Inline V6 better than a V6?
 

Can my stock 1995 inline v6 e320, beat a stock 2006 e320 v6 in overall performance?

I'm sure you meant I-6 versus a V-6. However, isn't the 2006 E320 an inline six diesel?

1995
217bhp@5500 rpm; 232 ft/lb@3850 rpm; curb weight 3605

2005
221bhp@5600 rpm; 232 ft/lb@3000 rpm; curb weight 3691

If you are referring to a comparison of gas engine models, no.

The 2006 V6 gas model is the E350 with a DOHC 268 hp engine.

The above is correct as the only US model designated the E320 in 2006 is the straight 6 diesel engine.

sorry about that typo, I thought the 05 e320 CDI only had 201hp? then again, which 05 model where you talking about?

Apples and oranges...apples and oranges.

lol...

Looks like a wash to me in the engine bay. What are the overall gears... drop in some hotrod ratio and you will have it it all departments except crossing the desert at noon and passing the fueling station.

I've always heard that the inline design is inherently more reliable than the V configuration -- better crankshaft bearings. I imagine it's a tad heavier per liter.

You have a 4spd the newer cars have a 5spd, thats a big diff right there, too the new v-6s create the same torque at a lower rpm giving them an advantage on initial acceleration.

But if you are asking about durability, an inline six has an inherent advantage to a v-6. It has more main bearings, less side load on the cylinder walls and is SUBSTANTIALLY more smooth naturally. 6s are not supposed to be in a V due to odd harmonics that are created. Oh well have a great day!

Chris

This may as well be an oil thread on the diesel forum:) There was a discussion here less than a year ago regarding this subject, and iirc, the authoritative answer was that the V6 was developed specifically to cram into smaller, fwd engine compartments, not for performance/efficiency advantages. I'll try to do a search and report back.

Historically inlines (where all cylinders are in a row, and in the same head) tend to last longer and wear better. If you look back at engines that were considered to be "bullet-proof" you'll see a majority of them were like his.

V- Engines, where the cylinders are split and handled by more than one head tend to have more wear issues and *not* be as bullet-proof.

Naturally there are exceptions to everything, but this tends to be "rule" in this case.

The key word in all this is "historically".

:) Pete

Inline engines we have known and loved.

Dodge 225 "slant six"

BMW 3.0 (M30?)

Chevy "stovebolt" 6 which spawned the toyota and Jeep

Toyota 2F

Jeep 4.0

and of course MB

any others? I think Ford had a good truck engine, but have never had one.

The Jeep 4.0 is probably at the top of my list for "newer" bullet-proof ones...

The 2005 model is the gasoline engined E320, which was replaced in 2006 by the E350.

For the nerds......
 

I couldn't find the mbshop thread, but did stumble across this:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.tech/browse_thread/thread/25fd7e927f06ee65/c5e9f3b508a367d7?lnk=st&q=Do+Inline+6+cylinder+engines+last+longer+than+V6+engines%3F&rnum=14&hl=en# c5e9f3b508a367d7