Any way to tell a 3.0 vs a 3.5L motor?
Long story short- I was looking at the carfax report and the car was in and out of shops for a while. I think at one point the motor was swapped.
I did a 0-60 run on a local road and the video is below. Taken from a dead stop and an acceleration WITH traction control on (you can see the caution symbol flash) and a bit of tire spin in the beginning.
I have measured the time and I get between 6.4-6.6 each time I check. I don't see any other way that I could be a second faster than a stock C300 than a motor swap... am I crazy?

Before anyone says this is a down hill road- it's not, it's one of the more level roads in my area and I've tested my race truck out there and it's very accurate to when I'm on the track.
Now I'm dying to hit the strip.
Here's the video:
http://gallery.me.com/nberges#100016/IMG_1928
You can see that I got a 6.2 second run (approximately). And I average around 6.4-6.6. Where as when I have a go in my sister's car, I am lucky to get under 7 seconds, and wind up in the low to mid 7 second range (7.3ish). Thats a full second in 0-60. I thought it was bizarre, but I guess that no two engines are bult the same, it also doesn't help that she runs regular gas... Lol
But to answer your question. I don't know of a way to tell the difference. Maybe there are identification markings when you lift up the engine cover?
You can see that I got a 6.2 second run (approximately). And I average around 6.4-6.6. Where as when I have a go in my sister's car, I am lucky to get under 7 seconds, and wind up in the low to mid 7 second range (7.3ish). Thats a full second in 0-60. I thought it was bizarre, but I guess that no two engines are bult the same, it also doesn't help that she runs regular gas... Lol
But to answer your question. I don't know of a way to tell the difference. Maybe there are identification markings when you lift up the engine cover?
I totally agree though. No two engines are the same, and if it turns out that my car likes to scoot faster on all stock parts, I'll take it. Better starting point
I always fill 91 or 93 octance too fwiw.
Now I wanna see what intake and exhaust might help. Nothing like an NA motor breathing a bit better.
Last edited by 08SEA300; Nov 24, 2010 at 06:41 PM.
You can see that I got a 6.2 second run (approximately). And I average around 6.4-6.6. Where as when I have a go in my sister's car, I am lucky to get under 7 seconds, and wind up in the low to mid 7 second range (7.3ish). Thats a full second in 0-60. I thought it was bizarre, but I guess that no two engines are bult the same, it also doesn't help that she runs regular gas... Lol
That'd be one blinding reason why they drive differently. Engines do not vary if any, at all. The variations in the way a W204 can also be the result of the transmission ECU (the thing that learns your driving style), if its on Comfort vs. Sport mode, tires, wheel size, temp, etc.
Driving the car now, there isn't any way I would be worried about it and with 35,000 on the odometer when I bought it, I knew it had plenty more life in it.
I was concerned at first too, but I looked into it more and decided I would be ok, especially because I have the remained of the warranty on the car still.
My topic is basically to find out if there are any marks (even for 3.5L owners) to know about your motors origin, or actuality, kind of like old camaros and chevelles with matching vin numbers for accuracy. I know this may be odd, but I'm a gear head and like to know the ins and outs of everything I own, front to back, up and down. So I find out as I go.
Thanks for all the help everyone!
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Last edited by ohlord; Nov 26, 2010 at 08:41 PM.
By the feel of this car, I don't think it's in the 16 second range. Maybe mid 15s on a bad day, but I think this car still isn't too shabby for bone stock. But it isn't a 16 second car though.




