Rocker arm quality

[Clayton]

I just received my bill for a rebuilt motor. They charged me $89 each for Mercedes rocker arms. Bud's and many others sell after market ones at around $38. Is there that much of a quality difference?

[wwheeler]

That's easy. Stay with the MB arms. I bought some aftermarket arms and the hardened wear surface began to delaminate. I have pictures I can post later. There is nothing wrong with the cam lobes. Just a bad batch of arms. I put new MB arms on and no problems since. I did return the others as defective.

Too risky for me to mess around with aftermarket here.

[Jonny B]

Ditto, I had the head on my 280 SL done, and we went with the factory units. This is a once in an ownership kind of thing. Not worth the chance, considering the overall cost of a tearing things apart.

[Clayton]

Well, that's 2 for 2. $500 lighter but, now well rested. Thanks guys.

[wwheeler]

Here is the picture of the new aftermarket rocker arm damage. Scared the ... out of me.   

[Jonny B]

Very similar to what we saw in my 280 SL. And once the hardened surface is gone, fast downhill!

[Clayton]

And now, I'm scared straight. Mercedes it is!