CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Which Is It? Line 8 or V8?

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Old Jul 29, 2002 | 01:41 PM
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Which Is It? Line 8 or V8?

Just curious, Is the CLK430 engine a straight line 8 cylinder or V8 like the american muscle cars? I heard the German make there 8 cylinder engine as a straight block instead of V8. Is this true?


thanks

jon
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Old Jul 29, 2002 | 01:55 PM
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I don't think any volume automobile manufacturer in the world makes inline 8's anymore.

Some brands have inline 6s (BMW is famous for theirs).

Mercedes uses a V configuration, although other than that they are not very similar to "american muscle car" engines.
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Old Jul 29, 2002 | 05:12 PM
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Sorry dude, this isn't the '30s.
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 04:45 AM
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in line 8?

hmmmmm.......
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 02:16 PM
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Originally posted by Newbie
Sorry dude, this isn't the '30s.
LOL! Yeah, they were most populer in the 20s and 30s, but "Straight Eights" were reasonably popular in through the end of the 1950s. I think the only inline 8 cylinders still being manufactured are diesels that power ships and trains.
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 04:14 PM
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Originally posted by Brian_R170


LOL! Yeah, they were most populer in the 20s and 30s, but "Straight Eights" were reasonably popular in through the end of the 1950s. I think the only inline 8 cylinders still being manufactured are diesels that power ships and trains.
Yeah, I think Rolls Royce was the last car manufacturer to use 'em, back in the late '60s.
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 04:22 PM
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Not that I am a mechanic but I beleive the V8 is one of those optimum configurations for smoothness. The V6 needs balancer shafts and the straight 4 is just rough.

Not sure why BMW stick with a straight 6 or should I say, I don't know why Mercedes persists with V6.

Any views?
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 04:33 PM
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The straight six is nice because both first and second order vibrations balance out without resorting to balance shafts, etc.

The problem is - a straight six is long, so it doesn't fit in short, low hoods.

A V-12 also has this balance thing going for it.
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Old Jul 30, 2002 | 11:07 PM
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Originally posted by jswedberg
The straight six is nice because both first and second order vibrations balance out without resorting to balance shafts, etc.

The problem is - a straight six is long, so it doesn't fit in short, low hoods.

A V-12 also has this balance thing going for it.
The Lexus IS300 has a inline 6 and its a pretty short low hood.
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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 01:00 AM
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Hmmmm.......Interesting.
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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 01:31 PM
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Originally posted by BlackC230Coupe


The Lexus IS300 has a inline 6 and its a pretty short low hood.
depends on the designs of the cars. the IS300 looks like it has a short and low hood, but actually it has almost the same measurement as the 3-series does.

i think that the main reason for MB to replace their i-6 with v-6 is for saving space to achieve better protection on the occupants when it crashes. the other i think it is because v-6 is less expensive to build than the i-6.

anyway..it just my opinion
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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 04:07 PM
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Yes the V6 configuration is more compact and provides some advantage regarding crash protection but the main reason for the switch from the inline-6 was more likely economic. The current V6 and V8 are modular in design sharing bore centers, a 90-degree angle between cylinder banks and the SOHC 3-valve twin-spark head design. That way MB could split development costs and assemble them on the same line as well as share parts between them. 90-degrees is perfect for the V8 but a 90-degree V6 has first-order vibrations which is why it requires a balancer shaft to smooth things out. Also according to C&D magazine (July 97) the 90-degree package provided more space for the variable-length intake manifold under a relatively low hoodline.

Last edited by LOH; Jul 31, 2002 at 04:48 PM.
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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 10:19 PM
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Originally posted by FrankW


depends on the designs of the cars. the IS300 looks like it has a short and low hood, but actually it has almost the same measurement as the 3-series does.

i think that the main reason for MB to replace their i-6 with v-6 is for saving space to achieve better protection on the occupants when it crashes. the other i think it is because v-6 is less expensive to build than the i-6.

anyway..it just my opinion
that is pretty good info.

But i never would have thought the V6 would cost less to make then the I-6. To me if i had to pick i would prefer a V6.
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 09:25 AM
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V8's V6's... inline 8's and in line 6's.....

no one's mentioned the efficient flat six engine's that porsche use.

i mean.. 3.6 litres of power, torque and efficiency dont come easy!
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 03:30 PM
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Originally posted by Ahmed
V8's V6's... inline 8's and in line 6's.....

no one's mentioned the efficient flat six engine's that porsche use.

i mean.. 3.6 litres of power, torque and efficiency dont come easy!
the thing about flat head engine is that they tend to eat a lot of oil, but they are more efficient than the V or inline engines.
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Old Aug 4, 2002 | 05:50 PM
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What is mind-blowing to me is how the Cart & IRL series cars get all that hp & torque out of a 6 cyl.!!!!


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Old Aug 4, 2002 | 07:17 PM
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Originally posted by MarcusBenz
What is mind-blowing to me is how the Cart & IRL series cars get all that hp & torque out of a 6 cyl.!!!!


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i thought CART uses V8 engines???
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Old Aug 5, 2002 | 04:33 AM
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me too...
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Old Aug 5, 2002 | 03:47 PM
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Maybe so, but I always thought they were 6's, my bad. I guess I had better get my s**t straight before opening my mouth. F1 does use V10's right?



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Old Aug 5, 2002 | 06:03 PM
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Originally posted by MarcusBenz
Maybe so, but I always thought they were 6's, my bad. I guess I had better get my s**t straight before opening my mouth. F1 does use V10's right?



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yep i think so.

btw Marcus...me and my dad was really pissed about the service dept at HOI the other day. we bought in our ML430 for service on the air condition because the air con only blows warm air when the car is parked and we have like three coupons for the dent removal. first the service consultant told us it'll be ready the second day which it didn't happen and when they do told us to pick up the car on the third day the air con wasn't fixed and the dent wasn't even look at it by them and they told us everything is fixed and tell us to pick the car up.

and when we see the car the circle made by the service consultant around the dent was still there.

our main complaint is that if the car is not fix or can't not be fixed they should not tell us that the car is ready. that's all

Last edited by FrankW; Aug 5, 2002 at 06:07 PM.
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Old Aug 5, 2002 | 10:19 PM
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Originally posted by FrankW


yep i think so.

btw Marcus...me and my dad was really pissed about the service dept at HOI the other day. we bought in our ML430 for service on the air condition because the air con only blows warm air when the car is parked and we have like three coupons for the dent removal. first the service consultant told us it'll be ready the second day which it didn't happen and when they do told us to pick up the car on the third day the air con wasn't fixed and the dent wasn't even look at it by them and they told us everything is fixed and tell us to pick the car up.

and when we see the car the circle made by the service consultant around the dent was still there.

our main complaint is that if the car is not fix or can't not be fixed they should not tell us that the car is ready. that's all

Thats funny u had that problem when my mom used to have her ML430 we brought it in for a service, window fix, defective lamp, and the bumper got scraped on the back. And they said it should be ready in 3 days and when my mom called up each day to see if everything is being taken care of they said its being wokred on. We went there the 3rd day and it was not even touched yet. And all they did was say that they are terribly sorry.
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Old Aug 6, 2002 | 01:22 AM
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I hate the way all these automotive service people (body shops, rim shops, car dealers, etc) always feel compelled to lie rather than tell you the awful truth. I guess too many bad reactions to their incompetence caused them to start 'adjusting' the truth to better serve their needs. Whenever your car's at the dealer for 5 days, you know damn well it was sitting in the sun for 4.
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