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103.984 MERCEDES-BENZ Petrol 1989-1993

103.984 engine — Mercedes-Benz 3.0 (3L)

3L · 190 hp

Engine overview

Manufacturer
MERCEDES-BENZ
Displacement
3 L
Power
190 hp
Production years
1989-1993
Fuel type
Petrol

Vehicles with this engine

W129

Factory specifications

Values from the manufacturer documentation for this engine.

Engine (general)

Engine code 103.984
Capacity 2960 cc
Idle speed 600 - 800 rpm
Normal 10.0 - 12.0 bar
Minimum 8.5 bar
Differential limit between cylinders 1.5 bar
Oil pressure 3.0 / 3000 bar/rpm

Engine (petrol)

Fuel system (make and type) Bosch KE-Jetronic
Number of cylinders 6
Firing order 1-5-3-6-2-4
Timing stroboscopic (vacuum hose connected) 6 - 11 / 700 ± 100 °/rpm
Ignition coil resistance, primary 0.3 - 0.6 ohms
Ignition coil resistance, secondary 8000 - 13000 ohms
Spark plugs (make and type) Bosch H8DCO Champion S10YCC
Spark plug gap 0.8 mm
Injection pressure/system pressure 3.7 - 4.3 / 5.3 - 5.5 bar
CO exhaust gas < 0.5 %
CO2 13 - 16 %
HC 300 ppm
O2 0.5 - 2.0 %
CO at fast-idle speed < 0.3 %
Fast-idle speed 2200 - 2800 rpm
Lambda 0.97 - 1.03
Lambda change (Delta Lambda) 0.02
Oil temperature during test 60 °C
Closed-loop test at: 500 - 1100 rpm
Basic method (Germany only) Nr. G4
Alternative method (Germany only) Nr. 1b, 0 ± 10

Cooling system

Cap pressure 1.4 bar
Thermostat opens at 87 ± 2 °C

Electrical

Battery 100 / 110 Ah
Alternator 100 A

Capacities

Engine sump, incl. filter 6.8 l
Manual transmission 717.434
Gearbox refill 1.5 l
Automatic transmission 722.363
Initial filling 7.3 l
Gearbox refill 6.2 l
Differential 1.1 l
Cooling system 11.5 l
Air-conditioner refrigerant 950 g
Air-conditioner compressor oil 140 (10PA17) 150 (TRS105) ml

Torque settings

Cylinder head bolts — Stage 1 70 Nm
Cylinder head bolts — Stage 2 90 °
Cylinder head bolts — Stage 3 90 °
Spark plugs 20 Nm
Main bearing cap — Stage 1 55 Nm
Main bearing cap — Stage 2 90 °
Oil plug 25 Nm
Manual transmission filler plug 60 Nm
Manual transmission drain plug 60 Nm
Automatic transmission drain plug 14 Nm
Front hub 12 Nm
Rear hub 220 Nm
Wheel nuts 110 Nm

Workshop procedures for this engine

Step-by-step procedures from the workshop database.

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Who makes these pages, and how

TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.

The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.

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Workshop data on this page last updated 22 Aug 2026.