The Mercedes M104 E30 engine was born in 1989 and was a cylinder block from the M103 E30 covered with a new 24-valve cylinder head. Fuel injection system – mechanical injection KE-Jetronic. The single-row timing chain from the previous M103 was replaced with a reliable double-row, with a significantly longer service life.
The R6-family includes: M103 E26, M103 E30, M104 E28, M104 E30, M104 E32, M256 E30.
In the improved cylinder head, in addition to two camshafts, hydraulic valve clearance compensators and a variable valve timing system on the intake shaft are used, which significantly improved engine performance. The diameter of the intake valves is 35 mm, exhaust 31 mm.
Specifications
| Production years | 1989-1993 |
| Displacement, cc | 2960 |
| Fuel system | injector |
| Power output, hp | 220 – 230 |
| Torque output, Nm | 265 – 270 |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R6 |
| Block head | aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 88.5 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 80.2 |
| Compression ratio | 10.0 |
| Features | no |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | at the intake |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 7.0 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 1/2 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for 300 SL-24 R129) — city — highway — combined |
16.2 8.8 10.4 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~500 000 |
| Weight, kg | 195 |
Disadvantages of the M104 E30 engine
- The main problem of power units of this series is numerous oil leaks.
- First of all, gaskets leak: U-shaped, cylinder head and oil filter heat exchanger.
- The viscous coupling of the fan often fails, which is very dangerous for the engine.
- This motor is very afraid of overheating, the cylinder head is bent almost immediately.
- You will get a lot of trouble under the hood wiring, as well as ignition coils.
