w210 with 606 vs. w211 with 642 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

orb · #1 01-11-2020, 08:24 PM

I have 2-99 e300's , w210 with 606.962 engine, both with over 200K miles. They are great cars, very reliable, with plenty of power. One of them recently was wrecked, hit a railroad track where the rail was sticking up above the pavement about 6 inches, at the bottom of hump for the main set of tracks that are still in use. Anyway, it pushed the radiator up and pushed the cross member and another piece of front end support, back against the oil pan and knocked a big hole in the oil pan. The car has 295K miles on it. The engine still runs, but the front end is all bent up. I got my insurance company to pay me to fix it and I kept the car, instead of considering it a total loss.

I bought a w211 about 6 months ago, a black 2007 e320 bluetech, with 60K miles on it. I love that car, it has massive power and drives great, but the 642 engine is known to have issues.

I am considering buying another w210, but then I think, maybe I should just find another w211 with the 642 engine. I am very comfortable with the 606 engine, and w210 car, having done all the maintenance and repairs on them myself.

My question is what is the general consensus on the 642 engine, vs the 606?

speednjay · #2 01-11-2020, 09:25 PM

Although I think the w210 606 is tougher, better handling and more reliable I’d still consider the w211 642 due to the insane mpgs.

EDBSO · #3 01-11-2020, 11:50 PM

Get a 2005 or 2006

GregMN · #4 01-12-2020, 12:02 AM

W211

tjts1 · #5 01-12-2020, 08:20 AM

W211/OM606

83w126 · #6 01-12-2020, 01:11 PM

Well with the w210 you have rust, stuck glow plugs, and being fairly slow compared to modern cars. I don't know much about the w211 V6 other than oil cooler leaks and that it costs $1800+ to have the transmission conductor plate replaced which can only be done at the dealer. The inline 6 w211 is definitely faster and handles better than the w210 by far, and still has the older transmission that is stronger and cheaper to maintain, but you still have the SBC brakes, black death issue, and to get a good one that won't have so many people lined up to buy it the seller won't bother letting someone get it inspected it will probably cost double what a w210 will too.

engatwork · #7 01-12-2020, 03:45 PM

W211 with 98/99 "tuned" 606 engine would be sweet.

pawoSD · #8 01-13-2020, 12:31 AM

W212 with the OM651.......they are getting quite reasonable in price, and its a solid powertrain and solid performer. Also will return very impressive MPG.

W210 is a great car, but the rust issues if you live in the north are just too much in the long run. I own one, its rusting to pieces. I didn't pay much for it so I don't really care (beater car).

For the W210 I'd rate the M112 gasser as the best engine, it will outperform an OM606 in every way except MPGs....but for reliability/ease of repair/upkeep, and performance, it wins easily.

W211 the OM648 is the best engine, the gassers had too many problems and are 'bleh' engines overall.

The 7 speed 722.9 transmission is a big upgrade from the older 5 speed 722.6 (but the 722.6 is a rugged beast all the same)

tjts1 · #9 01-13-2020, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

For the W210 I'd rate the M112 gasser as the best engine, it will outperform an OM606 in every way except MPGs....but for reliability/ease of repair/upkeep, and performance, it wins easily.

W211 the OM648 is the best engine, the gassers had too many problems and are 'bleh' engines overall.

Too bad Mercedes never built an m112 powered w211. They might have had a real winner on their hands. Or you know what would've been really amazing? What if Mercedes took that reliable and easy to maintain m112 V6 and added 2 more cylinders to make a 5.0 or even a 5.4L V8. They could've called it m113.It's a real shame that Mercedes never did that. Oh well, what could've been.

TwoMuchBoost · #10 01-13-2020, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83w126

Well with the w210 you have rust, stuck glow plugs, and being fairly slow compared to modern cars. I don't know much about the w211 V6 other than oil cooler leaks and that it costs $1800+ to have the transmission conductor plate replaced which can only be done at the dealer. The inline 6 w211 is definitely faster and handles better than the w210 by far, and still has the older transmission that is stronger and cheaper to maintain, but you still have the SBC brakes, black death issue, and to get a good one that won't have so many people lined up to buy it the seller won't bother letting someone get it inspected it will probably cost double what a w210 will too.

Hahaha, let me guess... a dealer technician told you that. It's a $150 part that can be done in an afternoon with no programming necessary. Valve body has to be dropped but it's a bolt-in affair; no specialty tools even just a filter and fluid change while you're in there. Someone did you dirty telling you that lie

jay_bob · #11 01-13-2020, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMuchBoost

Hahaha, let me guess... a dealer technician told you that. It's a $150 part that can be done in an afternoon with no programming necessary. Valve body has to be dropped but it's a bolt-in affair; no specialty tools even just a filter and fluid change while you're in there. Someone did you dirty telling you that lie

Sorry but that is not true.

The 2005-2006 W211 had the OM648 inline 6 mated to a 722.6 transmission
The 2007-2009 W211 had the OM642 V6 mated to a 722.9 transmission

The 722.6 transmission is the same one used in the 97-99 W210 diesels. The controller is located in the engine bay and the transmission conductor plate is dumb (no active electronics in the transmission, just sensors and solenoids). The electrical connection into the transmission contains the sensor and solenoid wires so it has almost a dozen wires.

The 722.9 transmission has its controller integrated into the conductor plate. MB calls this the VGS assembly. There are only 4 wires going to this transmission, 12 V, ground, CAN-H and CAN-L from the power train CAN bus. All the intelligence to run the transmission is located in the conductor plate on a 722.9.

The 722.6 conductor plate is the $150 part you speak of that is absolutely DIY.

The 722.9 must be done at the dealer. This is because the VGS must be SCN coded at install to allow it to be recognized by the car's systems. This requires a legal copy of Xentry that has access to the German systems.

MB has also classified this part as a Theft Relevant Part (TRP) so it cannot be sold over the counter, it may only be transferred to the dealer shop from the parts department.

I have seen people on YouTube fix the speed sensors by soldering in replacements from China. The speed sensors are what usually fail on the VGS. However, if that is not the problem, and you end up having to go back to the dealer to get it replaced, their price of $1800 assumes you have a rebuildable core. If you solder on the VGS that invalidates it as a usable core and your price will be probably double that.

pawoSD · #12 01-13-2020, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Too bad Mercedes never built an m112 powered w211. They might have had a real winner on their hands. Or you know what would've been really amazing? What if Mercedes took that reliable and easy to maintain m112 V6 and added 2 more cylinders to make a 5.0 or even a 5.4L V8. They could've called it m113.It's a real shame that Mercedes never did that. Oh well, what could've been.

The problem with the very brief run of the M112 powered W211 is that it was a first year car and had tons of electrical issues. A guy who lives down the street has a 2004 E320 and the entire dash has lights on

Still drives though!

Guess it comes down to dealing with rust, or electrical issues in that case.

The M113 is a fantastic engine also....but REALLY thirsty.

tjts1 · #13 01-13-2020, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The problem with the very brief run of the M112 powered W211 is that it was a first year car and had tons of electrical issues. A guy who lives down the street has a 2004 E320 and the entire dash has lights on

Still drives though!

Guess it comes down to dealing with rust, or electrical issues in that case.

The M113 is a fantastic engine also....but REALLY thirsty.

I'm not sure how you're coming up with this stuff. W211/m112 was a 3 year production run and the m113 was a 4 year production run. Longer than the om606 turbo or om648. My 04 E320 doesn't seem to have any electrical issue at 180k miles. Perhaps your neighbor needs to take better care of his car.

pawoSD · #14 01-14-2020, 01:24 AM

The thing that went wrong in the 06 model year was the M272 and M273 with the manufacturing flaw of the timing chain sprocket. The car itself was fine, but this repair is cripplingly expensive/involved for those who got stuck paying out of pocket for the repair.

My dad's '07 had the issue, but it was dealer repaired (their cost) when it happened. My brother had a 2009 E350 sport for 80k+ miles and it was a very reliable car, but boring. The way the M272 makes power coupled with the 722.6 and 4matic makes for a tank-like but very unexciting driving experience....just not enough torque, the car really needs a diesel or v8 to feel quick enough.

tjts1 · #15 01-14-2020, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The thing that went wrong in the 06 model year was the M272 and M273 with the manufacturing flaw of the timing chain sprocket. The car itself was fine, but this repair is cripplingly expensive/involved for those who got stuck paying out of pocket for the repair.

My dad's '07 had the issue, but it was dealer repaired (their cost) when it happened. My brother had a 2009 E350 sport for 80k+ miles and it was a very reliable car, but boring. The way the M272 makes power coupled with the 722.6 and 4matic makes for a tank-like but very unexciting driving experience....just not enough torque, the car really needs a diesel or v8 to feel quick enough.

It's the 4matic. It kills the handling and acceleration. Drive a rwd m112. The facelifted cars had much cheaper interior and that awful center console.

Quote:

With its heavy-duty cast-iron engine block-a diesel trait that hasn't changed much over the years-plus extra sound damping, the E320 CDI weighs in at just over two tons, 219 pounds more than the gas E320 we tested last year ("The Magnificent Not-Quites," March 2003). Nevertheless, the diesel is quicker to 60 mph-7.1 seconds versus 7.4-and delivers more punch in low- and midrange sprints: 30 to 50 in 3.5 seconds, 50 to 70 in 4.8. The gas E320 recorded 3.8 and 5.4 seconds, respectively.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15132921/2005-mercedes-benz-e320-cdi-short-take-road-test/
They're both slow. I prefer the reliability and much lower running cost of the m112 w211. The CDI is neither fast or cheap to own. If you want fast get the m113.

Also I didn't realize the CDI was so heavy. An extra 200lbs on top of the front axle OUCH!