I know this engine is used in the 95 e320 and 96 e320. How come the 96 e320 is a lot quicker than the 95 version if they are based on the same engine? Do they have diffrent hp and torque ratings?

Hmmmm....

Are you sure the '96 model is faster than the '93-95 W124's?

The '93-'95's are 80 lbs. lighter than the '96.

They all share the same engine, transmission, and fuel injection system.

I've been dying to find a website that posts actual test figures with 0-60 times.

Where do you get your information.

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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".

try this link.http://web.missouri.edu/~apcb20/times.html#Mercedes Can you believe a 96 e320 is just as fast as a 400 e with a v-8

Well it's a sleeker car... I don't know how much that helps in 0-60 but it would help at high speeds.

The W210 from '97 also comes with a 5-speed Auto box.

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Yeah, it's amazing that a 1996 E320 has the same 0-60 time as a 1995 (W124) E420, although the E420 beats it in the 1/4 mile by a 1/10 of a second.

However, the comparison of a W210 E320 to a W124 93-95 300E 3.2 / E320 sedan isn't made. They list the performance of the '95 E320 convertible, which is 465 lbs heavier than the sedan, a 13% weight increase, which is considerable.

I'm willing to bet the 0-60 times of the sedans would be nearly the same.

Case in point - the performance of the '87 300E is listed at 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds. The 93-95 E320's have more weight than the early W124's, but considerably more horsepower, and are thus the fastest of the 6-cylinder W124's.

It appears the fastest 300Es would be the 86-88 models. In 89, the gearing for 2nd gear was raised and 1st consequently lowered. Up until 90, all these cars (with exception of the wagon) used a 3.07 rear axle. In 90, the axle was switched to something around 2.89. 90 was the slowest year because it still had 2nd gear start. 91-92 got 1st gear start, making them a lot faster off the line than the 90, but the 86-88 could still smoke them pretty much. 93-95 got the M104 engines and a 2.64 (I think) axle in rear with 1st gear start. These years were the fastest.

In order of performance, the ranking would look like this (from fastest to slowest).

93-95 M104 3.2L - 300E 3.2 and E320
93 M104 2.8L - 300E 2.8 (and 94-95 E280 in Europe)
86-88 M103 3.0L - 300E
89 M103 3.0L - 300E
91-92 M103 3.0L - 300E
90 M103 3.0L - 300E

Last having a better drag coefficient would certainly help performance, but it shouldn't be no more than a few 1/10.

I will buy it the the '97's would be even faster because of the 5 speed transmission.

__________________
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".