oecko_unltdo

when was the production date and when did it dtop getting produced?

why is this? why was the production period just a phew years and it moved to the e430? what was wrong with the e420?

paomien

the E420 in the W210 body was only offered in MY97. In 98, it was designated as E430, with a different engine (SOHC, 24V, two spark plugs per cylinder), this was when the E320 was converted over to a V6 instead of the original inline 6. The 4.3 liter engine provides a flatter torque curve, as well. I know this doesn't even cover half of it, so anybody care to fill in?

E55 KEV

4.2 liter engine = older
4.3 liter engine = newer

That older engine in the 1997 E420 was use in the W124 E-Class from 1990 to 1995 I believe.

apb

420 engine was more expensive to produce and had 4 valves per cylinder, 430 has 3 valves and 2 spark plugs.
The 430 is happier at lower rpm, the 420 happier at higher rpm b/c of the better air flow.
I understand that the 430 costs half as much to produce and is a modular version of the v6.
Both good engines - the 430 is lighter, so with better torque and lighter weight it has the edge.

galleryvw

i was also told that they went to a 4.3 for a reason having to do with emissions equipment/parts added due to the greater restrictions. it wasn't fully explained, but sounded good enough to me.

cabby850

Isn't DOHC engine a more complex and better engine than a SOHC engine? I always had the impression that as the technology advances, the number of valves in an engine will increase. For example Audi makes a 40 valves V8 while the E420 DOHC engine has 32 valves and the E430's SOHC engine have only 18. Why does mercedes technology goes the other way?
Is it just because of cost cutting?

Ed

E55 KEV

The E430 has 24 valves - 3 valves per cylinder. 3 x 8 = 24. The V6 has 18 valves.