C280 V6 v Straight 6

[shiraz]

I am hopefully about to purchase a 1998 C280 V6 which all the reviews I read in UK say is very good. However, for some reason all the US sites don't rate the V6 and bemoan the loss of the straight 6. What views do any members have? It's v. high mileage (over 130k) but high spec in sports trim.

 

[Baldguy]

Hi,

I have the 2.4 V6 with 46K on the clock and its a very quiet lump, it does get its skates on though when needed. I would have thought that the mileage will have to have full Benz history for it to be a bargain!!!

My mates 98 C280 Sport is also the same as mine quiet and refined with only 68K on the clock...

Go for it you'll never look back....enjoy

Regards

Greg

2K C240 Sport
Azurite Blue
18" AMG Reps
Benz Pics:- <http://community.webshots.com/user/gr3gwh33l3r>


(Edited by Greg Wheeler at 4:23 pm on June 7, 2002)


(Edited by Greg Wheeler at 4:24 pm on June 7, 2002)

 

[shiraz]

Thanks Greg. Yes the history is fully up to date and all done at MB dealers. You can imagine the mileage made me a bit nervous but I currently have a 1987 190e with the same mileage on it and it is going strong. I'd keep it but the bodywork is rusting badly (I think the previous owner had some poor repairs done).

Are there any points that I should look out for when I go and view the car?

Adam

 

[Andy]

Hi all

You have to watch what the US say about their vehicles. Since their vehicle are different to ours. I am sure their engines are fitted with different emission parts than ours. Thereby making them less responsive. I must admit the straight six does rev better. But most of my customers are happy with the way it performs. I don't think high millage is of any concern.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[shiraz]

Thanks Andy. Having looked at your web site I think you can expect a new service customer in the not too distant future!

Adam

 

[Arnie]

The V6 engine is part of Mercedes "modular range". It's a good engine, but it's based on the V8 and as such has a 90 degree vee rather than the ideal 60 degree (for a 6-cyl V). Therefore, it requires (complicated) balancer shafts. The ideal configuration for a 6-cylinder is a straight-6, which naturally gives the least NVH. However, because a V engine is shorter it allows better packaging in the engine bay (shorter bonnet). Also, being a 90 degree design, allows commonality of parts with the V8. Essentially, it's cheaper for Mercedes to produce and, as V12s are out of favour these days, shorter bonnets = more interior space. A 90 degree vee also permits a lower bonnet height.

In purely engineering terms, there are only two configurations, which give a perfectly balanced engine (in terms of first and second-order moments). These are a straight-6 and a V-12 (=2xstraight-6).

Really, the V6 (90 deg) exists more because of design-economy reasons rather than engineering ones.

The previous Merc straight-6 was a great engine and it also had space for a variable, resonant-intake manifold, missing on the V6 and featured variable valve timing. Three valves per cylinder is also driven by reducing emissions on start-up rather than increasing performance.

Given the choice, I would go for the straight-6.  Certain reports I've read liken the Merc V6 to a 4-cyl in terms of smothness. That's why BMW will never shift from a straigbt-6.