a friend of mine has been inspired to buy a second hand benz( my lifes purpose has been fulfilled)

he likes the 190e like mine, but he can also get the 1995 c180 in the same price range.

my mother owned a c220 and the engine block had a hairline crack when she sold it. that was obviously a big bore but disapointing from mercedes benz.

so was the 1993 190e the last of the cast iron engines? were all mercedes engines after 1994 made of aluminium?

i told him to go with the 190e for the overall more solid feel of the vehicle. but he is tempted by the added features of the c180.

i tend to think that an aluminium engine is not as durable as a cast iron one. i could be wrong

All the inline engines from mercedes are iron blocks until the m271 engine that came out in the early 20-- era. That engine has sleeves. But even so I have never heard of a block cracking from normal use. It would have to freeze due to low coolant/water ratio.
But iron vs aluminum I would not shy away from either. Aluminum blocks last forever also.

"Aluminum blocks last forever also. "

I'd qualify that remark with "Mercedes aluminum blocks last forever."

Remember BMW's first attempt at an aluminum block V8? Some were lucky to last 10K mi.

__________________

90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

I have a 99 s 320 with a cast iron engine.I too remeber Chevy Vega's warping aluminum blocks.I stick with cast iron.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

[QUOTE=whipplem104;2747388] But even so I have never heard of a block cracking from normal use.QUOTE]

thats what i thought too. i was only 16 when she sold it. must have just been sales talk. if only i knew then what i know now.