I saw an old add for sale on e-bay cirrca 1975, for a 300d. I have the 76 model. It showed a cross-section of the motor. Just found it interesting.

Yeah, when the 300 block came out it was really a new concept, 5 pistons... Many were skeptical (balancing issues). A few year later, Audi used 5 bangers as its staple. Then Volvo in the 850.

The story goes, Mercedes engineers deemed it that 600cc was an optimal cylinder size for both power and economy. They already had the 240 block but needed more power....

They were faced with two choices, adding a cylinder OR turbocharging! Now Turbos were hardly refined enough at the time for Mercedes to offer it in its production cars, so they added a cylinder thus the 300 617 block was born.

In around 1977 to meet CAFE requirements, fleet stats, etc, etc, Mercedes perfected the non-obtrussive turbo to the 300 motor and fit it to the 300SD in 1978. The turbo was to be refined and un-obtrussive to the drive of the car.

Eventually, the motor got the Turbo across the range, and the rest is history.

The explaination I've heard for the 5 cylinder was that a 6 wouldn't fit in the 115 chassis (and the 5 barely does!).

Both concepts (5 cylinders and turbocharging) were explored in the C111 experimental car in the early 1970s -- all sorts of speed records and fuel comsumption records, as I remember. Also the test bed for the front suspenstion used from 1973 on in the big cars -- I think most MBs use McPherson struts or something similar now.

And maybe just because they could. It does run fine!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I wouldn't even mention the Vigor... Too few of them around really...

I believe the five banger lived beyond the Vigor in the 2.5CL and 2.5TL. I don't know if it's still alive today.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

Dog? HA!!!! you ever driven one? we have had one in our family since 96. It's a 1994 vigor GS. That engine produces some 175hp, which is more then ample for the car. If you floor it the tires will sqeel quite a bit. Also, our vigor now has 150k miles and runs like new. No oil burning problems whatsoever. Starts right up and runs like a champ. The vigor is one of my favorite cars that acura produced, one because they are rare, and two they have very distinctive styling, which is more then i can say about their current accord based TL. I think the 0-60 times are in the high 7's to low 8's, so while not lightning quick its by no means a dog IMO.
R

The main qualities mentioned about the Acura:

Starts up
Burns no oil
No problems

Are because it's a Honda!

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83 SD 143 K miles
93 Grand Caravan 130K miles
92 Buick Regal (winter car)

A honda engine DESIGNED for the the ACURA vigor. Also, the interior of our GS model is quite luxourious. Soft leather bucket seats, power drivers seat, moonroof. Tranny shifts smooth as silk most the time. The car rides better around town then my 300SD! Hey no problem blackmercedes, i can understand what your saying now. The Vigors are quite rare and it's a shame, i personally really like them!

Whatever happened to the Sterling? Wasn't it a Honda offspring? Sometime in the mid to late 80's?

A "Sterling" was really a Rover. I do believe there was some connection with Honda. It may of been that Honda supplied engines to them.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Honda built the entire "Stirling" based on the Acura and supplied it to Rover who dressed up the inside (more upscale interior) afterwhich it became the Stirling.

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Jim