The Forum

Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: gregdeklerk on 19 March 2007, 07:20 AM

Title: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 19 March 2007, 07:20 AM
OK 6.9 owners go easy on us mere mortals! I took the 280SE up to 180km/h yesterday, which I think is not bad for a 33 year old car. I start to get a little scared above that speed because of the age of the car and also here in SA the speed limit is 120km/h. If you are caught over 160km/h, they will arrest you!!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: oscar on 19 March 2007, 07:31 AM
Speed limit here is 100km/hr 62mph on most open roads.  110km/h 68mph on freeways and major 2 lane highways out of the cities that are no different to other two lane arterial roads.  140km/h 87mph would have you arrested I think let alone 160km/h

A bit under 150km/h <93mph is the fastest I've gone in the 350 and that was a couple of years ago before the timing chain, valve gap etc etc was seen to.  Now that the suspension has been rebushed I should go for another qualifying run.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Grant V on 19 March 2007, 07:34 AM
I'm actually ashamed about this, 'cause it's VERY irresponsible....took the 6.9 up to 200 on Saturday  :-[
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Martin 280s on 19 March 2007, 07:35 AM
I once had my old lady up to 170kmh on a beautiful smooth highway on a lovely sunny day keep a 'new' E320 at bay! ;D ;D
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 19 March 2007, 03:06 PM
180, i wasn't intending to speed, i was just trying to overtake........ I looked down at watched the needle go 120.....160....180......wow need to back off.

somehow I don't think the arresting officer would buy my story.


Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: CraigS on 19 March 2007, 04:27 PM
I still haven't resolved my running problems yet, so can't provide any info on this yet, but speaking about speed limits, I was talking to my fiancee in Germany last night, and she was travelling from Hamburg to Hanover. As a passing comment, I said "Have a safe trip and don't drive too fast" - to which she replied "Don't worry, I have the winter tyres on, so I can only go 210 with those on" ! And believe me, she does in her Audi A6 diesel.

As for other cars, the fastest I have driven was 260 km/h on the Hume Highway out of Melbourne in my Saab 900 Aero turbo, which I bought new in 1985 or so. That was one quick car.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: AMG69 on 19 March 2007, 09:09 PM
I hit 180 in the 6.9 overtaking a WRX which had been annoying me and had overtaken me dangerously around a bend squeezing in between me and another car.  This was in South Oz last year - Adelaide to Langhorne Creek.    I thought the "little buzz box" needed a gentle reminder what "the old girl" was capable of.   ;) Like Des I was amazed how that speedo needle just went 140-160-180.  200 looked easy; much more than that I expect would have needed a very long straight road!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 12:17 AM
I was offered a spin in a new E63 AMG last night. (I know it is not a 116, but since we are on the topic of speed). The acceleration is phenominal, as are the brakes. In a distance is about 200 - 300m, we were up to 160km/h and then back down to about 30km/h after stepping hard on the brakes.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Brian Crump on 20 March 2007, 12:28 AM
190 indicated. Maybe correct maybe not. I will try again with the sat nav in place for a more accurate readout. I have to wait until I go south where I know there are roads to do it safely.
BC
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 12:31 AM
I hope the dogs weren't in the car!!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Grant V on 20 March 2007, 01:59 AM
Well, this is not a W116, but it was taken while on the way to Merc Museum in Stuttgart in January....does that qualify?
I took the pic while my friend was driving his 2003 Audi A8 4.2 and it's the fastest I have ever been in a car:

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h305/aquariusg/Pic006-1.jpg)



P.S. look at the mileage on that dial - 357 611km!



Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Brian Crump on 20 March 2007, 02:11 AM
Greg - the dogs were asleep on the back seat - it's as quiet at 190 as it as 100. The loudest sound is the ticking of the clock... ;D
BC
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 02:15 AM
Aren't you confusing the 116 with your RR?
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: koan on 20 March 2007, 02:41 AM
Quote from: Brian Crump on 20 March 2007, 02:11 AM

The loudest sound is the ticking of the clock... ;D


Better get that fixed!

Thinking of the old joke, is the clock ticking any louder than the Rolls?

koan
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: bahnstormer109 on 20 March 2007, 03:16 AM
i once got my 280SEL to 185kph. was suprisingly stable and smooth. i did 120MPH in my 300SEL 3.5 too once.
the 450SEL only 140kph so far. im a little intimidated by it. i also dont feel like ending up in court! when ive pushed cars to see how fast they will go, it really was too see if it could do it. i already know the 450 could see 200 so i dont really need to try it.

although, i think this is the most impressive of the lot: i got my 300TD to 160kph!! with all of 88HP!

ok it was on a long downhill stretch of open highway coming back from melbourne somewhere around canberra. but nevertheless i had to tap my passenger on the shoulder and point at the speedo as all was smooth and quiet inside.

oh how i lust for a turbo diesel 116...
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 20 March 2007, 03:23 AM
Not my 450SEL 6.9, but here is one doing it's thing at 249!

(http://members.iinet.net.au/~vengeanceweapons/pics/249kmh_6_9.jpg)

Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Brian Crump on 20 March 2007, 03:26 AM
Greg and Koan - I'm as deaf as a door post and can't hear much anyway!!  ;D ;D ;D
BC
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 03:29 AM
Quote from: Des on 20 March 2007, 03:23 AM
Not my 450SEL 6.9, but here is one doing it's thing at 249!

(http://members.iinet.net.au/~vengeanceweapons/pics/249kmh_6_9.jpg)



Pity the photo doesn't show the rev counter. It would be nice to see what it was screaming at! Incedently, the 280 was almost at 5000rpm at 180km/h.

Greg
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 03:31 AM
Quote from: Brian Crump on 20 March 2007, 03:26 AM
Greg and Koan - I'm as deaf as a door post and can't hear much anyway!!  ;D ;D ;D
BC

BC, surely oldtimers is not creaping up on you that fast?
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 20 March 2007, 03:33 AM
who cares about the rev counter, i want to hear the sound of the motor at that speed

I wonder, does it sound like a spitfire, or a messerschmitt fighter plane.
:D
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Andrew280SEL on 20 March 2007, 04:24 AM
Ive been with my dad when he did 200 kph in his 450 years ago. he reckoned it felt like it had a heap left though. ;D

As for my 280, one time, 140 kph. but we were in a major hurry.
Not something i should do on L plates!  :-[  :o
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: 500eguy on 20 March 2007, 05:01 AM
120mph on the freeway and then slowed down rapidly...
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: oscar on 20 March 2007, 05:34 AM
That's 200km/h is it not?  how about your 500e?
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 20 March 2007, 05:43 AM
120miles is 200k's yes

I thought a 450 was supposed to be flat out at 200k's?
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: robgee on 20 March 2007, 08:25 AM
Even as we speak, speeding violation notices are winging their way to all of you via the internet.We are trying to stop the general population from having fun and freedom.Our dictum is to make life totally impossible for anyone driving an automobile for pleasure.We are doing this in the name of every mainstream citizen  without your input we know exactly what's good for you.
Chief Superindendent of World Traffic
Richard Cranium
Thought Police.
1984.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: CraigS on 20 March 2007, 08:43 AM
And I thought you were already doing that with the petrol prices, insurance, registration, third party insurance, taxes on spare parts, infringements for all manner of offenses, etc. etc. etc. Maybe I got it all wrong !


Quote from: robgee on 20 March 2007, 08:25 AM
We are trying to stop the general population from having fun and freedom.Our dictum is to make life totally impossible for anyone driving an automobile for pleasure.Thought Police.
1984.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Andrew116 on 20 March 2007, 10:05 AM
Tested my 280 once...
3 passengers, luggage etc.
On LPG 160 - hardly 165 km/h. :P
On petrol - 140-150-160-170-180-185...  :o :o :o wooooooooow.... enough for meee.
It just kept revving constantly higher like it wanted to go over 200.... is it possible??? ???
I don't care... it was fast enough for me and the other 3...
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 20 March 2007, 10:44 AM
Quote from: robgee on 20 March 2007, 08:25 AM
We are trying to stop the general population from having fun and freedom.Our dictum is to make life totally impossible for anyone driving an automobile for pleasure.

I am sure everyone here will agree that we are all past the stage of driving our 116s for PLEASURE. The obsession we have dictates that it is a necessity and in fact everyone should drive a 116.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Andrew280SEL on 21 March 2007, 05:50 AM
Quote from: Des on 20 March 2007, 05:43 AM


I thought a 450 was supposed to be flat out at 200k's?


210 yes.  :D  ;)

Thats what the manual says anyway. The factory also suggests the 6.9's max speed is 220, but as we know they are capable of another 20 kph again (240 for the maths impared  ;D)

So perhaps the 450 is capable of a bit more too.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 21 March 2007, 06:06 AM
Yeah I think you are right, they would provide conservative figures,
partly I guess due to the super car scare here in Australia of the early 1970's and because they provide a safe benchmark, if you drove the 6.9 on the German Autobahns at 200-220 you wouldn't expect the motor to be revving past its limits and at risk of breaking anything.

What a sight a 6.9 must have been on a stretch of German Autobahn in 1979, when most cars could barely cruise at half the speed.

These days BMW and Mercedes have a gentleman's agreement with the German Government, they won't impose blanket restrictions on the autobahns, even though a growing % of the roads are limited in exchange for the car makers will electronically limit their cars to 155MPH, thats only a tiny bit more than what a 6.9 will do.


Just think for a moment, you are in 1979, sitting in your VW Beetle, on the Autobahn just outside Munich, say cruising at 90-100k's, some German battleship r6.9 oars up beside you in doing 200k's and fly's past like you are stopped.





Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: 500eguy on 22 March 2007, 01:39 PM
i took the 500e to 145mph but then ran out of road. both cars felt great at those speeds!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Mforcer on 23 March 2007, 12:36 AM
I have reached about 145 km/h although haven't pushed it further only from fear of fines. It is just so easy to achieve speeds when over taking other traffic. It seems I am going to need to see what it can really do :)
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Brian Crump on 23 March 2007, 12:45 AM
Indeed you are Mforcer. Off across the Hay Plains for you and plant the foot... ;D
Actually, don't. I got my last speeding ticket there on a hot, dry day - the charming gentleman was under the shade of a gum tree with his hand held radar...there were NO other cars for at least 100ks either side and he asked me if I was in a hurry and why?  :P No hurry; just bored...
BC
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 23 March 2007, 12:50 AM
Turn up Vivaldi or make a cell phone call next time. It is cheaper!!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: AMG69 on 26 March 2007, 08:16 AM
try owning a 6.9 and marrying a cop like I did.....speeding? No honey - never!!  Well,  unless those handcuffs are coming out again???,... ;D.............
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 26 March 2007, 08:57 AM
Quote from: AMG69 on 26 March 2007, 08:16 AM
try owning a 6.9 and marrying a cop like I did.....speeding? No honey - never!!  Well,  unless those handcuffs are coming out again???,... ;D.............

I thought that you would have taught your wife that handcuffs are used for other things by couples these days. Ask PB - he will tell you!!
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: s class on 26 March 2007, 09:22 AM
Is there any fear of prosecution posting here?

Years ago (more than 5 years ago) I was living in Johannesburg and dating a girl in Durban.  That's 580km each way and I used to do the trip every second weekend in the 280SE.  I would leave work at about 4pm on Friday and usually make it Durban by 8pm.  You do the maths.  ANd realise to get that average speed, you need to gun it when  you can to make up for time lost behind trucks.  No stops on the way BTW - 4 hours straight.  Often with passengers and luggage - it seemed to make no difference to the 280SE. 

And it definately sounds like a messerschmidt. 
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: gregdeklerk on 26 March 2007, 09:25 AM
Mine seems willing and able to behave the same way.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: bahnstormer109 on 09 April 2007, 03:32 AM
i was coming home from hervey bay today in my 450SEL and an overtaking lane opened up and i took it to overtake some cars and i saw this BMW 3 series sitting on my back bumper. intrigued, at the next overtaking lane i floored it and so did this BMW and stayed on my tail. then the road went 1 lane again and after not long the BMW overtook me on the wrong side of the road and was now in front of me.

then another overtaking lane opened up and of course he took off and i gave chase.

at 175kph he was still accellerating away from me. i just let him go after that, expecting to see him later on down the road wrapped around a tree or something.

then i realised i set a new record for myself in the 450. anyway, the BMW was badged 328i and although its the 6cyl im not convinced that particular one was standard, he must have chipped it or something to it to get it to go like that??

does anyone know if this is how they all go?
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 09 April 2007, 05:02 AM
Yes 0-100 in 7.5 seconds is fairly slow by performance car standards these days.

however

The 6.9 has a lot of potential for performance upgrades if one wishes to go down that road.

Look at the recent issue of Mercedes Enthusiast, what would a say 50-100HP NoS system do to our 0-100 times? I reckon we could easily shave a second off that

Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: bahnstormer109 on 09 April 2007, 07:31 AM
hrmm, Styria, i know what you mean but this car was pushing 10 years old. not the latest 330i. id expect that sort of performance out of perhaps a 10 year old 540i but a 328? it was sporting an E- registration number which in QLD was issued in around 1996-1998. im unconvinced, im going to investigate further.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: Des on 09 April 2007, 07:41 AM
friend of mine owns a 1998 BMW 323ci, 1400kg, 0-100 in 7.4seconds, top speed around 240k's

thats over 500kg's lighter than a w116

you wouldn't think they would be very safe in an accident,

BMW's look nice cars, abit sporty for my taste however, but it's just all the wannabe rich people and try hards who drive them that turn me off them. Down here they are as common as dirt. People who try to create an image of success by driving a 318i or a 323, I was at a dinner party recently where the topic of "nice cars" came up, I tried to explain with some furver that a particular persons BMW was only worth around 20k, but I was shunned, "no thats a high end sports car", yeah I'm thinking a BMW 3 series.....some sports car.

That's why try hards drive them, they create and image, an image of success, money
I never see a 5 series or 7 series, they still hold some respect for me.
Maybe because you can't rent one of them?





Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: bahnstormer109 on 09 April 2007, 07:56 AM
i found these specs on the 2000 328i power and torque are about what i was expecting.  apparently they do 0-100 in 6.9 secs and weigh 1.3 tons.

i guess theyre responsive, well geared and light. but still, ive seen a lot of these things on the road and ive never seen one move like that. if it was standard he must have been wringing it right out like noones business.

Engine   
Engine Configuration I
Cylinders 6
Aspiration/Induction Normal
Displacement 3.00 L | 183.1 cu in. | 3001 cc.
Valvetrain DOHC
Horsepower 193.00 BHP (142 KW) 
Torque 206.00 Ft-Lbs (279.3 NM) 
HP to Weight Ratio 15.6 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter 64.3 BHP / Liter

nevertheless, theyre still horrible, horrible little cars.
Title: Re: How fast have you taken your 116?
Post by: johnnyw116 on 09 April 2007, 11:22 AM
verry interesting question ! i like to drive fast and like to surprise other drivers in their rearview mirror with my 35 year old W116 one time i was about 205 km with my 280se with manual gearbox
and with my 6.9 i was one time about 250km but that was a few years ago when i was still driving with it
he is in my garage for some years now  .