Benz Head Gasket timelapse

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
10/15/2014 at 09:18 • Filed to: None

So I was watching this, because it not only shows the guts of a benz, but because it also shows you some of what benz does.

Do they really use an air wrench for the valve covers? What in the hell do they do that for?

DISCUSSION (14)

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 09:24

You can set the max torque on a 90 degree impact so he can make sure they are all the same

EL_ULY > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 09:26

you should come hang out with me or AMGTech one day.

JGrabowMSt > EL_ULY
10/15/2014 at 09:27

I really need it. I'm seriously looking into doing the spark plug change on the SL myself, but while I'm in there, if I can get the valve covers off without much trouble, I think I'll do the gaskets for them at the same time.

JGrabowMSt > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
10/15/2014 at 09:30

It just seems overkill to me, because to the best of my knowledge, valve covers don't get torqued down much.

When I pulled the valve covers off my 5.7 HEMI last week, I was using a small 1/4" drive with a deep socket, and I wouldn't say any of them were what I could consider tightened very hard. The awkward positioning for the wrench was what made it difficult for me because I had to use a deep socket, and the engine bay is a pretty tight.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 10:03

A small one is fine for the valve covers on this engine as long as you are careful. They don't affect anything too critical such as a sprocket or bearings. They are steel bolts, not aluminum, so they are pretty tough. So as long as the gaskets are properly located and the bolts are tight without being stripped there won't be a problem. M272/M273 however torque would be crucial because the cam bearings are built into the valve covers.

Unrelated, I was amused by how much his feet kept sliding backwards. And he took way more apart than he needed to. And I probably would have said "damn it service writers stop bothering me!".

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 10:04

Which SL with which engine do you have?

JGrabowMSt > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/15/2014 at 10:07

'97 SL600 Sport with the M120 V12

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 10:13

Are you a masochist? You would have to be.

Seriously though, shouldn't be a terrible job, but that's for me, I don't know your skill level. Also can't rememberthe last time I had one of these apart or what it entails. Anything newer? Yeah, I can probably tell you what sockets you need, but I very rarely see this engine.

JGrabowMSt > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/15/2014 at 10:29

I've heard that the cost for a spark plug change from MB is in the ballpark of $1200. I have to put that towards the Magnum right now, so I need to do as much as I can on the SL.

I know the intake has to come off the engine, but from what I can find, the valve covers are mostly exposed once it gets that far. I also know that it's one of the biggest differences between the SL500 and SL600. Valve cover gasket replacement on the 500 is like 1.5 hours, the 600 is something like 7.5 hours. If I can shimmy them off the motor while in the car, I absolutely will. It's getting very close to 100k, and I'd rather do the gaskets now than wait until it becomes a problem.

On top of that, I need to do the thermostat and plugs anyway, so it needs to come apart regardless. I guess at least it's not a dual spark, if that counts for anything. I'll be getting whatever spark plugs are recommended for it (some bosch plug, I have it saved in my amazon cart). I also need to replace some of the intake tubing, and the air filters. I Need to pull the belly pans off to check for leaks as well. Since I wont be driving it much over the winter, I can use all this spare time to take it apart slowly and carefully.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 16:04

Sounds like you've got it mostly covered. I will see if I can find anything else that might be helpful to you. Do you know the baumuster/FIN? I.E. 129.xxx?

JGrabowMSt > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/15/2014 at 16:11

I think it's this: 1290761F149043

If not, I can take a look tonight, I know there's a 129.xxx number stamped on the bottom of the bumper, is that the same number?

I do have the VIN I could send you, but the info that comes up is weird, I can tell you that much.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/15/2014 at 22:14

129076 is what I was looking for. I will see what I can find tomorrow.

JGrabowMSt > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/15/2014 at 22:18

Thanks a ton, I really appreciate it!

Kinja'd!!!

For your time, a Brabus SLR 722

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JGrabowMSt
10/16/2014 at 11:51

Intake does not have to come off for plugs. Just pop the coils out and they're right there. Labor time for plugs is 2.7.

Valve covers on the other hand are much more intensive, I wouldn't bother unless they're actually leaking. Labor time for valve covers is 9.5.