1984 Mercedes Benz 280 SE EUROPEAN?

[seo]

I've found a car of this description for sale:
1984 Mercedes Benz 280 SE EUROPEAN
Haven't seen the car yet, but was checking it out before travelling to look at it. It's listed as having a V6 engine, and the owner confirms that. That struck me as strange, because it seems like all the other 280 and 300's I've seen for sale have straight sixes. Is this an orphan/oddball engine that wasn't imported into the US? Or is it the engine that appeared later in the US? Either way, does anyone have an opinion on whether it's a good engine, easy to work on, etc?
Thanks
seo

[david s poole]

its a 2.8 l twin cam six with k jet fuel injec.the engine is difficult to work on if you have no experience.

[Jim B.]

It's an inline six, it was misdescribed to you.

As a euro 280SE, it's REAL quick for just a six in a big S class - its almost as fast as a US spec 380SE or 500SEL.

You'll like it a lot.

[POS]

It should be the M110 engine like in my w123 from 1984. It's a twin cam gas engine that has a lot of boogie, but in your case the engine is in a w126 body style. Parts are easy to find; very reliable engine; easy to modify for more power if you'd want.

I drove a car just like that - a 1984 w126 280SE euro - here in Houston about two months ago and it had a lot more pep in in than I thought it would.

[seo]

The owner is quite adamant that it's a V6, so that's probably the engine. Do you remember what kind of mileage you got with the 123? Does it have the unpleasant exhaust note that often seems to go with V6's? That's pretty subjective, I know. Is there agreement that it's a hard engine to work on?
seo

[sixto]

Mercedes didn't offer a V6 in a passenger car until 97 or 98. Either the seller is one of the ilk that calls any 6 a V6 or there's a GM engine under the hood. Maybe the DOHC arrangement makes it look like it has two distinct valve covers. A picture would clear it up.

Sixto
93 300SD

[Johnhef]

if its a V6 its not MB and definitly not original

[POS]

The seller is mistaken - it's an inline six. My inline six M110 gets 25mpg on the highway, but my w123 is lighter than a w126 and mine has a 5-spd manual.

[DslBnz]

I always got about 21 mpg with my Euro 280SEL.

That was with the automatic 4 speed. Even in top gear, the engine will be turning 4K at 80 mph or so (normal).

They're even quicker than a 380SE (not much to brag on) and have the same power output as the 500SEL. But they are even quicker than the 500 since they have less weight to pull around.

[seo]

Well, it's obvious that I misunderstood everybbody on the subject of V vs Straight, and the concensus is that it's a straight M110, which is certainly what I've seen in pictures of other 280's. Makes you wonder what else the seller might/might not know about his car.
The only other question I had was whether that's the same block they use with the later SOHC sixes, like that used in the 300SE. Not that it really matters.
seo

[rchase]

All of this reminds me of an argument I got into with an emissions test guy. His computer had all the common engine configurations 4cyl 6cyl 8cyl and he seemed to think I did not know what I was talking about when he asked me how many cylenders my Volvo S70 had. That was until I counted out for him 5 spark plugs.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by seo

Well, it's obvious that I misunderstood everybbody on the subject of V vs Straight, and the concensus is that it's a straight M110, which is certainly what I've seen in pictures of other 280's. Makes you wonder what else the seller might/might not know about his car.
The only other question I had was whether that's the same block they use with the later SOHC sixes, like that used in the 300SE. Not that it really matters.
seo

it is a different block. everything is different pretty much. the m110 though is generally agreed to be as long lived as a 616 617 diesel. very very rugged and powerful engine for its size. especially in euro trim.

tom w