This M104 3.2-liter 24 valve gasoline inline-six longblock was originally built for a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet for the North American market. The car was purchased by a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast that underwent the knife of the current owner of the engine for a 3.6-liter M104 swap at Blue Ridge MB in Lilburn, Georgia. This M104 got a new head gasket in 2004 and had regular oil changes its whole life as the donor car was sold with many records attached showing a pampered life. This auction includes the engine, valve cover, spark plugs, thermostat assembly, water pump, and coil packs with a video of the engine turning over by hand and making healthy compression. This M104 engine is offered out of Alpharetta, Georgia by the current owner and seller.
This 3.2-liter 24 valve M104 engine number reads 104 992 12 029 812 310 0 with a 1993 build date. These engines produced 217 horsepower and 229 foot-pounds of torque when new. Also included in the sale is the valve cover, coil packs, spark plugs, thermostat assembly, and water pump.
This engine was removed from the car with 69,131 miles shown on the odometer which is included in the gallery and was taken when the car was pulled into the shop for the swap. The VIN for the E320 Cabriolet that the engine was removed from is WDBEA66E0RC029002.
Detailed pictures and a walkaround video are included showing all stampings and the condition of the block and head. A head gasket replacement was performed in 2004 as M104 engines are famous for failing headgaskets in the rear passenger corner and the front driver corner of the block. A mustache seal at the front timing cover was done in tandem. The valves are shown and appear to be clean and free of any carbon build up. The magnesium valve cover shows minimum paint damage or corrosion.
This 1993 build date M104 long block engine is now listed on behalf of the current owner out of Alpharetta, Georgia. The engine is located at a Mercedes-Benz independent repair shop just north of Atlanta, Georgia which is equipped to install this long block for the winning bidder as an option at retail cost.
The seller has provided the following video showing the engine turning over by hand.
While the M104 engine is one of the tougher Mercedes-Benz engines built, like any machine, they have their weaknesses: wiring harnesses and head gaskets. These engines have oil passages that are extremely close to the block’s exterior wall and while under constant pressure and through thousands of heat cycles, they are known to fail at around the 60k mark – albeit not catastrophically – usually with exterior oil leaks. If left unmonitored, you can get oil starvation as it grows worse and will ruin the engine. It’s common to see these cars get totalled out because of this issue. This is why finding a nice, low mileage, spotlessly clean longblock with a recent head gasket replacement removed by a talented classic Mercedes-Benz technician will hopefully save a W140/W124/R129 that’s in need of a new engine. Or you can stick it in an early C280 W202 to make a C320 or a 190E 2.6 which is a common swap as well. If it’s either for a replacement to keep a classic on the road for another 30 years or to a performance upgrade, you can’t go wrong with this M104, especially with the services and low mileage that’s attached to it.
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
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