Can anyone elaborate on what differences there are between the OM642 in a W212/W221?
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Can anyone elaborate on what differences there are between the OM642 in a W212/W221?
Same engine, but the S is listed as having a much higher power output. Do they use different turbos, or is it all ECU stuff?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 251
From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
There were some friction reducing steps taken to the cylinder sleeves. But essentially the main difference is the tune. You can easily get this and more power from your W212 with a RaceChip box. about $300-ish or less. Being a diesel, just dumping a little more fuel in creates a lot more power.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 251
From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
There were some friction reducing steps taken to the cylinder sleeves. But essentially the main difference is the tune. You can easily get this and more power from your W212 with a RaceChip box. about $300-ish or less. Being a diesel, just dumping a little more fuel in creates a lot more power.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 430
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From: USA, EU
06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive
No sleeves in this engine, instead they start using same technology used in AMG engines - Twin Wire Arc Spray (TWAS).
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl...S/model-SLSGTC
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl...S/model-SLSGTC
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 430
Likes: 6
From: USA, EU
06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
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From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Only some very small changes in mapping can make some very big differences in power. In the Italian bike business we see this all the time, several models will have identical injectors, throttle bodies, cams and motors but there may be a 20-30bhp difference between those models, it used to be the restrictions came in the form of model specific EPROMs and physically restrictive airbox or exhaust parts, now with ride-by-wire the restrictions are almost universally in the mapping. With diesels it even easier to have mapping in effect limit boost and power, I know the reflash on my W211 was more revolutionary than evolutionary.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
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From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Oh the irony, the OM642 in my Sprinter took a crap last night, almost total power loss...and to think my business partner has been all against me modifying the stupid out of it to prevent this sort of thing, my W211 inline six (different motor) turns 138k miles almost trouble free this tank of fuel. Can't wait to see the BS the dealer gives on this one...40k miles on the OM642 btw...lol...
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
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From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Oh the irony, the OM642 in my Sprinter took a crap last night, almost total power loss...and to think my business partner has been all against me modifying the stupid out of it to prevent this sort of thing, my W211 inline six (different motor) turns 138k miles almost trouble free this tank of fuel. Can't wait to see the BS the dealer gives on this one...40k miles on the OM642 btw...lol...
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
I wasn't driving it at the time, my business partner was. He described it as running normally then on a long uphill section heading south from Austin it slowly started loosing power, no odd noises, until he exited freeway, at that point no MIL/check engine sort of light but top speed was down to 15mph on access road? After key off/on cycle dash illuminated with "Visit Workshop", not related to AdBlue, full service was only 4k miles back. It was towed to MB of Georgetown where we have had decent warranty service on it in the past. It will be entertaining to see what they say the issue is.
My business partner is a sharp guy mechanically, before calling it in for pickup he checked all boost couplers and hoses that are visible and under hood basics...will update when MB updates me.
Every time that OM642/Sprinter has any sort of issue it only makes me more and more confident in my decision to buy the well proven inline six motor for use in my daily driver. Once the Sprinter is out of warranty I'm sure it will be getting mods similar IF we keep it to my W211, as it is stock fuel economy is only marginally better than our old Chevy V6 work vans, power and mileage could use a serious boost.
My business partner is a sharp guy mechanically, before calling it in for pickup he checked all boost couplers and hoses that are visible and under hood basics...will update when MB updates me.
Every time that OM642/Sprinter has any sort of issue it only makes me more and more confident in my decision to buy the well proven inline six motor for use in my daily driver. Once the Sprinter is out of warranty I'm sure it will be getting mods similar IF we keep it to my W211, as it is stock fuel economy is only marginally better than our old Chevy V6 work vans, power and mileage could use a serious boost.
Last edited by Micah / AF1 Rac; Mar 20, 2014 at 09:21 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
I wasn't driving it at the time, my business partner was. He described it as running normally then on a long uphill section heading south from Austin it slowly started loosing power, no odd noises, until he exited freeway, at that point no MIL/check engine sort of light but top speed was down to 15mph on access road? After key off/on cycle dash illuminated with "Visit Workshop", not related to AdBlue, full service was only 4k miles back. It was towed to MB of Georgetown where we have had decent warranty service on it in the past. It will be entertaining to see what they say the issue is.
My business partner is a sharp guy mechanically, before calling it in for pickup he checked all boost couplers and hoses that are visible and under hood basics...will update when MB updates me.
Every time that OM642/Sprinter has any sort of issue it only makes me more and more confident in my decision to buy the well proven inline six motor for use in my daily driver. Once the Sprinter is out of warranty I'm sure it will be getting mods similar IF we keep it to my W211, as it is stock fuel economy is only marginally better than our old Chevy V6 work vans, power and mileage could use a serious boost.
My business partner is a sharp guy mechanically, before calling it in for pickup he checked all boost couplers and hoses that are visible and under hood basics...will update when MB updates me.
Every time that OM642/Sprinter has any sort of issue it only makes me more and more confident in my decision to buy the well proven inline six motor for use in my daily driver. Once the Sprinter is out of warranty I'm sure it will be getting mods similar IF we keep it to my W211, as it is stock fuel economy is only marginally better than our old Chevy V6 work vans, power and mileage could use a serious boost.
Small world; , my GL was serviced by the first owner at Georgetown. He was complementary of their work.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
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From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
I don't know but the sensors used in modern cars and bikes combined with the fragile CANBUS networks and often borderline corrupt software do indeed cause some weird glitches. The ONLY similar issue I've experienced with my 06' W211 was on a 4k mile summer round trip to NY and back back, over 100 degrees ambient temp in TN and had a random power loss, key off and back on after cooling for half an hour and all was well, problem never resurfaced, no code was stored? It's the same with motorcycles, each newer generation has more electronics, more subsystems and more glitches. I know I'm getting old because I now only tend to shop for older cars and bikes. Mechanical stuff still fails but at least the failures are more "honest" and tend to actually be traceable without thousands of dollars of diagnostic stuff.
I was real close to buying a nice Audi S8 V10 in January...but I just couldn't get over the electronics. I'll just keep my old V12 e38 for big engine, big sedan fun...it has too much electronics for my tastes but I've managed to never go to a dealer with it and it's now at 165k miles. There is a reason little Cessna's still have either carburetors or mechanical FI and friggin magnetos...and redundant systems...
Hopefully will hear from dealer today about OM642 problem, will update and get back on topic ASAP.
I was real close to buying a nice Audi S8 V10 in January...but I just couldn't get over the electronics. I'll just keep my old V12 e38 for big engine, big sedan fun...it has too much electronics for my tastes but I've managed to never go to a dealer with it and it's now at 165k miles. There is a reason little Cessna's still have either carburetors or mechanical FI and friggin magnetos...and redundant systems...
Hopefully will hear from dealer today about OM642 problem, will update and get back on topic ASAP.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Did it store a code?
Would be interested in knowing what code it was?
This conversation probably belongs in one of the many about the OM642 going into limp mode.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...d-weather.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...ss-diesel.html
For some of us it seems cold weather or wet weather related.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Now they have a new story, one that makes WAY more sense and what I suspected, MAF meter failure. Hopefully on the paperwork it will have codes. I keep an OBDII reader with me all the time, my business partner however is one of those "screw it, it's under warranty" types. They are saying its ready to pick up, only 90 miles north of here, think he is heading that way in a few, I'll look at whatever paperwork they give him after he picks it up.
Btw, on topic my OM642 in the Sprinter is rated at 190hp...so friggin easy to make it 240+ bhp but at this rate we won't be keeping this thing after warranty expires. It came with 120,000 mile warranty so maybe we will get some interesting history out of the motor prior to selling or getting totaled in Austin traffic.
Btw, on topic my OM642 in the Sprinter is rated at 190hp...so friggin easy to make it 240+ bhp but at this rate we won't be keeping this thing after warranty expires. It came with 120,000 mile warranty so maybe we will get some interesting history out of the motor prior to selling or getting totaled in Austin traffic.
