Yeah, I didn't mean to suggest a Camry vs. MB decision, but rather an MB with a 320 engine rather than a 420.

But you make a good point - a smaller engine won't necessarily be mounted smack dab in the middle of the engine compartment, which is what I was assuming.

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1996 C280 289K Traded
1997 E420 167K Traded
2001 S430 240K Traded
2010 E550 4matic 80K
2000 GMC Jimmy 198K Gone to Boneyard
2003 Camry LE 196K
2011 Mazda3 i Sport 31K

Well I meant that if I made the sole choice based on how easy the engine is to work I on I dont think I would be happy. Take the W126 for instance. I would only purchase 3 out of the many engine types. Either a 420 or 300SD or a 280. I would never consider the 300se even though the engine might be easier to work on or cheaper,I would not be happy because I dont like that engine.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

I like my m104,but MB went to V6,I'd have worked on v8s,but a v12 there'd be no r0om

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

Having been under the hood of 208s and 210s with the M112 (V6) and the M113 (V6), as well as a 203 with the M112, I can unreservedly say that it is far, far easier to work on many things on the smaller engines in the same chassis.

A single example: the idler pulley on the M112 is literally a five-minute job on the M112 in the W210 chassis from tools out to being cleaned up -- and you don't even need to pull the belt if you are clever. The M113? It's closer to an hour and a whole lot more frustration.

The only exception I can think of is that the driver's side motor mount in the W210 chassis is easier on the M113, because on the M112 the A/C compressor has to be unbolted and moved out of the way to allow the MM to be passed through and out the bottom (and replaced via the same route).