I have come across the opinion that limited slip differentals in the rear end can be a real head ache. something about the rear end sliding around when the crown of the road is pitched any way but flat, or trying to get going on a slipery road and have the rear end slide into the sidewalk... no experience with it myself, and was supprised to hear the opinion. Dude was not what I would call inexperienced, as he seemed to have a informed point of view.

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46 WDX Power Wagon

84 300TDT daily driver

re: turbo. One nice thing about my 300D is you can just lay your foot on the throttle and it will accelerate, you can feel what I can't describe other than "torque" pulling you very firmly, but it does not spin, nor does the turbo "spool up" noticably. I spent awhile adjusting the ALDA and such to minimize that feeling. Back when it did kind of spool all at once, I have been known to pull the boost enrichment line to tame it a bit. Worst problem I have in snow is driving slow lends crapy fuel mileage and sooty exhaust if you do a lot of it.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

the W201 seems to be inherently traction-challenged in the snow, compared with other MB models - this, I attribute to the relatively light rear axle load. It is easy to get stuck on the slightest incline, from rest. When alone in the car, slipping while accelerating on a slippery surface produces a yaw that must be anticipated, especially with cars beside you.

Because of its relatively low mass, the car is also more susceptible to spins when encountering the slush troughs at highways speeds, when changing lanes.

As a result, snow tires are a must, and ballast in the trunk is recommended (the tradeoff of using ballast is that I have to adjust my Euro-headlamps, which have that sharp horizontal cutoff in the beam - I don't have the vacuum adjuster). Having the gas tank full most of the time would also help, as would a limited slip differential. My manual transmission is also helpful, as it allows me to modulate the power better, and to take advantage of engine braking. The low gearing of 1st gear also allows me to control slippage better when starting out from rest.

My E300 with Blizzaks in the rear runs awesome. The traction control system actually works well when the car has traction, helps keep the car straight under acceleration when applying the throttle liberally.

Best investment are these Blizzaks. Also have the same Blizzaks on our C220 all around. Now when snow falls I have no worries. This past Saturday night into Sunday morning during the blizzard like conditions the C220 got us home without a sweat.

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

Recently put Nokian WRs on the 82 300D with two 70lb tubes of sand in the trunk. Works really well in the snow, still interesting on ice my turbo spools up rather abruptly. All in all not a bad setup just have to pay attention to conditions.

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Kevin
82 300D

I don't know about the W124's but the W210's are better then mine in the snow. The traction control works well and if their is traction they will find it.


Although you do have a V8 in yours that doesn't help. Are you running snow tires?


LSD rear's are the best thing a rwd car can have in the snow. MB cheaped out only the 560's got them.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have owned 3 RWD cars with Limited slip differentials..........they were NOT a headache and in fact did FAR better on snow and ice, I have owned a few without to compare to also.

I got my License in 1978 and have averaged 25-40,000 miles a year since then.

Have worn out 14 vehicles so I can state that my experience was more than fleeting with it. Having grown up near Pittsburgh, PA and lived in Md quite a few years before moving to VA 11 years ago.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Hattie, I assume the 560 has a different gear ratio just swapping would be out of the question? Even if one did a swap, wouldn't the speedometer be off?
Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Yep the 560's have a lot more power and torque so they are geared higher. It wouldn't allow the 603 to turn up and you would have a dog. I was thinking how nice an lsd would be but no luck we are stuck.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have a limited slip diff in my W109. You would never know it is there except in the wet if I accelerate quickly both tires will break traction and the tail can move some. That's the one advantage of an open diff, you smoke one tire but the rear end stays planted. The LSD makes a huge difference in the snow and is definately worth having.

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)