400E vs. C36
(4.2 M119 V8 W124 vs. 3.6 M104 I6 W202.)
This 3.6 M104 I6's advantages:
Was built, modified, and breathed upon by AMG
Housed in a smaller, lighter car
Owned, maintained and driven by a M.B. master tech
Much better gearing (2.82 vs. 2.24)
Riding on MUCH better tires (4.2 car was/is on tiny 205/60-15s!)
Is newer (about the same miles though)
Not T-boned to within an inch of it's life like the 400E was
This 4.2 M119 V8's advantages:
Um, err, ah, ......
OK! Here are two! It's about a half liter bigger and...
There are 32 ports and valves feeding it instead of only 24.
Here's what happened:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa5h4fq2Jkg
The 4.2 had the higher MPH but the 3.6 had the quicker E/T.
If the 400E had only ONE of those advantages that the C36 enjoys (the 2.82 gears), it would easily out E/T the C36 as well.
The OP's original post was also about handling. There's less engine sitting out in front of the front wheel centerline with the V8, leading to the advantage of better weight distribution.
I don't think M.B. ever made an all aluminum I6. Their all aluminum V-8s are common however.
I had a mildly hopped up late 70s 4.2 I6 AMC Concord (no "e" on the end) that I out top ended a late 70s 450SL with and I also had another mildly hopped up late 70s 4.2 I6 AMC Concord that I out dragged a mid to late 80s 560SL with so I have been on the other side of the fence as well. Still kinda am actually cause all three of my diesels (the Volvo in my sig, a DT466E International, and a "P" pump Cummins powered Ford F700) are all I6s as well as Benzers 1 and 2! I've taken great delight through the years in spanking V8s with my various I6s!
Another thing to consider: My 12 counterweight AMC 4.2 (258) I6 cranks weigh 68 pounds, my AMC 401 (6.6L) V8 cranks weigh 62 pounds! This is despite the fact that the 401 is a much bigger engine and it's cranks are forged (which makes them denser, which makes them heavier) and the 258 cranks are cast (which makes them lighter).
Mag, did you ever post the weights of the 2.8, 3.0, 3.2 and 3.6 cranks? (For those of you who don't know, the 3.6 cranks are really 3.5 diesel cranks.) It is a safe bet that those cranks are way heavier than the 4.2 M119 crank, probably even heavier than the AMC 4.2 I6 cranks since the M.B. cranks are all forged.
This is another one of those arguments where it's kinda like trying to prove which is better: Blonds or Brunettes! (For the record, Brunettes are better!)
I'd still love to be able to add a C36 to my fleet though.
Regards, Eric