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450 SE speed/rpm

Started by PMcG, 09 July 2020, 01:25 AM

PMcG

Hi, new 450 SE owner here, '76 with 77K original miles.  Car is in great shape for it's age, with very low mileage.  Mechanic gave the thumbs up on engine/trans/suspension.  Seats of course will need some work. 

What I'm finding is that to get to 70 mph, rpms hover around 3500, a little higher (3700 or so) to get to 80 mph.  Is this normal?  Strikes me as a bit high.  If so, how'd they manage this on the Autobahn back in the day?

Any pointers, suggestions, and institutional knowledge is greatly appreciated!  Happy to be here!

PMcG
1976 450 SE
Diamond Blue Metallic / Navy Blue

gavin116

We have the same model, I presume being a '76 your car has the K-Jet fuel injection. By modern standards they do rev a little higher, but this is the norm for our W116s, in particular the V-8s. I'm unsure about the I-6 if they have similar or higher rpms for the same given speed. (I do know W108s rev even higher!). W126s don't have much lower revving engines either.


Attached some pictures showing speed vs RPM, including a burn on the Autobahn on the way back from the Mosel. USA cars may have slightly different specs, but I think that only affected the horsepower output and not the speed vs RPMs.
1979 450SE "Mrs White"
2022 Touareg-R 3.0TSi Hybrid
[url="http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/"]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/[/url]
[url="http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613"]http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613[/url]

rumb

Mercedes are built to rev a lot higher than many other cars.  They can run all day at 4000 rpm.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

ptashek

They do rev high, it's just the nature of the V8s.
My UK spec has no rev counter, so I can't give exact figures, but you can hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr29H7ac2X4
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

PMcG

Okay, great.  This is very good to know.  I feel much better!
1976 450 SE
Diamond Blue Metallic / Navy Blue