I posted a spreadsheet for the first half of my 2004 drag race campaign at the following URL if you have Microsoft Excel:

http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/dragstats.xls

Some of the runs are with the very first use of my nitrous oxide system when I was tuning it. My best time at the time was 13.195, and on a cold night late in the season last season with nitrous I was able to achieve a 12.89 second quarter mile at over 108 MPH.

My best time, as evidenced from the slip at URL http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/slips.jpg , normally aspirated, was 14.024 seconds and another run 14.032 at 99.75 MPH. This was at the very end of October 2003 and the temperature was 35 degrees F.

Cheers,
Gerry

The 500SL/SL500 was around two tenths of a second slower in the 1/4 mile than the 500E/E500 of the same vintage. This was primarily due to less torque in the SL (due to the 500E's revised intake runners, which provided more torque) and the extra weight of the SL.

Cheers,
Gerry

I can't wait to finish my (monster) motor project; all this race chat has my heart palpitating!

I'll see YOU at the starting line, GVZ!!!

You got a lot of work to do, bud.

We should get together this coming week -- I'll be in the area -- next Friday is my last day of work until August 15th (taking my sabbatical).

Cheers,
Gerry

What are the differences in performance, reliability, maintanance between the two transmissions?

Well at a factory 0-60 in 6.2 it isn't going to do sub 14 second times. How fast a car feels can be rather different than how fast it is. If you spent some extended time in the car it might grow on you (or it might not). A 90-92 300SEL felt pretty fast when I rode in one. My C36 TT doesn't feel that fast because it is running like crap (cracked air intake hose, needs to be re-tuned) but it will do high 4 second times all day long. The M119 can be rather sluggish if the outside air isn't cold. The 500E is a very fast car and it feels very fast as well. I have heard of many 500E drivers wanting more power but I haven't ever heard of one complaining about a lack of power. The 500SL does feel very different and much slower with all it's bulk packaged into such a small package. I would say the main difference is that the 500SL has a sort of loafing, unhurried quality whereas the 500E has a brutal and eager acceleration. If you want a really fast luxury sedan that is great to take on long trips the 500E is one of the best.

As to the newer 3 valve V8/V6s I don't think they are nearly as good as their 4 valve DOHC counterparts. The only reason that they would feel faster would be more gears and crisper transmissions with better software.

As mentioned earlier, the longer intake runners and weight make a difference, but you're right about the 'old-school' 327(6)hp vs. newer 305hp M119 motors. The '90 500SL you drove had the old CIS fuel injection, with fuel distributor on the intake manifold. The newer LH injection systems in the 500E/'92 & later 500SL/S-Class will feel much peppier in the low range. However, in a full 1/4 mile run, I don't think you'll see too much of a difference in times.

__________________
Mike
-W126C 560SEC 040 Black
*6.0L AMG M117 32v Hammer
-W163 ML320 Brilliant Silver
-W124 300E Pearl Black

Hi Guys,
Please excuse the delay in response. Work has been crazy lately.

laurencekarl,
Your On! I would definately like to see how my turbo 300E stacks up to your TT C36. Should be pretty close numbers. We'll see though...

mike690003,
My house is in Oldsmar, basically between Clearwater and Tampa. A little ways from WPB. We do have Sunshine Dragstrip in St. Pete but it's only an 1/8 mi track. I love the Ganesville track though, I got my Super Comp license there.

stummala,
Thanks for the info, I'm sure your right but why did the Merc dealership tech make it sound like such a big deal? He sure made it sound like the gear ratio was different. He also said he own's a 500E. I figured he would be an expert in this area.

Michael,
Nice Run! Email me your timeslip, I would be glad to edit and post them for you.

Everyone,
Yeah, the 500E is lighter than the SL, It has the superior LH EFI versus the KE CIS as well as longer intake runners in the manifold. The 500E is definately faster. By how much??? No Clue.

run.exe,
What "Monster Motor" project????? Keep me informed!

Thanks!!!
Adam

__________________
Current Stable:
01 ML55 AMG
92 500E (a few mods)
87 300E (lots of mods)
00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck
68 18' Donzi Marine
06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!)

PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320

I own a `90 500SL and have driven a `92 500E and a `94 E500. The SL is definately more of a cruiser than a bruiser, as others have stated. Of course, that's by design. You can beat me at the line, but I can put the top down and cruise up and down Rodeo Drive all day long and get pretty girls to stare at me.

One other difference, if I'm not mistaken, is R&P gear ratios. 500E500 is 2.82:1 stock and (I believe) 500SL500 is 2.65:1. That can make a difference as well. I spoke to Carl (Mr. Bergwerks) and he said a bump to a 3.07 R&P would have me beating the stock 500E500s at the stoplight. But top end and driveability would suffer. Also, I'd have to swap out my current gears, which only have 55K miles on them (like the rest of the car). Just seems wasteful in my mind. Besides, that's not the character of this car. If I wanted brutal off the line, I'd get a Corvette!

__________________
Derek Lee
`63 Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG (404.115)
`64 Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG (404.114)
`80 Mercedes-Benz 300GD (W460)
`90 Mercedes-Benz 500SL (R129)
`02 Saab 9-5 Aero
`04 Toyota Land Cruiser (UZJ100)
Elk Grove, CA, USA

That is absolutely right! I can't believe I forgot that. I'll bet the gearing has a lot to do with it.