What does your straight six sound like? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pentoman · #1 08-10-2002, 07:30 AM

Hi guys,

Still trying to find a 3.0 Straight six (M103) to go in my 190E, I've been driving as many as I can

Today I drove a 173,000 mile well-maintained '90/'91 300TE which sounded.. brilliant! Very smooth all through the rev range, really nice & slightly raw induction noise on full acceleration (almost like a muffled V8 sound), and great right to 6000 rpm. Much better than even a BMW six-cyl from the same era, which surprised me a lot.
This car reminded me why I'm putting a 12v Six-cylinder into my car rather than the 190E-16v's four-cylinder.

In contrast, my familys recently acquired '88/'89 300TE has 214,000 not very well-maintained miles, and sounds... like very bad 6-cylinder cars do - a bit like an industrial vacuum cleaner (though not as much as an old Volvo). There's nothing to like about the way it sounds, all I can say is at least it's smoothish, and doesn't sound like a 4-cyl. I'd never guess that these cars even had slightly related engines.

So what gives? Does the poor maintanence account for this, or do different year cars have some difference? Does the 2.6 version sound just as good?

As long as I can find an engine that sounds like the good one, I'll be happy!

later!

Russ

Any input on the sounds of any other car's engines is welcome!

#2 08-10-2002, 01:35 PM

PentoMan,

I have a 300E 3.0 with 118k on it and I would describe the sound just as you say the 90/91 TE sounds like. The exhaust system is stock. At idle, listening from the rear, I would be hard put to distinguish the note from a small V8. Something I like abhout this engine, unless I'm pushing it, the engine sounds are almost non-existant. I would vote for the 3.0 12 valve as well!

Bill Tobin. Plano Texas
1991 Volvo 740 112k miles
1991 Maxima 190k miles
1989 300E 118k miles

MikeTangas · #3 08-11-2002, 12:21 AM

Pentoman,

Try doing a search on "sound recording" or "sound bite" (or some combination about sound files

) by Ashman. He made a wave file (??) of his six, and posted it here for all to hear.

bobbyv · #4 08-11-2002, 12:27 AM

the sound of an inline-6 is very different from that of a typical V8. An inline-6 has regularly-spaced firing intervals (i.e., every 120degrees of crankshaft rotation), which accounts for its smooth sound.

The typical V-8 on the other hand, does not have regularly-spaced firing intervals, and hence has that characteristic "burble" sound at idle. (The Ferrari V-8 on the other hand, by virtue of its flat crankshaft, has a regular firing order, and hence a different sound).

you could also tell the difference between the sound of an inline-6 and a V6.

what appeals to me about an inline-6 is its perfect inherent balance, aside from that smooth exhaust sound. I like the sound of my 190e2.6 when it comes on the cam past 3500rpm.

#5 08-11-2002, 02:08 AM

Heh, we have 2 "old volvos".

The 740 sounds like an old Volvo should from the outside. From the inside, at low rpms, it sounds a lot like an older Honda.

At higher RPMS, it sounds like a very angry older Honda, with a turbo woosh.

The 940 sounds for all the world like a five-cylinder Audi. Similar growling exhaust note, with no turbo noise from the small Mitsubishi turbo.

With a low restriction exhaust, the 380SE burbles like a newer Mustang V8 under low RPMs and load. It sounds like a proper V8 should....

BTW, if one wants to hear a niiice six cylinder sound, one should drive a later 190E 2.6 or BMW 325i (E30). That's what a small six should sound like!

-Sam

#6 08-11-2002, 02:13 AM

My sdl sounds like an old strong big block v-8 while cruising along.

jjrodger · #7 08-11-2002, 04:33 AM

I've never heard the M103 2.6- and 3.0-litre 12-valve engines, but I'm sure they're delightful. I would agree that the 1983-90 BMW 6-cylinder in 2.0-, 2.3- and 2.5-litre forms is a wonderful engine, one of the smoothest and best sounding motors of all time, I'd venture. That engine has a harder edge, a more metallic rasp than the newer 24-valve BMW sixes.

One thing I have noticed is that the transmission has a major effect on the noise a car makes. Our 1989 300D sounded great on the move, almost v-8-like, but that was the effect of the auto transmission. I have noticed the same thing outside the car.

I am really satisfied with the 2.4-litre 3-valve v-6 engine in my car. It makes a fantastic noise and is ultra smooth.

I gather AMG fitted the 24-valve 3.2-litre inline six to the 190 and called it a "Baby Hammer". It was much more subtle than the Hammer, with almost no body mods (I think the rear duck tail spoiler was the only change), only disc wheels to set it apart. Obviously it woill be much easier to fit the 12-valve 3.0-litre: it is a simpler engine and the 190 took that motor in 2.6-litre form in any event, so it would be a straight swap out.

I'd like to hear about the result.

pentoman · #8 08-11-2002, 07:57 AM

Found it -

This 216Kb file is a recording of Ashman's '92 300CE (actually an M104 six-cylinder), the 300TE I drove sounded just like this (but I checked, it *is* an M103).
My 300TE couldn't sound further from this, though.

Tell me if your engines sound anything like it:

http://home.earthlink.net/~asherson/M104.mp3

later

BENZ-LGB · #9 08-11-2002, 01:26 PM

...of my daughter's 300TE engine. Her car is a well-maintained, pampered 1989 with 155K mile on the clock. I like the sound it makes at start-up. It has a nice, smooth tone. At idle and at speed the six sounds very nice. As a matter of fact, I like the sound of her in-line six at acceleration better than I like the sound of my 420SEL under load.

The 300TE is such a fun car to drive that I am now looking for one for myself to drive as a daily driver.

#10 08-11-2002, 01:50 PM

Wow, the M104 sounds a lot like a BMW 3.5 liter inline six; at least in a BMW 535i (E28). A little bit deeper and meaner sounding than the wail of smaller BMW and Mercedes sixes.

It sounds damn good.

-Sam

BenzOnline · #11 08-11-2002, 10:33 PM

I love the sound of my 380. It sounds mean at all RPMS!

I like the sound of the mercedes sixes also. I hear them here and there whenever I see one.

william rogers · #12 08-17-2002, 01:18 AM

I had a 120 Jag fixed head coupe years ago talk about sound,a friend had a 150 drop head we fabricated a straight exhaust for it no commento!
William Rogers........

dtanesq · #13 08-19-2002, 07:17 PM

I have two in-line sixes in my garage.

At idle, from the cockpit, the E34 engine sounds like the white noise I used to break in my home speakers, with an emphasis on the low-mid range. Smooth and unobtrusive. It growls as it spins towards redline, with a slight differential whine. It sounds different (more throaty and aggressive) with the hood open and at the tailpipes.

At idle, the W124 sounds like one of my mother's well-oiled, lovingly pampered sewing machines. It doesn't growl on its way up to redline, it just purrs more insistently. I agree with a previous poster that a 300TE is a joy to drive. For me this is due, in part, to the sound of the motor.

When I had the pre-purchase inspection done on the TE, it was in a service bay next to another later-year TE. THAT engine, at idle, was even silkier than mine (the tech had been maintaining it for awhile - hopefully, mine will end up sounding that way too). We were in a small, two-bay garage with both bays loaded with W124s, both of which are idling. Standing between the two cars, I was able to talk engage the tech in conversation at normal volume. It just sounded like it was a little windy in the garage. I found it pretty exciting and couldn't stop grinning.

#14 08-22-2002, 08:07 AM

If you ever want to hear the sound of a true Brit V6, although they are harder to come by these days, cop a listen to a Mark II Ford Granada 2.8....revel in the clatter and sticky starter motors that is the Cologne OHV V6!!

A must hear for any true fan!

A little picture link, if youve never had the pleasure of Dagenhams finest.

http://www.granada-enthusiasts.org/images/gallery/mk2galleryimages/01209.jpg