Top speed of 300E debatable?

[ss109]

In the review section of this great website, Lee says the top speed of the 300E was 137. I think this is a little conservative, although I understand it is probably an average. I was going 135 (according to my speedometer) at about 5500-6000rpms and the car was still very SLOWLY accelerating.... Note: I was doing this on a track... not the road! However, I was unable to push it further but it may have made it to 140 or better. I'll have to go back and try again!

[jeffsr]

Raise the tire pressure to about 45 PSI, close the windows, take the filter element out of the aircleaner and you will make 140, but why try. If you really want to go fast, get a Viper.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

[Lee Scheeler]

ss109,
Was your car a manual or automatic. If memory serves the manual gives you a few more mph top speed but its a nominal difference. Top speed I quoted is a "rated spec". It will vary on vehicle and ambient conditions. Not that exceeding rated top speed is uncommon...92 500E's have been known to pull right past the theoretical limiter at 155mph on to pegging the speedo at redline in top gear past the 160 mark on the speedo. Yeehaw! Other cars sometimes have difficulty making their rated top speeds. In the real world conditions there are too many variables to say every 300E will do xxx but the factory has to rate the model's top speed as something.

Hope this helps...Lee

WHAT A WEBSITE.

I love it when people start talking about their cars TOP SPEED!

In the "Illustrated buyers guide to Mercedes Benz", I believe the top speed of a single cam 300E is 140mph. But it seems like I saw 144 or 147 somewhere else.

I haven't had mine much over 100mph, but I sure did want to let it go. For a tall sedan, these cars feel great at high speed. I've had my Vette well over 100mph and I didn't feel any more confident than in my 300E. Remmember these cars are built with the Autobahn in mind.

Have fun,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[ss109]

I do have to agree that these cars are great at high speed. Although, I do feel a little more secure when I go around corners in my 74 vette And about the autobahn: that's what I keep trying to tell all my friends is that these cars were made for high-speed cruising, not doing burnouts.

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'92 300E
'74 Vette