Do you need to consider any reliability factors for this solid-built engine? 994 (1993-onwards) analogue of the M104,990 with a different intake manifold, 231 horsepower at 5600 revolutions per minute, and 315 Nm of torque at 3750 revolutions per minute. Mercedes abandoned the inline-six layout in 1997 in favor of the more. The two forces are collaborating once again to produce a 5.0-liter V8 engine that runs on Hydrogen. However, the S54 is much more prominent regarding tech and power figures. This contrasts with the 88.0-by-82.1-mm dimensions of the current 3.0-liter V-6 (one version of the V-6 had a bore as large as 97.0 mm). Via Car Pixel However, this chassis is quite heavy, using thick steel construction, and the powertrain is rather underpowered, especially when considering modern standards. Non-AMG Mercedes-Benz models will employ a lower-output version of the M256, without the electric supercharger but with the motor/generator and 48-volt systems. Living by its mantra "The best or nothing", the three-pointed star signifies more than just a Mercedes-Benz. Your email address will not be published. Mercedess Nine Decades of Six-Cylinder History. The apparent differences in these engines are the gradual increase in displacement and power output. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Tips for N54 Tuning Meanwhile, its compression ratio lies between 9.2:1 and 10.5:1 for its standard Benz and high-performance AMG models. Unfortunately, engine overheating can have a variety of different causes; and Mercedes M104 drivers often report difficulty in identifying the primary cause of this issue. Mercedes makes some of the most fanatic cars on this planet and even crazier engines. Then the electric supercharger spins up in 0.3 second to deliver useful boost. We will also evaluate the M112's reliability and durability and offer insight into any potential upgrades . It spins to 70,000 rpm and can develop a peak boost pressure of about 6.6 psi. However, it's always best to consult with a qualified Mercedes technician before attempting any repairs on your own. Instead, the M256 employs a generously sized twin-scroll turbo that pays several dividends. Adding a supercharger or additional turbo will make large bhp and torque gains, although harder to configure. The Mercedes M104 engine can be found in the following models below: The M104 engines were utilized in a total of 36 total models by five different automobile manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Roewe, Heuliz, Status & Class, and SsangYong. He continues to dabble in automotive journalism and LeMons racing, as well as ministering to his 1965 Jaguar E-type, 2017 Porsche 911, and trio of motorcycleswhen not skiing or hiking near his home in Colorado. Related: Swapped! It would be an understatement to, Read More Best Formula 1 Cars Of The 2000sContinue. Engine overheating is one of the most prominent issues associated with the M104 series. Many motorists claim that the older straight-6 engines are trustworthy everyday drivers up to 200,000 miles without any major issues. Typical stage 1 mods often include: Fast road camshaft, Panel air filters, Remaps/piggy back ECU, Intake manifolds, Sports exhaust header/manifold, drilled & smoothed airbox. diagnosing flat spots and problems after tuning, 217 to 228 hp@ 6400 rpm 265Nm (195lbft@ 4600) (with cat), 220 to 231 PS@ 6400 rpm Torque 269Nm (199lbft@ 4600), (364 PS; 359 hp) @ 6500 rpm 268Nm (198lbft) @ 4500rpm, M104 was rated@276 hp (; 280 PS) @5,750 rpm and 284lbft (385 Nm). Please watch our video which covers the 5 principles of tuning your car. city 14.0 of course there will still be problems and weaknesses of this machine. Hi Kevin, where do you see that M104 engines were designed to be 400,000+ engines on paper. Don't forget to over specify your injectors flow rate. Be sure to keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe. This is because a competition cam causes a very lumpy idle, and makes the car more prone to stall or jerk along in stop start traffic, sadly though many ignore this and end up ruining a perfectly good car and having to revert back to a fast road, or OEM cam profile. The Aluminum pistons and cylinder head, cast-iron block, forged steel cam connecting rod, and various other engine parts make a robust motor that produces a crazy 277 horsepower and an insane 239 lb-ft of torque, pushing the driver to the seat. Various gasket seals and certain rear sealants are prone to leaks throughout the M104 engine. Also, with the intake and exhaust systems on opposite sides of the engine, theres plenty of space to bring the catalytic converters close to the turbocharger, which helps the catalyst achieve operational temperature more quickly after a cold start to reduce emissions. If you would like to know more, or just get some friendly advice on Tuning your M104 engine please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss tuning options in more detail with our M104 owners. Thanks! Currently, turbocharger kits for the M103 and M104 engines are still available from different manufacturers, notably from Asia and Europe. Head work - The goals of porting and flowing the head are to get air flowing into the engine while removing flow restrictions and turbulence. The engine may also run lean or rich and may stall or misfire. (In some cases, as the factory ECU is locked flashing is not an option, so an aftermarket ECU is the route to take, and many of these will outperform factory ECU's but make sure it has knock protection and that you get it setup properly.). The Mercedes-Benz M104 is a straight-6 automobile engine produced from 1989 through 1999. and get all the new deets right in your inbox, Leaders in automotive prformancee and tuning guides, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form. They also help the scavenging effect of the engine. But that's with fastidious maintenance as prescribed by the Germans and one owner. Driving on a faulty mass airflow sensor does not directly result in severe engine damage. The most common symptom is a loss of power. Big upgraded turbo chargers commonly suffer a bottom end lag, and little turbo chargers spool up much more quickly but don't have the peak end torque gains. Ramya is a Computer Engineering graduate with a lifelong love of automobiles. 992 (1992-onwards) analogue of the M104,991 with a 9.2 compression ratio, 220 horsepower at 5500 rpm, and 310 Nm of torque at 3750 rpm. Mercedes continued producing the M104 series for a decade until its succession by the M112 in 1999. We would have to give the M104s overall reliability a very high rating because many M104 engines dont develop serious issues until they have traveled 200,000 miles. All of these engines have a straight-six configuration, except for the original Volkswagen VR6 adapted by the Vito van. Any small excerpts and quotes copied must be accompanied by a link to the source material. Upgrades to turbochargers and superchargers - forced induction is the most efficient approach to increase air supply, allowing you to burn more fuel and make more power. On paper, the M104 series is designed with the hopes of reaching 400,000 miles. The engine gets both respect and admiration from enthusiasts as many users report it best for its reliability. Mercedes also offers multiple variants of the M276 a 3.5L NA, 3.0L twin turbo, and 3.5L twin turbo. When these burn, they produce particulates. However, not every engine is perfect in design. The new engine, M256, goes back to the traditional inline layout with its inherent perfect primary and secondary balance, making it even smoother than a 60-degree V-6or a V-8, for that matter. High oil consumption. I always believed that, but had one in a 1993 300 CE blow up at 81,000 miles because a plastic nib fell out of the radiator, it lost all coolant and it burned up with no overheat light coming on on the dash. Yet, not every engine is perfect. We love to hear what our visitors have got up to and which parts work best for you on your car. Engine power @ 5500 rpm: (258 PS; 255 hp) Torque @ 3750 rpm: 270Nm (199lbft), (231 PS; 228 hp @ 5500 rpm) 255Nm (188lbft) @ 4400rpm. By this point, the commonality with the V-8s was much diminished. To keep us running PLEASE Donate here. We gave the BMW 335i our coveted car of the year award, read more about this awesome car and see why 335i Tuning Guide Mine's a 1991 CE. 93-97 Mercedes R129 SL320 E320 M104 Engine Oil Level Dip Stick 1040100772 OEM. Finally, having no accessory drive slices about two inches from the length of the engine, largely offsetting the thickness of the integrated motor/generator. This supercharger, which is located downstream of the turbocharger, uses a centrifugal flow compressorlike the compressor side of a turbodriven by a 48-volt electric motor. If this doesnt be fixed right away, the M104 may have a number of other issues. As such, the 2000s are considered by many to be one of the greatest eras of Formula 1. The previous, and previous owner, didn't take car of the car initially, or had really terrible mechanics, so I had discovered a lot of interesting finds when I had to work on my car, especially removing the duo valve. This is even true with the very precise piezo injectors in the M256, which operate at up to 2900 psi of injection pressure. Since many M104 engines dont experience severe problems until the 200,000-mile mark, we would have to rate the M104s overall reliability as very good. Mercedes M113 V8 Engine Problems, Reliability, Specs. Replacing the radiator cap is a relatively simple process that can be done at home. Check out this Datsun 240Z with an S54 under its hood. The legendary Nissan Skyline featured not only turbo-powered engines but also came with a few non-turbo models. Fast and reliable. The self-appointed smart set think the internal-combustion engine is on its last legs, but not Mercedes-Benz. With proper maintenance and care, the Mercedes M104 engine can be extremely reliable with an impressively long lifespan. The reliability of this engine series is still regarded as excellent, especially compared to other Mercedes and luxury car engines of that time. After serving as Technical Editor and Director, he was Editor-in-Chief from 1993 until his retirement from active duty in 2008. Join our forum today and benefit from over 300,000 posts on tuning Among the most common sources of leaks in the M104 engine are in the front and rear main seals. This motor can also develop 20 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, so it can provide a useful assist to the engine, particularly at low rpm, reducing the need to downshift when the driver calls for more acceleration. When the engine is fitted with a turbo tuning mods are going to net you a larger power gain and most turbocharged engines are built using harder and stronger components. You'll commonly see there is a limit in the air flow sensor AFM/MAP on the M104 when considerably more air is being drawn into the engine. Altering valve durations can alter the torque band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations. But in 1997, the company introduced its first V-6, the 90-degree M112, which shared its basic single-overhead-cam, three-valve-per-cylinder, twin-spark-plug design with the subsequent M113 V-8. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. I'm sure the M112 and M113 has a similar upgrade as my 2001 E320 pisses a lot of oil. Breathe easy. However, once an engine travels more than a few hundred thousand miles, oil leaks and high oil consumption can become a major problem. keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe. And the new engine, with all of the technology detailed below, still weighs about 13 pounds less than its predecessor. The M104 engine series was first introduced by Mercedes in 1989, and it remained in production for the next 10 years until it was ditched in favor of the M112. Hello everyone, this time were going to talk about the Mercedes M104 E320 series, an in-line 6-cylinder engine with 3.2 liters of displacement. not much else. It has a double overhead cam design with 4 valves per cylinder, and used a crossflow cylinder head. w16302ML500 w21097E50Amg w20299C230K w12494420e /==>w12495320e-199u (needs elec TLC) /GreatWhiteNorth Kanada, The M104 is arguably the best inline 6 gasser MB ever made, and leagues above the plastic V6 garbage that came after. Mercedes M104 2.8L Engine Specs, Problems & Reliability The M104 E28 2.8-liter engine is the smallest engine of the M104 series. You will also have full access to Related: Why Yamaha Is Developing A 5.0-Liter V8 Hydrogen Engine For Toyota. Few problems should happen as long as they are regularly serviced and maintained. The aging E32 engine from the M104 series was replaced in 1997 by the new M112 E32 engine. Is this correct? Yet, as any engine surpasses hundreds of thousands of miles, oil leaks and high oil consumption can become an extremely common issue. $50.00. The AMC 4.0-liter inline-six engine is Chrysler's most renowned inline-six engine. The NA inline-6 3.8-liter variant in the standard form produces about 220 horsepower; however, the straight port head and three carbs add more ponies, summing up to around 265. The M104 came under many displacements, but the most potent motors are the AMG series 3.4-liters and 3.6-liters. The site includes MB Forums, News, Galleries, Publications, Classifieds, Events and much more! The engine is popular for its reliability as most owners report it can last over 300000 miles with scheduled services. To fix this, you'll need to replace the radiator cap and hose. Just like any other engine, the M104 has a few design flaws. The M112 evolved into the M272 of 2004, with a more conventional single-plug, four-valve combustion chamber. Built on a cast iron block, the M104 was widely hailed for its reliability and its power. And the electric A/C compressor can also deliver the cars cooling needsefficiently while maintaining cold air during extended idle stops. Mapping - remapping provides the most advantage in terms of cost savings, aftermarket ECUs, and piggyback ECUs are all alternatives. Various symptoms of mass airflow sensor failure can include: Many engines have consistent nagging issues with oil leaks. Another possible cause of overheating is a failing water pump. Oil leaks are a frequent, bothersome problem with many engines. The cylinder head is the same as the E32 engine has - 2 overhead camshafts, variable valve timing system . However, the 4.0-liter inline-six has a status above the others. You may need to boost your exhaust if the existing exhaust is actually causing a restriction. Oil leaks. Which helps us keep our guides and tips up to date helping others with their modified car projects. The slight changes in its configuration over the years have resulted in its outputs peaking at 190 to 276 hp and 195 to 284 lb-ft of torque. . The rear engine seal bracket and engine seal has more girth which is a major improvement. Additionally, worn valve stems can also be a common cause of nagging leaks and higher oil consumption. An electric water pump can be precisely controlled to provide the engines exact cooling requirements, facilitating rapid warmup. Has a Mercedes-Benz E 320 W210 fit. Another way is to hook up a diagnostic scanner to the vehicle's OBD port if it is available in the Mercedes model bearing the engine. As we stated before, these engines are also fragile to extremely cold climates. Please dont run with the biggest exhaust you can source you'll reduce the exhaust flow rate - the best exhausts for power gains are usually between 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Changing the water pump is a more difficult task that should be performed by a qualified mechanic. Scion xB Catalytic Converter Scrap Price - How Much Will They Pay. Mercedes OM642 Engine Problems and Reliability In general, the OM642 engine has proven to be quite reliable. $650.00. Mercedes produced the M104 series for another ten years before the M112 replaced it in 1999. Oil leaks. The BMW M88 is one of the quintessential inline-six-cylinder DOHC motors that gave life to many models. Intake and Exhaust - Note that on their own these mods will NOT ADD POWER in most cases, but they can help enhance power after other mods by removing the restriction. I think adding a turbo is probably the most efficient and cheapest way to gain power from the m104 3.2L engine. Please watch this video and subscribe to my YouTube channel. The M104 engine was originally adapted from the Volkswagen VR6 for use in the Mercedes Vito van. Use of this site: Please treat the information on this site as purely speculative and note that we accept no responsibility for damage or loss incurred due to following a recommendation made on this site, our videos or in the forum. please specify there is an option! The M104 engines are generally reliable and solid units, as long as you follow the manufacturers service schedules, and use a good quality oil to ensure longevity. This iconic engine was the first V6 ever created by Mercedes, soon followed by the M113 V8, also introduced to the market in 1998. Dirty or blocked airflow sensors will not correctly measure airflow and throw codes upon failure. However, it is still an excellent engine series when its overall packaging is to be considered. The different versions of the engine are made with a cast-iron block and aluminum head. BMW. Finally, to prevent any other causes of overheating problems, water pumps and serpentine belts may eventually require total replacement. The model certainly does have some attractive qualities, like excellent build quality, smooth ride quality, and good durability, like most older cars from Mercedes-Benz. Just very quickly over heated and was destroyed. Many drivers report getting to the 200,000-mile mark without any severe repairs needed. $400.00. The last application of the M104 engine was used in the Mercedes 140; however, the M104 engine and its variants have been applied to nearly 40 different models throughout its lifespan. For another, a larger turbocharger flows better and creates less back pressure at high rpm, extending the engines powerband. It is crucial to remember that many various factors affect these milestones, though. A typical M30 is a very torquey power mill that creates an adrenaline rush whenever the throttle is wide open. MERCEDES BENZ 94-99 W124 M104 ENGINE 24V 3.2 CYLINDER HEAD R1040161601 TESTED. There are a few possible solutions to the overheating problem. 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