What have you done for your W116 today?

[adamb]

First, drove the old girl the long way from Salt Lake to lovely Essex CT, about 2600 miles.  We went through Wyoming (see pic) and on to Deadwood South Dakota.  Then to Sturgis a couple days before the crazy biker rally to get a taste for it.   Pic is Deadwood, totally taken over by bikers. Insane doesn't come close to describing.   We played blackjack with Hells Angels, which was fun.   Great trip, car ran beautifully.  All this was last week, not today, but close enough.

Then today I advanvced the timing a little.  It had been at 3 or 4 deg ATDC @ idle.  This is the spec if I recall, but I've also been a bit nervous about knocking because of so much high altitude and mountain driving.  Now the car will live at about 10 meters above sea level.  In a very old post somebody in OZ advanced it to 8 deg so I followed their example.  BIG difference in SOTP (seat-of-the-pants) performance, and no knocking!  I was quite surprised at the difference.  If anybody feels that this is a bad idea, please respond.  But I like what it did for the car.  Happy motoring and cheers,

Nice write up. I noticed that your 6.9 is showing 100mph at 4000rpm. That doesn't look right. AFAIK it's about 27mph/1000rpm so you were travelling at 108mph or the rev counter is wrong.

[raueda1]

First, drove the old girl the long way from Salt Lake to lovely Essex CT, about 2600 miles.  We went through Wyoming (see pic) and on to Deadwood South Dakota.  Then to Sturgis a couple days before the crazy biker rally to get a taste for it.  Pic is Deadwood, totally taken over by bikers. Insane doesn't come close to describing.  We played blackjack with Hells Angels, which was fun.   Great trip, car ran beautifully.  All this was last week, not today, but close enough.

Then today I advanvced the timing a little.  It had been at 3 or 4 deg ATDC @ idle.  This is the spec if I recall, but I've also been a bit nervous about knocking because of so much high altitude and mountain driving.  Now the car will live at about 10 meters above sea level.  In a very old post somebody in OZ advanced it to 8 deg so I followed their example.  BIG difference in SOTP (seat-of-the-pants) performance, and no knocking!  I was quite surprised at the difference.  If anybody feels that this is a bad idea, please respond.  But I like what it did for the car.  Happy motoring and cheers,

Nice write up. I noticed that your 6.9 is showing 100mph at 4000rpm. That doesn't look right. AFAIK it's about 27mph/1000rpm so you were travelling at 108mph or the rev counter is wrong.

Nice catch!  You're right.  I know my speedo registers about 5 mph lower than actual as measured by GPS.  That would be 105, pretty darn close to what you figured, especially with all the other sources of error.  Also, my tires are oversized too though circumference very close to stock.  But many small errors can add up quickly.  Cheers,

[raueda1]

The fun just never ends.  I finally got official ignition wires (with the tubes) and installed them properly after finally finding the cable bracket next to the WUR.  Then had to remove the idle adjust and cold start casting to get the damn thing on the left side of the engine.  Also replaced cap, rotor, coil and installed non-resistor plugs.  It was surprisingly expensive.    Looks much neater though, and maybe slightly smoother idle and a hair faster.  Worth the effort. 

The do-list is slowly shrinking.  Next will be putting the footwell panels back, and pre-winter oil change.  Then new tires in the spring.  I've put about 30k miles on the car since I got it.  Then swapping MBtex for leather.  So much more to look forward to! 

Finally, if anybody is willing to take a well-lit picture under the driver side footwell, I'd be very grateful.  Thanks and Cheers,

[Jan S]

Last night the 1975 450 SE with 6.9 completed a road trip to the northern parts of Norway.

Total 1.164 km (723 miles). Fantastic weather – blue sky and 25 deg C (77 deg F) - and breathtaking scenery. Sun roof open.

Record low fuel consumption 1,41 liter/10 kilometers (16,7 miles per gallon). Getting better every year!

The car ran like Swiss clockwork – no technical issues whatsoever and a joy to drive (tight and stable).

[BMA]

had to wash my car for the Video for my local community of Oldtimer enthusiasts. They do that for all the members, have a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsed6TLhsBk

Regards, Björn

[Jan S]

had to wash my car for the Video for my local community of Oldtimer enthusiasts. They do that for all the members, have a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsed6TLhsBk

Regards, Björn

What a fantastic car you have there!

[raueda1]

had to wash my car for the Video for my local community of Oldtimer enthusiasts. They do that for all the members, have a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsed6TLhsBk

Regards, Björn

Stunning car!  Now I have rear seat envy, yet one more topic for my therapist.     Cheers,

[johnnyw116]

Last week i had a metal on metal sound on the left rear of the car and my first thought was a sway bar link and after a quick look it indeed was a worn out sway bar link , today i replaced both sway bar links A1153201589 and also replaced both of the small protective shields : A1153260397 , a quick and easy DIY job to do

[JP]

whats not to like about your post, what a fantastic plan! these machines

Last night the 1975 450 SE with 6.9 completed a road trip to the northern parts of Norway.

Total 1.164 km (723 miles). Fantastic weather – blue sky and 25 deg C (77 deg F) - and breathtaking scenery. Sun roof open.

Record low fuel consumption 1,41 liter/10 kilometers (16,7 miles per gallon). Getting better every year!

The car ran like Swiss clockwork – no technical issues whatsoever and a joy to drive (tight and stable).

[johnnyw116]

Last night the 1975 450 SE with 6.9 completed a road trip to the northern parts of Norway.

Total 1.164 km (723 miles). Fantastic weather – blue sky and 25 deg C (77 deg F) - and breathtaking scenery. Sun roof open.

Record low fuel consumption 1,41 liter/10 kilometers (16,7 miles per gallon). Getting better every year!

The car ran like Swiss clockwork – no technical issues whatsoever and a joy to drive (tight and stable).

Thats about 1 on 7  fuel consumption in Litres Nice 

[raueda1]

Last night the 1975 450 SE with 6.9 completed a road trip to the northern parts of Norway.

Total 1.164 km (723 miles). Fantastic weather – blue sky and 25 deg C (77 deg F) - and breathtaking scenery. Sun roof open.

Record low fuel consumption 1,41 liter/10 kilometers (16,7 miles per gallon). Getting better every year!

The car ran like Swiss clockwork – no technical issues whatsoever and a joy to drive (tight and stable).

Long trips in these cars really is great fun.   And this is the best I can ever recall hearing.  My personal best was abut 14mpg for one tank of gas.  It was with a tailwind on a very flat highway down a very gradual grade (Nebraska or Iowa USA I think).   Please share your secret!  Cheers,

[johnnyw116]

Today New tyres for my steel rims and for a "New look" i ordered 205 Maxxis MA-1 whitewall tyres , they don't have an high speed rating but further no complaints about these tires

[BMA]

just standing proudly next to my old grey eminence

[Max-NL]

Towed the 6.9 to the Dutch DMV/TÜV to re-register it and to get its original Dutch license plate again, with great succes  .

[Jan S]

Last night the 1975 450 SE with 6.9 completed a road trip to the northern parts of Norway.

Total 1.164 km (723 miles). Fantastic weather – blue sky and 25 deg C (77 deg F) - and breathtaking scenery. Sun roof open.

Record low fuel consumption 1,41 liter/10 kilometers (16,7 miles per gallon). Getting better every year!

The car ran like Swiss clockwork – no technical issues whatsoever and a joy to drive (tight and stable).

Long trips in these cars really is great fun.   And this is the best I can ever recall hearing.  My personal best was abut 14mpg for one tank of gas.  It was with a tailwind on a very flat highway down a very gradual grade (Nebraska or Iowa USA I think).   Please share your secret!  Cheers,

On previous long trips the consumption has been around 1.61 liter/10 kilometer (14.6 miles per gallon). So this is indeed unusual. I'm not sure what the secret is  ... the drive was on very nice roads with speed in the range 60-100 km/h (approx. 40-60 miles/h). No passengers and hardly any luggage. I will do the return trip in September and remeasure.