Mercedes-Benz M119 engine (1989-1999)

The Mercedes-Benz M119 was a V8 petrol engine that was introduced in 1989 to replace the M117 engine. The M119 engine had an aluminium alloy block with Alusil-coated cylinder walls, an aluminium alloy cylinder head, forged connecting rods, iron-coated cast aluminium pistons, double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank (chain-driven) and four valves per cylinder that were actuated via hydraulic bucket tappets. While the M119 E 42 had a compression ratio of 11.0:1, the M119 E 50 and E 60 engines had a compression ratio of 10.0:1.

The M119 engine also featured two-stage intake camshaft phasing that could be adjusted hydro-mechanically by up to 20 degrees:

• From 0-2000 rpm, timing was retarded for improved idle and cylinder scavenging;
• From 2000-4700 rpm, timing was advanced for greater torque; and,
• Beyond 4700 rpm, timing was retarded for improved volumetric efficiency.

Initially, the M119 engine had a Bosch LH-Jetronic (‘Luftmasse-Hitzdraht’) injection control with a hot wire air mass meter, two ignition coils and two distributors (one for each cylinder bank). Furthermore, the ignition was controlled by a separate EZL (‘Elektronische Zündanlage’) i.e. ignition control module.

Around 1995 (depending on model), the distributors were replaced by coil packs (i.e. electronic distributorless ignition) where each plug had its own coil wire and Bosch ME injection was introduced. For the M119 E50 engine, this change was signified by the change in engine code from 119.970 to 119.980. For the M119 E42 engine, the code changed from 119.971 to 119.981.

The M119 engine was superseded by the M113 engine in 1997.

^*Power output for the M119 E 50 engine was reduced to 235 kW (from 240 kW) due to the omission of full throttle enrichment.