Hooooooray for me !!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ron Brooks · #1 08-28-2002, 09:27 AM

I can finally say I am an official S class owner. My new-to-me 88 300SE came home last night and I LOVED every minute of it! The feeling of being in an over-engineered German car again. The feel of each switch. I can't wait to change the oil this weekend.

The car's second owner from whom I bought it was such a stickler for detail he actually had the tags that they hang in the car on delivery to explain the SRS system and cruise control! They look like large price tags and have quick explanations of everything on them.

I had a smile from ear to ear on the way in to work today. I sold my old 944 this past January and things have not been the same. The Protege I have been driving is what it is, a nice entry level car. You'd never know the SE was 14 years old. Solid as a Tiger Tank. Now I can once again look forward to the drive
home and to work regardless of traffic or weather.

I don't do it often, but boy it really does feel good to do something for yourself once in a while. I am just so damn happy right now. The sort of self suspended seats will take a few weeks to get used to, but other than that, this could be love.

A BIG thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my many questions. Without the input from this group, I would not have felt confident enough to take the plunge.

Ron Brooks

G-Benz · #2 08-28-2002, 09:37 AM

Congratulations for joining the "Dark Side", Luke...:p

Happy Motoring and enjoy many pleasurable years of MB ownership!!!

When it's time for maintenance, visit this site often...

...and get your parts here at FastLane!

drbrandini · #3 08-28-2002, 03:25 PM

congrats on a good purchase and a good find.

suginami · #4 08-28-2002, 08:46 PM

Excellent!

When are you going to post pictures?

#5 08-28-2002, 09:25 PM

Congrats! By the way G-benz, I remember seeing your restored beetle. The engine looked very powerful. I was wondering what the original hp rating was and what yours with mods is up to? Is it quick by todays standards?

G-Benz · #6 08-28-2002, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TANK
Congrats! By the way G-benz, I remember seeing your restored beetle. The engine looked very powerful. I was wondering what the original hp rating was and what yours with mods is up to? Is it quick by todays standards?

Actually it was mildly blueprinted back in '85. Lots of paint and chrome, and the dual carb setup looked intimidating, but that was the typical top-end configuration on most souped-up Beetle engines...

...I built it to be a streetable daily-driver, and a show queen on weekends.

All top and bottom-end components were replaced or tweaked just a notch above stock to allow a little more pep, but remain streetable. It is a 1641cc engine up from the stock 1585cc. This is one of many series of textbook engine upgrades done in the air-cooled VW world.

I think the stock hp was a pathetic 40-45 ponies. It is up to about 75hp in it's current form...nothing that would scare the current crop of ricers on the streets today, but back in the 70's and 80's, the ole Bug could scare a few econoboxes...realizing of course, those were Chevettes, Escorts, Pintos, and early Civics.

People do build 200HP VW engines...but they live a short life on the dragstrip, and are not tame enough for the streets...there is only so much you can do with that engine...

Best time on the drags for me was a laughable 17.85 ET...the MDF subwoofer box and all of those other weighty show items didn't help much.

unkl300d · #7 08-28-2002, 10:33 PM

Nice vintage W126!!

Can't go wrong.

#8 08-29-2002, 12:52 AM

Thanks. The reason I ask is because my brother always wanted one and I was going to show him your pic. 75hp is actually quite an increase up from original specs. Prob great feel in seat of your pants after modification. I have a restored 1990 miata 1.6 but my diesel is going to be my daily driver shortly after a few more new parts. Funny thing is, it gets better mpg than the Miata !!