I need a bit of assistance regarding the differential in a 500SEL in the model year 1984 or 1985.

Can anyone who has one of these confirm what differential final drive ratio is in the vehicle??

Thanks.

I think it is listed in the owners manual to my car. The same manual covers the 380SE, 500SEL and 500SEC. I will look to see if it is indeed in there, but it may be Thursday before I can check. I have to work all day tomorrow.

Thanks.

I already have documentation on all the diffs available during those years. It appears that the 500 had the 2.24 but the 380 got the 2.47.

Some folks believe that the 2.24 only went on European deliveries and all of them have the 2.47 over here.

I need confirmation from someone who has this exact vehicle.

Hmm. That may explain partly why the 500SEL and 500SEC starts out in second gear and the 380SE and 380SL start out in first.

Also less power. The 400E I'm going to get starts in first with its 2.28:1, I believe, gears.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I simply cannot imagine starting out in second with a 2.24 rear axle. Even with 5 liters of engine, the vehicle would feel like a dog.

Yeah, especially considering that these are heavy cars.

So our old diesels that start in 2nd with much less displacement and power feel like... what's slower than a dog (in that sense)? A snail?!?

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver