MB 3.2 Engine
 

Just a question about this engine. A guy I worked with a couple of yeras ago had worked at a local German car repair facility. He told me that the MB 3.2 is actually a Mitsubishi engine. Please, say it ain't so!!! Having worked in auto parts for 25 years I saw way too many with the Mitsubishi engines die way too soon and even had a mechanic at our (then) local Chrysler dealership tell us he had seen the balance shaft bearings "spin", ruining the engines. At one time I also had a Chrysler with the 3.0 which was another horrible experience I won't elaborate on now.

Whatever issues you or your colleagues have experienced with those engine configurations, the M104 (3.2L) has a pretty solid bottom end. The real issue with these motors is the different metals (head versus block) coupled with the large (straight-six) geometry, made for a good recipe for head gasket issues. Most owners undergo a gasket replacement before 200K miles.

Other than that, I haven't read such horror stories on this forum about the aforementioned motor...

Nonsense.

I don't recall a single instance where a Mercedes automobile used an engine from another manufacturer.
I can't speak of their light trucks.

The M104 is a Mercedes designed, engineered, and built engine!

The above mentioned Japanese car company is partially owned by MB...

MB 3.2 Engine
 

That's kinda what I figured, Doc. Glad to know it for sure though.

Of course "MB 3.2 engine" can describe

M104
M112
OM648

The only "Mercedes" with a Mitsu engine is the USA version of the SMART.

Daimler no longer has any Mitsubishi ownership.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaimlerChrysler-Mitsubishi_alliance

When you mentioned 3.2, I thought you were refering to the M112. Either way, I have owned 2 and they are solid.