96 C280 Head Gasket Leak
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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2013 SL 550
96 C280 Head Gasket Leak
I have a 96 C280 with 78k miles. I have owned it for 7 years and it has always been serviced by a MB dealership. The car has run beautifully but abour six months ago I had it in for service and the dealer told me there was a "head gasket oil leak." I did notice some oil on the garage floor but I have never had to put oil in it and there is no noticeable drop in the oil level.
The estimate to replace the head gasket was $2,200. Is there another option to address the leak without replacing the gasket?
The estimate to replace the head gasket was $2,200. Is there another option to address the leak without replacing the gasket?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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1996 Mercedes Benz c280
I just had my car inspected for a big trip to Colorado. I have 72,000 miles on my 1996 c280. I have never noticed an oil leak before, no spots in the driveway. They showed me underneath the car, and their was some oil around the area of the head gasket. They told me it would cost $2100 to fix it.
My uneducated car opinion is screw that, so what if there is a small leak. As of right now, I am not going to have them fix it, because my oil level never has any problems. And to be honest, the more I read about it, the more I think it is a classic case for mechanics to squeeze money out of car owners.
My uneducated car opinion is screw that, so what if there is a small leak. As of right now, I am not going to have them fix it, because my oil level never has any problems. And to be honest, the more I read about it, the more I think it is a classic case for mechanics to squeeze money out of car owners.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
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1996 Mercedes Benz c280
You may be right. But I am not going to pay $2100 for a head gasket oil leak when I have never had problems with my oil level, spots in the drive way, or burning oil. It is common for older cars to have some leakage.
If you could, please tell me what kind of problems I am risking, and what is the likely hood, and at what point have I waited to long. Because if I start seeing puddles in the drive way, I am going to get it fixed.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 110
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From: irvine,ca
09 E350 ,
You may be right. But I am not going to pay $2100 for a head gasket oil leak when I have never had problems with my oil level, spots in the drive way, or burning oil. It is common for older cars to have some leakage.
If you could, please tell me what kind of problems I am risking, and what is the likely hood, and at what point have I waited to long. Because if I start seeing puddles in the drive way, I am going to get it fixed.
If you could, please tell me what kind of problems I am risking, and what is the likely hood, and at what point have I waited to long. Because if I start seeing puddles in the drive way, I am going to get it fixed.
