<br> The 1988 420SEL had:<br> 201hp @ 5200 rpm<br> 228lb-ft @ 3600 rpm<br> <br> I would assume that the '86 model specs would be in the same ball park.<br> <br> Compare to the '96 S420 which had:<br> 275hp @ 5700 rpm<br> 295lb-ft @ 3900 rpm<br> <br> Why were the W126 engines so anaemic?<br>
the W126 motors are simply more dated. They have 2 valve SOHC heads instead of 4 valve DOHC heads as in the 96. Also, the W126s used a lot less advanced fuel injection system. Also, in the new ones, there is a ton of new technology. More advanced injection, computers that could probably rival space shuttles, variable length intake runners, variable valve timing.....etc. Another factor is that these are US numbers. In Europe, the 4.2 W126 could be had up to 231 HP (no cat). The KAT version post 9/87 had 224. The 560s had up to 300HP in Europe and 279 for the KAT version. Damn bureaucrats.
For the W126, go to www.mb-w126.de and click on 'Daten'. For the W140, go to www.mb-w140.de and click on the pic of the S600 and click on 'Technische Daten' on top. It's all in German, but the numbers are there. If you need and translations, ask me, but you should be able to figure most of them out just by the type of number. The main difference is torque (Nenndrehmoment) which is measured in Newton-Meter (Nm), not ft-lbs...but you should be able to find a conversion chart or calculator on the net somewhere.
Linear Mode
