E420 vs. E430
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
E420 vs. E430
In realworld engine performance, how much of a diffrence do you guys notice? i have been looking to get one of the two, i would think the E420 motor would spin up faster being DOHC, i also noticed while being the same HP and TQ the 4.2 makes peah hp @ a lower RPM and peak torque at a higher RPM, with the 4.3 SOHC is the reverse, maybe this explains the faster off the line performance? is the gearing diffrent on these two as well? im really looking beyond the "numbers" also how do they sound compared to one another? Thanks guys
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, B.C.
2002 E55 AMG
The E430 should be faster off the line and throughout the rev range since it has a very flat torque curve. With the 5 speed gearbox, i'm sure the gear ratios are the exact same in both cars.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
The 4.2 liter (the 119 design) made 275 horsepower, and 295 pound feet of torque. The 4.3 liter (the 113 design) has the same peak numbers, but the 4.3 liter makes this peak torque over a wider rev range. You asked specifically about the E420 and the E430. That's interesting, because in the 1998 press kit, MB compared the 119 engine against the 113 in that same chassis. According to Mercedes-Benz, the zero to sixty times decreased from 6.7 to 6.4 with the 113 design in the E. It's not the extra 100cc of engine that made the difference, because but the fuel economy increased as well. According to MB, the 113 design costs less to manufacture, is more powerful, gets better fuel economy, weighs less, has lower emissions, and has 45% less internal drag. Personally, I would get the 4.3.
