w124 Engine Reliability : 300E VS. 260E
 

I know that the 300 boasts more HP, but when it comes to engine reliability, how do the two compare. Does the 260 have head problems and such like the 300? Tell me about you trials and tribs!

For all practical purposes they are the same engine...the 103.

They both have the same strengths and weaknesses.

well we have both...

the 260e is running smoothly at 207k...however it goes through oil...

the previous owner said he had two valve rockers done... ones that the mechanic did not have to pull the head...

anyway..i have to do valve stem seals on it....and the 300CE.

Both engines run very well.. i may do a complete valve job/head gasket on the CE in the next 20k... then i will have peace of mind for another 100k.

the 260 i will run til something major goes...then probably part it out...it doesn't owe me anything. i call it my beater car..but i take care of it just as well as the others.

Because the 2.6 engine(30 less HP) has to work harder it may not last quite as long..have seen several with 400K + miles on the original engine..

ONE of the biggest differences is the trans...the 2.6 uses the smaller 722.4_ series & that would be more suspect than the engine.

That reminds me, the smaller 2.6 is also geared differently in the 124 and the engine runs at a higher speed, so more wear and tear there.

love my 2.6

that is all