He posted on the 31/3, I think there's only 1 fool.

the M116 4.2 is not really suited for going above 6000 rpm. it is not M103, M104, or M119 where you could probably go well above redline safely all day. I know M103 will let you pull to 6500 or so when the redline is at 6200.

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currently just 1989 300SE 185k miles

Unless Benz-vettes has done some REALLY serious tweaking there is NO WAY a 420SEL at just a tad over 200 HP could HOPE to stay with a 540 at about 280HP, AND a lot less weight. Something else going on here, I think..........

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Mike in Denver
'93 400E Now DEAD - Rear ended and totalled.
Replaced by '02 C32 AMG - FAST!

BULL****T! Where is the original poster? Probably hiding under a rock. I am pleasantly surprised that some here, being MB, actually acknowledge it would be impossible .

As somebody esle said they didnt make 5 series BMW's in 96! ANd how exactly could he tell? Didn't her read the 540 has something like 275 hp , more or less, LOL,.....

Next he will be racing Grand Nationals and blowing them away

Actually, the 1995 540i was carried over to '96, and the '97 models were introduced in the spring of '96. So it IS possible to have seen a "1996" 540i. And it had 282 HP and 295 ft/lbs of torque, from the factory. It weighed 3803 lbs. A stock 420SEL was 201 HP, 228 ft/lbs of torque, and weighed 3885 lbs. (This is surprising - I thought the 420 SEL would be much heavier.) Also the 540i was available with a 6 speed manual. Unless the BMW owner was asleep, there really is no way the 420 would have beaten a 540i in a drag race or top speed contest.

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Mike in Denver
'93 400E Now DEAD - Rear ended and totalled.
Replaced by '02 C32 AMG - FAST!

Got my 540i yesterday, if only talking about acceleration it blows the doors of my 400E, not to mention a 420sel, actually the 540 6-speed has the same acceleration as 500E, but it handles better, after all its technology is a decade newer...

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

I recently test drove a 97 540i. Compared to my 500E, I wasn't too impressed. It seeemed to be about as fast off the line, but seemed to lose thrust higher up the rpms, where, of course, the 500E shines. Couldn't stand the seats, and i like the old recirculating ball steering on the MB.
Just my opinion. compared to the 400E, I'm sure its a bit quicker.

Tom
92 500E

Congrats on the 540 purchase, great car. However something must be amiss with your 400e for the stats are pretty similar if yours is same age (ie both have 295 ft pds torque). Road & Tracks tests had the Mercedes as faster all the way up by a hair (mid '90's).


Delsman
'92 400e Rippin' fast
'89 535i Fast

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Delsman
92' 400E, 107k
BMW 535i, 165k

Thanks, mine is a 99 E39 sports 6 speed, it has more torque than E34 540i and 400E, I feel it can beat my 400E by 1-1.5 seconds just in 1st gear's range, 400E's tall rear diff makes it hesitate a big time from stand still, also the lazy transmission always wants to stay at 4th, plus those tiny shoes(195 vs. Bimmer's 255), soft suspension and 60/40 F/R balance, as someone quoted before, 400E is actually 200-300 lbs lighter than E39 540i, it has the potentials to be a very fast car but Mercedes tried its best to hamper it down..

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

To the original poster. 135 through an area with traffic lights should be punishible by multiple years in prison if it were up to me.

It is a crying shame that you were not caught by the cops and thrown in jail. I am ashamed and angered that people like you are allowed to drive on the streets with me.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Allright, I think he's had enough. He made a mistake, hopefully he won't do it again. Enjoy your 420 man, albeit a little safer.

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

I have a 96 SL320, my Signifigant other just got a 2001 BMW 528i. I love the BMW, it is such a pretty car and the wood grain is absolutely the most beutiful wood I have ever seen in a car. I have noticed that this BMW has aluminum contol arms and rack and pinion, the car handles really well for a 4-door, but our dis-appointment is in it's power. The car is pretty quick, but not as quick as my 6 cylinder and not as quick as the 6 cylinder it replaced (Pontiac GTP Supercharged). We try to consider mileage and environmental issues too. We almost got the M 540 or was it a 530? I can't remember, but it was a wierd color and we wanted silver. BMW's are nice cars, I feel pretty safe in, but there is nothing like a Mercedes. They are top of the line, and if you get a good one it will start to develop it's own personality. Maybe the 540 was just a re-badged 528 or 525? I have seen so many SL's out there that are rebadged as 600's or 320's badged as 500's, I would be embarrased when I took it in for an oil change! ha ha!

Happy Benzing!

benz-vettes:
Are you serious? That's way too fast for in town. Here In San Diego you would've killed a druggie of homeless dude for sure. As a general rule I keep my stoplight races under 60. It's pretty much decided who has the power by then anyway.
Stay outa trouble!

For all the safety crusaders here.

Firstly, I'm not in favor of anyone speeding.
Me, I go about 5mls/hr over the posted speed
limit.

That said, here we go.

Unless you NEVER speed, and I mean
never(not even when the posted speedlimit is
under 25), I wouldn't come down as hard on others
speeding.
We all at sometime or another have sped and
some like me do it everyday(yes,5mls/hr over
speedlimit is speeding).

And, I can hear everyone saying:

"But it's not the same,going 135 or going 55
in a 50 zone (example)".
Well, you can as easily kill someone going 55 as
you could going 135.

I'm sure everyone has heard of something like this:
"Person falls from 2nd/3rd floor and survives fall"
And this:
"Person falls backward from bottom step of ladder
and was killed instandly".

This just goes to show that it isn't always the
speed/height that kills.


Speedlimits are posted for a reason, no matter
how silly or ridiculous they may seem.
So if everyone would adhere to them then the
roads would be a safer place for all.

I drive a school bus so I see my share of speeders,
idiots and people that just shouldn't have a drivers
license.

I don't claim or pretend to be a perfect driver, since
I do make mistakes.
But I try to learn from my mistakes and not repeat
them over and over again.
I try to be cordial and friendly to other road users,
and I have no problem apologizing to them if I do
make a mistake.

I know I'm going to get some flack from this one.

But in any case I wish all a good night.

Louis.

Everyone speeds every now and then...but come on...100+ in the city?! Next time you have the urge to race, go to the tracks.

If you want to kill youself that fine with me, just don't take an innocent bystander's life with you.

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JR
1986 Gold 300E 4Dr automatic