E-Class (W210) 1995-2002: E 200, E 220D, E 240, E 290TD, E 300TD, E 200, E 240, E 280, E 320, E 420, E 430 (Wagon, Touring, 4Matic)

Smelling of burning oil

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 07:27 PM
  #1  
ccmbduong's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Smelling of burning oil

My '96 E320 has 87K miles on it and it had a gasket replacement about 10K miles ago. Now I started smelling of burning oil so I assume that it's not coming from the fairly new head gasket. I read somewhere that for this model year there is potential another place where oil could leak but I could not find that info anywhere. Can someone give me some opinions on this? I probably need to take my car to my MB indy anyway. Thanks
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 08:13 PM
  #2  
Hirnbeiss's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Südflorida
'99 E430, '05 ML500, '15 GLK350
The front timing chain cover (Stirndeckel) on the M104 has a lower gasket that seems designed to leak oil. The oil then blows backwards and may fool you into thinking it's a headgasket leak.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 09:37 PM
  #3  
ohlord's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,171
Likes: 16
300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Also the cam advance

fitting leaks oil.wipe it all down and take a good look.
ohlord
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 08:29 PM
  #4  
ccmbduong's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Yep... it's a head gasket again after 18 months and almost 12,000 miles... sucks... I took it back to the master mechanic of the MB indy and he confirmed it, he could not get the MB gasket to give a free replacement because it's over 12 months even though it's less than 12K miles,,, I am really pissed at MB quality... The MB indy mechanic said that it should not have happened, so he said that he will share 50% of total costs ... Sorry guys, but this is my first and last MB... If I want a luxury car in the future, I WILL buy a Lexus or Infinity... MB just lost another customer
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 08:53 PM
  #5  
ohlord's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,171
Likes: 16
300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
That is a shame

The 96 was on the tail end of the short head gasket issue and the repair with the updated longer unit should have solved the problem.At 12k the indie should eat the labor and part.It is not the car when a hg that is reinforced fails again after so short a period.Find a new mechanic,before you find a new brand of car.Plenty of updated gasket m104's running around pulling their weight and pleasing there owners.There is no way if installed properly that the new style gasket will leak,unless installed by a drunk,with one eye,and a hand tied behind his back.
ohlord
"GOT CODES?"

Last edited by ohlord; Sep 11, 2008 at 08:56 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2008 | 07:55 AM
  #6  
vinceC's Avatar
Super Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 55
From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
ohlord is right - the repair should have fixed the problem IF the independent technician used the correct updated gasket.

My '95 C280 has 130,000+ miles on the updated replacement gasket - installed by a dealer.

This doesn't sound like an M-B problem, but a technician problem.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2008 | 05:52 PM
  #7  
ccmbduong's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Sorry guys but this is my last MB... 2 head gaskets, rusted spring perches, rusted body, no wonder why Lexus is taking over MB's and BMW's market... and I am for sure moving in that direction as well ... I will keep this one (only 88K miles for '96) until I throw it out... My current '87 Camry with 210K miles is more reliable than this
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2008 | 06:50 PM
  #8  
Yacht Master's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,642
Likes: 13
From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Indy did you wrong......

Originally Posted by ccmbduong
Sorry guys but this is my last MB... 2 head gaskets, rusted spring perches, rusted body, no wonder why Lexus is taking over MB's and BMW's market... and I am for sure moving in that direction as well ... I will keep this one (only 88K miles for '96) until I throw it out... My current '87 Camry with 210K miles is more reliable than this
Sorry to hear of your head gasket ordeal, wish things would have worked out better for you. If you would be kind enough to share the name of the indy that did not stand behind his work, it may help the next guy from the same problems you are having.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 18, 2008 | 10:53 PM
  #9  
meooem1's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, CA
2004 e320 and 99 e320 wagon
just curious, how much did your guy charge for the head gasket job?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 07:18 AM
  #10  
ccmbduong's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
the 1st head gasket job he charged $1800 including new spark plugs + flushing coolant, the 2nd head gasket he charged $1400 (which I paid 50% of that) including planarized head (per my request). This guy is very very good, all he does are MB or BMW, unfortunately he says he can't eat all costs even he admitted that it should not have happened the second time... for the second time, it leaks at the front and back corners of the gasket
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:20 PM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE