Um, did you know about roll oversteer? It's quite eaxy to put a Benz into a four wheel drift on interstate ramps, the have more than adequate power (except the old 220D!) and will "oversteer" if you get on the gas hard in turns.

This is normal unless you are expecting the "plow" you get on American and other frontwheel drive cars set up for "safe" handling -- that is, they loose side force on the front tires and slide sideways when overloaded.

On the W115 suspension, it is possible to dismount the outside front tire under extreme cornering. The rear anti-sway bar was lightened up on later models so that the REAR tires start to slip from body roll before the front tire comes off. This unloads the front tire and tells the driver that the car is reaching adhesion limits and will shortly go off the road if pushed any more. the higher slip in the rear causes you, the driver, to turn "back" some to pull the rear back into line, reducing the side force on the front tires and slowing you down. If you continue, you are actually steering LESS, so you go faster due to less slip on the tires. Nice racing move, but I don't really recommend driving this fast on the interstate.

Very stable, safe, and predictable, but a surprise if you aren't used to it.

Watch your speedo, you may be going faster than you think!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!