W108 rear end compensator

[subforry]

Originally Posted by bracurrie

Any yes it drives like a dream. It's such a contrast to modern cars that don't seem to handle potholes, speed bumps and uneven surfaces as well.

I finally got my 250C project up and running. I had forgotten how you can cruise over speed bumps at 30-40 MPH, and how they love to run on the highway at 70MPH.

[bracurrie]

Originally Posted by subforry

I finally got my 250C project up and running. I had forgotten how you can cruise over speed bumps at 30-40 MPH, and how they love to run on the highway at 70MPH.

Try 90

[Todd Miller]

So funny that you both mentioned speed bumps. My city has been installing "Speed Humps" which vary from flat across the top, and fairly wide (in the direction of travel). The humps can be built to a certain speed. Ours are built to 25mph apparently.

While everyone in modern cars else is slamming on their brakes, and literally climbing up and down them, my coupe goes over them like they're an inch tall, at 40+. And I think I can feel the compensator doing it's thing, and sort of firming up the rearend after one or two.

[subforry]

There is definitely some MBZ engineering going on. The cars are not "soft" and don't roll excessively on hard corning. Compared to modern cars I guess our old Benzs have a lot more side wall and lower tire pressure, and it must help.

It's not just modern cars. My '69 Buick needs to slow for speed bumps and I doubt it could sustain 70MPH for hours. The Buick is mostly about converting fuel into noise.

Todd, I grew up in SLO county. My parents now live in Paso. I think San Luis has been adding speed humps since the early '90s - but back then all I drove was a w108 or w114, so I didn't notice them :-). Which reminds me the w116 were pretty good too. Fox body mustangs are not good with speed bumps, but that is another story.

[Todd Miller]

SLO City is the queen of "kinder-gentler" and it's become ridiculous.