I have noticed that the M104 engine in my 1994 E320 wagon sits offset in the engine compartment. It doesn't sit directly 'north to south ' and the back of the engine appears to point towards the passenger seat by a couple of degrees off center. Is this normal and if so why did MB do this?

I'm not sure, here's a picture of the engine in my '95 wagon. Does it look the same to you?
http://www.tokuhara.net/cars/e320/misc/e320_engine.jpg

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

The M104 in my '95 C280 sits just as you describe. It appears to be a little off centerline at the rear. Must be Ok. The photo provided by Glen appears this way also.

This is a picture of the engine in my 300CE-24...



...looks pretty in-line to me...

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

I was looking under my hood and too noticed the slight 'mis' alignment. I never noticed it this thread was brought up. It must be normal then!

(BTW, door sills look GREAT!!)

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

looked under my hood, and the same is true for the M103 in my 190e2.6.

my guess is that this is done to align it with the pinion shaft of the differential, which is off-center, on the passenger's side.

never noticed it until this thread ...