IMHO the M103 doesn't hold a candle to the BMW six (chain drive, i.e. 33 or 35 and not 25 or 28) of the same timeframe.

The BMW engine is better all around mechanically, and more importantly BMW had the guts to go with L-Jetronic rather than K-Jetronic.

Now the cars these engines were installed in is no contest. Not that many '80s BMWs around, are there?

I've always wondered what the 70-75 mph engine rpms are with an M103 with standard trans. Any less than the 3500 with the auto? The manual big six BMW was about 2800 IIRC.

Finally, "best ever" stuff is almost always wishful thinking, and it is for sure in this example. Mercedes invented the automobile and has been ahead ever since. (Not so much with engines, however, as theirs remained rather "trucklike" until BMW and others showed the way and with the introductions of the M112/113 engines.)

Nevertheless, it's irrational to think a company like Mercedes doesn't make improvements with each subsequent generation of engines, transmissions, and bodies. One glaringly obvious example not that many years apart is the driving feel of a V6 W210 with the 5-speed auto--it's supurb compared to the racket and thrashing of the M103/4-speed auto combination.

Having owned W123, W124, W210, and now W211 I can for sure state that each generation was better and there's not a single solitary thing about a W124 that's better than the same thing on a W211.

Don't get me wrong--if all you can afford is a W124 you're for sure doing the very best you can and you have a car that's lots better than lots of newer cars ... except for newer Mercedes. W124 deserve to be kept in like-new condition and I hope this is happening.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles