Heads Come Off M119 With 77K Miles — ?

[gerryvz]

Interesting that the heads had to come off the M119 in this W140. I wonder why.

I made a comment in the comments section on the video.

 

[WDB748372]

Followed by part 2 which was the detail

I'm nowhere near as knowledgable with the M119 as most here but isn't changing the head gaskets at 70k a bit over the top? At what point should one consider to replace it as a preventative maintenance item?

 

[Oldcar]

I would leave alone indefinitely...unless a bad leak or some other major issue came up

 

[gsxr]

I would leave alone indefinitely...unless a bad leak or some other major issue came up

This: ^^^

M119's almost never need head gasket replacement proactively.

Tech has 45 years experience yet refers to the M119 as "two M104's put together"? Uh, no, that's the M120. However, if the tech really believes this, it might explain why they think the M119 needs periodic head gasket replacement like the M104, which really does need new head gaskets on a regular basis.

All that work and they didn't replace ALL the upper chain rails while it was apart?

Total cost was downright reasonable compared to some other invoices I've seen elsewhere, so there's that. Hope the aluminium tubes were not ÜRO, but it's likely at only $20/ea. The good Rauch & Spiegels are about $30/ea. Odd there's no line items for the intake gaskets or PCV hoses.

 

[JC220]

Mileage isn't the only consideration. Age and keeping up with antifreeze changes is a major factor.

I didn't watch the video. But I have posted photos on here before of used m119 / M104 and similar era head gaskets I removed and they were all in rough shape. Not leaking or showing signs of failure granted. But when I removed them they were delamination and had many of the coolant areas opening up with corrosion. I suspect they won't last indefinitely it's really a matter of when they will let go under normal conditions. These cars are now 30 years old + so I would say about 40 years old will start to show failures due to age.

Most of my cars have had full top end rebuilds proactively by now. But some still haven't been touched like my 500E so I will be doing them in the next year or two to ensure I can still get all the spare parts required.

Typical old m119 gakset photos here - Post in thread 'JC220' OWNER - JC220 | Owners and Their Cars

 

[gerryvz]

The comment I left in the comments to this video echos all of the points made above, with regard to almost NEVER needing head gasket changes, as well as the M120 being pretty much two M104s joined at the crank …. And the M119 being an evolution of the M117 with twin cam/four-valve cylinder heads.

There was a lot that was just wrong with that video, so I had to call it out. Normally Woods and Barclay has their shit together, but I will give them a bit of a pass, because he repeatedly says that he is by no means an expert on gasser engines, and especially not the M119.

But the shop that did the work touts 45 years of the tech working on MBs, so they should have known better. And they gave Woods and Barclay bunk information on the video.

Just wanted to flag it here. I blame the shop, not Mr. WoodsandBarclay.

I know @jhodg5ck knows Mr. WoodsandBarclay as they are fellow Hotlanta-area shop owners…..

 

[Jlaa]

At least they were using the Braun HF LED lights!!
BTW - interesting to see the use of those platinum 7422 spark plugs on the distributorless version of the M119.

 

[gsxr]

Mileage isn't the only consideration. Age and keeping up with antifreeze changes is a major factor.

Joe, watch 8:30 to 9:00 to see the old head gaskets from this engine. Screenshot below. These look brand new compared to the photos in your thread showing seriously degraded head gaskets!

 

[gsxr]

The comment I left in the comments to this video echos all of the points made above...

Gerry, I am not seeing your comment. Either it's awaiting moderation, or it was censored...

 

[gerryvz]

Gerry, I am not seeing your comment. Either it's awaiting moderation, or it was censored...

 

[gerryvz]

Interesting. I can see the comment I made when I am logged into YouTube and view the video from my account.

When I log out, it is not visible. I did mention "500Eboard" and I think that may now be a keyword that triggers the "disappearance" of comments that include it. I definitely know that other comments I've made on Youtube videos, where the forum name wasn't mentioned, have not been affected and are visible. So it has to be the forum name as a trigger word.

Here is an April 7 comment I made on the Tasos "inspection" video that @e500.org recently posted on....as you can see it garnered replies, and loves from Tasos, so obviously it was visible to others.