This may sound daft......advice on engine type

[silverback mike]

It is pretty daft, but I'll explain a bit more fully..

My BMW 535i is going back to the dealer who I bought it from as it has been given a haircut....and to keep a long story short, he is replacing the car with a Merc C280 Sport with full merc history and in good condition. It's an R reg.

I haven't seen the car in the flesh yet, and he's bringing it to me from Birmingham (to bristol) - I dont have to accept the car if I don't like it hence not seeing it yet, but it just occured to me is it a 2.8 straight six or a 2.8 V6? I'm not sure when the transition was from S6 To V6. I'm presuming the V6 is the better engine although I've had experience of an E280 that was marvellous too..

Is an R plate a V or in line, this is the question...

Pentoman - I know you're the mercedes oracle, any ideas?

Ta folks,
Mike.

PS. Are they any good? He offered me an R reg 240 as well, but being me, Iwent for the larger displacement.

[steve-p]

Pretty sure it's a V6. In the E class, the changeover was mid-'97.

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd be more worried about the body. Rust rust rust.....

[silverback mike]

Thanks folks, if all goes to plan I'm picking it up tomorrow....

And yes, P of D, I know Mercs of that era do rust, so have asked the question, and am under no obligation to swap, so will give it a good going over....mind you, I have seen many e class models with rust, but not so many C class with tin worm

Usual places? leading edge of wings, bootlid, lower sections of doors?

[pentoman]

silverback mike said:

Pentoman - I know you're the mercedes oracle, any ideas?

hehe thanks, I'm really not.

Glad its getting sorted out. You're a fed aren't you? Probably makes sorting these things a bit easier!

I'll reveal to you the secret of my Oracleyness - it's this site:

www.mercedes-seite.de/mercedes/pkw/index.html

That says the V6's came about in 1997.

The clue could be that he offered you an R-reg 240 - the 240 was only ever a V6! So that means V6's were definitely about by the time R-reg came about.

So unless it's an odd late-registered/leftover straight-six model it sounds like a V6 280.

No matter either way though - The straight six is cooler (I mean, it's a straight six!), and has four-valves per cylinder, where the V6 only has 3 on a single cam I believe. The power is fairly similar. But I suspect the V6 is more efficient and obviously more modern. I know autocar's road test of the E280 V6 got some ridiculous MPG figure well over 30, and they were amazed! Interesting to see if that's real or not...
The 2.8 is probably no less efficient than the 2.4 so good choice on that one.

As a heads up, the V6 has a known issue where the harmonic balancer comes apart. Not a big deal but could be worth getting checked at service time, as it can take out some important stuff if that happens (belt for the water pump comes to mind?).
I can post you a link about that if you're particularly fascinated. It affects all the new V6s and V8s of that era.

Russell

[silverback mike]

pentoman said:

silverback mike said:

Pentoman - I know you're the mercedes oracle, any ideas?

hehe thanks, I'm really not.

Glad its getting sorted out. You're a fed aren't you? Probably makes sorting these things a bit easier!

I'll reveal to you the secret of my Oracleyness - it's this site:

www.mercedes-seite.de/mercedes/pkw/index.html

That says the V6's came about in 1997.

The clue could be that he offered you an R-reg 240 - the 240 was only ever a V6! So that means V6's were definitely about by the time R-reg came about.

So unless it's an odd late-registered/leftover straight-six model it sounds like a V6 280.

No matter either way though - The straight six is cooler (I mean, it's a straight six!), and has four-valves per cylinder, where the V6 only has 3 on a single cam I believe. The power is fairly similar. But I suspect the V6 is more efficient and obviously more modern. I know autocar's road test of the E280 V6 got some ridiculous MPG figure well over 30, and they were amazed! Interesting to see if that's real or not...
The 2.8 is probably no less efficient than the 2.4 so good choice on that one.

As a heads up, the V6 has a known issue where the harmonic balancer comes apart. Not a big deal but could be worth getting checked at service time, as it can take out some important stuff if that happens (belt for the water pump comes to mind?).
I can post you a link about that if you're particularly fascinated. It affects all the new V6s and V8s of that era.

Russell

Thanks Russell.. I reckon it's a V6 then.
And yes, I'm old bill, which for once was nice as I knew the dealer knew this as well - not that I normally tell people, but he did ask a direct question - vehicle crime as well.... you can imagine the ribbing I have had from the 'lads'

He was a trader that sells lots of expensive stuff from his home address, my 535i although nice was one of his little tiddler px's so I suppose he had it from another dealer with the deed already done. I am pretty sure he didn't clock it, if he did he's a complete nugget selling a clocked car from his home address to old bill

He's taken his time finding me the right car, and hopefully has found a decent one, all will be revealed tomorrow I guess.

I'll follow the link onto the site, and research the potential problems with the V6

Thanks again,
Mike.

[Parrot of Doom]

silverback mike said:

Usual places? leading edge of wings, bootlid, lower sections of doors?

Yep, but dont forget the middle of the bonnet and the roof for perforation, also the underside of the bonnet, and any suspension components. Dunno if the C class has the same front spring perches as the E class, but if they do thats gotta be worth considering.

[silverback mike]

Thanks P of D, I'll check.

[stringbag]

A bit late, but here goes. I have a C class of similar era ('99 C43 estate). As long as you have a full Merc history, they have a very good anti rust warranty - 10 or 15 years if I remember correctly. It is called something like mobilo life. My car is has a small ammount of rust on both front wheel arches and with no fuss whatsoever, the Merc main dealer is replacing both entire arches free of charge under the warranty. I didn't even buy it from them. I am surprised that they don't just rub them down and spray them, but it is better I suppose to replace rusty panels - no danger at all then of it coming back.
Check under the door seals at the top of the door above the window - that is another classic place for them to rust.
I a fairly sure that the C class never suffered from the same problems the e class did - especially the suspension mounts.
Hope this helps!
- never had any rust issues with the TVR!
Stringbag