Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
Now begins the sad task of getting r129sl's car back to r129sl. Although I have my own similar (but not as pretty/sorted) example of this very car, I'm really going to miss it. Some great memories have been made in the last couple of weeks.
None of which involved squirts of rosé or spoonfuls of honey.
Well, not with r129sl.
I have more - much more - from the trip to post, but it's back to the grind after a long weekend including 5 beds in 3 countries in 5 days, and 1200 miles in 60 hours from departure to arrival home.
None of which involved squirts of rosé or spoonfuls of honey.
Well, not with r129sl.
I have more - much more - from the trip to post, but it's back to the grind after a long weekend including 5 beds in 3 countries in 5 days, and 1200 miles in 60 hours from departure to arrival home.
Collecting a car from Slough railway station is rather less glamorous than doing so at Cannes airport, but so it was that NB handed back my lovely estate car. Actually, he met me in his own E300 diesel T, which I then drove to his office where my car awaited. NB has been the consummate gentleman about this escapade and I have enjoyed it immensely. I only hope he has enjoyed it, too. His car was strikingly different to mine. It felt lighter and more agile than mine, not so much faster as easier to rev; I also thought it quiet. The steering was markedly lighter and I felt the suspension was softer. It tracked straight and true. I think there is some work to be done replacing worn out bushes and sorting out the smoke and so on, but it seems fundamentally sound. He does need to clean the interior, mind. I'm glad I wasn't wearing a pale linen suit...
Here we are, about to set off in separate directions:
The journey home has a hard trod in appalling conditions. I passed some spectacular accidents, happily (for me, at any rate) all on the opposite carriageway. At Birtley, the southbound A1(M) was shut, a car having apparently spun out into the central reservation, taking at least three others with it. Where appropriate, I was able to run for extended periods at 100mph, the engine turning at a constant 4,250rpm.
It is great to be back home with the s124. My sincere and profound thanks to NB. And thank you also for the generous Champagne gift: it is me who is indebted to you, though. Pommery is my favourite marque, however, so I shall not say no! Mileage this morning was 389,116. When the car left home three weeks ago, it stood at 385,390. An intense period of travel, but that is what it is for! To think many of the inbox lease deals propose an annual mileage of only 5,000...
Here we are, about to set off in separate directions:
The journey home has a hard trod in appalling conditions. I passed some spectacular accidents, happily (for me, at any rate) all on the opposite carriageway. At Birtley, the southbound A1(M) was shut, a car having apparently spun out into the central reservation, taking at least three others with it. Where appropriate, I was able to run for extended periods at 100mph, the engine turning at a constant 4,250rpm.
It is great to be back home with the s124. My sincere and profound thanks to NB. And thank you also for the generous Champagne gift: it is me who is indebted to you, though. Pommery is my favourite marque, however, so I shall not say no! Mileage this morning was 389,116. When the car left home three weeks ago, it stood at 385,390. An intense period of travel, but that is what it is for! To think many of the inbox lease deals propose an annual mileage of only 5,000...
With a 1:3.07 rear end and a direct (i.e. 1:1) top gear, it revs pretty fast.
But it makes maximum power (136 BHP) between 4,600 and 5,400rpm and maximum torque (155lb/ft) is correspondingly high.
It would be interesting to put the 1:2.87 differential from a saloon in there. That might enhance the long distance cruising ability and economy, albeit at the expense of high speed acceleration.
But it makes maximum power (136 BHP) between 4,600 and 5,400rpm and maximum torque (155lb/ft) is correspondingly high.
It would be interesting to put the 1:2.87 differential from a saloon in there. That might enhance the long distance cruising ability and economy, albeit at the expense of high speed acceleration.
That's an interesting point. I remember being surprised by my car's high revs at cruising speed, but I guess that's the price you pay for the acceleration that the car has.
Such as it is.
I experienced some interesting moments on hills, where the car just didn't want to pick up speed, but the flipside is the comfort when you're up to speed. True, the fuel consumption would be reduced if the car was running at lower revs, but its a reasonable compromise given the gearing constraints. I can imagine the car would behave quite differently with a later box, but then you're moving into electronics and away from the lovely mechanical feel these cars do so well.
Mr r129sl: you're a true gent, and no mistake. It was an absolute pleasure and privilege for me to pilot your car, and to see the things I've seen (animal, vegetable, mineral, bikini-clad). Let's do something madcap again sometime.
Such as it is.
I experienced some interesting moments on hills, where the car just didn't want to pick up speed, but the flipside is the comfort when you're up to speed. True, the fuel consumption would be reduced if the car was running at lower revs, but its a reasonable compromise given the gearing constraints. I can imagine the car would behave quite differently with a later box, but then you're moving into electronics and away from the lovely mechanical feel these cars do so well.
Mr r129sl: you're a true gent, and no mistake. It was an absolute pleasure and privilege for me to pilot your car, and to see the things I've seen (animal, vegetable, mineral, bikini-clad). Let's do something madcap again sometime.
T-195 said:
RoverP6B said:
Where is the intake on petrol 124s? I still have a real hankering for an E320, or maybe an E36. The combination of the M104 and 5-speed auto would be the ideal IMO.
Once heard the 5 speed auto was best avoided.The air intakes arrived post facelift.
250 D Turbo
300 D Turbo and TD Turbo
E250 diesel
E300 diesel and diesel T
The air vents also featured on a 500 E prototype that was used for public road testing, presumably to throw journalists off the scent, being a feature associated with the diesel cars. The w201 190 D 2.5 Turbo has similar wing vents, too.
On all other 124s, the airbox is above or beside the engine and air is drawn up a long tube starting behind the bonnet grille.
The five speed auto in the 124 is not the same as that used in the 55 and 65 AMG cars. Those cars use the 722.6 transmission which is bullet proof (apart from a tendency to leak oil from the pilot bush of the diagnostic connect which eventually creeps by way capillary action along the wiring harness and into the ECU case). The 124 (and early six cylinder 129s) use the 722.5 transmission. This is essentially the 722.3 four speeder with an electronically actuated fifth gear stuck on the end, paired to a lower final drive ratio. I prefer the 722.3. It is smoother in its changes in my experience. It is also more robust. But to say the 722.5 is weak relative to the 722.3 is like saying reinforced concrete is weak relative to granite. Although the 722.5 in my 320 TE did drop to bits. It still went, even with holes in the casing from which myriad metal parts were ejected.
Edited by r129sl on Saturday 8th June 21:58
Just on the fascinating subject of w124 wing vents, I am fairly sure that the right side inner wing on all 124s has the circular hole to accommodate the air intake that is in fact only used on wing vent cars. I am not sure this is so on w201s (edit: it is).
Here is a 190 with the intake vents, six on the 190 rather than the five on the 124:
Here is a 190 with the intake vents, six on the 190 rather than the five on the 124:
Edited by r129sl on Sunday 9th June 11:32
r129sl said:
Just on the fascinating subject of w124 wing vents, I am fairly sure that the right side inner wing on all 124s has the circular hole to accommodate the air intake that is in fact only used on wing vent cars. I am not sure this is so on w201s (edit: it is).
Just been out to have a look 
.......... and my 300E does indeed have a hole in the inner wing. 
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