Headgasket failure W220 S320 CDI - Thoughts...?

[moj91]

Hello all,

The head-gasket appears to have failed in our W220 S320 CDI. Quite a shame as it has been maintained regardless of cost and happily racks up 100 miles a day.

Does anyone know what I should be being quoted for repair? Common failure points to consider? Other items which should be investigated/replaced at the same time?

We are trying to work out if it is worth undertaking the repair or calling it a day with the vehicle - although spending a fair amount isnt out of the question as it returns a high mileage per year per £ of repairs done on average a year.

I'm sure many would say 'buy another' but my stubborn father does not want to change the vehicle.

Thanks!

 

[Craiglxviii]

All in for less than a grand, I’d guess.

 

[brianbrian]

Overall, mechanically, body wise is it O.K.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Dout very much it’s a HG failure??????

 

[Botus]

it would be a v6 ? what's the picture in signature?

if you ran the wrong antifreeze, got it too hot and or chipped to death it might go

ought to be fixable for much less than 1k ?

 

[John Laidlaw]

How do you know it’s the head gasket ?

 

[moj91]

Hi All,
Head-gasket due to the plumes of steamy exhaust, and v high pressure in the coolant hoses and foaming/blow off in the header tank. Coolant is correct grade, the radiator failed a few months ago although i believe (don't quote me on that haha) that it did not overheat, as it was caught early and coolant level maintained up to the point of failure (small split seeping coolant out at upper hose inlet - common failure point. The car ran for a good while after the rad failure prior to these symptoms.

I'm currently being quoted £2-3k for the headgasket replacement... hence asking if anyone can offer advice on why the cost is this high and/or if they have had the same done.

The engine is straight 6. OM648.960 (image in photo is another engine hah) thanks!

 

[moj91]

Overall, mechanically, body wise is it O.K.

Other than this issue and a seeping oil cooler gasket, yes. It had a full gearbox rebuild last year also.

 

[grahamcol]

I'm not an expert on diesel engines and I certainly don't know the op's engine at all. However I'd hope the head gasket could be replaced for something well below £1k by a decent Merc independent.

 

[moj91]

So did I but being quoted £2k min, £3k expected. I'm not accusing anyone of trying to fob us off, but it just seems very steep.

 

[alexanderfoti]

I'm not an expert on diesel engines and I certainly don't know the op's engine at all. However I'd hope the head gasket could be replaced for something well below £1k by a decent Merc independent.

So did I but being quoted £2k min, £3k expected. I'm not accusing anyone of trying to fob us off, but it just seems very steep.

Labour is around 12 hours
Plus a gasket kit which is going to be around 250/350 plus oil and coolant plus head sking etc. I would expect just under 2k ish form an indy.

 

[range rover]

Labour is around 12 hours
Plus a gasket kit which is going to be around 250/350 plus oil and coolant plus head sking etc. I would expect just under 2k ish form an indy.

If the bodywork is perfect go for it. These engines are bulletproof, my indie has a few of them and there is no demand as they are so reliable. It's a pity if it did overheat, that is nearly always a precursor to a HG change. The latest MB diesels are back to the straight 6 instead of the v6, doesn't that tell you something? I was at a meeting last night with relatives and one said to me 'That is a very smooth running engine', he is a Discovery owner, I calmly told him that that there are now 160k miles on the clock.

 

[alexanderfoti]

If the bodywork is perfect go for it. These engines are bulletproof, my indie has a few of them and there is no demand as they are so reliable. It's a pity if it did overheat, that is nearly always a precursor to a HG change. The latest MB diesels are back to the straight 6 instead of the v6, doesn't that tell you something? I was at a meeting last night with relatives and one said to me 'That is a very smooth running engine', he is a Discovery owner, I calmly told him that that there are now 160k miles on the clock.

The I6 diesel is the best they made....

 

[moj91]

Ohh I agree, other than a couple of leaking injectors, fuel pump and squiffy emissions system components its been great, hence why we are considering having it repaired and trying to get another 100k out of it. Its been family owned from new, and happy to chew through 100 miles plus per day for my dad's commute. Plus its easy enough for us to do basic servicing and repairs on it ourselves. I'm just concerned a £2k repair bill will quickly turn into 'it needs new injectors, the head is cracked and needs replacing, the chain needs replacing, the valves are worn and need replacing etc'... =£4k.

 

[brianbrian]

The 16 diesel is good, but the 250d fitted to cars, 1984 to 1993. Was the best ,and well balanced engine. Some have done a million miles. I have one that has 500,000 on the clock, runs as the day it was made.

 

[Blobcat]

The I6 diesel is the best they made....

Just a pity they didn’t make the bodywork as well at the time... I loved my 210 with the IL6 and I was lucky with the bodywork whilst I had it but it wasn’t going to last unfortunately

 

[Botus]

Labour is around 12 hours
Plus a gasket kit which is going to be around 250/350 plus oil and coolant plus head sking etc. I would expect just under 2k ish form an indy.

how does it get to 12 hours, have u got to get the engine out?
how does a 45 head, 20 inlet, and 20 quid exhaust gasket cost 300?
is it very likely the head ends up needing to be skimmed? (and if so is 4 hrs of that 12hrs, getting the valve's in and out properly?)

 

[range rover]

Just a pity they didn’t make the bodywork as well at the time... I loved my 210 with the IL6 and I was lucky with the bodywork whilst I had it but it wasn’t going to last unfortunately

Actually, the last models of the W220 were very good as far as rust goes, mine has a couple of small spots, and they are not in the middle of a panel or anything like that, my car does not look like a 13 year old vehicle, I have seen other models, yes I believe they were 210's and they did not look good at all. That would be my parameter for a change!

 

[om613]

Hmm, you can buy a good I6 613 attached to a rotten 210 for £500.

 

[brianbrian]

I would be very care full buying a second hand engine, you have still got to pay and have it fitted. And still have problems.