I can say I have never seen a set of MB brakes smoke, but I have personally smoked a set of disks on a Crown Vic. After a VERY spirited run (60ish) up an 18% grade with multiple switchbacks, lasting about 6 miles, then a 5 mile full throttle run once I had straightaway (with hard braking action at each drainage dip commonly found in the desert), upon arriving at my destination I had heavy smoke coming out of all four wheelwells. The car is equipped with 4 wheel disks, upgraded with "The" package. The brakes smoked for a good 15 minutes before cooling enough to stop smoking. They were putting out enough smoke that I thought they might flame. I'm sure if it had been dark the rotors would have been glowing.

And yes, I did have some serious brake fade at the end of that run.

haha, if that would have happened to me mike I would have been clueless, whenever smoke comes from my car I panic :P

Just came across your post
 

and thought I reinforce -fad's comments in his first post to you. These comments represent very sound advice.

Re temps for fan cutin, check my page (www house below) and click on menu 17. The temps and pressures are described there.

As I remember, the first stage fan is supposed to come on around 100C, second at 107C and third at 115C. In my car, the 1st stage occurs about 102C (without my CH). Maybe the resistor is burned out/broken?

If the A/C comes on, the fans usually start up right away since the pressure build up quickly. If they are not working, then by all means get the car checked before adding the CH!

Hey jim, thanks for postin, i got it checked out and my fans are ok, I'm just not used to having an engine that gets that hot :) Driving the 300SEL around all my life, that thing was never that hot, but the 500 is a much bigger engine. Just going to take some time to get used to. Can't wait to get the CH in the mail, i'll let ya know when it comes :)