WOW.

It's been over two years since I last calculated mileage. It's just too much of a hassle when I only go through a tank a month around town. But today I took a 400 mile round trip to go get some new wheels for my 300E so I thought I would check MPG.

390 miles - 26.5MPG

That's all highway, lead foot 75-80mph cruising with some bursts to 85-90. Odometer counts correctly. Does this mean I can hit 28.5-29mpg at 65mph with the "no flooring" rule in effect? I think all the work I've done to the car has paid off!

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

i am about to take a road trip with the 104....usually get 24 on the highway.... 103 usually get about 23

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

That's my experience, the only M103 I ever got 25 on, was the 5 speed manual.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Twice in the past month I've taken 300-400 mile road trips in my 124. Once I got 25.74 mpg, the other time 24.97 mpg. M103 with A/T, no A/C running. Even though they were all freeway miles, some of it was quite hilly, not only flat land. Car has always been regularly maintained, but I just replaced the O2 sensor with about 70K miles on it. Early indication is that the new sensor has improved my mileage by about 3-4 mpg. The last 4,000 miles combined city/highway mileage is 20.51 mpg (mostly before replacing the O2). I'm satisfied.

__________________
1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

Isn't yours the smaller 2.6L M103, not the 3.0L engine?

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Yes Jim. I figure there's probably some compensating factors that cancel out whatever "advantage" the smaller displacement has over the 3.0L, like lower gearing (3.27 vs. 3.07 rear end). Anyway, when compared with the EPA rating of 18/22, I'm satisfied with its performance at the moment, and that's with 207,000 miles on the car.

The mileage stats I reported in my first post above, were about two-thirds flatland freeway driving, and one-third hilly country, some of it up to 3,200 ft elevation. New tires, new O2 sensor, new distributor cap/rotor and new ignition wires during that time. Plugs replaced 12,000 miles (2 yrs) ago.

__________________
1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

At 80MPH I am running at 3200rpms.

Would altitude have anything to do with the increased fuel economy?

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

The last long trip I took with my 91 300E 2.6 (about 1100 mi round trip) I calculated close to 27mpg on the hwy as well.
I thought that was fantastic for an early 90s mid size, and unbelievable for an 18 year old car with 185K (at the time).

220K+ now and still one of the best running cars I've owned.

John, mpg should decrease at higher elevations due to lower air density.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle

Hmm. Everything else being equal that means I should be able to easily hit 30MPG at sea level @ 65mph. I'm encroaching on diesel territory with my 3.0L.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

in steady driving from jupiter fl to savannah ga... i got 404 miles .....at fillup the car took 15.25 gallons.

new wires and plugs 3 months ago....new o2 sensor about 5 months ago.

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Very doubtful unfortunately....You'll never see 30MPG out of a M103 KE unless dropped off a very large cliff.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Driving at altitude improves fuel economy because of the reduced air resistance (lower air density) acting against the body of the car at speed. The difference in pumping losses are negligible by comparison.
Given the same driving style you will see reduced FE at sea level.
Go EFI or go home

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

While the thinner air may be less drag on the body, that thinner air is also registered by the motor and less fuel is delivered. I find my AT '92 300E 3.0 to be overpowered/overgeared at highway speeds at 600 feet above SL. With a bit more tuning still to be done, I just saw 22 MPG combined. EPA was 16/20 or so.

Can you guys list motor size, tranny type, altitude and if you are using 128 oz gallons or 154 US oz / 160 UK oz gallons when giving MPG numbers?

Also, what tranny and diff options do we have on the 3.0 M103 / W124?

I know I could hit 28 to 28.5mpg at 65mph with no flooring, and that's at altitude.....

I literally drove the piss out of the car on the highway yesterday and got 26.5mpg. Maybe only 29 at sea level.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...