Across dozens of 280SE/280SEL/300SEL 4.5 listings, owners agree the 4.5-liter V8 is the sweet spot: torque-rich, relaxed and well-matched to the car's weight, happy to cruise at 80-100 mph one-handed. It is repeatedly framed as a much better highway companion than the buzzy inline-six, delivering sports-car speed in a comfortable sedan.
The 4.5 V8 (M117): the ideal touring engine for the body
Mercedes-Benz 250S-300SEL 6.3 (W108/W109) · driving