[s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions
Bruce Mendel
brucem105 at comcast.net
Tue Dec 8 06:05:05 PST 2009
Sorry for NAC! I'll stop after this email.
Best bet if a 6.0 DOHC AMG has major engine work needed is to find an M119 V8, or go with euro spec ECE 5.6 with 300HP if you can find it.
As an example, I had a 560EC 6.0 DOHC. The custom AMG 32V heads had the usual warps and leaks. It was sent down to Renntech to convert it back to the standard 16V MB OEM heads for reliability. The bill to suck that 60HP out of the car was $19,000. Unreal.
Bruce
----- Original Message -----
From: Taka Mizutani
To: Bruce Mendel
Cc: Douglas Landaeta ; s-car-list
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] NAC - Benz 300E Questions
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
To: Bruce Mendel
Cc: Douglas Landaeta ; s-car-list
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.
_______________________________________________
S-CAR-List mailing list
http://audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
_______________________________________________
S-CAR-List mailing list
http://audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
_______________________________________________
S-CAR-List mailing list
http://audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
_______________________________________________
S-CAR-List mailing list
http://audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
More information about the S-CAR-List
mailing list