Was traction control or limited slip diff an option on an 89 420SEL? If so how can I tell if I have either one? Thanks...

I'm fairly certain traction control wasn't available as yet. AS to whether you have a limited slip differnetial, try this: elevate both rear wheels (e-brake off, front wheels chocked), put it in neutral, and spin one rear wheel...does the other go in the same direction? If so, you have a limited-slip diff.

By the way, if you had traction control you'd have a very annoying yellow triangle illuminating on your dash any time you started to have fun...

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

[This message has been edited by Michael (edited 01-20-2000).]

I don't think I have seen the ASR on anything older than 91. The specail diff was in all of the 560's. I don't think that I have seen them in the 420's/

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

quote:

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Originally posted by Hunter:
Was traction control or limited slip diff an option on an 89 420SEL? If so how can I tell if I have either one? Thanks...

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I HAVE EURO 83 500 SE WHICH CERTAINLY HAS LIMITED SLIP DIFF.....SO I PRESUME LATER YEAR 420 MIGHT WELL HAVE.

I have a 87 420 SEL, and believe limited slip diff (not traction control) was an option on the 420 SEL and standard on the 560 SEL. I haven't seen a used 420 SEL advertised with limited slip...unless the current owners have it and don't know it.

The only US spec cars in the 80's with limited slip were 560's & 190E 16V's. Limited slip was availible on many(most) euro versions. Most all cars w/limited slip have warning tag to use only special fluid.

Do ALL 560SEL's have limited slip?

The reason I ask is that my '87 560SEL does not behave as if it has limited slip...what do I mean by this? Well at this time of year in New Jersey, wet leaves are a constant hazard on the road. A few times I've started off from an intersection where one tire was on leaves and one on bare pavement. If I hit the gas too hard, the one on leaves (usually the right) spins like crazy and I pull forward much more slowly than normal.

Could I be without limited slip or could the differential be malfunctioning in some way? How can I tell?

jlc

__________________
Jeff

'87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue
'98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car)
'56 Imperial Sedan 124K
Past Cars:
'67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold)
'87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold)
'73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold)
'96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled)

Hi Jeff Limited slip and traction control are two different things! Wet leaves are beyond the capabilities of limited slip diff's. Your diff is fine. Drive carefully!

Just for clarity, I'm sure what Mercedes calls limited slip differential, is what the Ford / GM / Chrylser called posi-traction.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Are there any M-B limited slip units or complete limited slip third members which will fit into a W123, specifically an '85 300TD? Back when I had just gotten my driver's license, my dad bought a brand new '57 Mercury with Equa-Lock (and the Lincoln Mexican Road Race 368 motor) and even though that was a wimpy limited-slip compared to GM's Positraction, I have never since been really happy in a rear-driver without some form of limited slip or Detroit Locker rear end. It's absence is the item which irritates me the most about my old diesel.

I have a 90 300SE, and it has limited slip. I never would have thought so, but I had someone drive in the snow while I pushed and both rear wheels were spinning. Am I right here, or was I seeing things?
Mike

Again! the only US cars(last 20 years) that had limited slip are the 560's & the 190E 2.3 16V. IN europe limited slip was offered on many cars. THE W123 chassis NEVER had limited slip.
Benzmac is correct, ASR didn't happen until 1991.
4-Matic came out here in 1990 & ASD came out in 1991 on lower HP cars & diesels.

With modifications the 16V limited slip WILL fit into a W123 chassis!! I have done several for myself & a friend.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

about the nature and extent of the modifications needed to put a 16V 3rd member into a W123? My old rear end is rather clunky after 324500 miles anyway, so I might look in the recycling yards for a 16V unit to replace it if the modifications don't require a lot of machine shop work.

Or did you mean that a 16V differential could be modified to fit a W123 case?

The limited slip ring gear carrier can be adapted to fit the W123 chassis case!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator