M103 Best Motor Ever - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

volosong · #1 06-18-2009, 12:13 PM

Ditto head gasket problems. With almost 220k miles on my M103 coupe, head gasket has been fine. However, you do have to replace the valve guide seals about every 75 or 80k miles.

The only thing that would make my car the "perfect" car is replacing the auto transmission with a manual...but the wife said she would leave me if I spent the money to do that. Though decision!

DslBnz · #2 06-18-2009, 12:15 PM

Love 'em.

Ignore Croc Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJE9Mxt25zU

pawoSD · #3 06-18-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

Love 'em.

Ignore Croc Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJE9Mxt25zU

Yeah! Listen to it roar! Amazing how high they can rev with no issues. I haven't had the guts to go much over 6k rpm....thats plenty! Coming from the land of the 617 diesel where I rarely go much over 3500-4000rpm....(and am usually at less)....6k is scary!

lkchris · #4 06-18-2009, 12:19 PM

IMHO the M103 doesn't hold a candle to the BMW six (chain drive, i.e. 33 or 35 and not 25 or 28) of the same timeframe.

The BMW engine is better all around mechanically, and more importantly BMW had the guts to go with L-Jetronic rather than K-Jetronic.

Now the cars these engines were installed in is no contest. Not that many '80s BMWs around, are there?

I've always wondered what the 70-75 mph engine rpms are with an M103 with standard trans. Any less than the 3500 with the auto? The manual big six BMW was about 2800 IIRC.

Finally, "best ever" stuff is almost always wishful thinking, and it is for sure in this example. Mercedes invented the automobile and has been ahead ever since. (Not so much with engines, however, as theirs remained rather "trucklike" until BMW and others showed the way and with the introductions of the M112/113 engines.)

Nevertheless, it's irrational to think a company like Mercedes doesn't make improvements with each subsequent generation of engines, transmissions, and bodies. One glaringly obvious example not that many years apart is the driving feel of a V6 W210 with the 5-speed auto--it's supurb compared to the racket and thrashing of the M103/4-speed auto combination.

Having owned W123, W124, W210, and now W211 I can for sure state that each generation was better and there's not a single solitary thing about a W124 that's better than the same thing on a W211.

Don't get me wrong--if all you can afford is a W124 you're for sure doing the very best you can and you have a car that's lots better than lots of newer cars ... except for newer Mercedes. W124 deserve to be kept in like-new condition and I hope this is happening.

pawoSD · #5 06-18-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

IMHO the M103 doesn't hold a candle to the BMW six (chain drive, i.e. 33 or 35 and not 25 or 28) of the same timeframe.

The BMW engine is better all around mechanically, and more importantly BMW had the guts to go with L-Jetronic rather than K-Jetronic.

Now the cars these engines were installed in is no contest. Not that many '80s BMWs around, are there?

I've always wondered what the 70-75 mph engine rpms are with an M103 with standard trans. Any less than the 3500 with the auto? The manual big six BMW was about 2800 IIRC.

Finally, "best ever" stuff is almost always wishful thinking, and it is for sure in this example. Mercedes invented the automobile and has been ahead ever since. (Not so much with engines, however, as theirs remained rather "trucklike" until BMW and others showed the way and with the introductions of the M112/113 engines.)

Nevertheless, it's irrational to think a company like Mercedes doesn't make improvements with each subsequent generation of engines, transmissions, and bodies. One glaringly obvious example not that many years apart is the driving feel of a V6 W210 with the 5-speed auto--it's supurb compared to the racket and thrashing of the M103/4-speed auto combination.

Having owned W123, W124, W210, and now W211 I can for sure state that each generation was better and there's not a single solitary thing about a W124 that's better than the same thing on a W211.

Don't get me wrong--if all you can afford is a W124 you're for sure doing the very best you can and you have a car that's lots better than lots of newer cars ... except for newer Mercedes. W124 deserve to be kept in like-new condition and I hope this is happening.

My W124 300E runs about 3100rpm at 77mph.....very quiet and fast. And the pickup it has from 75 to 125 is amazing. It can clear that very quickly!

BMW...eh, whatever.

Racket and thrashing? I think the M103 + auto is a very very smooth combination, a little sluggish off the line, but still very smooth. Compared to a 617 auto drivetrain its waaaay different.

And, I hardly ever see an old BMW around here, when I do, its pretty much a rusted out shell with a seat and an engine attached to it.

JimFreeh · #6 06-18-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

My W124 300E runs about 3100rpm at 77mph.....very quiet and fast. And the pickup it has from 75 to 125 is amazing.

Ever driven a 400E?
It'll run away from a M103.
And gets about the same highway mileage as the M103.

Loved my 400E, but boy that engine is tight in a W124....

By the way, I am fond of inline sixes......

Jim

wbain5280 · #7 06-18-2009, 02:40 PM

Mine is smooth as silk and from 60 mph on up is very quick.

pawoSD · #8 06-18-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Ever driven a 400E?
It'll run away from a M103.
And gets about the same highway mileage as the M103.

Loved my 400E, but boy that engine is tight in a W124....

By the way, I am fond of inline sixes......

Jim

I almost bought a 400E, but the seller decided not to sell.

Eventually I'll have one.

The tightness in the engine bay was one of the main reasons I went back to looking at M103 cars....

pwogaman · #9 06-18-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The tightness in the engine bay was one of the main reasons I went back to looking at M103 cars....

That is probably the main reason I have cars with an OM617, an M110, and an M103. The only V-8 equipped Mercedes I got were for bought just for stripping. Even for that purpose the engine bay was too tight. I don't want it unless I can work on.

pawoSD · #10 06-18-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwogaman

That is probably the main reason I have cars with an OM617, an M110, and an M103. The only V-8 equipped Mercedes I got were for bought just for stripping. Even for that purpose the engine bay was too tight. I don't want it unless I can work on.

Same here. I'd never want a V8 that I had to maintain to daily driver status....as a project/fun car maybe, but they are indeed a pain to work on.

All but one vehicle in my entire family have inline engines! Once my sister's minivan bites the dust (probably not too far off).....we'll peer pressure her into a 240d or 190e or something.

That thing is a PAIN to work on.

Chowbow · #11 06-18-2009, 02:44 PM

Gotta agree with lkchris a bit. I think the M103 is a great engine, but I'm much more fond of some BMW engines. I personally really like the M50/52 engines. Long lasting and a decent amount of power and really smooth, and sounds great to boot. The power delivery is very linear and predictable, and just a blast to drive. I'm also driving an N54 motor in a newer E90 BMW and while the power is awesome, I'm just not confident that the engine and turbos will last like the E36/M52 combos have done so in the past. Time will tell...

Strife · #12 06-18-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

Now the cars these engines were installed in is no contest. Not that many '80s BMWs around, are there?

I've wondered about this . Why is this so? Are they that bad, or is the parts support bad, or is MB that good?

Chowbow · #13 06-19-2009, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strife

I've wondered about this . Why is this so? Are they that bad, or is the parts support bad, or is MB that good?

They're a dime a dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area. But maybe because there's no snow, no salt etc. I wonder if they rust quickly and get junked?

amg280 · #14 06-18-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volosong

Ditto head gasket problems. With almost 220k miles on my M103 coupe, head gasket has been fine. However, you do have to replace the valve guide seals about every 75 or 80k miles.

The only thing that would make my car the "perfect" car is replacing the auto transmission with a manual...but the wife said she would leave me if I spent the money to do that. Though decision!

I actually did the opposite. I had an 86 300E with a 5 speed. I found the manual in that to be the clunkiest, rubberized shifter I have ever driven. I found a wrecked 300E and put an auto in it. Im sure mine was pretty wore, but still.

junqueyardjim · #15 06-18-2009, 12:49 PM

Hard to think that someone would dump a five speed out of an 300E. I totally love driving mine, though I do limit my shifting a bit by starting in 2nd usually on flat and downgrade roads. Second gear performance is awesome. The rest of the gears are all very good. I find it a delight to drive - AC is still on R12 and I don't want to change to R134 so I find it a bit warm and have it garaged until cooler weather arrives. Mine is a 130,000 mile W124 with a low mileage 89 M103 I installed last summer. I find it a driving combination that is hard to beat and really enjoyable all around. Mine was a very sloppy shifter, but when I installed the 89 engine I also replaced the bushings in the shift levers and it shifts like new.