Suprised with fuel economy .......

[86560SEL]

I had never checked the fuel economy on my 85' 380SE, because it was so much better than my 95' GMC Suburban SLT 4WD, which was getting 13 MPG.

Anyway, I checked the Mercedes last time I filled up and I calculated that it is getting 20 MPG in the city. Pretty suprising for a 3800 lb, V8 car, especially considering that it has 265K.

Does this sound about average for other W126 sedans with a V8 engine?

[lesrrt]

I get 18-20 Highway 65-75mph with my 82 380 sel. Has 155k with recent tune-up.

[86560SEL]

Thats good. We have the same engine I believe, but your car is heavier I imagine, since it is the longer wheelbase. Probably around 200 lbs. more I suppose.

I am going to check mine again to see if I get the same reading.

[t walgamuth]

that 20 city is normal.

i would think more like 14. in my 500sec best highway i have gotten is 19. granted a 500 will use more since it is a bigger motor and same gear ratio and same body. 12 to 13 is more like what i get city.

20 city is what i get in a 240 with a stick/

tom w

[420 SE]

My 420 gets about 15mpg city and 20 highway.

[raymr]

17/21

Funny that this car got taxed as a gas guzzler, but the RX-7 whos real world mileage was lower and only carried 2 people, was not.

[Monomer]

Originally Posted by 86560SEL

Thats good. We have the same engine I believe, but your car is heavier I imagine, since it is the longer wheelbase. Probably around 200 lbs. more I suppose.

I am going to check mine again to see if I get the same reading.

according to the owners amnual, the curb weight of the 380sel (1st gen) is 3865

[86560SEL]

Thanks - sounds about right - the 380SE probably weighs about 3700-3750.

[S-Class Guru]

My little 6-cylinder 300SE gets about 15 in town, my PT Cruiser won't even get 20 in town. Better average a couple tankfuls.

DG

[t walgamuth]

pt gets 13 in town, low 20s hiway.

tom w

[420 SE]

The SEs are 20 kg lighter than the SELs.

At 2.2lb per kg thats only 44lbs.

According to the owners manual.

[jhodg5ck]

My SEL's record was just a hair under 24mpg...acheived by setting the cruise @ 74 and driving the entire tank that way (late @ night from Ohio to Kansas).

That aside I could see 20-22mpg highway quite readily as long as I didn't have fun w/ the loud pedal.

Jonathan

[derryb]

Very recent valve job (seems to have improved mileage) and burning mid octane gas giving me 20 mpg on interstate at 75 mph (200 mile trip). Scared to check city mileage!

[wbain5280]

I get about 22 in both cars. I work at night so driving really doesn't involve stop and go on the way to work. The CV has a modern EFI while the 300SE has that 'thing' of an FI system. I'd like to convert it to a real EFI system.