Fad,

you wrote:

"...I really wouldn't feel comfortable taking any stock W124 coupe over 90mph....unless one had lots and lots of abandoned straight track or salt bed- "

Have you put your E320 coupe on the track? I know you have an E500, among other cars.....but I'm curious about the coupe.

After my (albiet limited) track and autocross experience, driving the CE near the limits has made me gain confidence in the abilities of this car, not diminish them.

you wrote:

"a true performance oriented vehicle will be loads more satisfying to enjoy for sport driving and infinitely safer too"

I agree. I'm not attempting to draw any conclusions that a 124 coupe is a "true performance oriented vehicle" that say, a Z06 Vette may be - or any other sports car. But I don't drive a Vette, or a BMW M5, or a Subaru WRX. I'm a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast. I like all MB's. I just happen to own a W124 coupe at the moment, and am very satisfied (and impressed) with it.

Anyway, thanks for your post. I'm glad to see your opinions and have the opportunity to reply.

E.P.

Great idea Mingson...just say when and where and I will be there.
Zach...Mingson knows all about my 300CE better than I do...he sold it to me almost two years ago.
Phillip
1992 300CE

Thanks for the reply/ Question EP- totally respect your position. I'm not putting down W124 Coupe performance capabilities just recognizing its limitations.

I haven't put my stock E320 Coupe on the track, but have had the opportunity to pilot it at its max handling, braking, and speed limits for a bit of reckless fun. Although any vehicle can be put on the track, and provide loads of fun- the W124 Coupe's engineered nature is heavy on the luxo formal side (even with 2-doors). Heck even MB's SL is on the luxo formal side...

The stock engineered W124C nature can be tweaked a bit closer to sporting duty with.... Sportline/ more aggressive suspension, new chassis bushings, a nice plus one or two tire and wheel package, 400e brakes,etc. The stock M103/M104 with first gear start is plenty adequate for scooting around with these mods.

My W124 Coupe observations came about based on recognizing what makes up the vehicle and its corresponding engineered limitations. For my own comparison, I've been fortunate to track other vehicles ie BMW 325is (Bilstein Sports, new urethane and suspension all around, Brembo cross drilled, plus one BBS, ZR Dunlop rubber), E500, Porsche 911 turbo, etc. I also have a little experience riding race-prepped bikes.

I enjoy the W124 Coupe immensely, but know not push it where its forte does not lie- - keeps me out of trouble and cuts down on unnecessary repair.

Enjoy

-fad

el presidente -

There's got to be a way to find some reasonably priced timeat Road Atlanta. Maybe this is something the folks at MB Autowerks might want to think about for a Spring event. At least have some kind of anAtlanta gathering at the new shop. After all (with no disrespect for our friends out west) not everyone's in California.

We should compare notes some time. There's a few, but not a lot of quality 300CE's in town.

__________________
1992 500E

for all 300CE and E320 Coupe owners. Since we don't have our own site yet, let us use this forum and this thread for all of us who like our coupes very much. Post questions, comments, and anything about W124 coupes. How about it, everyone?

Mike
'90 300CE

bpkinatl,

Road Atlanta is expensive. Last time I checked (about three years ago), just to rent a small area to autocross was over $2K. This doesn't take into account liability insurance, ambulance/paramedics, timing equip. rental, etc. And this didn't even allow you onto the main track! The best bet may be to "piggy back" onto an SCCA or BMWCCA event, if we decide to get serious.

I will make every effort to attend the next Mercedesshop gathering in Atlanta, when that develops. Count me in.

I have some ideas about "ridding ourselves of excess testosterone" where anyone could participate. Doesn't matter if you have a diesel, AMG or a Mercedes-Benz "cruiser" bicycle, everybody could be on an even playing field....and afford it.

Have you heard of Andretti Speed Zone in Alpharetta? It's a huge indoor racetrack (they use carts). But you get done up in the whole shebang...helmets and even racing suits! Just a thought, but we could "see who is best" without the expense or the possibility of damaging our precious metal. And everyone could participate! Just a thought.

For now, I must get some work done. Leaving for a death in the family tonight....see you all next week.

Hi,

I noticed some people have made comments on the seatbelt arms causing problems. While I havent had any problems with mine yet, I did figure out a way to get them to stay in.

If you turn the key to the full on position, with the door open, and depress the seatbelt button, when you close the door the arm doesnt come out. Otherwise I depress it as soon as I close the door and it goes right back in. I am debating about going to a junk yard and getting a seatbelt end to leave in the socket, then it will not come out at all.

Just my .02, hope it helps.

__________________
Dean

Just sold em all !! Curently driving a, 06.5 VW GTI

90' 300CE
Euro Lights w/wipers, Clear corners, 17" Monoblocks, K&N Airfilter, Sportline Suspension, Custom SS single muffler exhaust
80' 300D
96' Harley Davidson, XLH 1200

My arms are still working ok. Its the belt reel that is starting to wear on mine.

It doesn't reatract the belt fully when I take it off. So it can get stuck in the door if I don't make sure its in..

But when worn the belt works as it should.

I'd like to see pics of everyone's 300CE/E320 Coupes!!!

Post em here. You have all seen mine many times I am sure. But right now it pretty much looks stock again. I removed the black paint off the grille surround and placed the new grey insert in it. I'll be picking up a new frame when I find one at the right time for the right price, so I can work on my the grille job I am planning that failed once due to my mistake of getting the err right, but wrong paint color (my car was repainted.. not factory color..).. ehhe.

I'm getting new wheels very soon. Check my thread called just for fun to see what they are. I saw those wheels, and decided I liked them and the price is right for me. I was going to add the remus muffler from perf products and put in a new amp and subwoofer to replace my sub woofer and take the speakers off the stereo's built in amp, but then saw the wheels and decided wheels now. hehe But Perf products was closed on saturday when I had decided to go there after I finsihed up some work... and well that means I couldn't get my instant gratification, so I went to my friends stereo shop and was almost at instant gratification then for the upgrade on the stereo, but then he didn't have the woofer in stock... so I started drooling all over the web.. ehhe for what to get for the car. And well you can imagine, I found the wheels. hehe I will organize to get them later...

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

My passenger seatbelt arm does not extend... may be broken off!
(Bought it that way!) The seatbelt itself does not retract now and the triangular trim piece keeps popping out.

Does anyone know the internal design of these things? Are the rollers in the sill casing or are they in the interior behind the door and require the rear passenger side interior panel to be removed to fix?

I like Dean's idea of tricking the system with the dummy belt latch, especially for the passenger side where people might not be familiar with this setup. May try that myself when it's fixed.

Sorry for the delay in the posting of my pics...detailed ones to come soon.

But, I just had a "minor celebrity" moment when a friend called to tell me that my 1991 300CE was pictured in the new 2002 MB catalog for North America!

What? I had to get a copy. Sure enough, it was there. Not a prominent display, mind you, but there nonetheless. Look in the full-line catalog (has the "patent No. 37435" on the silver cover). Turn to the back inside cover. See the silver Gullwing at 12:00? Look up over the rear fender to see my black w/ palomino CE (trunk open/hood up).

This shot was taken in the fall of 1999 at Talladega Superspeedway, when we participated in a councours hosted by the M-class plant to raise funds for Alabama charities.

I think the Gullwing won Best of Show that year...

E. P., I look forward to seeing pics of your car, and to seeing the MB catalog with the picture of your car. Interesting that MBUSA would have a picture of it. I think that these cars are right up there with the best looking cars ever made by MB. (One of the mainline car mags said pretty much the same thing when the W124 coupes were first introduced.)

ashman / fad / other knowledgable qualified party / Scott P?

The 300CE was equipped with excellent brakes.

Did the 24-valve CE have stronger brakes than the 1988-1989 CE? I'm fairly sure that from 1990-1995, the front brakes were 4-piston...were they the same as the 400E?

Could somebody post a "history of 300CE brakes", starting from 1988 and going through 1995.

Also, I believe that the 400E/E420 from 1992-1995 had several changes to the front and rear brakes. Any details please?

I can only confirm the 4 piston front calipers.

My calipers are ATE brand as well.

My car has them. I recently upgraded to new discs and pads up front. all ATE. I am pleasantly pleased with braking ont he car over before.

Rears are using textar pads. but rear is due for new discs soon, which I will do with ATE to keep it all matched.

I think I saw somewhere that the front pads are the same part number for the SL600 as well, but not sure if I am correct on that.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

I found this quote on a website referring to the 1992 500E brakes:

"11.8-inch vented disc brakes in the front were sourced from the 300CE, and the 10.9-inch vented rear discs were the same as the 500SL"

Is this correct? Our front brakes are the same as the '92 500E?

This is the website I found this at:

www.ece.utexas.edu/~adnan/500e/500e_overview.html

The '88-'89 CE's had single piston floating front calipers and smaller diameter (284mm)rotors. These are the same as any other 124 (pre-104) In '90 (when the 104 engine debuted), MB put four piston fixed calipers in front with larger diameter (295mm) rotors. The thickness remained 22mm. The rear brakes on the early cars are the same as the 201.034. 1990 models received larger rear brakes as well. I believe (from memory... can't find my 1992 model year book) that the front brakes on '90-'92 CE's are the same as the '92 400E. In 1993, the CE got different front brakes again. 294mm dia., 25mm thick - the same as the rest of the 124's in 1993 except the 500E until the end of the model run... except for the1995 diesel, which got the same style single piston front brakes as the original 124. The 400E and 500E always had ventilated rear discs as did the 124.092 wagon.

After driving my '90 CE on the track (fairly hard), I felt no brake fade whatsoever (with ALL factory parts)and walked away very impressed with the performance and feel of this eleven year old car. That CE was my favorite car that I'd ever had!

Scott P.