[DAW]

I searched and didn't really see much on this.......I have a 1980 Euro 280SE with an M110 K-Jet that had been sitting for a long time..I started it and it sounds grim..I suspect stuck valve vs piston top, knocks like it, compression is way low in one cyl so I have to tear into that engine (positives are high compression Euro engine and good cams), I have a spare USA market M110 (low compression pistons, US spec cams; but donor valves if I need them); I also have a spare Euro M110 head and intake manifold.

In moving the spare M110 it came to my attention that this engine is HEAVY! For a measly 2.8L this thing is a boat anchor! I love the DOHC and Euro specs, but..............and here's the rub...........
I have an excellent M103 3.0L SOHC complete running engine/trans from an '89 300SEL W126 that I can transplant; and I have an all-aluminum 3.2 SOHC V6 I can use. Assuming the M103 is a bolt-in and the 3.2L would be more time-consuming to adapt, which engine makes more sense ?:
M110 Euro-spec reincarnated from my spare pieces?,
M103 US-spec alive and running, low miles?, or,
3.2 alloy block/heads V6 transplant?.......

I'm leaning toward the M103 but I haven't pulled it yet from the donor car and don't know how its weight compares to the leaden M110 (the 3.2L is a featherweight; has to be far lighter than either I-6)..........input??
DAW

 

[Teutone]

When it comes to the 280 engine, you might also try the W116.

Please click 'User CP' on the top tool bar, and complete your profile with a location and model of your car.
It makes it easier for members to offer advice. MB produced different, and region / Country specific versions of our cars.

Welcome, to take advantage of all the forum features, please re visit the 'Welcome to the Forum' tutorial sticky on top of the W126 page, as well as the two DIY stickies.
It will show how to search the forum (3 words min.), and has a link to the Russian MB site where you can run a VIN#.
Cheers

 

[lander91]

300E 12v Turbo Project - ShopForum

WELCOME

 

[DAW]

Weight of M110 engine vs weight of M103 engine?
DAW

 

[flavio81]

I searched and didn't really see much on this.......I have a 1980 Euro 280SE with an M110 K-Jet that had been sitting for a long time..I started it and it sounds grim..I suspect stuck valve vs piston top, knocks like it, compression is way low in one cyl so I have to tear into that engine (positives are high compression Euro engine and good cams), I have a spare USA market M110 (low compression pistons, US spec cams; but donor valves if I need them); I also have a spare Euro M110 head and intake manifold.

In moving the spare M110 it came to my attention that this engine is HEAVY! For a measly 2.8L this thing is a boat anchor! I love the DOHC and Euro specs, but..............and here's the rub...........
I have an excellent M103 3.0L SOHC complete running engine/trans from an '89 300SEL W126 that I can transplant; and I have an all-aluminum 3.2 SOHC V6 I can use. Assuming the M103 is a bolt-in and the 3.2L would be more time-consuming to adapt, which engine makes more sense ?:
M110 Euro-spec reincarnated from my spare pieces?,
M103 US-spec alive and running, low miles?, or,
3.2 alloy block/heads V6 transplant?.......

I'm leaning toward the M103 but I haven't pulled it yet from the donor car and don't know how its weight compares to the leaden M110 (the 3.2L is a featherweight; has to be far lighter than either I-6)..........input??
DAW

Well if you want an easy conversion, the M103; if you want better fuel economy, i think the V6 is the way to go since is more modern. The V6 is a Mercedes engine, right? Because i wouldn't put a non-MB engine in my merc, unless it's a really good engine... like a BMW engine, for example

 

[Teutone]

Weight of M110 engine vs weight of M103 engine?
DAW

Please click 'User CP' on the top tool bar, and complete your profile with a location and model of your car.
It makes it easier for members to offer advice. MB produced different, and region / Country specific versions of our cars.

 

[DAW]

Thanks Flavio,
I think I'm going to transfer the M103 engine/trans complete assembly into my 280SE Euro. I just hauled a complete spare M110 USA 280S engine to the local scrap yard and dropped it off. I would not have used that low-compression engine in my 280SE unless I were to turbocharge it but it was one source for spare parts for my Euro M110 engine (valves, crank, rods, oil system, etc)......It weighed a lot! I guess I don't need the actual weights. The M103 is not likely any heavier than the M110.

The M103 is basically two cylinders longer than the 2.3 SOHC 4 cyl which I have in my '82 Euro 230CE (W123) and even though the M103 is a USA spec engine, it will be fine for my '80 Euro 280SE. The high-compression DOHC I6 with Euro-spec cams version M110 just had appeal to me and I can live with K-jet f.i. (it works fine in my 230CE). But between the weight issue and the money and time to refresh the M110...I guess I'm going to transplant the M103.

The 3.2 V6 I refered to is an MB engine and I will use it in one of my projects eventually and it is relatively light. My wife and I picked it up by the exhaust manifolds and moved it a couple of feet....it would take the whole family to do that with an M110.

Thanks for the useful input.
DAW