W124 Are the revs Right cruising in 4th?

[JohnPoole]

I have just purchased a W124 200TD 1993 with a four speed auto box. Its the first time I have driven this model and regardless took a risk on buying this very tidy example. I have a concern that the revs are too high when cruising at motorway speed. 70 mph corresponds to a buzzy 3500rpm. I have checked that from stop all four gears change up in sequence OK. Can any other 200E owners confirm whether this high revving is normal? It could just be the consequence of a big car small engine? My suspicion is that there is some sort of overdrive mode which is not working, because it just is not becoming of such a super cruiser such as this to be thrumming along. Plus I am sure Mercedes designed it to be better.

I would be ver grateful of an opinion before I spend any serious gearbox money.

 

[paulcallender]

I'm assuming its a 200TE, not a 200TD (which does exist, but I don't think was ever available in the UK). In either case, I'm afraid it is true. I have a 230TE and its top gear is high geared, compared to your natural expectations.

 

[Bolide]

Revs

3500 rpm / 70 mph sounds about right to me. If you want to change it swop the rear axle for a numerically lower ratio. It'll make the car slower to accelerate but will drop the revs when cruising

Mind you, you'll have to make quite a big change to get any real difference in revs


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[tom7035]

Did a short journey after reading your posts and paid a bit more attention to the rev. counter. Don't know what the book says, but in calm conditions, at a steady speed on a level road, my instruments told me;
3500 rpm = 77 mph, 3200 rpm = 70 mph and, for comparison at the lower end, 1400 rpm = 30 mph.
Rolling circumference of the tyres within standard spec.
Maybe the saloon is a little more highly geared than the estate?

 

[JohnPoole]

Thank you all for your replies. It is a 200TE and it would seem from the consensus that high revs are the norm at motorway speed. It just felt out of character that the otherwise hushed progress is spoiled by the intrusion of the engine noise. I guess I am going to have to look arround for a larger engined model next time! I will save my pocket money on a gearbox investigation and save up for a swap instead. In every other respect the old estate is a beauty to drive and don't you wish they still made the W124 in place of the tinny examples coming out of these days.

 

[tom7035]

don't you wish they still made the W124 in place of the tinny examples coming out of these days.

Got it in one John!

 

[turnipsock]

bring back the W124, I say.

The people with the new cars don't know what they are missing.

Today, I had occasion to go round the Trossachs and got badly held up in a que of traffic...being led by an SLK. My old 230TE was miles faster, eventually the SLK pulled over and let me pass and I was able to get up to the legal speed limit again.