sluggish 1994 E420?

[E_420]

Why does my 1994 E-420 feel a little slow for a V8? my sisters V6 malibu is a little faster exelaration wize. my 92 jeep is fast, i thought it had about 75% oh hp then the E500? and i thought the E500 was screaming fast. idk its close to 200k miles but idk i have way more fun drive in my jeep then the benz. i guess the gear ratio could be changed but i cant do that, like i dont know how. but anyways why would it feel "slow"? its not slow cuz ive driven honda civics so i know what slow is but it doesnt feel like a V8. i guess im looking for too much out of a car. idk tho. haha

[E_420]

and what could i do to it to make it faster? ive quit street racing so thats not why.

[Icefire]

I dont work on gassers very much, but search for posts on "First gear Start"

To test this theory, go to your 420 shift into low then push the gear selector to the pass side, Then drive, it should now start in first gear but you will have to shift for it.

if that makes it feel faster then problem solved.

[deanyel]

It should be starting in first gear. It's just the 2.24 rear axle ratio - the tallest rear axle ratio I've ever heard of in a Mercedes. In the city you're just always driving around at 1200 - 1500 rpms where the engine has no real life. Of course it's nice on the highway and good for mileage and reducing engine wear. You could change it - many alternatives available all the way up to 3.27. I think 500Es are 2.82. You could also use the gated shifter - keep it up above 2,000 rpms and it's fine.

[E_420]

Originally Posted by deanyel

You could also use the gated shifter - keep it up above 2,000 rpms and it's fine.

Why would i want a gated shifter on an automatic trans? doesnt it allready have one? i thought those were for manual transmissions only. well i love gated shifters, too bad its an auto

[deanyel]

Originally Posted by E_420

Why would i want a gated shifter on an automatic trans?(

It's not your call - you already bought a car that has one. MB gated shifters go back to the late 19th century. The point was simply that you can use it if you want more performance.

[jhodg5ck]

When this car hits about 3500 it should Really start to Pull nicely. It has about 275hp on tap. I'd call the 420's performance spirited and more then adequate for every day driving.

When were caps/rotors/plugs/wires/O2 done last?

Has the engine harness been replaced? Checked for any codes? Injectors still original? They seem to be reliable up to about 150K.
Jonathan

[emerydc8]

I have a 93 400E and I have always been disappointed with how underpowered the car feels. I put a chip in it, but that didn't do much, so I went back to stock.

My 92 Camaro has 245 hp and it will run away from the 400E. I think Deanyel is right about the rear end ratios. If you want performance, I don't think the 400E is the car for you. Maybe the 500E is a different animal, even though it only has 50 hp more.

Over the years, I've learned to accept and appreciate the car for what it is--a high quality sedan (probably one of the best ever built)--but not a hot rod.

[jhodg5ck]

Yes, w/ a 2.24 this car won't Rocket off the line, but that aside once you are rolling a bit and have some RPM's these engines Pull.

I think ya'lls 420's aren't working up to their potential. I've driven a number of 500E's, 1 500E 6L as well as my AMG 6L's and the 420's aren't That slow.. Hell, they have the 560's by an easy 30Hp!

Jonathan

[E_420]

well to my knoledge the cars wiring and all that stuff uv named has never been replaced. its all the same stuff from the factory....i think. i am the third owner so i really have no clue, the guy i bought it off of, is my dads close friend so i could ask him but where could i fond any kind of records of services? or would i have to ask the previous onwers for those? where could i take it to get the rear axil gear ratio changed? would like any radom shop do it?

[amg280]

There is probably something wrong with your car. mine is plenty fast, and runs 14.8 1/4 miles all day. The 2.82 diff will totally transform the car. I went back to stock on mine and its still plenty fast. The transmissions eagerness to upshift is probably what gives the impression of being slow. When you floor it, hit the kickdown switch below the accelerator pedal and it should scream.

[Larry Delor]

I think the original plug wires have little rings with numbers on them (for identification).

[E_420]

kickdown swith? whats that? i usauly just press the snow chain button. but yeah idk i might be getting a 1994 3000gt VR-4 (not getting rid of the 420) well its a converted SL, to a VR-4 at least, work done profesionaly. i allready looked at all the receipts.

[E_420]

If i manualy shift it its better. and i press the pedal as hard i can. so im deff hitting the switch. Like i said to my knoledge all the wiring is the stuff that came with it from the factory. nothing to my knoledge has been replaced. exept the tires.