I was wondering what the longevity of Mercedes four cylinder engines is. I tend to have the opinion that V8's (among the gas engines cars) are going to live the longest, but don't know if that is neccessarily true.

What is your opinion/experience regarding this?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Have had 10-15. All ways had luck with older 190,s. New ones, have had 2 seams allright.Have 84 190e 5speed it was ok.91 190 2.3 runs good.only had these 2 for 4 mo. Oil presure is key as with all of them. Had 58-190d. Ran for 4 weeks.Just turn down idel at night.starter was out.

I was thinking of the newer ones like the C230's SLK's, etc.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

uhh...no 4 cyl models currently in production for the US market afaik. older ones, M271 (03+, C230K) and M111 (94-02, C220, C230, C230K, SLK230K) were decent. 271's had their quirks (valve guides- oops I need a new head now!), the 111's were overall pretty good engines. I have yet to see a high mileage one though.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Four cylinder engines are offered by Mercedes-Benz basically to have cheaper alternatives in their lines and to meet certain engine size, tax and/or insurance penalties in certain countries.

The problem is that (beside the basic A and B class) all proper Benz automobiles are designed to use either a six or eight cylinder engine. The fours do the work, but most of time they are over stressed (and because of that they will be even less fuel efficient than their bigger displacement engines and require major maintenance sooner).

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

That's what I suspected. I have heard that the SLKs were pretty nice when new, but wondered what they would be like once they had some miles on them.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

MB invented the 4 cylinder engine. That said, I'm hoping mine goes at least 200K. Otherwise I would've been better off buying the honda, no? I did opt for the 4 cyl vs 6 cyl after test driving both. Didn't feel any performance increase with the six cylinder and didn't like the 7-speed auto trans...I do like the mpg...30 on hwy.

Ask me again in five or six years.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

Really? I didn't realize that. Is the fact that you haven't seen a high mileage one due to their not being around long enough? Do the C230's and C220"s have a lot less of the computer add-ons and complexity than the higher-up models? 30mpg sounds pretty good to me.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

2005 was the last year of the 4 cylinder kompressor engine. In 2006 it just became the c230 and had a V6 and seven speed trans. You won't get 30 mpg with the V6, though the 7-speed trans is supposed to help with mpg.

Not sure about less computer add-on's, etc. I do know that 99% of the things that I can fix on the wagon, would probably need to be done by a mechanic on the 230k.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

I guess that's a problem with any of the newer ones.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

In the USA the recent 4 cylinder models (like the last three decades or so) are limited to the C-class or the W201 bodies. In this application 4 cylinders work quite well, while I agree this observation is somewhat objective, IMHO they are far from "over stressed". The M112 and M113 motors are indeed very efficient but they will certainly not exceed the fuel efficiency of a M111, M271 or even an M102 in C-class body service - and I don't think they would in an E-class body either.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (123k)
13 GLK250 (135k)
06 E320CDI (323K)
16 C300 (62K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

By virtue of their 7 main bearing construction, one would think an inline 6 would have the best longevity.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Hey my 1991 2.3 had valve work around 180,000 .Most 300 around sametime.Mb made its name on 4cyd, What are cabs in eurp.----- msd.box- coil, change air cleaner set up, Port out ex.Little work does alot.