The SEC/S-Coupe/CL-Class Thread

[Drezell]

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Well this crowd (no offense) might be a little biased to the C126 but I do think that everyone would agree that it is the best Mercedes coupe ever made. With that being said I think the C215 would be my best (Future) bet. It also doesn't hurt that someone that I know also likes the look of it. Interestingly enough she likes the headlight design which you and I thought was it's weak point.

Aww. You guys don't like the headlight design? What's wrong with it?? As long as it does its job as a couple of GOOD headlights, then I don't see what your problem is!

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Interesting. I must say that all of these cars are my 'unicorns'. That is I have driven almost every model of Mercedes built between 1985 and 2008 but I cannot seem to get my hands on a big Coupe. Even at TWO AMG challenges the CL's managed to elude me.

Once I drove a 560SEC but I was disappointed by it. It had been sitting for two years and to be honest my diesel felt faster then it. The interior was quite dirty and overall I was not impressed by it....I think I need to drive a well sorted model to feel a true SEC.

My 500 SEC was rated at only 185 hp but bout 250 torque. It responded to a prod on the throttle with a pretty eager thrust without down shifting. If you were really in a hurry it would downshift and take off. Much more relaxed than a diesel.

I autocrossed it with a set of hoosier slicks the same size as I use now on my Miata. I surprised a lot of little cars with it. I remember at one event a fellow complained that it should have been in FS instead of HS. (he was wrong)....I just figured "I must be on the right track". He went home early in a huff (I imagined).

Lovely cars. I get a little twinge whenever I see one, still.

[Fulcrum525]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

My 500 SEC was rated at only 185 hp but bout 250 torque. It responded to a prod on the throttle with a pretty eager thrust without down shifting. If you were really in a hurry it would downshift and take off. Much more relaxed than a diesel.

I autocrossed it with a set of hoosier slicks the same size as I use now on my Miata. I surprised a lot of little cars with it. I remember at one event a fellow complained that it should have been in FS instead of HS. (he was wrong)....I just figured "I must be on the right track". He went home early in a huff (I imagined).

Lovely cars. I get a little twinge whenever I see one, still.

FS? HS?

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

FS? HS?

SCCA Autocross classes...FS is F stock the class for camaro and mustangs with v8's and such. H stock is the lowest class available and the home of all mercedes not otherwise classified. My 500 SEC was not otherwise classified.

[Fulcrum525]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

SCCA Autocross classes...FS is F stock the class for camaro and mustangs with v8's and such. H stock is the lowest class available and the home of all mercedes not otherwise classified. My 500 SEC was not otherwise classified.

Lol poor Miatas didn't stand a chance Kidding. What other cars were running that day?

By modern standards an SEC (While heavy) is a lot lighter when compared to its 'replacements'

[t walgamuth]

The only one I remember was the fellow who complained about my car. He had a little Honda hatchback, the same era as the CRX but with a square back. IIRC it had street tires and was not cherry.

The SEC was impressive for a relatively large heavy car with an open diff.....of course it was not in the leage of a Miata. A miata will often set fast stock time of the day if it is a favorable course for handling without too many places where massive acceleration helps....then a corvette may win fast stock time or a 350z.

[Fulcrum525]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The only one I remember was the fellow who complained about my car. He had a little Honda hatchback, the same era as the CRX but with a square back. IIRC it had street tires and was not cherry.

The SEC was impressive for a relatively large heavy car with an open diff.....of course it was not in the leage of a Miata. A miata will often set fast stock time of the day if it is a favorable course for handling without too many places where massive acceleration helps....then a corvette may win fast stock time or a 350z.

In corners.....Small cars > big cars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrAl_haJwTw
4:15

(You might actually be interested in watching all 4 parts)

[t walgamuth]

That was a hoot! Unfortunately my sound does not work so I am sure I missed a lot. The fellow in the blue wagon had the prettiest co driver. Yeah the ah sprite was pretty quick on the road course!

In the south bend region there is a fellow who autocrosses a fairly stock looking sprite like that in one of the modified classes who won at the nationals last year.

[PaulC]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

SCCA Autocross classes...FS is F stock the class for camaro and mustangs with v8's and such. H stock is the lowest class available and the home of all mercedes not otherwise classified. My 500 SEC was not otherwise classified.

IIRC, the stock 500SEC has a 0-60 time of about 9 seconds and is shod with a relatively narrow tire for its weight. This bozo wanted you to go up against lighter 350 IROC Camaros with much larger tires?

There was a reason he was driving a ratty Honda - he was too stupid to hold a well-paying job...

[t walgamuth]

Hey, I was beating him....

[w111geek]

i have a 1984 Mercedes Benz w126 500 sec American version and i just had a blown head gasket, so i decided to put a European 500 sec engine . what is the difference? who's better in either performance or reliability etc ....? which is more powerful ? would you recommend the swap ? looking forward thank you. jack

[DieselPaul]

There is no US version 500SEC.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

There is no US version 500SEC.

Not true.

In 1984 and 1985 they were for sale new in the USA in Mercedes Benz dealerships.

~~~

Many of us would like to know more about deciphering the VIN numbers on the W126 coupes. Here's the trick for most U.S. spec vehicles. Keep in mind that most European grey market models use the chassis number (the number stamped on the secondary firewall) as the actual VIN number. U.S. vehicles have a VIN number stamping in multiple locations including the front windshield and driver's side door post.



Here's a sample VIN number from a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC: WDB C A 45 E X K A 478654



I'll break these down in order:



WDB - this refers to the manufacturer's code indicating Daimler-Benz (and now Daimler-Chrysler for 1999+ vehicles)



C - this code refers to the model or series. C = 126 series (other examples are E = 124 series and H = 202 series)



A - this letter refers to the engine type. A = gasoline, B = diesel



45 - these number refer to the model within the series. The following designations are relevent in the U.S. spec. W126 coupes:



- 126.043 1982-1983 380SEC M116.963 engine

- 126.044 1984-1985 500SEC M117.963 engine

- 126.045 1986-1991 560SEC M117.968 engine



E - this letter refers to the safety restraint system on the vehicle. E = seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver and passenger

front air bags



X - this is simply a check digit



K - this is the model year designation. K = 1989 (other examples are P = 1993, R = 1994, and so on)



A - this letter signifies the plant of production. A-E = Sindelfingen, F-H = Bremen, and J = Rastatt



478654 - this is the chassis end number

source: www.mbcoupes.com

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by PaulC

IIRC, the stock 500SEC has a 0-60 time of about 9 seconds and is shod with a relatively narrow tire for its weight. This bozo wanted you to go up against lighter 350 IROC Camaros with much larger tires?

There was a reason he was driving a ratty Honda - he was too stupid to hold a well-paying job...

9 seconds seems slow.....thats only 3ish seconds faster than a 300SD.....and 1 second slower than a 300E.....though if it only has 185HP stock, that is why....the 300E is only a few less than that in a smaller car.

[Fulcrum525]

Euro 5.6 engine all the way if you can actually find one (And afford it.....)

Your looking at around 282 HP on the euro engine vs 220 on the US engine.