Just out of my curiousity. I was wondering how many people have actually pushed their MBs to the limits, either handling, modification, or engine limits. I have pushed my '92 400SE up to about 260km/h(I am not sure, but be more conservative. The speedometer was vertical), though I never thought it could do it(I thought S-Class has electronic limiters?? Maybe mine is "defected" :))...anyways, just curious...

P.S. Please be concern for people on the road. Don't drag people down with you....play it safe.....

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,000 KM

Um....have "heard" that 92 500E's can go right past the supposed "limiter" that is there at 155mph. j/k Have pegged the speedo past 160mph at the end of the gauge and still had 200-350 rpm left before redline. Would of kept on pulling had it a 5th ratio in the tranny.

In recent running at the dragstrip we were more than happy with the "Mercedesshop 500E". The track was WAY slow, (stock C5 corvette's were doing 14.5), still pulled a 14.2@100mph with a deplorable R/T. (over a second with .5 being "ideal") This was bone-bone stock, inadequate 225/55/16 all season Michelins, 95+ temp(probably 105 F in the staging area/track), and 100% humidity. Now let's tune/tweak/modify, get the new Michelin Pilots installed, and run when the conditions are not jungle-esque. Anyone who drives a M119 knows just how monsterous a difference temperature makes. My particular 500E will spin up to about 6200-6300rpm in 1st gear, then the normal 6000rpm rev limit in the other gears.

Not only are the DOHC cars "as advertised" they are usually a heck of alot more! BTW, the 500E will stomp a C43. The E55 is too close to call. Have to catch one at the strip sometime... If you had asked me a week ago if a 500E could take a C5 corvette in the 1/4 I would of said no way!, since then we have been very pleasantly suprised.

Handling is impressive even with the stock sized XGT's. Stability at all speeds is unmatched. Any straightline speed is undramatic. Steering is heavy, but there is absolutely zero dead travel in the wheel. Cornering is deceptively fast, there is so little body roll it is easy to underestimate corner entry speeds. Slight understeer at first, power oversteer on demand. Okay, ASR light lit like a Xmas tree with neutral cornering on demand. Slight bit of wander over tar strips, but that is to be expected when your tires are worn to less than 2/32nd's. Brakes will haul you down from triple digit speeds in repeatable fashion...hard enough to make you motion sick. (or at least hang you in the seatbelts) The rest of the car's attributes make the brakes seem almost boring, but the fact that they are that transparent with the kind of speeds you get to, makes them truly impressive.

Whether the MercedesShop 500E is performing as it should or not, I'm certainly NOT complaining. Certainly the kind of car where driving is an activity, not merely a means to a destination. That about surmises my ownership experiences with my "dream" car.

Enjoying every minute and mile...Lee
92' 500E
120K miles
runs like a raped ape

Lee,

You are making me jelous. :) Always wanted a 500E/E500. My 400SE will never take on anything better than C5. The weight of the car is killing. However, what's with the MB's limiters?? I can still run PASS the limited rev(and about 1/3 into the redline, EVERY gear)., and no fuel cut!!?? Hm, strange isn't it.....

Happy Motoring...
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,000 KM

I have several hundred track miles in my 92 500E. The modifications are: lowered 1.5", 600SL brakes, 9"X17 fronts with 255/40 and 10"17 rears with 275/40, agressive alignment specs. The car can do .95g right and .96 left. I can get 145mph on all three straights at Road America. It can pull stock c5's on the straights and beat all street cars under breaking. It amazes the Porche drivers (even the turbo guys). I really have fun. No one knows how truely fast these cars are. I have driven the E55. The 500E will eat it alive on the track.

Lou,
Wow, my compliments on your car! What offset wheels are you using? I had been told that 245 was the limit for the front wheel-wells. Speaking of which, do you ever have any problem with rubbing with the lowered suspension and wide tires? Who did the springs...H&R, or are they tuner? I take it you have left the engine, tranny, diff, etc alone? It great to see a 500E out there shocking the %$*&$% out of the rest of the world.

Lee

As regards pushing these cars, I'm all for it! As another 500E ('92) owner, I can tell you that these cars LIKE to be pushed. I've had my '88 300TE for 3 years & 80k miles, and I've slid it around; totally predictable. I've nailed the ABS 5-6 times in a row from high speed to see if I could provoke fade...nuthin. Red-line the engine ALL the time. And I won't bother going on about the 500E...I think Lee and Lou have covered that car quite adequately (I'll hav to get back to you on the limiter...I've merely punched it up to 150 a couple of times so far).

So, when conditions allow, enjoy! Heck, if you're the one-in-a-billion that blows it up, you can always stuff a 6.5 litre in...

------------------

Just curious, but to get those types of revs, are you shifting manually? If so, I'd appreciate a brief primer on manu-matic shifting do's /don'ts.

Thanks

To Mark,

Well, actually, I leave it in 3rd gear(mine is '92, only have 4-speed auto), and when just off the line, press the throttle in about 2/3, and when the rev is about 1500rpm, I will press the throttle down all the way(way down, there is a resistence you can feel, like a rubber stop or something, you press that thing down, too), and the rev will climb so fast, and past redline. Usually, there should be a limiter, but somehow(defected!!?? :))on car, it won't cut off fuel 'til 1/3 past the redline!!

Personally, I don't recommand using manual shift. It's not faster than let the auto do the work. Especially if you have late model with 5-speed electronic tranny(4-speed trannies are hydraulic)...

However, if you really want to do manual, I recommand you let go of the gas pedal a little when shift from gear to gear. Just like driving a real manual or you will get harsh shifts(maybe it's just the old 4-speed tranny).

P.S. I find something interesting, is that when I shift into 1st, and then shift back to Drive, the tranny will stay in the 1st gear. Maybe this will help with takeoff time, too!!??

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,100 KM

Mark,
The tranny in the 500E starts you off in 2nd gear unless the throttle is pressed more than (I think) 40%. If you put the shifter in 1st, aka "B", it engages 1st right then. For maximum zip off the line I usually notch it in 1st, then once I'm underway just flip it back up into 3rd or 4th. If I stand on the gas in the 500E it will spin up to about 6200-6350rpm in 1st, then 6000rpm in all the other gears) If you are carving up a backroad, then you can downshift as long as you are in a prudent speed for that gear. (except 1st that is, tranny does not like to give 1st back to you. especially past 20-25mph) Look at the speedometer closely, you will see a single dot around 40mph, two dots around 70mph, and 3 dots around 110mph. (on the 500E that is) These indicate the maximum speed for the gear. Except for 1st, you should be able to downshift into any gear as long as your under redline.

Happy Motoring...Lee

Lee,

Actually you got the point right there about 40% of the throttle, however, as I tried my friend's E500, the tranny won't shift into 1st unless you press the gas pedal really fast, that is, as if you are passing(kickdown). Otherwise, the tranny will stay in 2nd.

Also, I believe that '92 500E has 4-speed tranny, too. Does yours stay in 1st gear when you shift into B, and shift out of B?? Mine will stay in 1st gear even if you shift back to D....

Akry,
Mine has the same hydraulic 4-speed as the E500. (the venerable 722.3) If you shift it into 1st/"B" then back up into the other gears it will stay in first briefly once you are on the gas. Mine trips the kickdown to first at about 40% throttle off the line. One thing I do notice...the longer (faster speed your traveling) you wait to try and kick it down to first, the further/more abruptly you have to push the pedal. Once your past 20-25mph in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th first gear becomes inaccessable. You just get 2600-2800 rpm in 2nd gear and have to either slow down to under 20mph and kick it down or just lump it in 2nd. In the 500E lumping it is no big deal as the thing is so damn torquey. In the 400E it was actually quicker to hit the brakes and get it to where you could get 1st back. Times like that are when I wish for being able to retrofit the electronic 5-speed!

Hope this helps...Lee

Wow!, well mine is bigger than yours and all that stuff, but as far as "pushing" my benz, after I bought it, I had to put it through our " Mountain Test" . This means climbing it at 160 kph, and during a day that was reading 38.5 on my interior temp gauge, with the humidex built in, it was aroung 115 F for you Americans. My big concern was how the temp gauge would react,and how high it would climb, it lit up my oil gauge in a previous car.

My gauge simply sat at around 80C, I was very impressed. This is the hardest test I have given it so far.

I wanted to go to one of the Benz rallies, and see how it could handle, and test its cornering abilities and brakes, as these are the two most important "performance items" that interest me.

------------------
Chris Ecklund
98 300 DT

Lee,

Told you mine '92 400SE is "defected" :). Mine will still kick down into first gear even when I am in 2nd, and rev at 3700rpm(there is a rubber thing under neath the throttle, I have to press it down in order to kickdown). The tranny will kick into 1st, and snape your neck, push you into the seat, and send the tach needle pass the redline into about 6600rpm before changing gear(however I rarely work the engine that rough).

Although it's a hydraulic tranny, I am very impress with it's kickdown(or is mine "defect" again??). It will kickdown 2 gears(from 4th, to 3rd, to 2nd)accordingly without gaps in between(I think it's way better than my old Bimmer).

Oh, one Q. Does the 500E has the same tranny as V8 W140s?? Just wondering.

You guys need to buy the Book, Introduction Manual MY 1992 400E/500E.
Part # S-2509-091 $3.00

I got mine Monday along with the Service book
S-2388-CS1 Maintenance Manual Customer version MY 1985-1993.(This book explains all the maintence procedures that are required for normal maintenance intervals. $20.00 and well worth it.)

The Intro to 1992 400E/500E book explains all the differences of these 2 models as compared to the 300CE-24V. Why MB chose this one I don't know but thats what's stated in the front cover.

Very detailed in all respects. Chassis, Engines, Brakes, Interior, etc.



------------------
Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet

Has anyone tried the first gear tranny valve body that Renntech sells? Is there an alternate source ? Has anyone tried Renntech's transmission upgrade?

Akry,
the 500E has basically the same tranny as the early (hydraulic) W140's. There were some minor internal differences. In the meantime I intend to play with Bowden cable adjustment a little bit. (oh boohoo, more road testing my car!)

1st gear start vavle body: For the kind of cash Renntech is charging I can shift it into 1st, then back up at stoplights. Doing so sure does improve off the line throttle response. Unless you do something with the rear tires you will be on ASR really quick though. If I were having my tranny rebuilt, then I might have it done at that time. In the meantime it does not bother me enough to justify. As for an alternate source, I am almost positive Brabus has something like that. In my pricing, their stuff seems every inch as good, but usually a little bit less expensive. They are worth a call or email. (click the banner, and check out the form)

Chris,
There is plenty you can do for the handling/braking on your car. If/when you want to change anything, let us know.

Lee
92' 500E

Lee,

What's a 1st start valve that is sell by Renntach?? Does it make the tranny always start in 1st gear??? Thnx...

BTW, '92 400SEs doesn't have ASR standard yet :). It was made standard in 1994.

Happy Motoring....

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,200 KM

It is a modification to the transmission that causes it to start in 1st gear 100% of the time. Your mechanic likely has to install it. I have not priced that item specifically from Brabus yet, but Renntech has it for about $1,400. For about half the cost of a rebuilt tranny, I'll just shift mine... On your W140 you may not have to worry about excessive wheelspin in a straight line. In either case, since you don't have ASR, the car should step off the line much stronger than usual.

Hope this helps...Lee

Lee,

Thnx for reply. Guess I will just shift myself :D. Anyways, yes, it's almost impossible to spin the tires consider the weight of the car. However, without ASR in rainy days, the rear tires will be more than happy to go faster than the car. They would spin at about 1/2 throttle in harsh acceleration even if it starts in 2nd. And will spin a little between gear changed from 2nd to 3rd...

Still, want a E500... :)

Happy Motoring.....
And Kuo
'92 400SE
70,200KM(ain't going anywhere.. :))

i've got a 94 e500 with several renntech mods. lucky me i bought the car with them already installed so i didn't have to pay for them at retail plus installation. car has first gear mod, chip, airbox w/ k&n, rear exhaust, and bigger front swaybar. have driven cars without first gear mod and my car would leave them standing while they went forward in second before downshifting to first. granted, you can always manually start in first. but i like just puttin the foot down and it goes with no input from my right hand. can't say whether i would have done it myself or not. i've had renntech rebuild my 16v and i've seen their other products first hand. no, they aren't cheap but they do quality work with quality products. they know what they are doing. conversions and tuning are what they do. to some extent you do get what you pay for although there are probably others out there that could do as good a job for less you gotta find 'em. btw i have no interest or affiliation with renntech other than generally, i'm a satisfied customer who has always been treated right by them.

Lucky to all 500E/E500 owners. You guys are making jelous :). Anyways, as opposite of Lee has stated, my '92 400SE will pull all the way into 2/3 of the redline when in the first gear, not for brief period as in Lee's case.

Lee, correct me if I am wrong. Thnx. Oh, and how long will it pulls before your 500E shifts from 1st into 2nd??

With your foot in it, the 500E will pull redline in each gear. No doubt, it does impress.

Anyone out in California interested in a little comparison testing? :)

I have mine, bring yours!

You know I would Jesse. Sorry your not on the east coast. I'm sure you can find a 500E on the west coast...

My 500E will hit about 6300rpm in 1st gear, then shift right at 6000rpm in 2nd and 3rd. Had 4th close to redline but ran out of clear road. In any case, it is tons of fun. Seems 92's behave in this manner, 93's being strictly 6000rpm all gears. (perhaps limited to 155mph as well) In akry's case, it is hard to say. Sometimes I think these cars have their own "personalities" or at least collection of quirks. Perhaps you car was "chipped" or performance tuned by the previous owner? (if applicable) Most MB I've driven seem to stick to the posted redline.

Any 500E/E500 owners done the Brabus/Renntech/tuner cooling mods? Driving a car, even in flawless mechanical condition, the recent heat is a killer. Just curious if anyone has done any aftermarket/supplemental cooling? As temp sensitive as these cars are, keeping the engine down to about 80-85 C ALL the time would be a BIG improvement. I know they run "hot", and the W124 was never designed for a V8, etc. There has got to be a way around it though...

Lee

[This message has been edited by Lee Scheeler (edited 08-01-1999).]

Lee,

Yes, that's what I have been wondering, and saying(defected). :) I bought my '92 400SE new in the beginning of 1992. And ever since, I have not make any performance modifications to the car. I leave the car as is. So, maybe they accidently put a 500SEL chip in my car!!?? :)

The car still pulls strong(even stronger then when it has 48,000KM)every gear, and into about 1/3 of redline every gear....

Anyways, I am happy with it, and plan to keep it for a long time....

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,288 KM

Hello Everyone,
What would the chip for the 500SEL do for you versus the chip that normally comes with your car Akry? I have a stock 500SEL and at this time I am considering the waterpump upgrade. Are there any other upgrades that can be done?

Fred
92 500SEL

As far as I know the M119's are only supposed to spin up to 6000rpm in any chassis. Putting the incorrect programming in either car would likely do more harm than good. If nothing has been done to Akry's car then he just is lucky and seems to have an "overachiever" engine. I know in some of the later cars the engine management had some "memory" as far as noting how fast/far you hit the gas at what speeds, etc. Perhpas your W140 notices aggressive driving habits (not that there is anything wrong with that) and does its best to give you what you want which is all the speed it can. You will have to ask Benzmac or the other techs in tech help about the specifics of any "memory" in the throttle/engine management of your car.

Fred,
Your questions could probably be better answered by Benzmac in Tech Help as well. When you speak of upgrades, do you mean updates/revisions or actual "hot-rodding/tuning" of the OEM stuff?

Hope this helps...Lee

Lee,

Thnx for reply. Guess I am just lucky :). And yes, M119s suppose to go only up to 6000rpm as I was told by a MB. And even my friend's 500E will only go up to about 6100 - 6200 RPM.

Fred,

As I was told, chips for 500SEL has different pattern(program)even though both 400SE and 500SEL has the same basic V8 layout. My best guess is that the torque/HP difference needs different program in order to shift gears properly. As for water pump upgrade(revision), it will be the best money you ever spend for water pump.

Hope this helps...
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,480 KM

Bill,

Actually, it's just out of my curiosity. New or Old MBs are welcome. I want to hear them all......

Happy Motoring...
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,490 KM

A W116 300SD has a higher top speed than a W126 300SD. W116 reaches 110mph. W126 102mph. W126 300SDL 120mph. I have tested all of them to their top speed and magazine reports confirm my results.

I took a 95' E320 Wagon to 120 mph, but I backed off, No Detector no Fun

JAH

pushed my 1989 190e2.6 to about 195kph (122mph) but backed off after a few seconds as visions of my license and insurance premiums flashed before my eyes. Rated top speed is 208kph (130mph), and since i have a 5speed manual, i had a lot of headroom below the redline. The car is quite drag-limited, and the wind roar becomes significant at this speed. The car was very stable, though, and did not break a sweat. I should try it in 4th gear ...

souped-up hondas can easily outsprint me in city traffic. And because of the upright-sedan/tall-greenhouse profile of my car, plus the stock quiet mufflers and stock ride height, it is not perceived by those drivers as a threat to them. In city driving, they simply assume that my car is not up to it (they can't read the "2.6" on the right of the trunk from a distance) and just try to zip around me, the sound of their 4-inch wannabe mufflers betraying their intentions. My car is sluggish off the line, and i never win stoplight shootouts. But once i get into 2nd gear, i can boogie with them, and sometimes i do. Just don't throw me a lot of corners.

But if i'm on the highway, and i show up in their mirrors without even tailgating, somehow they know what a benz can do and invariably move aside. (do other benz drivers experience this, or am i really tailgating?)

and what to do when they do move aside? Uphold the benz reputation, take the pedal to the metal, sliding past them while making sure you look very relaxed (the upright seating position helps), and disappear into the distance to *tailgate* the next group of cars.

I believe it's the knowledge that these german cars are built for this speed and can sustain life near the redline, and have the chassis for high-speed stability, that gives me confidence and satisfaction. This, plus the inline-6 that seems happiest from 3000-5000rpm.

i would be interested in knowing what kind of treatment other benz drivers get on the road, in the city and on the highway ...

I also has all the stock setting for my '92 400SE. But still I have been "dusting" Fox4-chassis Mustang GTs. Heheeh, and I just love to see the drivers's face("What-The-Hell??" look). Every time they picked on me(I have no idea why...)at a red light, but I just floored the car and left them behind. :)
I am sure everyone will give the same face when losing to a 2300 KG sedan.... :)

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,850 KM

I had my share of fun "dusting" a bunch of cars when I had my '72 280SE back in the late 1970's. In an 18 month period, I would take on any vehicle willing to speed, and only got one speeding ticket :) Great stealth machines, MB's.

Fastest I ever went was 132 mph indicated, passing a Mustang that topped out at 125 mph. Also had my share of fun racing Porsche 914's on country roads. My most vivid memory is of a 914 going airborne (!) in my rear-view mirror doing about 60 and giving up. Seems MB W108's had better brakes than the 914's did. Also passed a Kawasaki 750 motorcycle doing about 90 in a 25 zone (I was young and more daring then) down a mountain. Now I'm a bit more sedate, driving the "slow" diesel, which still surprises me with its willingness to jump right up to 75 to 80 mph on most any road with some clear room. (Damn slow traffic :) )

------------------
Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 165,333 miles

In my experience, nobody sees a benz as anything much to worry about. Mustang GT's, Stang Cobras, Camaroaches, Puking Chickens (Firebirds), Vettes, and a load of lesser rice cars never see it coming. Even ran a neck-and-neck with a 911 (993) up to speeds I don't care to comment on. (pulled a couple car lengths advantage in triple digits) After running over their ego in a straight line it is always fun to take those types on twisty roads. (especially the solid rear axle crowd) On the highway nobody let's anybody by without a fuss but that is just hellish ATL traffic. That is part of what I like about benz. Driving fast (occasionally) in a benz is like robbing a bank in a suit. Have driven a friend's 98 Cobra and that car attracts 10-50 times the negative attention from other motorists and/or cops as a benz does. With a benz you can go very rapidly and look and sound like you are just yawning down the road. There are many cars that can go fast (either 0-60 or top speed) but almost none that can do so in an stable/relaxed/reliable/stealthy fashion. When pegging the speedo past 160mph the feel was no different than "cruising" at 80-100mph over the same road. However, you will never see someone let a benz in voluntarily in my experience. They seem to draw a bit of scorn from other drivers (jealousy? feelings of inferiority? j/k) and that translates to hostile treatment in ATL. With a benz you can have 90%-150% of the performance of other "fast" cars but attract almost no negative attention. While we are on the topic of attention, the curb appeal of a Benz is still almost unmatched.

Lee

Actually, now that you folks mention it, people do seem to move aside when my benz shows up in their rear view mirror. In truth, I didn't notice this until my lady friend noted that other drivers just seemed to "give way" when I showed up in their rear view. "Like magic" she said. Heck. I just thought this was normal.

[This message has been edited by revbond (edited 08-30-1999).]

[This message has been edited by revbond (edited 08-30-1999).]

It's true, and I really don't know why....most people DO yield the left lane when I come up on them. This happens in both my 300TE and my 500E, two cars with distinctly different performance envelopes.

Maybe it's the big grille, or maybe it's something else. I'm just happy to have the lane!

By the way, I've yet to have anyone dust me, and many have tried (and most C5 drivers are afraid to find out how fast you might be!)!!



------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

C5 drivers...bah! There isn't much whatsoever that can dust you once you are underway/have the revs up. There are a few that can be a handful right off the line, but still nothing has "dusted" me yet either.

Supercharged Jag...had that kitty's head on a pole.
E34 and E39 540i's...got the finger from a salesman out on a test drive, others were not up to the challenge either.
Mustangs...unless they are supercharged+NOS modified they are trigger-burgers.
Camaroaches...decent off the line, no top end, still just a big torquey sled in my rearview.
Vettes...have not locked horns with a ZR1, but C5's are not a problem when its 90+ degrees. I pity them when it gets 75F or below.
NOPI's (tweaked hondas/eclipses/etc) Not even worth the gas...
M3's....these guys really take it personally when you toast them. Have seen some that were a joke and others that were a good fight.
Lexus GS400...something that thought it was wicked.
E28 and E34 M5's...*yawn* what were we taking about?
911/993...dead heat until triple digits, then 500E pulled ahead by a couple car-lengths.
CLK430...(earlier today actually) guy should of known better. close until about 2000-2500rpm then it was just a slaughter.
SVT Lightning truck...amusing to watch an elephant try to run and dance, but on the whole, not worth my gas.

Despite all this, nobody will "yield" the left lane much in ATL. That is how half of the information above has been "discovered"... When I've been in other areas (where driving was not so congested or combative) the Benz seems to get you the lane. Most people don't know the difference between a 300E and 500E. For the most part a 300E is still head and shoulders above all the other "mundane" cars of today so they are right in yielding. If they knew what 500E's really were people like Michael and myself could not have so much stealth capability. IMO there is nothing that is such a mix of performance and stealth as a MB, especially the sportier models.

Lee

My old 108 a '66 250S isn't terribly fast, but it really handles well. This car only weighs in at 3060lbs, and was made without power anything, not even power steering. It also has the alpine rear axle gearing. I've had all fours off the ground coming off the freeway exits and over the hills in S.F.
It simply won't die, and though it won't go faster than 100mph@6500rpms it still gets lots of cars off the line. Great car! And i'll take on any car or bike in the turns. Its just amazing that a 33 year old bone stock car can handle as well as this does (smooth roads). Trail brake to apex of turn helps take the weight off the back end and reset the angle of attack, and then roll on the gas to weight the rear at the correct turn angle. Its fun! I can drive this car at 10/10ths on the street and enjoy it. My 500E is too fast to try that with on the street!

While no one would call my '91 300TE 4-matic exactly fast (especially off the line) it does offer excellent performance of a slightly different kind - on icy/snowy mountain roads, at times so ice covered and polished by traffic that taking a 35 mile per hour corner at anything over 20 can put you in the guardrail. The 'TE will offer predictable initial understeer that changes into modest oversteer as the 4-matic engages. On long snowy/icy up-hill stretches the car will have no perceptible changes in behavior save for the orange light on the dash as it switches into and out of awd. My only minor complaint is that the 4-matic system is sometimes temporarily fooled by some of the tracks that develop after scores of cars roll their tires in same set of tracks making 2 icy grooves on the snowy road. These grooves can cause a slight sideways slide that doesn't trigger the AWD immediately. Makes for some interesting moments. The 'TE will keep up with or pass just about any other SUV in winter driving conditions. I guess the comparatively lower center of gravity helps. And it is no slouch on acceleration, either. The 'TE has facilitated a personal best in the number of cars passed in succession. The ABS even works acceptably when you need to use the binders, and generally doesn't induce a left or right slide when engaged. Lastly, as many others have commented, other cars will tend to "move aside" when you show up in their rear view mirror. As an aside, the same thing happens in my other car, but a little more frequently.One of the many nice fringe benifits of a MB!

…tracy
'91 300 TE 4-matic
'80 928

Once raced a friend of mine with my '87 300E. He had an '89 mr-2 (normally aspirated, i'd be toast if it was turbo- or supercharged). Starting from two (or was it three?) consecutive stoplights, he could not get his car in front of mine before we hit 60 mph.

(granted, he was carrying a passenger and i was running pretty light, but mr2's are *supposed* to do 0-60 in the mid-7s. =)

Unfortunately not the case for me. I get stuck behind ALL the old farts, former ox-cart jockeys and soccer moms around this bay area. And I seem to draw the intervention of minivans, SUVs and BMWs when trying to keep up a brisk pace. You know the type - sleeping at the wheel in the fast lane because "that's where my 740 belongs - at 55mph", or because "I pay for teh damn raods too and this is where I like to drive". Hard not to start the *very* bad habit of passing on the right.

I usually give a honk because lights are very obviously illegal. Makes me sick to watch their rearview and notice that they might give it a glance only every ten minutes or so.

I dream of graduated licenses and autobahns.
siiiiiggggghhhh....

I have 99 c230 kompressor sport and love just turning off the traction control and taking the corner a little wide.... Any of you guys have suspension mods or autocross. I almost want to autocross my car myself as I will be going to racing school soon. I have never driven a 500E and wish I could as I know they have the porsche suspension. I just wish these cars where manuals, I really want to make my car into one (it's got the slk engine). Any of you guys ever thought of doing this?
anyway
see ya
cavan

Hmmm....the racial remarks a few posts up bother me, but up until then it was an enjoyable thread, so I guess I'll add to it...

Recently pushed my 1990 300E to 132 on a long straight...no radar, and there was a cop sitting at the stoplight when I blasted by, but he must have not clocked me because he stopped in the intersection as he took his green and saw me slam down to about 80 and went on about his business...either he was fumbling his radar gun (hopefully spilling his coffee all over him ;) ) or he was just making sure I noticed him...either way it made it a little more exhilerating.

When I first got the the car a few summers back, I got into a jam on the freeway where a trucker either didn't see me or decided to cut me off, but I floored it at precisely the wrong time and drove the needle way past redline and blew my coolant line...green smoke everywhere. I'm not so worried about that happening again, it had 94k miles and I guess the line had gotten weak. 129k miles now and purring like a cat...

------------------
Chris Singh
1983 300D 200k+ (stopped odometer)
1990 300E 123k
1999 E430 12k

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

Yes, the racial bit is too much and I hope the moderator took note of it 4 months ago when posted. If not, I'd invite you to bring it to their attention.

Well, thought I'd add a bit of renaissance performance here...

Last summer I pushed my recently re-conditioned 1971 250 sedan up to 204 kph. It was humming beautifully. It was a lovely summer day on a long country highway. My speedometer is broken, however, so the exact speed was kindly provided to me by an OPP officer I failed to see as I flew past her.

This happened in the Muskokas (cottage country here in Canada, near Toronto. The officer couldn't believe how fast the "old" car was travelling and she let me off the hook, after finding out I knew her fiancé. No ticket. Very lucky I guess!

True story. :)

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flipSyde:
Hmmm....the racial remarks a few posts up bother me, but up until then it was an enjoyable thread, so I guess I'll add to it...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
We agree 100% that the remarks in that post were unacceptable. I deleted the entire post. Sorry I didn't notice this sooner but, this whole thread has grown so large it has taken on a life of its own. I try to read all posts but, I must have missed this one. Thanks for pointing it out!



------------------
Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

I have this memorable experience on I-10W on the other day. I was cruising about 75 mph, on my way back from West hollywood. It was around 11 at night. All out of sudden a car tailed on my back( almost touch my ass). I thought it was police. So I moved to right lane and gave him my lane. I noticed that it was an M3. He stayed right beside my car, waiting for me to "go". So,in response, I just kicked my accelerator, and accelerated to the limit. He followed, although not gaining any length. At least, He can kept up with me till 90, after that it is like no offense race. He just disappear.. slowly, although not too slow. As I looked my speedometer, it showed 125mph. I was surprised! Its just like 80 mph. I just let my pedal go slowly and gained my normal speed. He came back to my side, gave me a thumb, I gave him "peace" sign. He, then accelerated and left me behind, in search for other victims:P

That was nice....but what I usually get(and again, from some M3, and even Z3 owners)is not the thumb, but the middle one.... :(

Well, it's either love it or hate it....

Andy Kuo

------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
<LI>Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
<LI>Blue/Red Headlights
<LI>Xenon-Look Foglights
</UL>

ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
http://drive.to/akry
NEW!!! http://akry.homestead.com

Lee, I have a question, I liked your comparison with you 500E with other cars. I was wondering, how do you think a 400E would handle with those cars? I have never really had the chance. I tried once against an Aston Martin DB7 and got killed :) My son took the 400E to school once and destroyed the punks in their Civics.

I usually will see 110mph with my W116 300SD just about every weekend coming home from Cincinnati. I wind that tach around to 4,750rpm like nothing and man does that engine hum! I've seen 130mph in my 380SE which was quite awesome, especially when I blew by a Ford Aerostar and my backdraft about blew him off the road! The 6.9 is a whole other animal. Stomp the gas while cruising at 80mph and instant torque is on tap. I have had the needle touching 141mph in that car and I can truly say that it was the best riding car I have ever been in at those velocities. That hydraulic suspension really does wonders for such a large car. Remember, a 6.9 has no computers, therefore the suspension is controlled by real world stimuli and at triple digis speeds, stiffens up just right to let you fly down the road in absolute comfort and quietness. I've really never run my 300E or the 450SL or the 250SE that hard, but I'm sure they would have no problems reaching those speeds. The Jensen Interceptor is also an awesome car on the freeway, probably the best GT car out there aside from a Ferrari 250GTO! The Jensen will also cruise the interstate at effortless high speeds (although that 440 uses substantially more fuel than the 6.9 does) and does get it's share of admirers (usually older guys who remember them from back in their hayday). The DeLorean just doesn't lend itself to Autobahn driving. With a mere 130bhp available, I just use it for shows and the occasional run around town. Besides, who wants to go fast in a Delorean? That's the kind of car you want people to actually acknowledge--except they usually ask where the flux capacitor is at :)

------------------
Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'72 Alfa Romeo 2000GTV
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12

Well, it's been a fun first week with my 500SEL....but I haven't gotten any "real" challenges yet.

I yo yo'd the hell out of a "modified" honda accord V-6 that tried to ride up on me on I-95. I'd let him go by me then corral him like a calf in a rodeo as I blew by at 110 and rising. Fun, but I felt like a bully.

Last night I was on the way home from DC on 295 and this guy in an Avalon (call me the soccer mom car slayer) tries to push me...so I let him go about 20 car lengths up with his accelerator probably mashed, slowly cruised up to 85, then went for it. A few seconds later I'm at 135 and he's a distant memory...I won't do that again on 295 though, there's a couple of rough spots that could be deadly at that speed. It was fun, but best believe my radio was off and the built in radar detector was on at full volume...usually it's in silent mode because my friends make fun of me because it sounds like I have an R2D2 unit in my car (no doubt it would fit!)

Happy motoring, and be safe...

------------------
Chris Singh
1983 300D
1990 300E Black Pearl Monotone w/ chrome AMG monoblock II 17", custom multimedia system

1993 500SEL brilliant silver w/ AMG monoblock II 19"

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

Well, I played drift with my C240 in some downhill roads in HK. I really dislike the Rack and pinon steering and the lack of power. Can't really drift as smooth as I wanted to. Top speed through the hairpin corners maybe somewhere in 100-110km/h range without using handbreak but used weight transfer. Weared out my S02 in two days. I got some photos and videos I took with the C240 drifting through corners with speed 100km/h. If interested email me..