Quadcammer

its 4 mains, and it has a forged crank.

the crank is well supported and oiled in both cases, not to mention for a 220bhp engine, you don't need an incredibly strong block.

Yacht Master

I stand corrected! You are right Oliverk, 4 mains. now for the excuse, brain fart or type-O


BTW, have you done any engine mods to your 430?

Quadcammer

not at all.

I left the engine mods to my supercharged cobra.

eXpLiCitW210

WOW i actually sat here and read the whole tread! Interesting stuff from both ends. I still think we should just kick back though.... i mean we all drive W210's, just enjoy what you got!

NIGHTCAP

Quite an interesting thread, fellows - Keep it up, stand your grounds !!

Nabeel

Oh wow, what a thread. I just stumbled upon this after searching the archives for something unrelated.

Anyway, I thought I'd offer my thoughts on the two engines.

We have 3 W210s in our family, including one with an inline 6 ('96 E320) and one with a V6 ('01 E320).


The V6 gets better fuel mileage, but other than that, the inline 6 is a better engine. The M104 is smoother, sounds much better, and has more of a traditional Mercedes feel than the newer M112. The M112 isn't a bad engine by any means - its really a damn good one. Its just that the M104 is sublime, and it subjectively feels much better.

Also, the M104 cars are NOT slower than the M112 cars, contrary to what some others have posted on this thread. I have a large collection of old car magazines, and I have a copy of a Car and Driver test of a '97 E320 (M104 engine, 722.6 5-speed tranny) which shows it going 0-60 in 6.7 seconds. Thats faster than any time I've ever seen for an M112 E-class. I also have a Motor Trend from 1996 which shows a 7.1 second 0-60 time for a '96 E320 (with the old 4-speed 722.3). Also, after having owned both cars simultaneously, I can tell you that the M104 feels like it is a stronger engine, especially on the highway. It probably isn't, but subjectively, as noted before, the M104 certainly feels like a more stout engine.

In any case, both are fine engines and I enjoy the 30mpg that the M112 gets on the highway.

Hirnbeiss

How come no one mentioned that an I6 has perfect primary balance?
Also, did anyone point out that MB's decision to move to the V was in large part driven to commonize the assembly line with the V8?

ohlord

and Yes.
and subjectivity is just another word for butt dyno,and having raced both models side by side the M112 car flat out wins in an objectivity based world
More torque,sooner torque,flatter torque curve,longer torque,breathes better,lighter.
Both well balanced engines, equally.
And the last time I raced magazines side by side down a drag strip the covers blew off and the pages got ruffled well before I got to 60 mph,so the tests of magazine 0-60 times were inconclusive
Now let this old thread go back to sleep.

Nabeel

Agree to disagree

I have both, and I'm telling ya, the M104 is better.

With that being said, our other W210 - an E430 - will happily run circles around both 320s all day long

E-Klasse

The M104 is better.

124-Fan

-How about that.. ?

Cheers,

OceanView

stickygreen

Best response of the thread. Regardless of which engine is better, the inline-6 definitely "feels" like a better motor.

e320avangarde

I have a lot of experience driving v6 engines so far they are best of the best for everyday use.
-nissan infiniti qx4 V6
-pathfinder 92 (original engine and transs. sold at 370 000 km)still running
-e320 v6 ( a lot of power....and good on gas)
I like v6 better than L6 (even bmw got some engine,still I my hart is on V6)

even if both are the strong engine I will always choose V6 (to many things to list why)

-the worst c class 230 1998 assembled in Mexico rust ,oil leak electrical issues....etc etc.
-ML stay away to much headache (if you need truck go for infiniti qx4 )

beside that I do agree that Chrysler put some influence on MB design (i do not like Chrysler it is very ugly design and everything they make looks nonsense.(cheap cheap cheap) please if you wont to waist your time check line of their cars it is a joke .)

the biggest problem on new MB is body RUST RUST RUST RUST ...older MB are still in "like a rock" shape.

interior is great I am happy with e class VIVA E320 V6666666666 !!!!!!

p.s. I think the best years of car industry are between 1996 and 2000 including 2000,after that everything is just money issue ,mass production and cheap material.Simple design use clips not screws in case you want to replace it you will break it.Order new clips ..... etc.

............bottom line e320 V6 engine very user friendly it will get you from point A to point B very safe.PERIOD.





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124-Fan

Make that between 1987 and 1993 or so.., as far as mercedes is concerned. In my opinion at least.

Cheers,

e320avangarde

this forum will be around for a while and you will see which engine will last longer.

V6 for sure, but everyone got their opinion.

just wait and see for your selfv6 v6......

engine in line

v6 against inline

boostedm112

My 98 e320 has 240,685 and counting.
I opted for the V6 over the inline because of the head gasket issue.
My crossfire also has the m112 and that's at 190k.

I fully back the m112 over the m104.
And my preference would have been an inline design, but a bad design is a bad design head gaskets like it's cool is not for me.

Skyline 123

is the I6 the same as the I6 from the mid 60's

rkh

Yoooooooo this dude stupid AF LOLOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

raymond g-

the party broke up 8+ years ago. didn't you notice you were the only one in the room laughing