Chris,

Yes, I did mean the 300SEL. I don’t usually drive at 100mph or even 80 for that matter. So far, I believe I’ve driven it at 100mph three times and only momentarily. Once following the first service after I bought the car about a year ago, once after the second wheel balance I mentioned earlier and once after Les Schwab replaced the out of round tire. Each time I ran out of empty highway after less than a minute at that speed. I don’t know what RPM the engine was revving at the century mark. My focus was on making sure no vehicle is on my test lane, no cop is in sight and detecting vibrations (in that order). Now that you’ve asked, I’ll do it a fourth time and let you know what RPM gets my car to 100mph. I’ll send you an invoice if my valves shoot though the hood :). However, I don’t recall sensing the car was overly burdened at that speed. Perhaps in your case it’s relative to how your 560SEL feels going 100mph. I’d imagine that the 560 would be loafing at 100.

Cheers

Chris,

At 100mph my car revs at about 5200 rpm. I can see why driving an '89 300SEL at that speed is not advisable. There is a lot of noise and, dare I say, vibration but mostly from the engine. The steering and the car as a whole are solid.

Cheers

Thats only 1000 rpm shy of redline. I would'nt want to do that for very long. The 300 SEL, in my opinion, has more chassis than engine. It sort of screams out for an overdrive or something.