zedx

How are these two models different to each other?
Recently purchased 1991 (Australia) 300E-24 Sportline, I love it. It clocked up 250.000 km but runs just fine.

ashman

regular 300e either had a 2.8 or 3.0 liter M103 Engine with I believe 12 valve head. the 300e-24 had the m104 3.0 liter 24 valve engine.

Sportline differs as well, as it has slightly more sporty and stiffer springs, shocks and swaybars and different control arm bushings, closer ratio steering, and 15x7 wheels versus 15x6.5 on the normal 300e.

Sportlines are more rare, still very comfortable suspension, but much nicer over the standard suspension.

AshMan

zedx

Thanks AshMan
Do you know the difference in horse power between these two as well as the average fuel consumption?

ashman

m104 24v I think is 217 hp and 220 lbs torque...

THe m103 I am not sure...

CDP

depending on the M103 engine...

The 3.0L Inline6 177HP & 188lb-ft of torque

The new M104 engine made 217HP & 229lb-ft or torque.

just for kicks...the 500E made 322hp & 354 lb-ft of torque.

ZorroAMG

Ashman, are you sure about your info?

I am pretty sure the M103 was available in 24 valve as well and that the M104 was only the 3.2L...

Just my thought....

AMG_Eric

for kicks what did the 400e/e420 make?

cap'n jasper

Did all cars have cats back then in Australia?
Because if not then the 12v is 188bhp and the 24v is 230 bhp.

ashman

The m103 was never a 24V.... mb made a 3.0 liter 24v engine with 217 hp and I believe 217 or 220 lbs of torgue, which is the original M104. the second Gen M104 was a 3.2 l. with 217hp and 229 pounds of torque as far as I know...

The m103 was 2 valves per cyclinder (hence 12V engine) and the M104 was 4 valves per cylinder (hence 24 valve)...

My car has a 3.0 liter M104 24 Valve Engine. the 93-95 had a 3.2 liter M104 24 Valve Engine.

The m103 was in the pre 1990 model 300CE, and was used in mose w124 6 cylinder sedans except for the ones designated as e320 or as 300e-24.

MB used 3 m103 engines in the 6 cylinder sedans. 2.6 liter (260e), 2.8 liter (300E 2.8) and 3.0 liter (300E)

They used 4 cylinder models in other parts of the world, but I am not sure on the designations.

The big deal between the m104 and m103 was the valve difference from 12 in the m103 to 24 in the m104. The increase in valves per cylinder and the better horsepower and torque was a big deal back in the day.

AshMan

cap'n jasper

Incidently, does your car have the Sportline seats? ie. 2 seats in the rear.
I'm not sure comfortable is the right word. In fact MB decided the Sportline was too firm for the US market back in '91.

ashman

I've ridden in a sportline, and and regular 300e, and both rode nice, but the sportline was much more sporty thant he standard one, and the ride was still quite comfortable by my standards.

AshMan

ashman

also euro models had slightly more horsepower due to not having all the restrictive emissions controls that we have here in the states.

AshMan

cap'n jasper

Agreed.
My first w124 was a factory Sportline and the ride was a bit tiresome at slow speed when you just wanted to get from A to B. The coupe was not a sportline and I found the soft ride awful so upgraded it to sportline and a bit!
Worth the slight harshness at slow speeds for the better handling.

ZorroAMG

Thanks for clearing it all up, Ash!

As for the 400E420, they had 268hp/295tq and 275hp/295tq horsepower respecively.

.

hartj

i thought that the 2.8 was a m104. introduced in 1993 along with the 300e-3.2-24v. before that was 300e-2.6-12v(and before that the 260e-12v).

ashman

nope. friend has a 1991 300e 2.8 m103 engine... m104 was only 3.0 liters or 3.2 liters or in the case of the C36 AMG, 3.6 liters..

Ashman

Aaron124

This is correct. As far as US models go, from 1986-1992 the 300E (124.030) was available with the 3.0L 103.983 engine. In addition to the 300E, there was a 260E (124.026) which was later rebadged 300E 2.6 and was equipped with the 2.6L 103.940 engine.

1993 was an odd year. The non 4-matic sedans were now either the 300E 2.8L (124.028) with the 2.8L 104.942 engine, or the 300E 3.2L (124.032) with the 3.2L 104.992 engine. These models were badged 280E, 320E, or 300E-24 in other countries. The coupes were all equipped with the 3.2L. However in 1993, the 4-matic models carried over with the older 3.0 103 engine. Confused yet?

Chappy

Good information, thanks to all

ksing44

I would love to know some details about the actual ride height and alignment numbers of that beautiful Sportline in the photo. Would you be willing to measure the distance from the ground to the fender lip and from the center of the wheel to the fender lip? If you know the alignment numbers, could you please tell me how much negative camber there is in the front and especially the rear of the Sportline sedan. I would also be interested in the front toe-in numbers.

Thank you

zedx

Sure can, ksing44, but in a day or two, I'm in Sydney tight now and the car is @ home (Newcastle).
One thing for sure: I used to be a "Jag Man" but after driving a Merc I cannot see my self driving anything else... ever!
Mercs are overpriced Down Under, I've toured USA and Europe last year, that's how I know. I hope nothing goes wrong as the cost of parts is astronomical. Still, I love my baby...