Quote:
Originally Posted by cawimmer430  One of the spark plugs ignites a few milliseconds after the first sparkplug. The benefits of this according to Mercedes were a more efficient and cleaner combustion and slightly more power or torque as gasoline particles that have not yet been ignited are ignited and their explosive power is put to good use in driving the piston down etc. |
Actually, they alternate. On the next power stroke, the other plug fires first. And as to why three valves, it was MB's idea AT THE TIME that fast cat warmup was important. I too felt they were wrong, giving up variable valve timing just for that.
As for MB being best or not, hard to say. But after owning 115, 116, 123, 201X2, 202 & now 203 models, I have been through it with all of the design errors and warranty repairs. In fact I hate them so much that I have placed a deposit on a new C350. I wish I could order it tomorrow, in fact.