280 SE/A wanted

[Benz Dr.]

I need a cylinder head for a late 280SL. I have all of the other parts to complete assembly so I only need a good casting and prefer something that's 84.5 mm or thicker.

[MikeSimon]

Dan:

I have a late SE/A head with oval combustion chambers. Let me check what the thickness is, because I think it was cut already.

[ja17]

In stock, one good lightly used, 280SE/A cylinder head original height 85.00 mm. No warpage, good ball studs, valves etc. Manufacture date on the head is "78" .  PM me or call if you like.

[MikeSimon]

. Manufacture date on the head is "78" . 

Joe: Where do you look for that "manufacture date" on the head?

[mbzse]

Where do you look for that "manufacture date" on the head?

Not a date, year only. It is on top between the cam towers

[mrfatboy]

I am assuming this is it.

[mbzse]

I am assuming this is it

Indeed

[MikeSimon]

So, Joes head that says '78' was produced in 1978? Some 7 or so years after the M130 went out of production?

[mrfatboy]

Maybe Joe was looking at this number.  Here is a different angle of my head. 75?

[mbzse]

So, Joes head that says '78' was produced in 1978?.../...

Yes. Spare part production batches were made.
Engine units (short or long block) were a common item to be replaced in Mercedes cars in those years. When the units had been refurbished at Mercedes they
came with a plate "Original M-B Tauschaggregat" (Replacement unit) riveted to the left side of the engine block

[MikeSimon]

I am aware of the "Tauschaggregat" program. I believe these were "remanufactured" engines using earlier produced main blocks (maybe bored) with new components were needed.
I am just surprised that Mercedes Benz had heads cast still in 1978. Knowing foundry operations, there is quite some set-up work involved for casting a specific part and a certain batch size would be necessary to make this viable.

[ja17]

Yes the "78" year of production was cast right into the top deck of the cylinder head. Most likely a post-production run of spares. The M130 engine was used in the sedans through 1972 in the USA and possibly longer in Europe.

[stickandrudderman]

You can still buy new heads from MB. Presumably they would have a recent casting date.

[MikeSimon]

You're kidding! What is the latest incarnation of a P/N for the last M130 and what is the approx. price? Do I have to get a fresh mortgage on my house?

[Cees Klumper]

Last time I was able to check, which is probably around 10 years ago, I think it was around $2,500. That was at the same time a new 300SL crankshaft from MB would set you back $20K. Today I would guess a new head would be at least $3,500?
Where can we look up these prices for MB-only supplied parts?

[stickandrudderman]

New 280 head is available from MB at a mere £5142.00.

[Cees Klumper]

Wow, so $6,300

[Aaron h]

Prices vary quite a bit at times between Europe and USA.  So don't always assume the Euro price is equivalent to the price in the U.S. 

The early 280SL cylinder head, part number 130-010-26-20, (old part number 130-010-19-20) is still available, and it lists in the U.S. for $4,490, wholesales for $3,100. 

The late 280SL cylinder head, part number 130-010-18-21, is still available.  It lists in the U.S. for $3,540, and wholesales for $2,490. 


For those of you  that want to check the availability of a part always use this Classic Center website link:  https://partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com/  You Must type in the letter "A" before the part number.  No spaces or dashes. If there is a star beside the price (in Euros) that means the part is on clearance, and that once it's out of stock that'll be the end of that part.....forever.  If it's a new production number it'll have the a "NEW" icon next to price.  If you're searching for a DIN number you much put an "N" in front of the number.  Though, bear in mind that not all DIN numbers will come up in Classic. 

Now, after you have confirmed availability on the Classic website, and you live in the U.S., you can go so any online Mercedes dealer website.  Type in the part number (without spaces or dashes) and it'll tell you the price here in the U.S.....what it retails for and what wholesale cost is.  If any place charges you more than retail then run like hell from those places.  This is the website store I use for U.S. pricing:  https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com/  There are many others like this, but this one has the best pricing that I can find. 

I've struggled many years when someone wants a quote because Mercedes does not allow independents to have access to any type of pricing database.  So I have to make up a list of part numbers, send it to my parts fella at a dealership, he then has to type each number in manually to make up the quote, and then he has to send that to me.  It's a royal pain in the A**,  but the two aforementioned websites help quite a bit when I want to make up a quote late at night in my home. 

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Aaron! Very useful info.

[GM]

Thanks, Aaron!

[Aaron h]

You gentlemen are very welcome! 

Mike, does this answer your questions?  While the cost of a new cylinder head is somewhat high, it's also nothing short of amazing that they're even still available. 

Fun fact......Five years ago I restored a 280SL for a friend, and we ended up deciding to buy a new tappet cover.  It was a nut and bolt restoration, so we didn't want a pitted and discolored tappet cover.  I was something like $280.  Have any of you priced a tappet cover lately?  It's one of Mercedes's latest rip off scams.  It's now 1,578 Euros in Europe, and in the U.S. retails for $1,350 and wholesales for $935......for a piece of cast aluminum.  Mercedes is doing everything in their power to both discourage buying parts for the classics AND make as much money as they can when someone does fall prey to a need for parts.  :/

[Benz Dr.]

You gentlemen are very welcome! 

Mike, does this answer your questions?  While the cost of a new cylinder head is somewhat high, it's also nothing short of amazing that they're even still available. 

Fun fact......Five years ago I restored a 280SL for a friend, and we ended up deciding to buy a new tappet cover.  It was a nut and bolt restoration, so we didn't want a pitted and discolored tappet cover.  I was something like $280.  Have any of you priced a tappet cover lately?  It's one of Mercedes's latest rip off scams.  It's now 1,578 Euros in Europe, and in the U.S. retails for $1,350 and wholesales for $935......for a piece of cast aluminum.  Mercedes is doing everything in their power to both discourage buying parts for the classics AND make as much money as they can when someone does fall prey to a need for parts.  :/

When the Classic Center was being built I warned that they would jack their prices through the roof and I think I wasn't believed all that much. Aside from all of the usual reasons prices increase, this isn't usual.