I live in South Africa and have recently acquired a '93 280E. From my research, I presumed that I was getting the same m104 engine that was fitted to the later E280. To my great confusion, the car's manual indicates that it has a 103.940 engine! As far as I know this is the old 260E (or 300E 2.6) engine. Displacement, however, is listed as 2799cc! What gives? Is this some kind of hybrid?

Open the hood and take a look. If the engine has a fairly narrow, black valve cover and the spark plugs are out in the open along the rights hand side of the engine, it's an M103. If the top is wide and silver colored and you can't see the spark plugs, it's an M104.

Question: Were you happy with the way it drove before you discovered what kind of engine you have? Be happy after. The M103 is a very good engine.

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Norm in NJ
Next oil change at 230,000miles

If you still can't tell, open the oil cap and count the camshafts.

It looks like the silver m104 engine (refer to image) *but* the car's manual clearly states the the 280E is powered by the 103.940 (oringinal 260E engine) and 320E by the the 103.983 (original 300E engine). Very confusing. The car was assembled in South Africa (we've had a Merc plant here since the 60's that manufactured the majority of the world's RHD w124 models) and the manual was printed locally. It covers the 200E 220E 280E and 320E.

I'm only just learning the mechanical side of things and have never worked on any of my cars before. Personally, I like both the 103's and the 104's - both have their strengths, but I opted for this car because of very low mileage. It's like driving a leather-clad sofa strapped to a rocket on wheels - I love it.

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1993 280E

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Past Mercs:
1988 200
1984 230E
1977 350 SE

Definately an M104. I have the same car (Well, mirror image - mine is LHD). In the U.S. it was badged the 300E 2.8. We only got the E280 for 1993, after that it was E320 only.

Hey Joe, is that your actual car? I wouldn't expect the windshield wiper to park on the left hand side of an RHD car? Whenever I'm in the UK all the 210 taxis (AKA all the taxis...) park the wiper over on the drivers' side.

- JimY

Pretty observant . It's not my actual car - the pic is off of a German site. My wiper blade sleeps on the right.

I'm really puzzled as to how the official Mercedes manual could contain such an obvious error!

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1993 280E

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Past Mercs:
1988 200
1984 230E
1977 350 SE