Hi Everyone, just joined, can you help with a W126 question?

[Paid2getdirty]

Hi, I'm shortly going to be migrating to Perth WA and have always fancied (and came very close to buying a few years ago) a W126, preferably a 300SE.
My uncle in Jersey has one of 1986 vintage with only 90k on it and he assures me there is a switch in the engine bay that allows the engine to run on either 98 or 95 octane unleaded. I have contacted a lady in Perth selling a 1987 model 300SE and she tells me hers runs on 98.

Can anyone tell me if Australian market 1987 300SE models will run on 95 or do you have to use 98?

Thanks very much

Gareth

 

[television]

Hi there and welcome, all of these cars run very well and were designed to run on 95 octane, you are wasting your money to use 98.


Nice cars the 126

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi. Sorry I have to respectfully disagree with Malcolm on this occassion. I think in Australia you will find that the "claimed " 98 octane is the better fuel and it includes injector cleaner as well. It tends to make any car (yes even the leaded ones) run better, smoother and in some cases with more noticeable power especially when it is fresh. One tends to see a greater mileage out of this fuel although this is offset to some degree by the higher cost . About 10 cents or in your lingo 5p. I think the Mobil is the better fuel. However it is hard to pick between Shell and Mobil. I don't think you will have any problems running the higher octane , if you so choose. Have a look at my post today to junior member rf.

 

[Paid2getdirty]

Thanks guys, and thankyou for the welcome Malcolm (that did not rhyme on purpose honest).

Yeah I've always fancied a W126 but running costs here are a bit off putting compared to Australia.

Nick, thanks for the advice but do you mean that it will run on 95 but that it will not run as smooth and the economy will not be as good as on 98? I've had a little bit of luck with info and it seems it either uses a switch or the knock sensor automatically adjusts the settings according to fuel used. I'm more of a diesel man but short of dropping a CDI into one of these they are better off as a petrol. They did do a 350SD in Europe but I doubt any will be in Aussie.

Thanks again fella's

 

[Aussie Nick]

I think you will get it to run well on the 98 and it will be more economical than the 95. I think the 95 here is very marginal. My son's 323I bmw which is pre unleaded (1985)pings like crazy on the shell 95 yet runs very well with the mobil 98.You will just have to test the different fuels when you arrive. And in any case welcome to Australia. We have the better cricket team.

 

[Paid2getdirty]

By gum!, I've not even arrived and you are sledging our team already!! As it happens I'm not massively into the game, I'm more a motorsports fan than a ball sports fan. I have a mate in Perth who is heavily into his cricket so I'll receive all the necessary grief from him! Thanks for the welcome though, much appreciated. Thanks for the advice on the fuel issue too. I'm also considering converting it to LPG if it proves to be an economical option. I noted that most of the taxi's there run on it so I'm assuming conversion kits are more readily available and perhaps better made and fitted than here in the UK.

Look behind you Casey, Toseland coming through.....

Cheers Nick

 

[television]

Its been well proven that these car do run on 95 perfectly well, its states that in the handbook and also says that you can even use 91 with reduced performance, and by that I mean dont belt it

 

[Paid2getdirty]

Thanks Malcolm, a handbook quotation is always handy to have when at the service desk with the keys to a broken engine!

As Nick says I'll just have to try it on both and see what happens.

Hopefully the car will be what I'm after.

Gaz

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm, a handbook quotation is always handy to have when at the service desk with the keys to a broken engine!

As Nick says I'll just have to try it on both and see what happens.

Hopefully the car will be what I'm after.

Gaz

I can even run my SL on 91 with reduced power, even this car does not use 98 neither does the AMG unless you want to belt it.

Its also well proven that the fuel consumption is no better if I were to use 98