Traction of a 190D? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

diesel donkey · #1 05-26-2008, 02:51 PM

I bought a 300td wagon to burn wvo and that is working fine, but it has terrible traction in the snow. My wife refuses to drive it in the snow. Does a 190D have any better traction?
Thanks,
Vince

pawoSD · #2 05-26-2008, 02:56 PM

Their traction is just fine, I think your issue can be attributed to a tire problem. Get good all season or (for real good traction) good snow tires on it, and it will do just fine. I have never gotten stuck in my car and I have Michelin All-Season tires (Destiny). Last winter we got like 140" of snow too.....

cg487 · #3 05-26-2008, 04:13 PM

try also throwing a couple hundred extra pounds in the back. Kitty Litter makes a good traction sand for snow and ice too.

Deni · #4 05-26-2008, 04:40 PM

My 190d with a 2.5 turbo has awful traction in loose surfaces, aaand on sticky roads as well as well.

The problem with it it's that it doesn't have enough weight in the back.

t walgamuth · #5 05-26-2008, 05:28 PM

The wagons have excellent weight distribution compared to sedans. I agree it must be a tire issue or a driver used to driving cars with traction control just mashing the gas on slippery surfaces.

A 190 would be less well situated with more weight in comparison on the front wheels.

Tom W

Deni · #6 05-26-2008, 05:58 PM

Forgot to add. On the 1st of january of this year I tried to go up a mountain close to my city. There had been fresh snowfall. We were 4 in the car and I was using 195/65 r15 snow tires (sava eskimo s3). I also have lots of junk in the trunk and a heavy lpg tank in the spare tire compartment. Even with all that weight in the back, 3 people sitting in the back seat and the winter tires I'd just slide without even touching the throttle pedal. FWD cars would go up though, only to get stuck about 100 meters up.

It was very slippery though. I could barely walk.

pawoSD · #7 05-26-2008, 05:59 PM

You just gotta know how to throw the rear of the car around where you want it.

babymog · #8 05-26-2008, 09:57 PM

FWD is typically front-heavy, the reason we see so many of them stuffed backwards in snowbanks in the winter.

Most M-B sedans and wagons are closer to 48/52 weight distribution, and are well balanced. Once you start on any grade, the weight shifts to the rear, as it does accelerating, which is why when we sold Volvo and Mercedes, we kept a SAAB around with the same tires as the Volvo (RWD) for a hill-climbing comparison, the Volvo RWD car always won.

Tires are a factor, the driver is a big factor. Buy winter tires. The low-end torque is a big issue also, my 190D Turbo would spin wildly on wet pavement on takeoff as it tended to build full boost almost right away and really cut loose. Defeat the boost by plugging the overboost protection line and she'll probably be fine.

shingleback · #9 05-26-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

The low-end torque is a big issue also, my 190D Turbo would spin wildly on wet pavement on takeoff as it tended to build full boost almost right away and really cut loose. Defeat the boost by plugging the overboost protection line and she'll probably be fine.

Where do I find this overboost protection line?

babymog · #10 05-27-2008, 03:40 PM

On the intake plenum, you will see a single vacuum line leading over to a two-way valve on the driver's side inner fender. The other line from this valve goes to the ALDA on top of the IP. Plug that line with a BB and you'll have no boost enrichment, it will decrease power significantly, especially at low rpm. It will then drive pretty much like a non-turbo.

ZackaryMac · #11 05-27-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deni

Forgot to add...It was very slippery though. I could barely walk.

With all due respect, what 2wd car is going to give you much traction in these conditions? Even 4wd would have to be controlled carefully enough to get you there safely.

pawoSD · #12 05-27-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZackaryMac

With all due respect, what 2wd car is going to give you much traction in these conditions? Even 4wd would have to be controlled carefully enough to get you there safely.

No kidding!

When the conditions are like that, park somewhere and relax....or stay home!

Short of chains or studded/spiked tires, no vehicle would do well in such conditions. Ice is ice....no traction regardless of how many wheels can move the vehicle.

Hatterasguy · #13 05-27-2008, 11:32 PM

No all older MB's are God awfull in the snow. Snow tires help but every one I have driven has sucked.

My friends 98 E300D is better than the old ones thanks to traction control which kind of gives it a LSD so you can get traction! On the old cars one wheel will just spin and your screwed. A 560 with snow tires would probably be OK since it has an LSD, MB didn't deam them usefull on all their other cars though!

My dentists S430 4Matic with snow tires is how a MB should handle the snow! That thing is like a Hummer!

My uncles E350 4matic sucks because it has summer tires. They just spin and the traction control goes nuts and you slide.

My favorite cars to drive in the snow are FWD with all seasons or modern AWD with all seasons or snow tires. I live on a hill and my RWD MB's just won't go up it.

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