Andy, you'll have to ask Susan for her picture yourself..

Right guys...maybe we should have a new page called "Chix of MercedesShop.com"...where we post profiles and pix of MB receptionists

(anyways, how HOT is this Susan???)

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1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 (W124 - Black Pearl/Black)

Hey guys...what about the cars???

Listen, I need some advice on life after 200 kph. I've been doing some high speed testing of the Michelin Pilot
Sports and notice that my E500 gets pretty floaty around 225 kph (140 mph).
Would a rear ducktail work with the W124 body style or does the sedan shape mess up the rear airflow too much? Would it be better to manage airflow under the car with an airdam? I'll need to sustain an average 120 mph for 90 miles at the Silver State Classic road rallye this September in Vegas and would like to stay tight to the road!!

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Dean Albrecht
94 E500
99 ML320

Dean, I don't think it's the brand, the Michelin Pilot Sports are OEM on the M5 and the E55 so I would guess it's a decent tire.

Perhaps you need slightly wider tires and a stiffer suspension?

I envy you can take your car to 225km/h, here in BC, we don't have the opportunity.

By the way, does anyone know if those Uniden Beartrackers Police Radio Scanners work well in Canada?

Sounds like it might be an over inflation problem. try lowering the tire pressure by 2-3 lbs. and see what happens. Silver State classic, eh? I'm gonna try to plan ahead for that event! Hope to see you there!
Gary

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http://clubs.snap.com/mercedesbenze55registry/index.lhtml
00 AMG E55
96 DCM Impala SS
94 ZR-1
81 Corvette Cpe

Yeah, Building a Mercedes "Chictionary" will be fun. BTW, Dean, maybe u can consider lowering ur car to Euro spec cause only they were meant to be driven on the Autoban. Here in N.A. the ride height is noticably higher and at higher speed it will produce greater lift not to mention greater underbody turbulence cause by a gust of wind. However, the stock ride height is just right for city "parking". you don't have to worry about damaging ur bumper by those concrete bars. I have witness my friend's 540's front bumper got partly torn down by those damn things (notice that each one has 2 little steel screws that actually act as hooks). This is why I am not too crazy about lowering my car. But highway safety is more important in this case.

I wonder if there is a way to fit new S500's air suspension on. It is very impressive, it is more comfortable than my 55 around bumpy roads yet offer similiar cornering stability and it is self leveling!

P.S. Susan is a Canadian born Korean or Cantonese(if I remember it correctly). Not drop-dead gorgeous but pretty.

Happy motoring,
ET

Eric,

Actually you can pull that 225km/h on No.1, the section between Langley and Abbsford...I have pull up to the point where the speedo meter is almost vertical...LOL....but the car floats like a Suzuki Swift...

Dean,

Try lower the car, and as Michael suggested, lower the tire pressure.

ET,

Hm...Chixtionary...hm...interesting.. If I remember it right, Susan is Cantonese-Canadian....Any one started taking pix yet???

Andy Kuo



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

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Pearl Grey/Black Leather
  

ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
Mercedes S-Class Page
http://drive.to/akry
http://akry.homestead.com

Andy, is that stretch on Highway 1 better than that 4 lane stretch on I5 on the way to Seattle?

and guys, I'm bringing my car to the Broadway MB dealership this Thursday, if conditon permits, I'll try to take a spy shot of our 'Susan' with my digital camera.. If it turns out to be nice photo, perhaps we can convince mecedesshop to replace the tirerack ad with 'Susan's face?

Hahaha... Eric, u have my best wishes on this one, hope this mission is a success.
It is too bad that I have a class on Thursday otherwise I will try to be there to suppport. BTW, we should ask for permission 1st.

Cheers,

ET

Eric,

Nah, the 15 Highway is better. But, that stretch of highway is pretty flat and straight, enough to do 60-250-60(km/h)....

But make sure that there are no cops hide under bridges/overpasses...

Maybe open a "Most popular Mercedes receptionist" section.... And we can vote to the best....hehe...

Andy Kuo

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

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Pearl Grey/Black Leather
  

ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
Mercedes S-Class Page
http://drive.to/akry
http://akry.homestead.com

Dean,

Get your alignment checked...a 500E should be stuck to the road like glue at those speeds. Heck, I've never been in another vehicle that made 150 seem so sedate!

I run Michelin Pilot XGT-Z4s and they track beautifully at any speed.

------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

And back to the cars...

I've tried changing tire pressure in increments between 29 front/30 rear to 37 front/38 rear (recommended on the sticker for driving over 100 mph) but still get the floating sensation.

Renntech sells a lowering kit for $625 - anyone know of another? I have 70,000 km on the stock shocks, should I also get new ones with the springs? Is there really any choice other than Bilstein?

And now, back to Susan...



------------------
Dean Albrecht
94 E500
99 ML320

Whos gonna print this out and mail it to the dealership ?

Then I'd love to see a pic of Andys face when he next goes in ! <grin>

Try lowering the front of the car just a shade.... keep the rear the same. Should REALLY reduce the lift at speed. Michaels right tho, at 150 it should stick. Heck, even my 300CE riding on stock 15in Continentals (Yeah, yeah, I know, but I do 120 miles per day and need tires that last!) feels totally rock solid at 130-140mph. Noisy, but solid.

Bri

------------------
Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

I prefer double adjustable Koni's to the stock Sachs or Bilsteins for the 500E application.

Dean,
The high speed instability sounds VERY odd in a E500. As Michael observed, those cars seem so stable and well planted its spooky. You might want to have the car aligned and put up on a lift for some inspection work. Pilot Sports should be a darn good tire. Road surface can also play a big role. If it is bumpy, has some minor camber changes, elevation changes, etc that can all have a negative effect on stability. Try taking the front tire pressure up to 35lbs and the back up to at least 35lbs if not more. As long as you stay under the max cold psi rating on the sidewall you should be fine. As for suspension, I seem to recall that Tirerack has H&R lowering springs for 500E's and Koni adjustable shocks as well. (fronts only due to the self leveling) Check out their application chart and pricing before going with Harmut.

That said, I prefer to actually go out with the said receptionists... Gary had the right idea on the "taking them for a little ride". Sorry folks, no digital pics. (can picture Bill the Webmaster gritting his teeth at the thought of it) Though link posting, ICQ/AOLIM transfers, etc are not as much under our direct control/liability.

Hope this helps...Lee
ICQ #56802240

PS I'll wager that the individual from RBM will "take the Pepsi challenge" against most any other contender. Perhaps that thread will mirror the "How hard have you pushed your MB"? j/k