W126 + Snow = FUN!!

[jcantor]

Being one of those who loves to drive in the snow, I was quite happy with this weekend's storm. Got nearly two feet here in central NJ, enough for the governor to declare a state of emergency (ie no driving except for emergencies).

So I put tire chains on my 560SEL and drove over to the local hospital to see if they needed help. Spent the better part of Monday shuttling doctor's and nurses around for them so they could keep up with the incoming emergencies.

The car handled the snow like a charm, even some streets that hadn't seen a plow - just had to remember not to stop! I lost track of the number of front wheel drive cars that I passed, stuck in the drifts. There were even a few 4x4's that managed to get stuck as well.

The only problem I had was Tuesday afternoon when I went back out on what were now clear streets. Over 50 mph, the front end started shaking like crazy. Stopped in at the local NTB where I had the alignment done several months ago so see what I might have damaged in going through some of the plow drifts. They suggested driving the car, carefully, for a few more miles to free up some of the ice that had accumulated in the suspension. Turns out that was the problem as an hour later, the car handled 90 just as smooth as always.

Happy driving!
jlc

[Don HO]

Have any pics of the W126 with the chains?


For some strange reson my W126 does not have a lockable diff and usually gets stuck in the drive way..

My 280 C on the other hand has the auto locking system and never gets stuck.

[jcantor]

Sorry I didn't think of taking a picture...but winter isn't over yet

As for getting stuck if you stop - that depends. In my experience with other cars, if you're in snow that is pushing on the underside of the car, you may have problems unless on level ground if you stop. When the snow gets deep enough that you're floorboards are resting on it you have a) too much friction and b) not enough weight (traction) at the wheels due to the lift.

Momentum becomes a big issue in snow driving. That's why doing up a hill, I curse at the idiots that believe in creaping along at 5-10mph and going down the hill I curse at the idiots who believe in following right behind me at 35-40. It's also important if you have to get through/over a plow berm. Trying to tackle one of these at 10-15 mph is a sure way to get stuck - hitting them at 30 ususally works. HOWEVER - one word of caution - only do this if the snow is dry and freshly plowed. After a few hours, those snow berms become ice walls that will do quite a number on all parts of a car.

jlc

[BenzOnline]

why would you torture the w126 in this way?

[Eberhard Weilke]

That is not torture, that ist fun!

We had about five foot of snow some weeks ago



It was actually fun to drive through roads where there has only been a snowplow before:


At the place where he turned around that was the end for the trip


A Mercedes with good winter tires (for stearing) and chains on the driving wheels can handle up to 3-4 inches of snow easily.

I don't understand why my girlfriend parked the car during the heavy snow

It took almost an hour to dig the car out.

We put some markers at the antenna, that the snowplows don't run over it.



BTW: That is the Diesel of a friend with new Continental TS 790 having fun in the snow



Kind regards
Eberhard

[jcantor]

Eberhard,

Your pictures are great! I will definately have to take some the next time we get a good snowfall. Unfortunately, they won't be as scenic as yours.

I'm actually hoping to be in Stuttgart in May as part of a global studies trip with the masters program I'm in at the University of Pennsylvania. Any pointers you could offer outside of our hopeful visit to Mercedes?

jlc

[Eberhard Weilke]

tons of things to do.

Just send me a mail ;-))

Kind regards
Eberhard

[Zeus]

Eberhard -

Did you recently lube your driver's door lock with some lube? Graphite lube?

[Eberhard Weilke]

WD 40. Lots of WD 40.

We had water in the lock which caused trouble with freezing, so I used plenty of WD 40 to get rid of the water.

I'm eventually going to clean the mess

Kind regards
Eberhard

[Don HO]

Eberhard,
You are also missing the hood star

[Eberhard Weilke]

Thanks for telling me

Got a new one today for EUR 14. Unfortunatly the one with the 201 part number.

One time in Austria and the star was gone...

[Don HO]

My w126 star has the W201 part number also, for some strange reason the W201 star is of better quality than the original one

[Eberhard Weilke]

Better quality?

No, it is just this "replacec by" story.

Actually the finish is poor of the new star. And it has the wrong angle.

Kind regards
Eberhard