over 40mpg with your old Mercedes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Robert Squires · #1 01-17-2008, 02:45 PM

* Thought that would get your attention. I've personally never seen such a claim. But wouldn't a retrofit that could offer an honest 40mpg in a 15 yr old car stir up some serious interest.
* There would certainly be a lot of Mercedes owners who would rather put say $10K into such a retrofit for their older, trusted sedan than buy one of the new toy cars.
* The middle east has always been a troubled area. In my view, it would be even more troubled, not less troubled, if the oil supply were gone. The main problem, in my view, which will cause the current fuel price rise to be permanent and ever worsening, rather than just a temporary bump in the market, is the emergence of huge new markets like China and India. Just think how many new customers will be shopping for fuel for their newly purchased Tata Neon.
* AMG has always been known for their 0-60 performance enhancements. How about a company known for their 40-70mpg enhancements. And not by starting from scratch, but by retrofitting what is already safe, well-proven transportation. This industry might already be alive and well but I'm not aware of it. I'd be very interested in learning about and getting involved in such a cottage industry.
* What are your thoughts on any of these "bullet" points. I realize now that this thread might be less about performance (in the usual sense of the term) and more about open discussion. My apology.

E150GT · #2 01-17-2008, 03:20 PM

So you are saying we need to find a way to make our 15 year old cars into 40mpg vehicles? I suppose that would cost chingos of money if even possible, short of putting a newer transmission and engine in a car that was really efficient. As I think about it more, why would I want to spend thousands of dollars on retroffiting a proven engine into something that is now unproven, thus negating the reason for doing it in the first place. Sure I would like to keep my 1986 vehicle for a while, but pretty soon I am gonna want something new that needs way less attention and has a fresh restyle and added extra creature comforts that were not available when my car was introduced. As I see it, it's far more economical to wipe the slate clean than to improve on ancient technology.

TheDon · #3 01-17-2008, 03:49 PM

most of the cars are bricks in the aero department.....

MTI · #4 01-17-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

most of the cars are bricks in the aero department.....

The W201 (190E) has about the same coefficient of drag that the mid 80's Corvette had.

The new turbocharged 4 cylinder diesel engine from Mercedes is rated at 40 mpg with over 200 bhp, so I suppose a transplant is always possible.

Turbo E320 · #5 01-17-2008, 07:27 PM

Just biodiesel a 190d or 300d and your all set. Little 20-40 year old VW and Datsun diesels get into the 50's

latitude500 · #6 01-31-2008, 10:13 PM

I installed a greasecar kit on my 87 300sdl and I only get 25 mpg, but at least the fuel burns cleaner and is cheap. If your looking at taking a 20 year old car and making it get 40 + mpg, you need to push it off a very long road on a very tall mountain.

But good luck.

bgkast · #7 02-20-2008, 02:11 AM

Why not just buy a mid to late 80s 190D? They can top 40 MPG with no problem, and no swaps involved.

HawkHunter · #8 03-02-2008, 02:39 PM

im experimenting with a 92 Ford Festiva that was my old "winter beater" until i siezed the engine. Ive taken 4 ABS sensors and im trying to couple them with 4 seperate electric motors that would get mounted at each wheel... powered by a small deisel motor/generator... 40+mpg might be possible?

bgkast · #9 03-08-2008, 02:52 AM

Didn't it get 40 mpg stock?

pro60modman · #10 03-09-2008, 03:51 AM

You could always drop a thousand for a HAFC if your gonna keep your gasoline car forever and get a 50% or more increase in your gas mileage. A guy who has everything from fuel controllers to fuel swirllers in his expedition took all the stupid crap out and installed one and was avg. around 26, pretty good i think.

neanderthal · #11 04-08-2008, 02:52 AM

id be intrested

dont know about spending $10000 though.

starting with a W124 E320;

swap diff for 2.24 diff from E420
use 205/ 65-15 tires instead of the standard 195/65-15
use 1st gear start/ or use 722.6 transmission. also came attached to M104s in W202s and R129s

there. you're most of the way.

tires are a standard consumable.
1st gear start in the 722.XX is just a spring/ valve swap in the transmission valve body IIRC
its really just the diff. lets say $400

i'll throw out a 35mpg figure.
all postulation. one tenth the cost.

85300DT · #12 04-08-2008, 12:55 PM

How about early 190e and install an om616. Run a 3.07 gear, and turbocharge it (run no more than 7psi, intercooled). If a w123 weighing 3500 lbs with a om616 gets close to 33+mpg, imagine a 2700lb car making 90hp and 150+fl.lbs torque. With the 3.07 you should be running 27-2800 rpm at 65 mph. That would put you easily at the 40 mpg mark...

irish_flu · #13 04-08-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkHunter

im experimenting with a 92 Ford Festiva that was my old "winter beater" until i siezed the engine. Ive taken 4 ABS sensors and im trying to couple them with 4 seperate electric motors that would get mounted at each wheel... powered by a small deisel motor/generator... 40+mpg might be possible?

My 1988 Ford Festiva got better than 40MPG without any modification, with the 1.0L gas motor. It had a crap-ton of miles on it, and still got 43 or 44 down the highway.