[s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions

Tue Dec 8 05:51:26 PST 2009

Basically, it sounds like what you're trying to say is that the W126 560s in
AMG trim or the Hammer are cars that are better off pulling the entire
drivetrain out of, preserving them for collector's purposes and swapping in
a much newer drivetrain from a SL500 R129 so you don't have any issues? Or
better yet, find the drivetrain from a euro-spec E60 or SL60 AMG.

I guess that's a keeper, for once? :-)

Taka

On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 9:19 PM, Bruce Mendel <brucem105 at comcast.net> wrote:

>  Any of the parts that are exclusive to the AMG mods are unobtainable. AMG
> bodykit pieces? Gone. AMG suspension stuff? Gone. Head gaskets? Gone, or
> custom made or buy from Barry Taylor at $1500 each. Headwork needed on the
> AMG 32V heads? Hahahaha! Even the lower end when punched out to 6.0 from 5.6
> is very difficult to find. Wheels only in Europe or Japan, interior
> burlwood, tray tables, steering wheel, gone gone gone. And no one even knows
> the valving specs done by AMG to the trans any more.
>
> Mine is a pretty solid example, gone over by the top old-school AMG
> mechanic in the USA who also happens to have one. But not for the feint of
> heart, and it can become a disposable if major engine work needed.
>
> B
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
> *To:* Bruce Mendel <brucem105 at comcast.net>
> *Cc:* Douglas Landaeta <dlandaeta at gmail.com> ; s-car-list<s-car-list at audifans.com>
> *Sent:* Monday, December 07, 2009 7:09 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions
>
> What are the issues with your AMG'ed W126?
>
> Now you got me looking for an E420.
>
> Taka
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 6:12 PM, Bruce Mendel <brucem105 at comcast.net>wrote:
>
>> As a guy that has a 560SEL 6.0 AMG DOHC, I can assure you you don't want
>> one. :)
>>
>> The 400E/E420 is a great compromise between speed of 300E and rarity/price
>> of 500E. It's a 275HP V8, great personality on the road, and other than the
>> motor/trans is pretty much the same as the 300E so plentiful parts.
>>
>> Same wiring harness/minor electrical issue as any W124, plus some extra
>> potential issues underhood from heat, as the engine is shoehorned in there.
>>
>> But they're not well know, so can be had pretty cheap.
>>
>> B
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Taka Mizutani" <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
>> To: "Douglas Landaeta" <dlandaeta at gmail.com>
>> Cc: "s-car-list" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 6:07 PM
>>
>> Subject: Re: [s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions
>>
>>
>> Yeah, but 500Es are rare as hell, Doug.
>>>
>>> I'm talking about "normal" W124s.
>>>
>>> I'd rather have a full AMG 560SEL 6.0 DOHC, oil leaks be damned.
>>>
>>> Taka
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 5:56 PM, Douglas Landaeta <dlandaeta at gmail.com
>>> >wrote:
>>>
>>> W126 = more mtce. $$, less performance, over a W124 with the 8 cyl. M119
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my mobile
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 7, 2009, at 5:50 PM, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  Just to add, the head gasket issue referenced seems to only appear in
>>>> the
>>>>
>>>>> 24v engines.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regardless, the W124 is one of the best Benzes in recent history- as
>>>>> for
>>>>> the
>>>>> ride and driving experience, I can't comment. I've thought about
>>>>> getting
>>>>> one
>>>>> myself several times.
>>>>>
>>>>> I personally would prefer a W126 S-Class, though.
>>>>>
>>>>> Taka
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 3:22 PM, Michael Lardizabal <
>>>>> mikellardizabal at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  .....so true about the torque.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I had a 96 C36 AMG that would just rip the tires all day long. Even w/
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> ASR button ON.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As far as the headgasket...yes the later I-6 motors had a rep of going
>>>>>> thru
>>>>>> them, but its not too bad a price to pay for what you get in return. I
>>>>>> think
>>>>>> that once they're done at the typical 110K- 125K mark, they're good
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> maybe more the next time about. I think once the block has gone thru a
>>>>>> few
>>>>>> heat cycles, the HG isn't as prone .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As far as the 190E, the only one worth any effort is the Cossie, but I
>>>>>> agree. The interior fit and finish is .....well, at least its a
>>>>>> lightweight
>>>>>> car w/ a dogleg 5 and an intake sound thats insane.
>>>>>> --- On Mon, 12/7/09, Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions
>>>>>> To: "s-car-list" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>>>>>> Date: Monday, December 7, 2009, 2:54 PM
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> More from the V8 list...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- Kent
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>>>>> Subject: RE: 300E Beater
>>>>>> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:46:06 -0600
>>>>>> From: Brian K. Ullrich <bullrich at ullrichsys.com>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As usual, Roger has the goods. I do differ on a few points though:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The W124 chassis ran from 1984 to 1995. Badged primarily in the US as
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> 300E, it later changed to MB's new badging as the E320, etc. So, it
>>>>>> covers
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> lot of cars, and differing model numbers, including the diesels, which
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> be easily visually distinguished by a fender vent on the right front.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In my estimation, the best of the W124 cars are the 1993 and newer.
>>>>>> They
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> the post-facelift cars, and include many newer features. I personally
>>>>>> owned
>>>>>> a 1990 and a 1995 W124 (300E and E320, respectively), and had little
>>>>>> problems with either, but my 1995 W124 E320 was a smoker. That i6 was
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> torque-making fool. And it got great gas mileage.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do differ with Roger on one point about the 190 vs. 300/320: I feel
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> the 190 is a much inferior car to its larger cousin. The 190 is known
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> W201 chassis, and in most US trim, it was equipped with a 2.2l 4
>>>>>> cylinder
>>>>>> motor mated to a 3-speed auto (although the 2.6l 6-cylinders are
>>>>>> available,
>>>>>> and they are equipped with a 4-speed auto). Roger is correct in his
>>>>>> assessment that a teenager could hardly get into too much trouble in
>>>>>> this
>>>>>> car, because it just ain't fast. However, I feel that this car is not
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> good
>>>>>> choice because those motors revved so high at highway speeds (around
>>>>>> 3K
>>>>>> RPM)
>>>>>> that it just put the engine at risk for failure, especially for
>>>>>> high-mileage
>>>>>> cars. Not to mention the fit and finish, which were just not really up
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> the standards of MB at the time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For my money, if I were to put my teen in a Benz, I'd find a later
>>>>>> model
>>>>>> W124, either diesel or gas, and call it a day. The best inline
>>>>>> 6-cylinder
>>>>>> engine MB ever built was the 3l/3.2l, and coupled with the W124
>>>>>> chassis,
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> think that makes the best sense. Compared to the 190/W201, parts are
>>>>>> more
>>>>>> plentiful, and it's easy to work on.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Of course, this is just my opinion. My esteemed colleague, Mr.
>>>>>> Woodbury,
>>>>>> may
>>>>>> have something else to say on the matter.
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>