Better off in a BMW?

hotrodder

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Oct 18, 2008
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Your Mercedes
'93 320te, '54 ragtop beetle (in bits)
Your car is definately sick. A 280 isn't going to be as lively as the 300-24 but then my 320 doesn't feel as lively as one either- unless pressing on. Age and mileage are obviously going to have an effect but not to the extent that you'd need to change gears manually to make progress, even with 185,000 miles (not high for one of these but enough to put many off) on it mine'll take off like a scalded cat if prodded.

Someone who knows these cars needs to drive yours but in the meantime...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBvYZRO-k14
 

The Crooner

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Sep 24, 2008
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Location
Woodhall Spa Lincolnshire
Your Mercedes
2006 R320 cdi
Your car is definately sick. A 280 isn't going to be as lively as the 300-24 but then my 320 doesn't feel as lively as one either- unless pressing on. Age and mileage are obviously going to have an effect but not to the extent that you'd need to change gears manually to make progress, even with 185,000 miles (not high for one of these but enough to put many off) on it mine'll take off like a scalded cat if prodded.

Someone who knows these cars needs to drive yours but in the meantime...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBvYZRO-k14

Sh*t

If that came past me in my 230 I'd have to get out to see if I had stopped!

Tony
 
OP
5

5907

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Feb 12, 2009
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  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #24
After driving it today; I think the issue here was that I haven't been depressing the accelerator enough, In 'S' mode and with the accelerator flat to the floor it really is quite quick, even enough to create some tyre squeal when swerving out to overtake someone foolish enough to pull out in front of me earlier.

In the 300TE-24, the throttle was noticeably lighter, and didn't need pushing much beyond half-way, whereas the 280 benefits from full-throttle.

The 300TE-24 had 210k miles, the E280 has 138k.
 

stumpy

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Jul 29, 2006
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Your Mercedes
various
If yours has the 4 speed like mine then it can feel quite lazy as it seems to like staying in top gear. Like you say though get past half way or press the kickdown and it does shift.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
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Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
There is a mod where you just remove a spring and its a first gear start every time
 

Alex M Grieve

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Apr 28, 2008
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Location
Broom, Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
After driving it today; I think the issue here was that I haven't been depressing the accelerator enough, In 'S' mode and with the accelerator flat to the floor it really is quite quick, even enough to create some tyre squeal when swerving out to overtake someone foolish enough to pull out in front of me earlier. In the 300TE-24, the throttle was noticeably lighter, and didn't need pushing much beyond half-way, whereas the 280 benefits from full-throttle. The 300TE-24 had 210k miles, the E280 has 138k.

I think that is perfectly understandable. I used to hear lots of comments from 124 drivers along similar lines. A firm teutonic right foot is the answer, as you have found and especially for the kickdown.

I just hope that all our attempts to help have not encouraged too much hooliganism on your part! Any points accrued will be purely for your licence!
 

fullmeister

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Feb 4, 2009
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Location
Northumberland
Your Mercedes
w124 250D estate
Well, Lambda & MAF have both been replaced recently, and it's just had a full engine service. It's also running on 97RON Super Unleaded.

It makes sense to be honest; 190hp is not a lot in a heavy automatic like the W124.

Try 96 hp in a diesel estate mate. Then you know what sluggish is .
 

E280T

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Nov 5, 2009
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My E280 T (1994, 343000km) is still quit quick actually. The engine doesn't even need to exceed the 3000rpm to keep up with the reasonably fast Berlin traffic. And the gear box is very smooth and responds fast. Although I must ad to it that I have a 5-gear automatic and my engine just had a revision last year...
 

Stu_CDX

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Nov 13, 2008
Messages
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Location
Essex, UK
I'm sorry to say that, even though, now written off, my E280 would hit 130-135 happily. Don't give up on it, the 280 is a fantastic engine, 0-60 in 10 seconds in an auto car that weighs about 1.8-2tonnes...

80-120 really doesn't take long at all. The 4 speed is marvellous as no power is wasted, it'll go to the red line in EVERY gear...
 

Donald 300TD

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Nov 1, 2009
Messages
93
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Location
Moray, Scotland
Your Mercedes
W124 300TD
Try driving a W124 300TD 12v diesel instead! I dont care though because i love my old bus when she does eventually get going (even if it takes a couple of days :( )
 

Bolide

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2002
Messages
3,294
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Website
www.w124.co.uk
Your Mercedes
BMW 525 Diesel Touring
Adjusting the kickdown cable makes a huge difference to the way these cars drive. I'd say that 90% of the W124s I drive have badly-adjusted cables

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 

Alex M Grieve

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
9,388
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Location
Broom, Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
Adjusting the kickdown cable makes a huge difference to the way these cars drive. I'd say that 90% of the W124s I drive have badly-adjusted cables

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Agreed. Indeed, I think having a well lubricated throttle linkage is the essence of good automatic driving as you can change up and down very precisely and as well as a manual car will.

I have heard a number of criticisms of 124s being sluggish but have generally found they just need a very positive foot on the throttle - a Teutonic thing, I guess?
 

Bolide

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2002
Messages
3,294
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Website
www.w124.co.uk
Your Mercedes
BMW 525 Diesel Touring
A lot of these cars suffer from a stiff throttle pedal which doesn't help. Replacing the cable helps a little but a lot of it is down to wear in the complex linkage

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 


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