When MB put the m104 in the 300e, in 1993, they offered it in either 2.8 or 3.2, right? From what I've been able to find so far on the net, both engines seem to have had the same fuel economy. If the 2.8 didn't burn less fuel, then why would anyone want it? It doesn't seem like the differences between the two displacements would make much difference in the cost of the motor, so what was the story? If I remember correctly, the 2.8 was dropped the next year.

Somebody out there must be able to shed some light on this one for me.

That car was a US model in 1993 only BUT the rest of the world had it for MANY more years even thru 2000. The rest of the world also has a 200E OR E200!!

The reason that we lost that car was the introduction of the C280!
The trim & standard equiptment was much less than a standard 300E!

The 1992 300E listed for over $52K & the 1993 300E 2.8 was around $42. BIG difference!

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As far as I know, in the US, the 300e 2.8 was introduced in 1993. That would mean it was brought here to replace the 300e 2.6 which was last offered in 1992. In 1994, Mercedes offered the E320, E420, and E500. To offer another engine option in the E-Class for 1994 would be too much for MB North America to handle which they feel would confuse the consumer by giving them too many options and it would drive them crazy working out their reidiculous formulas which tell them what they think we want to drive. That's one reason why they only offer a select amount of cars and engine choices. If BMW were to bring their diesel cars here you would see what I mean. They predict what they feel will sell best in their market and most imortant what will yield the most profit...and those are the cars we get..like it or not.

BTW Don't forget that BMW in 1994 offered a 3.0 V8, the 530i and the 4.0 V8, the 540i. So Mercedes went 3.2 L6 and 4.2 V8 and not to forget the M5 vs E500.

Here's something that might interest you. If these cars were sold here, I think they would seriously affect the amount of gas cars sold:

The BMW 730d and 740d - setting a new standard in diesel engine technology.

BMW has been the leader in diesel engine technology for almost two decades, an achievement clearly confirmed by some 1,500,000 units of the 3, 5 and 7 Series BMW diesels sold throughout this period.

In Paris BMW's new six- and 8-cylinder diesel engines in the 730d and 740d are now opening up a new dimension in diesel motoring, offering unprecedented performance and agility combined with supreme comfort and almost sensational economy. The latest common rail technology injects fuel with a pressure now increased to 1600 bar, fuel thus entering the system and being atomised even faster than before in the interest of extra power and fuel economy.

The six-cylinder power unit in the BMW 730d develops maximum output of 160 kW/218 bhp, with maximum torque of 500 Newton-metres or 369 lb-ft between 2000 and 2750 rpm. Fuel consumption, in turn, is a mere 8.5 litres or 33.2 mpg Imp in the EU combined cycle.

The 8-cylinder in the BMW 740d develops maximum output of 190 kW/258 bhp and maximum torque of 600 Newton-metres or 442 lb-ft between 1900 and 2500 rpm, with average fuel consumption in the EU cycle of 9.7 litres/100 km or 29.1 mpg Imp.

Both engines easily outperform the EU3 emission standard and they are the first diesel engines in the world to be combined with six-speed automatic transmission. And it almost goes without saying that the two diesel models come with all the innovative technologies and features to be admired in the petrol-engined models of the still young BMW 7 Series, including Dynamic Drive active suspension, Electronic Damper Control (EDC-C), the ISIS airbag safety system and the iDrive driver control concept, to mention just the most outstanding features.

The BMW 730d and BMW 740d are the first diesel passenger cars in the world with a maintenance-free, six-speed automatic transmission (ZF 6HP26 and ZF 6HP32, respectively).

Featuring a much larger overall transmission ratio, this new transmission is particularly beneficial when setting off and at high speeds. With the lowest gear being designed for even more traction and pulling force in the interest of maximum acceleration when setting off, the additional sixth gear keeps engine speeds and, accordingly, fuel consumption as well as noise to a minimum. And thanks to shift-by-wire, the driver can shift gears, like on all 7 Series, straight from the steering wheel. In the Steptronic mode you can enter gearshift instructions within fractions of a second and without taking your hands off the steering wheel, simply by pressing the paddles on the rim of the wheel.

My $0.02

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The 1992 300E listed for over $52K & the 1993 300E 2.8 was around $42. BIG difference!

I know the 260E in US has MB-Tex......

In hk....260E (or 300E 2.8 or 280E or E280) usually fully loaded.... we got 200E/230E which is not fully loaded...but have the very noisy/powerless but realible I4 engine!

They were just selling to a price point. In any market some people want the high end and others want value. The cars have to be differentiated in some way or the high end folks wont' be willing to pay. The 2006 3 series BMW is going to have a 325 and 330, both with 3 liter motors, the 330 tuned for more horsepower, and yet there will be about a $6k price difference. Silly, but some people just can't stand the thought of not having the better one - and are will to pay for it. In 1994 MB lowered the price of the E320 about $7500 down to $42,500, below where the 2.8 was in 1993. The 2.8 just got squeezed out in the process. Unfortunately it was the end of 124 MB tex except for diesels and wagons.

The rest of the world outside the USA has Road taxes that are graduated by engine displacement.....the smaller engine means less expensive annual road tax fees......

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I have one of those 1993 300E 2.8 cars sold in the U.S. At one point I ran across the relative sales numbers of the 2.8 vs. 3.2 liter variants. The smaller engine/cheaper version outsold the 3.2 by about 5-to-1!

I'm not certain of the exact content difference between the 2.8 and 3.2. But the car had certainly lost a few goodies since the introduction of the 124 in the U.S. For example, the headlight washers are gone, as is the memory on the drivers' seat. MB-Tex was standard on the 2.8, leather cost extra.

- JimY

I dont think memory seat at the driver side is standard for 300, standard for E400/E420 thou.....

Also E420 have the headlight wiper standard..... not for 94/95 E320...