Back to the topic at hand...

I just recently pulled a 104.990 out of a 1993 300SE (build date 11/92). This motor interests me because it mostly voids the majority of our head arguments...

1.) It has EFI, but no plastic mani or two part manifold. The block doesn't even have the bosses for the lower manifold. It has an aluminum manifold much like the CIS mani, but setup for EFI and throttle by wire. The MAF sensor is bolted directly to the top of the TB, not on the other side across the top like the later models. It has the early model valve cover and the air filter looks the same as the CIS motors. The Injectors themselves are not the thin saturated EV1 style injectors on the later motors, but rather are shorter and fat, appear to be the same in color and markings as the S500 injectors from the same year.

2.) It has the new style head, and looks pretty much like the later style heads on the intake, but has more meat around the ports. It is also sealed by one metal gasket much like the .98 motors, instead of the o-rings found on the other 3.2's.

3.) It has a distributor on the front exhaust cam much like the .98's.

4.) It appears to have both the webbing from the .98 and the newer .94/.99, not one of the other.

I haven't had time to rip into the block itself yet, but I'm really interested. I'm pretty sure the head has the dual slider setup on the timing chain as opposed to the idler gear that the .98 has since it has the water outlet out the front like the later models and not out the side as the .98 was.

Has anyone seen this particular motor before? I have no information on it in my 104 FSM's as there doesn't seem to be an intermediate period between the two. Mercedes makes it seem like an abrupt switch over. ?

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1993 190E 2.6 Sportline