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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16 Comments
Congrats @gisaao1! I'm on a business phone call the moment -- I'll reach out here in a second.$2,100 bid placed by @gisaao1
Good run. You can have it.$2,050 bid placed by @JS1977
$2,000 bid placed by @gisaao1
$1,750 bid placed by @JS1977
$1,700 bid placed by @gisaao1
$1,650 bid placed by @JS1977
$1,600 bid placed by @gisaao1
$1,500 bid placed by @JS1977
$1,400 bid placed by @gisaao1
$1,300 bid placed by @JS1977
$1,200 bid placed by @gisaao1
These engines are getting harder to find with real, verified milage on them. It's good for a replacement or to stash away for later. Or good for a shop to have for inventory when one of these inevitably come in for a new long-block.$1,050 bid placed by @JS1977
$1,000 bid placed by @Rollins85
$950 bid placed by @MMbby7
$900 bid placed by @Rollins85
$850 bid placed by @JS1977
$800 bid placed by @arpazi
$750 bid placed by @JS1977
Thanks for all the comments everyone! Good luck in the final moments!@Stuttgart_Steel thanks so much for the info. While I would love to pull the trigger I’m not sure I can immediately. Hope this donor engine goes to a great home!I would love to do this but I have to sell a couple motorcycles before taking on another project. Pair this with a manual and I’d be in heaven. I’ll get it done one day, unfortunately, today is not that day.$650 bid placed by @MMbby7
@glowingMB Sorry for the misunderstanding! 92 is a CIS engine, isn’t it? I called the shop and the owner said about $5-6k on the high end to be safe including parts, labor, and while you’re in there’s like engine mounts and hoses and stuff. Intake manifold will probably have to be sourced but they said it’s super doable. @BonEvil Yes it bolts up to a 722.4. Would be so good in a W201.@Stuttgart_Steel my question was in regards to this part of the listing that makes it sound like your indie already has a price in mind for the winning bidder : 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.I live in Alpharetta and have a 190! Does this mate to the stock trans?@glowingMB I’d call your favorite shops and ask. Labor rates are all over the place and differ so much depending on where you live.Do you know the ballpark estimate of what the MB indie would ask to install this into a 92 300e? Thanks in advance! I live in Chattanooga so not too far away@JS1977 Thanks for the PM. Just posting here for good etiquette: Yes, the 1993 300CE was the first year of the 3.2-liter M104. Previous years had the 3.0-liter M104.Is this motor a direct bolt on replacement for a 1993 300CE?@fschura Hey, sorry for the delay. My friend just bought a M113 engine and it was about $500. I don't think it was from California, so for you it might be more.$500 bid placed by @gisaao1
Nice looking engine. Any idea what this would cost to ship to California (most cost effective method)? The shipping estimator here on the website thinks it’s trying to ship a vehicle, and seems inaccurate (quoting $1,940.25 for open transit).$250 bid placed by @Lfuselier
Hey everyone! This is a pretty straight up auction and The MB Market did good on telling the story with this engine in the copy. It's a pretty unapologetic M104 long block that is ready to be transplanted into a number of Mercedes-Benz of the era or stuck into something small that only used a M103 (someone please make a 190E 3.2) for performance gains. It's freshly serviced and read to go. Let me know if you have any questions at all. I'll be around. Thanks!