Paul,

It surprises me that MB would manufacture a car with more noise than the version before it. It is for this reason that the noise level of the HFM versions of the M104 powered W124s that I have driven surprises me when comparing them to those with the M103. Having now driven one that was relatively quiet proves that they are not all noisy. The puzzling issue is why the difference. Maybe the noisy ones do have some problem, although strangely it was the quiet one that did not seem to be running perfectly. The best performer of all that I have driven also happens to also be the noisiest, my father's '93 E320 coupe. This thing really performs although I suspect much of it is due to the 5-speed auto with the surprisingly short 3.69 diff. Around town the "drone" it produces, especially at low revs, is annoying. On a twisty country road the noise becomes a glorious induction growl, especially when it really comes alive above 3500 RPM. Mechanical noise and noise levels at idle or on a trailing throttle are not a problem. It is only with the throttle open, even only slightly that the noise is apparent.

Greg

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107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.