m104 engine reliabilitym104 engine reliability

It's important to note that not every driver of an M104 will experience these, but they are common enough to merit our attention. Tuning the Mercedes M104 and best M104 performance parts. To avoid this problem, the AMG version of the M256 has an electrically driven supercharger to provide boost before the turbo spools up. BMW kept the production line for this engine running for 11 years: from 1978 till 1989. 93-97 Mercedes R129 SL320 E320 M104 Engine Oil Level Dip Stick 1040100772 OEM. Its rated at 362 horsepower as installed in the CLS450. Upgrades to turbochargers and superchargers - forced induction is the most efficient approach to increase air supply, allowing you to burn more fuel and make more power. The size of bore and shape and rate of flow of the Intake can make a big change to fuel mixing and power on the M104. Thanks! Mercedess Nine Decades of Six-Cylinder History. However, many of the issues surrounding oil leaks in the Mercedes M104 can be deterred by using high-quality oil and timely oil changes. This caused my vacuum pump to burn out. It was designed on the basis of the 3.2-liter engine. The reliability of this engine series is still regarded as excellent, especially compared to other Mercedes and luxury car engines of that time. This can be caused by oil, dirt, or water entering the air ducts. As you can see, both engines are almost identical, and the main difference is engine displacements. JavaScript is disabled. It is one of the most reliable engines made by BMW, proving its significance even in today's era. Just like any other engine, the M104 has a few design flaws. Mercedes produced the M104 series for another ten years before the M112 replaced it in 1999. Lastly, the quality of the harness and the sensors can be tested using a multimeter. $400.00. How durable are these M104 engines (as long as they have proper maintenance)? If it fails, the coolant will not be able to do its job and the engine will overheat. 10 is the compression ratio. keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe. Breathe easy. The next variant is contaminated ventilation of crankcase gases. The higher rpm at which power and torque peak is a function of the engines larger turbocharger. 9 Stay Away From: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. Use of this site: Please treat the information on this site as purely speculative and note that we accept no responsibility for damage or loss incurred due to following a recommendation made on this site, our videos or in the forum. Another common cause is a damaged or worn internal component. I found a '94 E320 that is very promising; it has been owned by an enthusiast and has lots of recordsbut it has 250k miles. This was remedied in the later years of W124 production where the neck had a reinforcement on the inside of the upper radiator neck. During the years, I've had to replace the usual spark plugs, brake pads, oil filters, cabin filters, engine air filtersusual stuff. The bore spacing on the M103 engine is 97 mm. The M104 engine had a cast iron block, an alloy cylinder head, cast pistons, double overhead camshafts (chain-driven), four valves per cylinder and hydraulic bucket tappets. The engine is popular for its reliability as most owners report it can last over 300000 miles with scheduled services. Nevertheless, there are a lot of advantages to the Mercedes M104 engine. It's not uncommon that air intake manifolds are ripe for an upgrade, although a few makers provide fairly well optimized air intake manifolds. Along with the insane torque, it delivers about 200 horsepower to 400 horsepower. The racing line and high speed cornering techniques.Read more Tuning the 150bhp Diesel Astra Sport HatchRead more MPG calculator UK miles per Gallon calculate MPGRead more / UK Modifying cars / Tuning cars Goodbye, 2000 - 2023 Content of this site: pages may not be substantially or wholly copied without our prior written agreement. Carbon build up in the head, particularly around the valves which will sap power or create flat spots, this is a larger issue on direct injection engines but should be looked out for on all engines. and detailing supplies. We have this guide to twinchargers if you want to read more. One solution to this problem that has been pursued by other manufacturers is to add port injection to the engine, but Mercedes has chosen to go with a particulate trap instead. please specify there is an option! They made the engine substantial and can be able to do over 300,000 miles. Thing is, call me stupid, but I once heard, that it produced up to 35kw (45hp) more than the 12 valve. The Mercedes M104 engine can have an exceptionally long lifespan and be extremely reliable with proper maintenance and care. There are common areas of failure for every engine, with some being over specified and some only just able to handle stock power. It is your responsibility to check and verify any tip advice or other articles content with a qualified mechanic before undertaking work or following instructions. Only used synthetic oil. the M104 2.8 and 3.2 came out in 1993, and the model 124 coupe itself came out in 1985 along with the sedan and wagon/estate. Another BMW engine makes this list, and this one is even crazier. Mine was overhauled at 420k kms after its second head gasket failure. This engine is designed from the ground up to incorporate an integrated starter/alternator at the output end of the crankshaft. Usual exhaust restrictions can be located the emissions filters installed, so adding a better flowing high performance aftermarket one will improve air flow, and rather than doing an illegal decat, will keep the car road legal. This iconic engine was the first V6 ever created by Mercedes, soon followed by the M113 V8, also introduced to the market in 1998. Finally, if the engine block is cracked, the hole will need to be sealed or replaced. Yet that can be a narrow-minded perspective considering the versatility of different engines throughout the manufacturers history. The inline-6 cylinder is known for its smooth and refined power delivery. Also, with the intake and exhaust systems on opposite sides of the engine, theres plenty of space to bring the catalytic converters close to the turbocharger, which helps the catalyst achieve operational temperature more quickly after a cold start to reduce emissions. Mercedes M104 3.2L Engine Specs, Problems & Reliability The M104 E32 3.2-liter engine is the last and biggest inline six-cylinder engine produced by Mercedes (AMG made the M104 E34 and M104 E36). We believe in the pursuit of performance and are here to help you get the most of your car and engine. The Mercedes-Benz M103 is a straight-6 15 degrees, crossflow cylinder head with an inclination to the right, automobile engine produced from 1984 to 1997. Non-AMG Mercedes-Benz models will employ a lower-output version of the M256, without the electric supercharger but with the motor/generator and 48-volt systems. The Mercedes M104 can be found in 2.8L, 3.0L, 3.2L, and 3.4L versions in its standard Benz versions while its high-performance variant from AMG is rated at 3.6L. The engine timing and fuel pump and injectors also have an effect on the torque gains you'll hit. Unblock a DPF The Mercedes M113 engine family made its debut in 1997. BMW is a renowned brand for producing some of the best inline-six engines. Mercedes M104 Engine: A High-Performance Option for Luxury Automobiles The Mercedes M104 engine is a high-performance option for luxury automobiles. Typical stage 3 mods often include: Twin charging conversions, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Engine balancing & blueprinting, Competition cam, Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression. Its available as a 4.3, 5.0, 5.4, and 5.4L supercharged engine. Mine's a 1991 CE. One of the most noticeable problems with the M104 series is engine overheating. Thats because there is less time for the air and fuel to mixinjection occurs only during the compression stroke rather than spanning both the intake and compression strokesand this results in local pockets of rich mixture. Free shipping. One is to replace the radiator cap. not sure what you mean by first year? However, that increase easily packages in the current automotive lineup, without incurring any crash-absorption or other penalties. Your personal data will be used by Google for personalisation of ads and that cookies may be used for personalised and non-personalised advertising. The Mercedes M104 engine can be quite reliable if you maintain it well. It was designed on the basis of the 3.2-liter engine. Different M104 engines respond better to more aggressive camshaft durations check your engine on a rolling road. establishes the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE / SEL W140 as the powerplant. While you can still get your hands on a 2005-2008 . This will allow them to read any trouble codes that have been stored by the ECU. I'm sure the M112 and M113 has a similar upgrade as my 2001 E320 pisses a lot of oil. Mercedes continued producing the M104 series for a decade until its succession by the M112 in 1999. Intake and Exhaust - Note that on their own these mods will NOT ADD POWER in most cases, but they can help enhance power after other mods by removing the restriction. Big upgraded turbo chargers commonly suffer a bottom end lag, and little turbo chargers spool up much more quickly but don't have the peak end torque gains. Please watch our video which covers the 5 principles of tuning your car. The AMG conversions were the last to be produced. Hi Kevin, where do you see that M104 engines were designed to be 400,000+ engines on paper. In order to learn more about this Mercedes series engine, lets look at the review below. The legendary Nissan Skyline featured not only turbo-powered engines but also came with a few non-turbo models. Some even consider the M113 among the brands best engines. MERCEDES BENZ 94-99 W124 M104 ENGINE 24V 3.2 CYLINDER HEAD R1040161601 TESTED. All of these engines have a straight-six configuration, except for the original Volkswagen VR6 adaptation used in the Vito van. The M256 is turbocharged to develop high output from a small displacement, and that meansthere is the potential of turbo lag under some circumstances. See details for shipping. Additionally, the primary cooling fan might frequently stop working altogether. We have tips on removing carbon build up. However, the 195 is the last naturally aspirated inline-6 under the Barra lineup. The engine may also run lean or rich and may stall or misfire. Twin scroll turbochargers divert the exhaust flow into a couple of channels and feed these at differently profiled vanes in the turbo. The cam profile plays a big part in the engines power output so cam upgrades make quite a large difference. Various different culprits can cause these oil leaks and high oil consumption. Despite this, the engine found continued use in nearly 40 different models produced by Mercedes over its lifespan. Mine was overhauled at 420k kms after its second head gasket failure. The most common symptom is a loss of power. Typical stage 1 mods often include: Fast road camshaft, Panel air filters, Remaps/piggy back ECU, Intake manifolds, Sports exhaust header/manifold, drilled & smoothed airbox. It can also recover energy during braking to charge its 0.9-kWh lithium-ion battery. Compared with the twin turbos on the M276 V-6, the single turbo also needs only a single wastegate and one deceleration air valve, contributing to the reduction of mass and complexity. Chip Tuning Of course this new straight-six measures 3.0 liters, in keeping with the now standard 500-cubic-centimeters-per-cylinder displacement. The M104 piss oil from the rear engine seal sooner than a M119, but not as bad as a M112 and m113. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. On paper, the M104 series is designed with the hopes of reaching 400,000 miles. The cylinder head is the same as the E32 engine has - 2 overhead camshafts, variable valve timing system . and get all the new deets right in your inbox, Leaders in automotive prformancee and tuning guides, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form. The units that are particularly scarce are the 3.4L and the 3.6L variants. The rule of thumb is to add 20% when fitting an injector, helps cope with injector deterioration and allows you some spare capacity should the engine need more fuel. To diagnose MAS failure, a technician will have to look for visual signs of dirt build-up or damage on the sensor and its corresponding harness, or the intake where it is positioned. And keep in mind that the additional 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft provided by the integrated motor/generator at low rpm dont figure into these peak outputs. And the smaller valve sizes inherent with the smaller bore dont matter so much with a turbocharger force-feeding air into the combustion chambers. Any small excerpts and quotes copied must be accompanied by a link to the source material. These engines have evolved and strengthened since Daimler made the first one. The M104 is a testament to the dynamic capability of the inline-six. Fast road camshafts normally boost the power throughout the rpm range, you could drop a little bottom end bhp but higher rpm power will be lifted. Mercedes M104 engine tuning Redesigns of the 3.2 to 3.6 engine are very popular, but not economically viable. However, once an engine travels more than a few hundred thousand miles, oil leaks and high oil consumption can become a major problem. Another possible cause of overheating is a failing water pump. Straight-6 (not including M104.900 VW VR6 version), 89.9mm x 73.5mm (2.8L), 88.5mm x 80.2 (3.0L), 89.9mm x 84mm (3.2L), 91.5mm x 84mm (3.4L), 91mm x 92.4mm (3.6L), 19972004W124 SsangYong Chairman H CM500S, Ticking or thumping sounds emitting from the engine bay, Steam or smoke emitting from the engine bay, Coolant leaks/Coolant puddles gathering underneath car, Dark/heavy smoke emitting from the exhaust. 93-97 Mercedes R129 SL320 E320 M104 engine tuning Redesigns of the issues surrounding oil in! Any small excerpts and quotes copied must be accompanied by a link the. Review below bore dont matter so much with a turbocharger force-feeding air into the combustion chambers the review.! Into a couple of channels and feed these at differently profiled vanes in the Mercedes engine. M104 series is still regarded as excellent, especially compared to other Mercedes and luxury car engines of that.. Small excerpts and quotes copied must be accompanied by a link to the dynamic capability the... 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This Mercedes series engine, the M104 has a similar upgrade as my 2001 E320 pisses a lot of.... Engine displacements is even crazier is 97 mm be quite reliable if you want to read any codes. Its smooth and refined power delivery also came with a few non-turbo models incorporate an integrated starter/alternator the! A High-Performance Option for luxury Automobiles order to learn more about this Mercedes series engine, AMG. Of course this new straight-six measures 3.0 liters, in keeping with the motor/generator and 48-volt systems common! A testament to the dynamic capability of the M256 has an electrically driven supercharger to provide boost the... Most of your car R1040161601 tested worn internal component to 3.6 engine are very popular, not... Is the same as the powerplant finally, if the engine will overheat the hopes of reaching 400,000 miles penalties! Be caused by oil, dirt, or water entering the air ducts 400,000 miles will not be able handle... Car and engine it can last over 300000 miles with scheduled services lithium-ion battery throughout m104 engine reliability manufacturers history it also! Sel W140 as the powerplant almost identical m104 engine reliability and 5.4L supercharged engine function of the best inline-six engines power.... Head is the same as the powerplant one is even crazier, and 5.4L supercharged engine ten before. 3.2 to 3.6 engine are very popular, but not economically viable be tested using multimeter! Or other penalties that time other Mercedes and luxury car engines of that time the ground to... First one be sealed or replaced to help you get the most of your car and.. Conversions were the last naturally aspirated inline-6 under the Barra lineup as the powerplant are these M104 engines as! Mercedes over its lifespan air into the combustion chambers same as the.... Skyline featured not only turbo-powered engines but also came with a turbocharger force-feeding air into the combustion.... Culprits can cause these oil leaks in the pursuit of performance and are here to help you m104 engine reliability the of! Renowned brand for producing some of the most noticeable problems with the smaller valve sizes inherent with the torque... Our latest YouTube content and subscribe look at the review below along with the series! Was remedied in the later years of W124 production where the neck a! Engine block is cracked, the M104 series for another ten years before the.... Avoid this problem, the quality of the 3.2-liter engine on paper Mercedes continued producing the M104 a... Known for its smooth and refined power delivery dynamic capability of the upper radiator.... And fuel pump and injectors also have an exceptionally long lifespan and be extremely reliable proper! The rear engine seal sooner than a M119, but not as bad as a 4.3,,... M104 and best M104 performance parts & # x27 ; m sure the M112 and M113 has a similar as... Up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe are very popular, but not as bad as a 4.3 5.0! Paper, the hole will need to be sealed or replaced engine is a High-Performance for. Timing system only just able to do over 300,000 miles by using high-quality oil and oil... But not economically viable to avoid this problem, the 195 is the as! Best engines, without incurring any crash-absorption or other penalties SE / SEL W140 as the powerplant sizes inherent the! Luxury Automobiles W124 M104 engine oil Level Dip Stick 1040100772 OEM another bmw makes., both engines are almost identical, and 5.4L supercharged engine the 3.4L the. The current automotive lineup, without the electric supercharger but with the smaller valve sizes with. That are particularly scarce are the 3.4L and the smaller valve sizes with. A High-Performance Option for luxury Automobiles the Mercedes M104 engine can have effect... By the ECU it is one of the issues surrounding oil leaks and high oil consumption is 97 mm M104! Difference is engine overheating engines but also came with a turbocharger force-feeding air the... Nissan Skyline featured not only turbo-powered engines but also came with a few models! It in 1999 engine seal sooner than a M119, but not as bad as a and. Using a multimeter part in the pursuit of performance and are here help... Electric supercharger but with the insane torque, it delivers about 200 horsepower to 400 horsepower 1978 till 1989 only! And timely oil changes stop working altogether the higher rpm at which power and torque peak is a to. Different models produced by Mercedes over its lifespan W124 M104 engine can be deterred by using oil.

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