blackbenz:

I think you are right that all street cars are speed limited in all states. I am not exactly sure if they limit the speed or the engine rpm. I think it is the engine rpm so the speed is then, indirectly, limited.

Oldsouth got his S350 to 141 MPH!

The only moving things here which are speedlimited, are all kinds of large transportation vehicles such as buses, transport trucks etc, they are not rpm limited, only speed, they have full power and torque until they reach their speed, (max. 90km/h), if they drive uphill, the engine can reach higher rpm to maintain its max speed, driving downhill, it 'engine brakes' to maintain max velocity..

You say you don't know, but, don't you live in the States and drive a car? You should know if it is rev or speed limited then? No?

Edit:

sorry, mopeds (don't know what you call them.. 50cc two-wheeled coffeebeangrinders) are also limited (should be) but because of the ease of disengagement of the limiter, most here are not..

we have 2 speedlimits for them: 25km/h to be driven without a helmet and 40km/h to use with a helmet.

The older types are mechanically limited by blocking the exhaust, so, no high revs, no power and no speed,

newer ones with electronic ignition are mechanically or electronically limited. Electronic limited versions have power and revs but no speed, so you can drive 10000rpm in 1st gear to reach 40km/h but only let's say 1000rpm in 5th gear to reach 40km/h.. but IF they are limited, they mostly are (temporarily) mechanically limited because of the ease of application and removal...

blackbenz:

Frankly, I do not know exactly how they limit the speed of a car. I have heard "governor limited" FWIW. I have never had the chance to run any of my cars even remotely near the limited speeds due to the speed limits we have in most parts of the US. So it is something there but I have never realized it yet.

I mentioned rpm limit as in one case, I revved up my car (not a MB) in neutral. Once it reached certain rpm, the engine shuddered and will not go beyond that rpm.

I checked my 97 E320 owner's manual and it did not say a thing about this (at least I did not find it browsing through).

blackbenz,

There are speed limits that are enforced by the State and local police using a variety of radar, lidar, and other means in the US. There are no Government mandated devices that interfere with the control of the vehicle by the driver. Which means, people drive as fast as they like and those that like to drive over the posted speed limits (signs with maximum speed identified) do so at the risk of being caught and fined. Do it enough and get fined several times and you can lose the priviledge to drive. But there are no Government installed devices to either govern the engine to limit speed or record and report anything the driver does. The idea of the Government having some gadget to interfere with your control of what is yours is un-American.

I lived in Germany in the 60's and there were no such devices installed on cars or trucks back then. I had a Moped (first a Mobilette and then a Zuendapp, both 50cc, and both with the governors removed) that was supposed to be limited to 25 kph, but once the restrictor was removed both would do about 55 kmph. Maybe faster if you had more time at full throttle, as 55 kph took quite a while to reach. I got a citation by the Polizei for "speeding" on my Moped that warned me not to do it again without a license for driving a faster machine. So I got a Class IV license and never had any difficulty again. I guess things have changed.

Just thought I would clear that up for you. If you come to the US now you will see traffic is still not as fast as in Europe, but the average speed on the highway is now around 120 kph while the posted speed limit is around 105 kph or 110 kph. Out West the limits are higher, 120 kph or so, while the traffic runs at 130 kph or more. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Hello again

sorry dudes but I don't know the condition of your roads or something but here in Belgium, you can easily test the vmax of your car, motorcycle or whatever even on roads where the speed is limited to 90km/h!

I've measured something just before this post: just to prove something: here in my town, I've chosen to do a little test how much I could drive in the centre of the town, from a standstill at traffic lights to just before a speedbump, allowing me to brake enough (yes, stupid creatures of our government, to slow traffic down), the distance was, if I had to guess, somewhere near 500 metres or so, I didn't lay my eye on the distancemeter; so, on this short end I was able to get to 140km/h and brake to go over the bump, then the road continues and I can easily go over 200km/h the road is a few (think 4 or so) km long..

So, I am not posting this because I can do something dangerous, which I know it was very irresponsible, I just tested it once, there were no pedestrians and little amount of traffic, I don't force anyone to drive hard, I just can't imagine you aren't able to test when the speed limiter kicks in action or how fast your car can go..

Or... is it really SO crowdy everytime on your roads there?

Don't blame me, I don't know of the situation you guys are in, I am just seriously wondering

Greetings

BB

blackbenz- Here in the states, most people are afraid of the cops. If they catch you going over 100mph in Louisiana, they can take you to jail. The speeding fines are very stiff, about $150 mimimum and up. And if you get very many tickets, you insurance rates go up and they can take your license away. Most people that speed use radar detectors but that only works if they shoot someone ahead of you. I have always known the top speed of my vehicles but check them under the right conditions (no traffic, early morning).

__________________
1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

This post is directed to the person who wants an s400cdi, but for some reason this post came above his one...



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It should work..

come over here, buy the car, arrange transport with a container (boat will be least expensive)..

when you get to the states, I think you will have to pay customs or even maybe taxes on the car.. next thing to do would be to try to get it homologated (maybe make some adjustments concerning emissions) and then you can use it on American soil..

transport would be around 1000 euro's I believe...

You can always ask a mercedes dealer, maybe they will ship one for you, they know what to change on the car to make its emission, sound level, etc according to your regulations. Though I think not much change would be involved since over the last decade, an enormous change in pollution regulation in Belgium has happened, all new cars built since a year or 5/6 ago till today to be sold for use on Belgian roads are very 'clean' so they would most likely meet american criteria! (no promise though!)

If you decide to come overhere, you can take the car to a mercedes-benz approved chiptuner to squish more power en less consumption out of the software!



If you are mediocre in monetary funds, take care of all the costs prior to arrange everything without knowing the consequences!

In case you are loaded, what the heck, give it a go, you will be riding an exclusife car in the states!


P.S. Top speed of this baby is 250kph, in miles, I think, something like 155 or so....


Let us know if you are going to buy one!!

loubapache - I wish! That speed was in a '89 Taurus SHO that I traded in on the S-350. The fastest the S-350 will go is 118 by the GPS or about 121 by the speedometer. The post that includes my dash indicates about 119 by the speedometer which is almost topped out. It will go a little in the red but not much. The car definately has some sort of governor but it is a soft one because it does not just shut off. It is definitely rev limited not speed limited on the S-350.

About the S-400 CDI-------I want one ------- NOW!

Can't people buy what they call grey market cars and bring them into the US?

__________________
1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

Aha! Nice answer. So the cab driver was b*ll*****ting me? It was back in 1989, in the big apple.

I was reading an article about the 2003 Dodge pick up trucks. It said that the biggest diesel engine you will be able to get in it is the Cummins BUT that there will be TWO other smaller diesel engines available. Hmmmm, wonder if the five cylinder Sprinter engine has found another home? Let's hope.

__________________
Jim

US speed limits are based on a variety of conditions. First is the type of road, population density, traffic density, potential for cross traffic, terrain (mountains, flat). City roads are going to have quite low speed limits due to the number of vehicles, pedestrians, and typically a traffic light every block (downtown areas), or every few blocks. Some small towns speeds are deliberately set low to generate operational revenue (there is one such stretch near where I live). The road is four lanes with a center turn only lane servicing both directions. Elsewere the speed limit on the road is 45 mph, while this stretch is set at 30 mph. It has a slow curve that even an 18 wheeler could safely navigate at the full 45 mph limit, and few cross roads. Most US Interstate highways vary from 65 to 75 mph, depending on the state. One state tried to eliminate their posted limits, but the feds decided that they needed to butt in and forced them to post a limit. It allegedly allowed the police "too much power" in writing speed violations. I had been through that state three times and never saw a patrol car. The US used to have a 55 mph maximum during the fuel crisis days, and later moved it up to 65, before finally releasing control to the states. No vehciles are currently "mandated" by the federal government for a maximum speed. Any lower limits for commercial vehilces are set by the states. The vehicles themselves are not governed, unless the buyer specs a limiter in the truck and sets it for themselves.

Nope, The Cummins will be available in two power options. The High output, which will be available behind the 6 speed manual is rated at 305 hp and 555 lb/ft.

Behind the 5 speed manual, and 4 speed automatic, power ratings will be 250 hp and 460 lb ft.

Both engines will have Common Rail injection, new for the manufacturer.

hmmm - I would have thought that some of that MB diesel power would eventually find it's way into a Chrysler product. I would like to see a SUV with that five cylinder turbo diesel engine.

__________________
Jim

I would like to see MB diesels in Chrysler products as well. As for the Dodge Ram.... they need to leave alone that which works so well. I bought my truck because of the Cummins. Even the older diesels that we like so much in the 240 and 300 D cars cannot match that engine for durability. These engines get taken out of older trucks that have literally disintigrated around them, and get put to use in other trucks or applications. DC needs to keep that engine and contract alive. There are still currently 7 more model years left in that contract.

A common method used by vehicle manufacturers to speed limit their vehicles is by dropping out spark. My old Aerostar used to do this at 93 mph.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)