Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Configuration 90° V8 engine Cylinder head alloy Aluminum | Production 1969–1991 Displacement 3.5L
3.8L
4.2L | |
 | ||
Cylinder block alloy Cast iron 1969-1978
Aluminum 1978-1991 | ||
The Mercedes-Benz M116 was automotive V8 engine made in several versions by Mercedes-Benz between 1969 and 1991. All models were gasoline powered, and utilized a single overhead camshaft with 2 valves per cylinder and Bosch Jetronic fuel injection. The larger M117 V8 followed, introduced initially in the US market.
Contents
3.5
The original M116 engine 116.980 was introduced August 1969 in the 300SEL 3.5. It featured 9.5:1 compression with 200 PS (150 kW; 200 hp) @ 5800rpm and 286 N·m (211 lb·ft) @ 4000rpm. This was enough to propel the 1,575 kg (3,472 lb) saloon to a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). This engine and its twin, the 116.981 remained in production until 1980 when it was replaced by its larger 3.8 litre variant.
Usage
3.8
The 116.960 engine was introduced in 1979 featuring 8.3:1 compression with 158 PS (116 kW; 155 hp) @ 4750rpm and 266 N·m (196 lb·ft) @ 2750rpm. This engine reached North America later for the 1981 380SL. There were 116.961, 116.962, and 116.963 versions of this engine. Early models came with a single row timing chain until 1983 and were plagued with chain failure problems which Mercedes-Benz would repair free of charge, changing the timing chain to a dual row thus resolved the problem making these engine as durable and reliable as any other Mercedes V8. All 1984+ models came with a double row timing chain from the factory to prevent this failure, however this engine was replaced for the 1986 model year by its larger 4.2 litre variant.
Usage
4.2
The 116.965 engine was introduced in 1986 for the revised S-Class. It featured 9.0:1 compression and had from 204-231 PS (150-170 kW; 201-228 hp) depending on year and export market. All engines were mated to the Mercedes-Benz 4G-Tronic transmission. In North America, this engine was only used in 420SEL models featuring 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp) @ 5200rpm and 310 N·m (229 lb·ft) @ 3600rpm. This engine was used until 1991 when it was replaced by the newer 4.2L Double overhead camshaft Mercedes-Benz M119 engine with which it shares no parts.