The New 5-Liter 8-Cylinder Engine with 4-Vaiwe Technology for the Mercedes-Benz 500 SL

The 5-liter V8 ligth-alloy engine presented by Mercedes-Benz in the new 500 SL at the motor show in Geneva in March 1989 is a new development on the basis of the 8-cylinder engines which have proved themselves for many years.

For this engine, Mercedes-Bens have used a 4-valve light-alloy cylinder head designed in accordance with the most up-to-date features; it has two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank with bucket-type tappets and hydraulic valve clearance compensation. For the first time an electronic/hydraulic adjustment of the intake camshafts is used on a 4-cylinder engine.

This provided the basis for outstanding torque and performance characteristics, stable and smooth idle even at low engine speed, and favourable emission values and fuel consumption figures.

Since the engine consists to a large degree of light alloy, and the power output gained is considerable, it has been possible to attain a weight to power ratio of less than 1 kg/kW.