM.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 02:36 PM
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124 320ce amg widebody twin turbo, the nail
amg do a uprated gasket for the 103,the one they make is for the 3.2 12v and it is the one you mentioned at the start of the post. it fits the 3.0 as well because the 3.2 is done with long throw crank and std bore.

ed is correct as to the std gasket being ok for turbo, but if you are going to tune for max power, and alter the the timing, then the uprated gasket can only add to reliability, i am running 18psi and a **** load of advance with the amg gasket... no problems so far, but you had better take a big breath and a chair to sit on when you go to the stealer to get one, cause the price will startel you!

you have a high modded engine, mabe you should consider going solid lifters as well?
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by the_widebody
amg do a uprated gasket for the 103,the one they make is for the 3.2 12v and it is the one you mentioned at the start of the post. it fits the 3.0 as well because the 3.2 is done with long throw crank and std bore.

ed is correct as to the std gasket being ok for turbo, but if you are going to tune for max power, and alter the the timing, then the uprated gasket can only add to reliability, i am running 18psi and a **** load of advance with the amg gasket... no problems so far, but you had better take a big breath and a chair to sit on when you go to the stealer to get one, cause the price will startel you!

you have a high modded engine, mabe you should consider going solid lifters as well?
thanks widebody, this is what I needed for when I sort engine build out. Is this a solid steel multi-layered gasket by any chance? I am currently needing time to get engine to builder. Then it goes to a guy near me who is great with LPG conversions, to get it all right then, tune
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 03:08 PM
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124 320ce amg widebody twin turbo, the nail
no, the gasket is not multilayer steel. those types are used, i believe, to lower comp ratio when boosting std internals engine. i have hbeam rods and custom forged pistons with comp ratio of 8.8:1.

the amg gasket is the one used on the 10.5:1 amg 103 engine, to amg spec.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 03:59 PM
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300E Turbo
Gotcha! Thanks again for your help.
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