What was the first MY that the 3.2 liter inline-6 was offered in the W124 instead of the 3 liter inline-6?

I believe in N America= '93 (M104)

You betcha. 1993. Most people don't know this as MB didn't change the badge to either E320 or 300E 3.2. It just illogicaly says 300E.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I think the 300CE coupes and convertibles got it even earlier than that ('88?), but the sedans had to wait until '93.

As for not changing the badge, these cars were still not E-Class cars yet adn as so not number like the S-Class with the number reflecting the engine displacement. They were still 300-Series cars. Much like the 190-Series had many different engines but was always a 190E. The E-Class with proper numbering didn't start until '94 I believe.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

I may be wrong, but I thought the coupes and convertibles used a dohc version of the M103. I think they may have gotten a version of the M104 prior to 93, but I believe it was 3.0 liters, not 3.2.

The point I was making about the badging was not to distinguish between the E-class and 300 series, but to make a point about the badge not being accurate and consistant in relation to engine size. When the 300E had the 2.6 liter engine, the badge was changed to either (depending on the year) 260E or 300E 2.6. Likewise, when the 2.8 liter was used, the badge was changed to 300E 2.8. In my year (93), the engine was changed to 3.2 liters, yet the badge still says 300E. I know I'm being a little obsessive compulsive and anal retentive, but all of the interior changes were made in 1993, and the engine was changed, which is a big change. I know the few exterior changes occurred in 1994 (new grill on the hood, European-syle headlights, almost clear corners, chrome strip below star on hood, tail lights w/o the amber, bumpers completely painted, etc.), but I wish they would have changed my badge to either E320 or 300E 3.2.

I acknowledge, however, that MB has at times been inconsitant with badging on other models. The current C 240 engine is not 2.4 liters (2.6??). The 400E, I believe, was 4.2 liters. BMW has and is doing the same thing where the numbers on the badging sometimes don't match the engine size. Even Infiniti's Q45 was changed to 4.1 liters, but they kept the badge the same. I gather they felt that Q41 didn't sound that good.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

As for MB being inconsistent, here are some examples. The W203 C180 is actually a 2.0 inline-4, but C180 was used to distinguish it from the C200K which used the same engine but with a kompressor. In certain markets, the C180 badging is not used and the proper C200 badging is used, and is distinguished from the C200K by the lack of the Kompressor badging and generally comes in "Classic" form. The C240 and E240 are actually 2.6 V6's. Wonder if there are other interesting badging out there. There's a '96 S280 around my area and the owner apparently rebadged it as S820... dodgy? VERY!
Regards,
Chung

Art wrote:

"What was the first MY that the 3.2 liter inline-6 was offered in the W124 instead of the 3 liter inline-6?"

In North America, it was MY 1993 for coupes and sedans.

Coupe: 1988-1989 - 3.0 SOHC (M103), 177hp
Coupe: 1990-1992 - 3.0 DOHC (M104), 217hp
Coupe: 1993-1995 - 3.2 DOHC (M104), 217hp (including cabrio)

Sedan: 1986-1992 - 3.0 SOHC (M103), 177hp
Sedan: 1993-1995 - 3.2 DOHC (M104), 217hp

The torque figures for the MY 1990-1992 coupe were 195 ft-lbs., whereas the MY 1993-1995 with the 3.2 liter engine were 229 ft-lbs. (despite the same horsepower ratings). Also, the redlines for these two M104 motors were different.

E.P.

suginami,

After you show your wife this thread, will you have her call mine too? :p

Thanks El Presidente. I thought I was right. It feels good to finally get something right. I think I'll point out this thread to my wife that I finally was right for a change. You know, get a record.

1993 was the first year for the 3.2 liter M104 engine in the coupes and sedans. The coupes did get the M104 earlier, but it was 3.0 liters. Btw, I'm sure I learned of this from Ashman in an earlier thread.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

My 93' 300SE is labeled "300", but it's runnin a 226 HP 3.2L inline six. I think the inline 3.2L is better then the newer 3.2L V-6. It's smoother, more refined, and makes the same HP and torque figures. The V-6 just has a broader torque band (which counts for a lot!), but the inline six gets slightly better gas milage!