Have not been under a W140 in a while but I do remember they are quite a bit different underneath then the W126's. Also a lot of them have adjustable shocks.

I do know they have things like fluid filled bushings in the LCA's. Also the front sway bars are much more massive then the W126's and lower.

brian, i am sure you have good bilsteins under your 126 and michelin tires, right?

so do i so i guess it comes down to different strokes for different folks.

some roads are a lot more irritating too.

tom w

The shocks on the SD are shot. I'm getting a new set.

The front shocks on the SDL are new.

Tom, I'm sure you know that new shocks will stiffen the ride on the SD........as compared to it's current condition, right?

MB does not give away cars to the diplomatic corps.:)


Could it be that the 126 just isn't as stiff (chassis) as the 140?
My sdl does better at big bumps (as in it never bottoms) than my more 'modern' cars.

Not the original poster but, a subframe should allow for an additional layer of isolation relative to a uni-body car with the downside of the additonal cushioning being uncontrolled movement.

Jorg

Subframe
 

Exactly. But back in the late 70's when the 126 was being designed (its European debut was in 1979) you had to make decisions based on the technology available at the time. Mercedes was presented with a choice of ride quality vs high speed stability and handling. Considering the technology they had to choose from I think they made the best choice. Today's cars have 30 years more technology than the Mercedes designers who were creating the 126 did. One of the unfortunate problems with the 126 is it has a somewhat timeless design and was produced for a very long time people tend to forget how old they are and make unfair comparisons to modern cars. My 126 is a 1982 model and because of its european headlamps is mistaken for an early 1990's model all the time.

http://beostar.paunix.org/newmbzpics

brian, i would expect the ride to improve with new shocks. bad shocks allow the wheels to bounce up and down uncontrolled therefore giving a poor ride quality.

fear not, go for the new shocks, you wont be sorry.

whenever i buy a new used benz the first thing i want to do is new bilstens and new michelins. the two biggest things to make the car feel right.

imho

tom w

Mine still ride like crap with new Bilstien comforts all the way around.

what tires and wheels you running?

tom w

Yokahama Avid V4S, Firestone, and Mich X originaly. Ride doesn't change much even going to the 16in Yoko's.

Well, you may be right. I don't think the shocks are that bad to allow bouncing up and down but, maybe the new ones will damp some of the road vibrations somewhat.......we'll see.

I took the SDL out for a ride today on the same pavement. It does ride considerably better........I was mistaken about that. The longer wheelbase and new shocks up front clearly provide a much better ride.

Maybe I'll get some improvement on the SD........hopefully.:o

The first Sel I rode was a 500 Sel in top shape with only 34.000Km on the clock. It drove like a dream (without mentioning that roads here are not even close to what you would find in Germany or US). That car started the maddness - I wanted one eversince.:rolleyes:

Now I have a 500 Sel fitted with a recently rebuild Diesel engine with state of the art mounts and bushings but the car has over 200.000Km on the clock and that can be felt in the car's handling and road noise. Previously I had a '79 300 TD which rode better. Now I'm thinking of replacing the 16" wheels I have on the Sel with stock 14" wheels and see how it goes. It might not look as pretty as these 16" wheels look but they could feel better on the highway. After all there's always the feel of driving a big, powerful car you can trust.

Much the same set up as yrs but no complaint
 

Mine has 117k on the clock, rear self leveling, car lowered with Yokohama AVIDs, on 16" rims, fairly new Bilstein comforts, new steering damper, and the ride is very good, I have no complaints.:confused:

I was used to the '80's LTD Ford Crown Vics, 77-79 Coupe de villes and Olds 88s, but compared to the W126 they are floaters. For that matter so are the new Grand Marquis/Crown Vic. I happen to like large cars.

I will hang on to the W126 as long as possible. If I ever sell it, probably would try to sell here to make sure it got a good home.

What we tend to lose sight of, is these cars were made for autobahn cruising, which meant they should be also good for safe and comfortable cruising at 140 mph plus.

I even felt fine in a W123 diesel at 80 mph (at that speed the cork is pretty much out of the bottle)

Don't get me wrong my W126 isn't going anywhere, I have and will continue to spend a small fortune on the SDL perfecting it.

Maybe they are just showing their age, but I spend enough time in high end late model cars to know the W126's ride limitations. A modern say XJ8 will smooth over the bumps that upset the W126, lean less in the corners, and rides just as well up to any speed a W126 will go.


I think the differnece is in late 70's technoligy vs late 80's and 00 technoligy. Time marches on.

Actualy you know what my W126 rides like? A modern 3 series BMW, with the sport package.

and really, that is not bad in my book.

tom w