rayhennig
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2006
- Messages
- 769
- Reaction score
- 190
- Your Mercedes
- 1991 300CE-24 Sportline
Having been impressed with the results so far, I felt I needed time, space and pace before making further judgements.
Over the past 2 days, I drove to northern France, mainly on motorways; a distance of around 800 miles for the return journey.
Conditions were mainly dry but with the occasional showers and buffeting wind during the showers. Traffic was mainly light. Driving style was mostly ‘outside lane progressive’ with long straight stretches, motorway bends and occasional, high-ish speed lane changes.
The car is very much improved. It is now a pleasure to ‘press on a bit’ at speeds up to 100 mph. Cornering is back to that Mercedes ‘on rails’ feeling and braking and lane-changing are accomplished with greater confidence and ‘authority’.
For a parts cost of £550 ($US 1100 or, if purchased in France around 800 Euro) this has been a 100% success. I resent none of it. This is, perhaps, not so strange given that the original springs and dampers had covered 200K Miles.
But has the basic problem been solved?
I’m not sure that it has! My feeling is that the symptoms of the problem are much easier to deal with now that overall damping is so much improved, but that the problem remains.
I am still able to detect a ‘twitch’ when, say, emerging from beside a lorry having passed it at 90 mph in the adjacent lane. Similarly when passing other vehicles. It’s as if the turbulence caused by others is causing mine to twitch more than I’d expect. During slightly gustier conditions, there was a moment’s weaving that’s typical of this car but not of my previous MBs.
To quantify this; I am now very confident in this car in most conditions and at up to 90 or 100 mph. I would still NOT be confident to explore the upper reaches (140 mph?).
Another key point is that of loading. I recall the problem being worse when the car’s heavily loaded. This 800 mile dash was with just me aboard so I’d expect better results.
So, I’m convinced that something is still amiss and am fairly certain that our experts (you know who you are!) in London and the south coast could pinpoint the problem. Sadly, I’m not likely to have the car over there any time soon.
So, the next step for me is a visit to the local test station where the ‘chef’ has promised a detailed investigation. I have explained the problem so let’s give him a chance.
Again, more as it happens!
Over the past 2 days, I drove to northern France, mainly on motorways; a distance of around 800 miles for the return journey.
Conditions were mainly dry but with the occasional showers and buffeting wind during the showers. Traffic was mainly light. Driving style was mostly ‘outside lane progressive’ with long straight stretches, motorway bends and occasional, high-ish speed lane changes.
The car is very much improved. It is now a pleasure to ‘press on a bit’ at speeds up to 100 mph. Cornering is back to that Mercedes ‘on rails’ feeling and braking and lane-changing are accomplished with greater confidence and ‘authority’.
For a parts cost of £550 ($US 1100 or, if purchased in France around 800 Euro) this has been a 100% success. I resent none of it. This is, perhaps, not so strange given that the original springs and dampers had covered 200K Miles.
But has the basic problem been solved?
I’m not sure that it has! My feeling is that the symptoms of the problem are much easier to deal with now that overall damping is so much improved, but that the problem remains.
I am still able to detect a ‘twitch’ when, say, emerging from beside a lorry having passed it at 90 mph in the adjacent lane. Similarly when passing other vehicles. It’s as if the turbulence caused by others is causing mine to twitch more than I’d expect. During slightly gustier conditions, there was a moment’s weaving that’s typical of this car but not of my previous MBs.
To quantify this; I am now very confident in this car in most conditions and at up to 90 or 100 mph. I would still NOT be confident to explore the upper reaches (140 mph?).
Another key point is that of loading. I recall the problem being worse when the car’s heavily loaded. This 800 mile dash was with just me aboard so I’d expect better results.
So, I’m convinced that something is still amiss and am fairly certain that our experts (you know who you are!) in London and the south coast could pinpoint the problem. Sadly, I’m not likely to have the car over there any time soon.
So, the next step for me is a visit to the local test station where the ‘chef’ has promised a detailed investigation. I have explained the problem so let’s give him a chance.
Again, more as it happens!
