M113 Delivers Cheap, Reliable V8 Power
In the Used Car Market, Mercedes Automobiles Have the Rare Distinction of Being the Cheapest and Most Reliable Way Into V8 Ownership
There’s a common misconception with European V8 motors. They can be found quite easily if you look, as you can see in the video above. But be warned, cheap does not always equal affordable. Considering the market, almost all European V8 motors sit in flagship models. That said, if you’re looking at the lower-price scale for these cars, you’re getting into something with high mileage, or something with a few issues. Brace yourself for the cost of repairs.
One V8 stands out to us, though, and of course that’s the M113 V8 in the W211 E-Class. You can also include the first generation CLK, as well. Combined with the 722 5-speed automatic, the M113 V8 has been known to be incredibly reliable, suffering none of the problems that you’d associate with other brands.
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The M113 came in a few different variations, with 4.3, 5.0, and 5.5-liter versions. Mercedes nomenclature at the time reflected the displacement, so an E430 was the 4.3-liter version.
If you want to stick with a German V8 but have a higher budget, you can opt for the E55. Reliability generally stayed the same, as AMG worked mostly on the cylinder heads for higher flow.
Do you have a cheap Mercedes V8? We want to hear about it!