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

 

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.

 

fitting leaks oil.wipe it all down and take a good look.
ohlord

 

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

 

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?"

 

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.

 

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.

 

just curious, how much did your guy charge for the head gasket job?

 

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