Miles per gallon was never a concern to people who could afford a new SEC, the flagship Mercedes of the time.

They drink premium gas, and when new, had an extra $1300 gas guzzler tax added on to the MSRP. As I recall the window sticker on the 560SEC stated I think it was supposed to get 12 mpg city and 17 mpg highway.

Mileage around town and on the SF streets hills was I think maybe around 11-12, in there. Top highway MPG, in the best highway conditions, was 18.5 MPG, but I never paid attention.

Normally you just put it on the plastic and forget about it.

With the Volvo 740? Honestly I never checked. Just regular gas as needed.
11-13 mpg sounds low, maybe it needs a tuneup, air or gas filter or something. Does it run well? They only have 112 hp so they are not so fast

The little Volvo has so many other virtues, like strength, durability, safety, longevity, room, comfortable front seats, and a decent sized size trunk, 34" turning radius, it didn't seem worth quibbling about gas mileage.
They are good cars, especially for everyday use around a huge city, I miss that one a lot.

Volvo doesn't make good rear wheel drive cars like those anymore. They are undervalued. Perhaps their innate goodness will be recognized one day

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Volvo runs well
its had a major service
all those things
still low mpg

When I first got it I was getting close to 18 city
so something happened
unless its just really short trips
It needs a real good gulp just to start it...

For my use its cheaper to pay for the gas then a overhaul.

Supposed to get hot again...
arrghh

Well, found apick your parts & where the junkyards are but don't want to go up there in the 100 degrees..

got those lil things to do still

OOOH well....



oooh I like that lil hot guy..

Have a great day

9/11

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Started right up
Had errands to do
so it was going to be the volvo
but what the heck
I condensed them into 2 stops & took out the benz

Started right up & could hardly wait to get on the road
Had to hold it back
Even in reverse she strained the brakes..

Got the radio to work
I guess stereo
its ok
found 95.5 & it stayed on the channel
put in a tape it played
think there is some dirty contacts though as you get static when you use volume

Still it has a radio
Volvo has a cassette stuck in it & I;ve had ti kisten to the engine for too long

Was nice to drive w the radio though I kept it low as to hear the engine

Drove strong smooth

didn't go in any unchartered teritory
kept it safe
this was more for a test of if I shut it down hot it would restart

Drove a bit trying to charge the battery so went out of my way
Ju8st not good to go 10 blocks & stop

Took her down right to the corner of the curbstoner
did a u & came back
that was just to stretch its legs
LOL

Have to get the hang of restarting
seems to not start right up hot
had a bit of a struggle the 2 times but she started

Was a little loppy on idle on the hot restart
but then on acceleration smoothed out
Wonder what that is?

OOOOh stayed under 100
mostly 95 I;d say & there were some long lights
& oil pressure dropped to 2
thats great then pinned 3 on acceleration

Idling about 650 at lights

Still a bit hesitant of a long drive
just want to make sure & at least it got about 10 miles today
but maybe it wants a nice long 60 mph drive

Well, we got home & no scraping of bottom



Got to get that back plate mounted though
The plate is not that visible in rear window

Yep on the way home did a extras run
back to the curbstoner
u turned & back home to be on the right sideon the road to get the nose in on an angle so as not to scrape. the driveway..

OOOh she does really good u turns
very flat
Yeah!!!!!
that I like
not like the volvo


Arrgh
what happened to the lil hot guy on fire
I liked him...



Saw a sec pass my house black or maybeit was that navy
thern when O u turned by the curbstoner
a white 560 SEC went by
He was moving
Cool
wonder if he saw me
Bet he did...

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Seriously, with the gentle miles you will be putting on the car, with your volvo as a back up, the biggest problem with it, will be actually driving it enough. They don't scream for attention like a lonely cockatiel, but need it.
The car will just sit forlornly and sullenly in the garage waiting for you.

They like and need to be driven. The baseline maintenance shedule probably will be that you should change the fluids at the maximum TIME intervals needed, such as every 2 or 3 years with the brake fluid, and once every 9 months to a year, or so, with the oil, as the owner's manual recommends.

With the coolant, for instance, it probably won't hit 30,000 miles from now for a LOOONG time with your annual mileage, so just check it every now and then, to make sure it is enough, and maybe think again about changing it in 3 or 4 years, maybe....probably Enrique would agree, or have better ideas, maybe you can ask him about that next time you go there

You learn about the car little by little, you are doing well.

650 at idle is just right, that is spot on. Good thing too, those high idle problems are notorious on these cars, and very hard to diagnose and fix.

The guy on Benzworld who lives near me went and bought the 1989 560SEC for $4,200 with about 160,000 miles on it, it looks like anthracite color and in excellent shape except for the self leveling; it was traded in at Mercedes dealer for a new car and the wholesaler (kind of like a curbstoner but really a used car place actually - works the same) He got a good deal on a good car.

He also bought the "junk" 1984 500SEC AMG at the same time and towed it home (from Folsom to Rocklin, not far) where he is going to analyze whether it is better to fix it up or sell the parts off it bit by bit.

I would like the euro light wiper/washer and valences off it, nothing else.
They, and the euro lights, would also be a great deal on your car.

He never went away. He has friends too





The AMG body kit off that car is the best thing about it if he sells it.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

If I had a new car it would have 50K miles on it in 100 years


When I first start it it idles high
over 1000 in park
but in drive its about 650

It idled high at curbstoner too
but I didn't get to drive it
When I drove it later it was night & I was watchin the road not the gauges.

Do you think my volvo is a bit clogged from the infrequent city drving?
I suppose it would like a freeway haul too
Could take it to the beach

My I am getting brave
but you should have sen me the first few blocks
listening for every sound in engine
& thinking something is going to go wrong
does not help my driving

What about the lumpy idle at hot restart?


I passed a slow car today
LOL
usually I just take my timebut goodness he was going about 20 on a 35
Car really can take off...

so where is that hotty....

looky










Going to be 100 tomorrow
ooh well
One day I;ll test the AC

Boy I.m tired

Nite

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

You might have a slight high idle on that, I am not sure - I think idle at 1000 is too high; maybe it is tolerable to you if it goes away when you drive it. Enrique could tell you for sure probably. If there was a probablem like that, I'm sure he would be the guy who could fix it the fastest and cheapest, I would guess. Ask him if he thinks the idle air control solenoid valve is no good. I think it is around a $250 part, something like that....

Or maybe a fuse for the OVP relay (is there a red box by the firewall? - look there)

Or possibly vacuum leaks from worn out, cracked or leaking rubber hoses
(the rubber parts on the car are old)

For quick accelleration, in highway passing or to get around something in the way in town, you have to mash the pedal down real hard, like down to the floorboards or almost all the way, and they will REALLY go. That is why people like to get their hands on a 500SEC/SEL Euro in the first place.

The accellerator pedal is very stiff on these cars, but it was designed by Mercedes Benz to be like that on purpose.
Mash the gas hard and you can be just like the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" in the song about the Dodge with the 413. Hope that helped, good nite to you

Probably the Volvo you own could use a highway run, to clear out its throat also. Awhile at 60-70 on the 405 or the 10 should probably be enough. The SEC needs the highway, though, it really does.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

When started by curbstoner it did idle around 1000
I'll have to check this thread
goodluck..

On the last 2 starts it started even higher
I;d say least 1100..

that is in park
but when in drive its fine

not sure if this is just a cold start thing

Is this something to worry about?

add to list

Next time its in for some extra maintenance see if Enrique can tweak that.

I suppose thats all part of a tune up.



Hey, its not too bad
this car has sat mostly for 4 years
& I guess one would say it is surprising it runs as good as it does.

It;s almost perfect
just a few glitches here & there
to be expected...

I'd like to change the vacumn hoses
thats not a big thing
I could do it but they are different sizes
just a piece of rubber connecting hoses

I didn't anywhere close to floor it
It accelerates
well you have to figure I drive a volvo
so I guess I know nothing about accerleration



The trans aM was a automatic w a mild rear gearing
so it was no head snapper
this was no head snapping here either
but I don't want my neck snapped
It picked up fine
&is comparable to the transam

I think they may have around the same HP
not sure as my TA was a 400 ci Ram Air 3 hi compression engine

Still I'm enjoying the benz just as much

I think the saginsaw sterring in the TA was more agile
but I didn't use that car either & the worries so I cashed it in to pay for living expense...& also in the hope she would get to be used more

The TA needed an exhaust system including exhaust manifolds
I didn;t have the stock cast iron headersThe carb was also not original but the rest even the water pump was original & she had almost 89K on her
87 when I bought her 19 years earlier..

Yep I was bad to her
but the TA was too big
Even with the seat fully up & foward I still coudn't see out of reach gas without about 3 inches of padding under me so I never got comfy driving it.

My petite size can be a problem...

Today is not car day
got some things to do
but least it got some driving yesterday & its staying about 95

Maybe that hot restart lopping idle is part of the problem?

Got to get the license brackets
really don't want to get pulled over



What do you think the turning radius is?
I did a volvo manuever not sure if it would work but I turned it around from park on the right side of the road & was able to do a full u to turn to the opposite side on a normal sidestreet.

Thats good enough for me & one of the thingd I like about the volvo
The Volvo is a foot longer though (mostly bumper)
so maybe the turning radius is greater on the benze but perhaps the shorter length compensated for it..

Yeah!!!!

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

I don't know what the turning radius is on the 560SEC, but I know for a big car it is pretty good, I could nip around the tight corner from Market St onto Clayton very easily, whereas with the Ford Crown Victoria I had, I just couldnt, had to back and fill one time. (VERY annoying)


But the little Volvo could do a U turn anywhere, that 740 was the tightest handling car I ever had, with respect to turning radius. Nothing could beat it; for San Francisco, it was like having my own "Kamikaze Street Fighter." What a fantastic city car.

The 560SEC was bigger and longer and wider. I have to pull rank on you and say I owned the 560SEC/740 combo for more years than you did, so I am quite sure about this...

But they are apples and oranges; two different cars that excel in doing different things. But both are pretty distinctive, and both comfortable, safe and very long lasting (both companies offer high mileage badges for them).

And by the way did you sign up for your own "Mercedes Shop" badge that TheDon is going to be selling? He needs 40 orders to do a run. He would appreciate yours.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I measured the volvo against the sec
you ca even see it
the sec is shorter & it is wider

Don't know about your volvo
but mine is the 740 GLE
maybe it was a biggerversion.

I measured by paces but volvo came out longer
probably most in part to its really long bumpers...

I think I read the 83 sec was 196 inches?

no big deal but curious as to whether I am really that off or your volvo was shorter...

Length4800 mm (1982-1989)
4850 mm (1989-1993)Width1750 mm (69.3 in)


seems 89 up was even bigger

what is 4800 mm???
480cm converted to inches
is 189 inches...
oooh well how can that be...?

seems sec is bigger but it looks shoter & it took an extra pace to walk from end to end of volvo

guess its an easier walk w the sec

sec

Length4995 mm (280 SE)
5160 mm (300 SEL)
4935 mm (420 SEC)Width1820 mm (all SE/SEL)
1828 mm (all SEC)Height1430 mm (280 SE)
1440 mm (300 SEL)
1407 mm (420 SEC)Curb weight1560 kg (280 SE)
1655 kg (500 SEL)
1650 kg (500 SEC

so sec its about 195 inches (same as trans am) vs volvo 189...i
ts close
sec is 72 w vs volvo 69.3

Correction noted
its similar enough...coui;d swear it looks shorter

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

420/500/560 SEC - length = 208.1 inches (4935mm)
(source = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126)



Volvo 740 - length = 192.9" (4800mm - 1982-89; 4850mm - 1989 -93)
(source = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_700_series)

"GLE" was just a trim option other trim options were "GL" and "GLT"; these would not affect the length.

Presumably it would n't even matter if the 560SEC had euro bumpers or the longer US bumpers, it is still much longer than the Volvo...

Late update - out the door to go to oSan Francisco to meet the Mercedesshyop guys in sf - LONG trip for me and the car. DInner & touring tonite, home sometime tomorrow. Maybe or maybe not IE access. Suppose to be cold in SF
Jim- regards

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Enjoy SF
Go see the Giants...

480cm = 4800 mm = 189 inches
Now is this with or wo bumpers?


http://www.manuelsweb.com/in_cm.htm

Thanks for the info but the 208 is the sel
the coupe was shorter wider & lower.

I saw a 85 500 sel
its a monster compared to mine

The site notes:

The W126 S-Class carried the following general dimensions: length 208.1 in (sedan), 199.2 in (coupe); width 71.7 (sedan), 72 in (coupe); height 56.3 in (sedan), 55 in (coupe), wheelbase 121.1 in (sedan), 112.2 in (coupe).


I would assume the 199 in coupe would be US with long bumpers

But I wou;d take it w a grain of salt as far as the wikipedia is concerned

OK
Now, I'm going out with the tape ruler....

I have a 10 foot one so this is going to be a challenge...



Not so bad
used cardboard under the tap & weighted w a rock so it stayed

My measurements:

SEC
16 feet +- approx 192 in...
now this was pretty exact as far as I could see only off maybe 2 inches so the 199 must be the US version length)

Volvo
15 1/2 feet approx 186 inches (close to 189 converted )

so seems like I cvould be plus or minus 3 inches as I eyeballed the ends

SEC is not 208 inches...

Bottom line
You were right
SEC is longer...in my case may be only about 3 inches




That wiki was interesting
Seens 500 SEC was only offered in US 84 & 85
then it was 560 SEC

So only 2 years in US production

Interesting



Gosh came upon some trans am
ouch
prices have doubled
My poor girl hope she's spinning her wheels along a happy road...

Shes was a beauty...

Specs
http://www.iwaynet.net/~gl&lisk/1970ta.html

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

San Francisco, Calif.

G'day CS amiga...

Checking in from San Francisco

A native returns:, exorcises a few of his demons. THE AC healed itself part way.

Much value in meeting fine Mercedesshop friends in person! Trip report to come.

San Francisco is a trip, when you see it as a tourist not a natove

Trip report to follow.....leaving today.

Reasons why these cars are great on the highway...trust me on this.!!!

Trip report to come, when I am home. It is glorious in SF about 70 degrees & sun; the place welcomed me well!

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Hey,

Glad yor ac was working even for A while would seem to indicate its not something major...let's hope...

I find the sec does well 35/40
bit more strained on the 50 mph
had a small stretch on Burbank & it seems to be at a gearing change or something.

gas pedal was hard there
Since I was just getting the hang of it & the stretch was so short I didn't have time to gtet it to cruise 50...LOL

I guess it can't handle worse that the volvo on the highway
Volvo as I said seems to ride off the pavement.
Could be the tires too.

Guess I learned on V-8's & my trans am was quite a car making it uncomfortable to drive the volvo at any high speed.

Hey that tenants AC died again
so I am stuck inwaiting for repair
last time it went on safety
blew a breaker on compressor
guess thats not your problem

if yours in intermittent like that it should point you to trouble shoot it.

Maybe a failing relay
they sometimes go slowly?

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Have a safe trip home

Well today was not car day
It was plumies day

Plumie is the hawaiian lei flower
I grow them from seed



Planted 3 outback & transplanted 8 on the balcony

Cleaned the birds cage
& now back to research

Did you ever see this site
Has some intersting specs

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/2188/Specifications.htm

Turning circle approx 33 feet

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________


83 500 SEC Euro 198K

I left San Francisco today and am back. Your car did 300 miles in two years. This one did 325 miles in about a day!! LOL

Really, a trip like that is the best thing for them, high speed on the open highway. It was my first trip back there in about 3 years I think, since I had lived there. I left in the afternoon and was in a hurry to get there.

I ran at mostly 75-85 mph, but you must understand, even thought that is pretty fast, most other traffic runs fast also, so odds of being caught are low. Plus, the car runs well, at that speed. The engine is positively loafing at those speeds, the rpm is only at about 2300, so there would be MUCH higher speeds available if you wanted them.

The Oakland-SF Bay Bridge toll went up. It use to be $3 and when I asked the toll the Pakistani toll collector told me it was $4,000,000 just before I gave him the four bills -a funny guy.

It seemed I remembered exactly everything, how to get from here to there, but the double parked tour buses and Muni buses and taxicabs and clogged traffic made the last 10 minutes very slow.

Met the two fellows at the fancy Ritz Carlton ($545 a night and up)
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SanFrancisco/Default.htm
where one of them is stayin for a week. Incredibly I found a legal parking place nearby, impossible this close to SF China town. The Ritz Carlton is at 600 Stockton st (the old Met Life bldg) and very impressive and expensive.

It was funny because the first apt. I had in the city was at 525 Stockton, just a litle way down the hill.

The evening was setting in, so befor the sun set we decided to do a tour so we piled into my 560SEC and I guided them around a litle bit. To a secret vista point up on Russian Hill for photos, and then down the Crookedest Street in the World, which every tourist needs to see!

Then through Little Italy (North Beach) and up to Coit Tower for more views
(luckily no tour buses at this time of evening, so no wait) and then back up Columbus and over into China Town, and then we decided to try and find the nice Cambodian place on outer Geary. So we went down into the Montgomery Street under the Transamerica Pryamid, and through the financial downtown area to Pine Street, and then a right.

I love Pine Street, 'cause it has timed lights, and if you can get them just right, you can catch them one after another and drive like a boulevard, and get really far across SF really, really fast. At the beginning going up the Hill towards Nob Hill it was hard because of lots of traffic, and the hills are steep. But once you crest the hill at Mason street it is really fun

You honk and steer around the slow stuff, and at each street you can see how many seconds counting down till the light changes green, 6,5,4,3,2 or 1
and judge how fast to be going when you get there. At first the traffic was really bad, and I barely was making it, you had to really gun it, by the time you get to Divisadero, you are in sync and it is green lights all the way, and you move really, really fast.

But the Cambodian place was closed, and I recalled another way to get back downtown really quick, through the residential area on Anza up to Masonic, and then a block back to Geary. Down the hill, it was great, because when the lights are with you and the traffic is light, you can really step on it!

Down the hill I floored it and sailed down there abot 60 mph, it was really great, the SEC can be driven fast and skillfully, and I know those streets really well. I had been driving on them for over 25 years.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)