Block Material - MBWorld.org Forums

Dec 13, 2001 | 02:24 PM

marmik

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From: Anchorage, Alaska

Block Material

What are the blocks on the ML made of? The Mercedes site only says "high-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block, alloy heads". This leads me to believe aluminum, but cheesy magnesium could also be referenced. Does anyone know how long these MB alloy blocks have been in production? What's the anticipated life expectancy? Regardless, I'm sure they use steel cylinder sleeves, right?

Thanks, Mike in Anchorage

Dec 13, 2001 | 10:43 PM

sosh

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From: Philadelphia area

2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2

Blocks are aluminium and cylinder walls are also. Its a special alloy made with silicone of some sort that works fine and should live as long as the engine life. Steel liners in an aluminum block are a bad idea, different rates of expansion and contraction. Reference the problimatic engine in early Cadillacs in the 80's. This was the HT4100 which probobly ranks as one of the most undesireable engines made in the US.

Dec 14, 2001 | 12:08 PM

jswedberg

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Joined: Dec 2001

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From: Dallas

C32 AMG

The engine is the same as the 3.2L in other MB models. And the 4.3 (and 5.0) V8s are just 8 cylinder versions of the same block.
Historically Mercedes has had very durable engines.

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