230SL with a 2.8 Engine

[ProvingGrounds]

I just bought a restored 230SL with a 2.8 engine in it, and I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing... One one hand I am loosing historical value of the car, but on the other hand I have a nicely rebuilt sought-after 2.8 engine under the hood.Any ideas?

[rogerh113]

Hello,

I have a 230sl with a 250 engine in it.  I have the car for driving (original intent from MB, I think), and it is a nice upgrade.  The only negative I have heard about the 280 is that the cylinder walls are somewhat thin relative to the 250 - hopefully will not be an issue for you. You have more main bearings and more power/torque than the baseline 230SL engine - only an issue for the purist I think....

Regards -- Roger

[ProvingGrounds]

This is mainly for resale purposes... So I am wondering what everybody thinks from a buyer's perspective.

Thank you all for your help and support!

[ProvingGrounds]

:: BUMP ::

[lurtch]

Hello  - -

 Just for the record, the 2.8 engine (any of the M130 series) is a slightly better piece of engineering than the 2.3. The best improvement is the double row cam drive chain instead of the single row type. (more durability with less chain stretch) The exhaust headers are cast iron instead of tubular steel, the oil cooler is a valuable addition also.  I have a 280SEL  engine in my 230Sl. A likely reason for you having a 2.8 engine in there is because they are very plentiful in the after market and an engine shop can overhaul one more economically that the 2.3.  Regards, Larry in CA

[ja17]

Hello,

All 230SL engines had the double row timing chains.  Only the 230 carbureted sedans of the era had a single row timing chain.

The incorrect engine would make only a sligtht difference in value for a "driver" grade W113 as long as it drives well.
If the car is restored for show or investment, the incorrect engine will make more of an impact on value.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[ProvingGrounds]

Thank you Joe, that's what I was thinking as well. The car looks amazing with the only fault I can detect is a missing firewall pad. I will post photos soon!