The V6 is not as smooth running as the inlines????? You MUST be kidding, or you have never driven both of them.

My M103 engined 300E is indeed smooth running, but my M112 engined C240 was so smooth it was like driving a car with an electric motor!!!!

There are other advantages to a V design other than being built with parts interchangable with the V8. The V design allows for a lower hood and shorter engine compartment, allowing for a little better aerodynamic capability.

If you think that the 104 or 103 engine designs are superior to the 112, you have not looked into the innards of all these engines. All of them are great engines, but the 112 is an engineering masterpiece with such features as; roller rockers, three valves/cylinder, cold cracked connecting rods, alloy liners, short skirt piston design, low tension piston rings, cross bolted mains..................................

These engines have been out almost 8 years now and there are enough high mileage examples being seen to know that they don't have any achilles heels like the head gasket or timing cover sealing problems of the 103/104 engines.

The harmonic balancer problem was the rubber used in the harmonic balancer and could have/would have been a problem regardless of what engine they were bolted to.

The sludge problem was caused by the factory recommending the FSS intervals with dino oil. A huge blunder on MB's part, but again, regardless of what engine you did this with, the result would have been the same.

I like the 103 and 104 engines also, but if you think that they are better engines than the 112, then you are either not aware of, or not facing the facts.

I wonder if there were people with such resistance to change when the auto industry went from flathead to OHV?

Have a great day,