Hi..Its good to see all brathars and sistas!!<IMG src=smileys/smiley1.gif border="0"></P>


Ihad 97 c280(inline6) lend it my father and got overheated blew the headgasket!!! I took out the plugs and saw water in them. <IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">Motor would turn but wouldn't start. I put water in radiator about a half gallon then when I start the engine(w/radiator cap open), water shoots out of radiator and I see there some squirts coming out of water pump.....</P>


Do you know <IMG src=smileys/smiley3.gif border="0">any (reliable and price reasonable) mercedes machanics around Oakland and East bay in San Francisco Bay Area?</P>


So far...I could find any..<IMG src=smileys/smiley11.gif border="0">.</P>


I found out all the shops that I called, will do the job for me,...but they all seems like my car is first experiment with their skill. and I hate gamble my car with their skill.</P>


It seems like I have three options;</P>


1. Go to the dealer and Pay($10,000) dollars</P>


2. Go to the shop and get my head gasket done.($1600) if head is cracked..it will costmore$$$ quote from Global engineering in Richmond,CA</P>


3. Go to the unknown engine shop and get low mileage engine.($3200)[includes labor&amp;parts]Got this quote from JEM in Oakland,CA</P>


</P>


Still I have no idea if they do it right or not.... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE somebody refer me to decent place where I install around(labor&amp;Parts) under $3000... and I don't have to worry about check engine light and all other small issues later.</P>


Thank you SOO much <IMG src=smileys/smiley4.gif border="0">for your reading my miserable post.</P>


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</P><edited><editID>ilovebenz</editID><editDate>38069.7565972222</editDate></edited>

 

If you saw coolant in the cylinders when you removed the plugs, it was not wise to try to start the engine.</P>


Water is incompressible, so when the piston hits the water - Bang! You've bent the con rod (and I'm told it is possible with just the starter motor).</P>


(How did your father overheat it?? Not watching the gauge?? Did a hose blow or pump fail or the head gasket leak? I hope he stopped as soon as the temperature started rising. Also, I guess the low coolant light would have come on and warned him).</P>


Best of luck with it. No doubt your father is going to pay the bill <IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0"></P>

 

sorry for the mishap

i go to metric motors in SF, john is the mechanic, he's good and he charges fair price.