Headgasket failure W220 S320 CDI - Thoughts...?

[range rover]

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.

Yes it can be a case of penny wise pound foolish.

 

[alexanderfoti]

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?)

Asra says 11.3 hours, plus incidentals.

Exhaust has to come off
turbo studs off
radiator off
etc
etc

rarely is ASRA optimistic in its timing.... its normally the opposite.

I wouldn't remove/install a head without skimming it, not worth the risk, compared to the relatively minimal outlay.

MB gasket/bolt set roughly £260 for a 270 CDI, likely to be similar for a 320 cdi + pipe seals etc.

 

[grahamcol]

I hadn't realised how much had to be stripped off and the hours required on this engine, nor had I appreciated the cost of the necessary replacement gaskets, bolts etc. Circa £2k is a lot of money though. Good luck to the op.

 

[moj91]

I am expecting a 2k bill at this rate. my main concern being that once it is repaired, something else expensive will give way.

What other things should we be looking at replacing/checking at the same time?

Water pump? (will probably do)
Chain tensioner (will probably do)
Injectors? Whats the life on these? Can they be refurbed or do they have to be replaced?
Inlet manifold/EGR components?

 

[moj91]

Asra says 11.3 hours, plus incidentals.

Exhaust has to come off
turbo studs off
radiator off
etc
etc

rarely is ASRA optimistic in its timing.... its normally the opposite.

I wouldn't remove/install a head without skimming it, not worth the risk, compared to the relatively minimal outlay.

MB gasket/bolt set roughly £260 for a 270 CDI, likely to be similar for a 320 cdi + pipe seals etc.

Anything else you would suggest doing/inspecting at the same time to avoid redoing the job later on?

Shame the rad has to come out again, it was only replaced recently.

 

[alexanderfoti]

I am expecting a 2k bill at this rate. my main concern being that once it is repaired, something else expensive will give way.

What other things should we be looking at replacing/checking at the same time?

Water pump? (will probably do)
Chain tensioner (will probably do)
Injectors? Whats the life on these? Can they be refurbed or do they have to be replaced?
Inlet manifold/EGR components?

I would do the water pump and tensioner, as you say.

Injectors can be refurbished, but if they are not giving problems, then I would leave alone.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Anything else you would suggest doing/inspecting at the same time to avoid redoing the job later on?

Shame the rad has to come out again, it was only replaced recently.

Its a quick job to remove the rad and gives more space plus less likely to get damaged.

Just do all the seals that need to be disturbed, look at the state of the inlet manifold and maybe replace it if it's really full of crud, seing as it has to be removed already...

 

[moj91]

Update, the car has been off the road for a while - its currently with an indie.
It transpires that the HG has failed at the rearmost cyl wall. With the head off, the inlet is surprisingly clear for 250k, however the head is slightly warped (i think my dad may have been telling porkies with it not overheating when the rad leaked...) however the main issue is that the head has substantial cracks between a number of the valves - the head re-conditioner its been sent to has sent it straight back after heat testing with just 'scrap' written across it. Looks like we need a new head. I'll start another thread for this.. also none of the injectors would come out, they were all disassembled, so now need rebuilding.

Quickly regretting bothering with the repair...

 

[moj91]

 

[brianbrian]

It looks like it has over heated badly, I would scrap the car.Thirty years ago I bought a 280se knowing the head gasket had gone,finished up taking the crank shaft out ,changing all seals. Wished I had never started.

 

[om613]

I had a good spare OM613 head but it went with the car, last summer.
I could PM the guy that bought it if you like?
I know he's been trying to sell the car, so he won't need all the spares package he purchased.

 

[moj91]

Let me see how i get on, might have a couple of avenues to try tomorrow. I would appreciate though if you could PM the guy, where abouts is he? thanks