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Curious to hear from you guys - any anecdotes welcome too.

140km/hr is the fastest I've taken my 350 but that was ages ago.  Sometimes I plant the foot just to load the engine and hear the exhaust better but keep the revs below 3500rpm.  A loaded trailer helps. 

At the moment with a few rubbers that need replacing and engine wear in the back of my mind I'm relatively sedate.  Given the chance after a rebuild I'd happily run the engine in properly if you get my drift.  I'd love to feel the acceleration of a 6.9 though.

I had my 280 up to 160km/hr a couple of weeks ago.  I was impressed how it just kind of settled in a hummed along very smoothly, more so that at 140km/hr, at which I had some vibration that would pulse in and out...And it doesn't hurt that I love the way that euro M110 sounds above 4500 rpms, considering it seems like it was pushing 5100rpm at the time.

I have to admit, I was a little torn between the third and fourth chioces on the poll, since I don't always race to the limit + tax, but I by no means just crawl up there, either.  At least in my 280, the 220D is a different story...(or will be once I replace the gudgeon pin...)

"Mostly I drive in a dignified manner but when the mood takes me I mash the gas and show those kids in rice rockets what 25 year old benz iron can do"

That pretty much sums me up, love pulling up on the inside lane against a hoon in their V8 commodore, falcon or jap toy and watch as they think they will jump me, when the lights drop the bullsh1t stops as they say.

Probably only Andreas (from Adelaide) will know a nice stretch of road in SA that I had my 6.9 on last Christmas - left the Southern Freeway at Mt Barker and headed towards Strathalbyn; There is a very long stretch of road that is 4 lanes wide and downhill and it then enters a long fast straight.  I pulled out to overtake a semi trailer going down hill at 90 (in a 110 zone) and flattened the 6.9; kicked back to 2nd and by the time I had pulled back in I was doing 180kmhr; To this date I am stunned at the acceleration of a 28 year old 4400 pound car!!  It felt like 220-230kmhr top speed was definitely (still) there!

Ahhh Chriss no that stretch well but Bunderloo will know it even better as he drives that route sust about every day to get to Monarto. A lot more straight stretches and some more gentle curves. I had the 6.9 up to 140kmh last saturday and it took no effort to get there fast but no where near as fast as bunderloos' as i am running a WUR from a 450 as mine is Kaput. I am soo waitng to get the girl fully powered up. Must say the car felt better at 140 than 110kmh.

Andreas
ps at the  moment i do try and leave rubber at all the lights

Andreas are you fitting one of the Unwired WUR they are talking about on the M100 site?  http://www.unwiredtools.com/utcis.html#UTCISPT

Here in South Africa the speed limit on the highway is generally 120.  THey allow you 10% grace on top of that, plus the fact that most car's speedos generally overread, means that I travel usually at 140 (indicated).  And yes 116.025, I agree the euro 280 is brilliant at 4500rpm and up.  In other words, 140km'h is just about where it starts to get good.  I pity you people with sad speed limits.  And when my 280SE was my daily driver, I used to get at least one trip a week of say 400km at 140km/h.  Now thats what causes me to love the euro 280.

Off the record, I used to travel right from one end of South Africa to the other and back every second weekend.  Thats a round trip of almost 2000km twice a month!  For those distances 140km/h is just too slow, and I once did almost the whole trip at 170km/h or more.  That's 5500rpm plus in the euro 280.  Let me tell you, 116.025 - THAT's living.  I think I had a smile on my clock for a week after that.  At that speed I did the entire one leg of the trip (600km) without stopping in like 3 and a half hours.  And no back ache or butt ache - just a big smile.

Sadly that was many years ago and now speed limits are much more strictly enforced.  So speed limit plus a little tax equalls 140km/h is the order of the day.   

Chris,

I doubt I will be installing one of the unwired WUR. But who knows as the current price for a WUR for a 6.9 is 3k. Ouch My mechanis thinks he can get one cheaper. If not I might go woth the unwired one.
Andreas

I've had my 450 upto 150kph just recently as it sort of comes into its own around 90 to 100 kph when most Aussie cars start running out of puff.
The problem we face here in Victoria is speed cameras almost on every corner.So even though the car is willing and the spirit too the licence and the wallet aren't.

Quote from: robgee on 21 June 2006, 06:06 AM
I've had my 450 upto 150kph just recently ....
The problem we face here in Victoria is speed cameras almost on every corner....

You're not wrong.  Sorry to dish out on the Vics but our trip to Melbourne in our Ford, you round a corner doing your 110 plus a bit and bang, no warning just a few grey poles in the bushes ahead.  Hit the anchors a few times without having my pic taken (hopefully).  The worst part is, you think your in the clear when 200m down the road, another set of radars, cameras etc in the bushes.  I've heard the Vic cameras are less tolerant than the NSW ones.  At least NSW warn you well in advance with signs.  Noone should theoretically be booked by fixed cameras in NSW.

To the Vics credit, I have to make mention of the friendly folk that flashed their highbeams warning us and others of mobile speed traps ahead.  It happened around five times.  The one that made us laugh is a ?maybe a w140 with a grey haired woman driving and another female in the passenger seat, flashing and waving at every car from a distance.   "Go Girl" I said.  If it's good enough for her, it's my duty to pay it forward.  NSW can have unmarked cars going back and forth trapping the flashers, so we're a bit hessitant.  I've never noticed so much cooperation amongst a bunch of motorists over a long weekend happy to do the 10+km/hr over the limit, stay behind the lead car, and warn oncoming traffic. 
Yes there is such a thing of safe speeding. 

Quote from: s class on 21 June 2006, 02:59 AM
Here in South Africa the speed limit on the highway is generally 120.  THey allow you 10% grace on top of that, plus the fact that most car's speedos generally overread, means that I travel usually at 140 (indicated).  And yes 116.025, I agree the euro 280 is brilliant at 4500rpm and up.  In other words, 140km'h is just about where it starts to get good.  I pity you people with sad speed limits.  And when my 280SE was my daily driver, I used to get at least one trip a week of say 400km at 140km/h.  Now thats what causes me to love the euro 280.

Off the record, I used to travel right from one end of South Africa to the other and back every second weekend.  Thats a round trip of almost 2000km twice a month!  For those distances 140km/h is just too slow, and I once did almost the whole trip at 170km/h or more.  That's 5500rpm plus in the euro 280.  Let me tell you, 116.025 - THAT's living.  I think I had a smile on my clock for a week after that.  At that speed I did the entire one leg of the trip (600km) without stopping in like 3 and a half hours.  And no back ache or butt ache - just a big smile.

Sadly that was many years ago and now speed limits are much more strictly enforced.  So speed limit plus a little tax equalls 140km/h is the order of the day.   

Well, I'd probably have to say that I'm among those with sad speed limits...most of my 34-mile drive to work is 65 MPH (~105km/h) and once in a while for other trips, I get to go where it's 70 MPH (~112km/h).  When I hit 160km/h, I was in a pretty deserted area, I didn't care to have a discussion with a member of law enforcement about it...though traffic driving to work is nuts...in the same ~105km/h zone, people are driving (across different lanes, usually) anywhere from 90km/h to 150km/h(assuming traffic isn't moving slowly)...I usually keep it around 125km/h so that I'm passing plenty of people, but still getting passed by a few.  Though on the recent 430mi trip to KY I kept it around 140km/h, which wasn't bad.  That 160 km/h was that fastest I'd ever driven, and I could tell I was moving, for sure.  ;)

Ohh man, Ryan, a 2000km trip at 170km/h+ in a 280 does sound like the good life.  I can't wipe the smile off of my face just thinking about it.  ;D

Hey, Andreas. It is Bandolero...not Bunderloo!   ;D

Back to the topic.

I have driven my 280SE at 160kmh on my dirt road and am absolutely amazed at how stable the car is, no drifting etc. Takes the bumps like they weren't there. Rock solid on the road!!
Certainly better than my '78 Holden Kingswood. Anything above 110KPH and it is "hang on for your life!"
The 6.9 I am slower with, except when I drive in the city. I have to be the first off from the lights and normally am!!
Just can't help but use all that grunt. Makes me smile all the time.

Sorry was to lazy to look up the correct spelling.  ;D

have now taken  note see you soon the car radiator is being fixed today and looking at the new WUR soon to I hope.

Andreas

116.025,

When I completed the 600km "sprint", I got out for a pee brake and marvelled at the car.  The temperature had remained on 82 deg the whole time, it was summer, but admittedly late evening.  The car was so composed, there were quite a number of insects that had suffered "high impact deaths", but otherwise the car appeared as if I had just done a Sunday cruise.  The exhuast was very light grey (until Jan '06 we still had lead here), and in the 600km it used nearly half a litre of oil.  How disappointing. 

Another highly memorable trip was once through the backwoods of northern South Africa for about 250km on "b" roads - winding, single carriage way, badly surfaced, wrong cambers, unmarked blind rises, unmarked bends etc etc.  In some places heavy pot holeing and rippling (note this IS a tarred road).  The speed limit is nominally 120km/h but that is pretty optimistic for most garbage mobiles.  The hills and other unexpecteds usually dictate that 100km/h is a safer mark.  I did this trip once at 140 to 150 most of the time, only dropping below that for slow moving traffic.  The car was totally brilliant on the rough surfaces, never bottoming out or losing traction.  I enjoyed the trip immensely because I was at the top end of feasible speeds and thus had to concentrate very hard.  I felt as if my w116 and I were one......

Come to think of it, there were many times I felt "one" with the 116. 

Ryan

Of course there is a sad ending (or maybe thats a happy beginning) to the story about 170km/h sprints in a euro 280SE.  About a year later I was doing about 140 when a new 535i literally flew past me - certainly he was doing more than 170.  I felt the need to uphold the benz name and attempted to chase him for about 10km - by which time my number 5 big end bearing had collapsed, throwing the debris up into the cylinder.  So here's the happy part - the engine was basically nackered with bent valves on number 5 because when the bearing collapsed it allowed the piston to travel further up than it should.  The block was duly machined out with a maximum overbore, given new pistons and rings, crank polished and refitted with new bearings, overhauled oil pump and cyl head, new timing chain.  Result - even wider smile on my clock ;D

Well. I have to tell you; I always stay within the speed limit + just a little extra for good luck - and I have a reputation with my partner of being a very smooth, very cautious and somewhat boring driver (usually have the dogs on board and there is nothing worse than a car sick dog....that's another story) but I do have a stretch of very quiet and deserted road that I sometimes get to play on. The 450 SE is just as quiet at 160 as it is at 100 kph and it will pull to just a smidgen under 200 but out of respect for an engine that is 27 years old I make that a rare event.
However, I did have fun just last week. The picture is a suburban road with 3 traffic humps to keep us slow. Beside me is a cabin boy in his generic Korean car with washing line spoiler, duh-duh-duh pumping from the boot and the hiss of the waste gate blowing off as he revs beside mouthing something like a challenge "f***** piece of **** car u got m8!!" OK - so I floored the 450 when the lights changed. All that low down torque got me away quickly and over the first speed hump - accelerate for the second - brake hard for the third and floor the accelerator just at the beginning of the speed hump and the Benz sails over it without a hitch. The generic Korean car sees me pull ahead and just floors the gas pedal....now think hard suspension, a truck load of spoilers on the front and side skirts. There is an almighty THUMP as he floors it and in the rear view mirror I can was stuck hard on the speed hump.
I know this is a gentlemanly site and we don't do things like this....but I stick by the Antinomian principle - I would have been better but god did not make me that way. And anyway, I have faith in the Benz ability to deal with speed humps - and anyway, I had not moved out of low range. Moral? Enjoy your 116. They were built to drive. Do not follow my example and do not sue me if you do and have fun....
Brian. Sydney.

OOOPs!! the GKCB (generic Korean cabin boy) was left stuck on the speed hump - I continued on to pick up the dry-cleaning.
BC

Brian that's brilliant. LOL  :D

Quote from: Brian Crump on 25 June 2006, 03:16 AM
I know this is a gentlemanly site and we don't do things like this....

Don't feel bad, its been going on ever since they were new.  Have you read the article of a 6.9 v Pontiac GTO (http://www.w116.org/library.php?thestar9003).

Here's a tip for your next encounter.  I think on MB spares' site or their forum, I read about shifting into second before flooring it.  The car stays in low for longer before changing to 2nd.  Similar effect to having a power button or sports mode.  There were of course the warnings that followed which of most interest was the calculation of the stress placed on the engine and drivetrain at high revs. 

I can't quote but I think at 4000 rpm a piston will travel up the cylinder from 0km/hr to 65/km/hr to 0km/hr then do the same back down the cylinder.  Each of the 8 pistons does this 4000 times a minute.  Imagine the G-forces on the gudgeon pins and bearings etc.  Sorry to put a downer on the subject but it's a wonder any engine holds it together.

Oscar - I agree totally. That's why I only do such things when honour is at stake!! The real point of interest is that the 450 retained its dignity and composure over the three speed humps and the suspension did the job it was intended to do. In the case of the GKCB the suspension let him down in quite a spectacular manner...just not enough suspension travel can be a BAD thing.
The response on the road to my 450SE (in damned fine nick) is either WOW!!! or something unrepeatable. It is interesting that so many other cars get out of the way (yep - the brakes are fine) when they see it come. My mechanic used it last week to get parts from Audi Sydney (claims he was raod-testing it) and says he was swamped by Audi people people wanting to have a look at it.
What does that say about the timeless elegance and style of the 116? Who else but Benz can do so much chrome so well!!

I managed an indicated 204 km/h out of my girlfriends fathers 1980 450 SEL way back in 1985 when you could do that sort of thing late at night and not worry.  The poor thing would not go any faster despite holding my foot to the floor for most of the length of the freeway.  It was on the Frankston Freeway just out of Melbourne and I was trying to keep up with a friend who was driving a 300 SEL 6.3 that was towing a small box trailer, I couldn't catch him unfortunately.  About a week later I tried the same thing in my dads 380 SEL, it did 213, the better aerodynamics helping I guess.  Of course I was young and foolish then, and I'd never do that sort of thing now...... ;)

Regards,

Carl.

Yikes! He set a World Speed record for a 6.3 towing something!!! ;D

What speed did he achieve in the 6.3?

Hi Chris,

My friends 6.3 used to pull the redline just about anywhere so I no doubt that the trailer would have made no difference at that speed.  Luckily I used to drive it around a bit and I recall it was doing about 2,400 rpm at 100 km/h which was ludicrously short for that car, should have been doing something like 2,000 rpm really.  Funny that a 6.9 has a longer gear in first than a 6.3 has in second.

Regards,

Carl.

Sorry guys, but I have to say that I boot my 6.9 around like it was a Mini in the Italian job.

Alabassi,

That's cool.  As long as you maintain it in a manner that is appropriate for your driving style, have fun!

I have maintained my own cars for long enough to appreaciate what rough treatment extracts out of them, so I tend to drive fast but not hard - there is a difference.  Just occasionally when my 280SE was my daily driver I would get an urge and really hammer it - accelerating, braking, cornering, etc very hard for about 30 mins to an hour.  I would always feel refreshed, and then the next day I was back to sensible driving. 

I think its the same with my other cars - I  like to get my 450SL to step out at the back occasionally  ;D

when i first got my old 450 i accidently reached 160 catching up to a friend i say accidently because i realised he had gotten away while i was talking to my passenger just gently pressed accelerator still with one hand on the wheel and relaxed  8) realised how fast i was going when i caught him thinking he was standing still :o.
Fastest though would be 190(indicated) still pretty comfy at that speed but rush of blood subsided so came back to earth before i got in trouble ;D