Quote:
Originally Posted by BENZSTER
Why does everbody slam the poor M103 powered W126 as being such a turd ? I Think my '88 300 SEL is a sports car with the feel of being in a limo. But then my perspective may be a bit different since my other driver is an '81 240d...lol. One thing I've found thats helped on the 300 SEL for myself anyway, was to adjust the transmission bowden cable for a little quicker down shift for in-town driving. Normally if you have to hit the gas in the 2k to 2.5k RMP range (The dead zone) there ain't much happening.
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Yes, a 300SEL would be a rocket compared to a 240D. Hell a rickshaw ride in Saigon would probably faster than a 240D to 15mph.
Go drive a healthy 300SDL, 420SEL, 500SEL, etc. Huge difference between them and the 300SEL. 40 ft-lbs of torque 1000rpm RPM sooner is why the 420SEL is so much nicer in town plus the econ is so similar between 420SEL and 300SEL (560 is nearly 280 ft-lbs at low RPM like the 420, but the 560 is fairly poor in city econ)... and the 300SDL has it even LOWER. M103 is a fine motor, but belongs in the SE or W124/W201s.
M104/five speed 722 auto would have been GREAT in the late W126 I6 cars.
I drive my 300SEL in 3rd in town up to about 43mph, then I shift into 4th. It's decent once rolling... but load it with a few real sized people, get the AC on, fan clutch locked up, etc. and try to roll out in 2nd gear, and it's just a slug until you get to about 2500rpm in 2nd.
Here's what I'd pick for 126s (for well blended econ/perf):
420SEL/500SEL for all over driving (560 if you don't care about econ)
300SD/L for mainly city
Diesel fuel is just so costly (at least in my region), the cost per mile on the road isn't worth it to me on the freeway. City it is as you'll get considerably higher econ there than with the gas units. I really like having extra high speed power the V8s deliver on the open road for when you have to merge, get around someone, etc. The Diesels and the I6 are just economy versions.
It's up to the owner (and why I
HIGHLY advise to drive all variants before buying), but after owning a 300SEL for a long time, it'd be the last W126 I'd recommend/purchase again that was available in the US (Europe had a 260SE!
)... I haven't driven a 380SE so can't comment, I'd expect at least the same if not better performance as the TQ peak was only around 2800rpm.