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280SE

1K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  Jim Dandy 
#1 ·
I keep seeing this 280SE at school. I didn't think the 280SE was ever sold in the U.S... Does anyone know whether it was or not?
 
#3 ·
The power is close??? Are u serious?? Do u got any figures?? I mean common sense says that a 5.5 litre V8 would kill a 2.8 6cyl.....
 
#5 ·
[:0]daaaaaaaaaaaaamn neva knew dat

-sheldon.
 
#6 ·
I'd say it's fairly close to the 500... the 500 had ~200hp, the 280 had ~185. It's not in the same league as the 560, though. The U.S. spec 560s are factory rated @ 238HP.
 
#7 ·
Geeky1 - 1/16/2004 10:21 AM

I'd say it's fairly close to the 500... the 500 had ~200hp, the 280 had ~185. It's not in the same league as the 560, though. The U.S. spec 560s are factory rated @ 238HP.
Horsepower means nothing without torque and in the case of a heavy car like a W126, some LOW END torque. The 2.8 liter fuel injected engine only had 177 LB-FT @ 4500 RPM versus 247 LB-FT @ 2000 RPM for a U.S. specification 500. The U.S. specification 560 had 307 LB-FT @ 3750 RPM. Quite a bit of difference. The 280 might be a great highway car, but the8-cylinder models have it beat stoplight to stoplight.
 
#8 ·
Jim, you're absolutely correct. In fact, I was thinking about it as I walked out to the 560 to come home a few minutes ago, and I think the 6 cylinders are just very ill-suited to the W126.

I had a 1967 250SE that I was going to restore before I had the 560, and my grandfather drove the 250 for years, so I know what it's like.

The inline 6 loves being revved. Its totally out of it's element below 3000rpms or so. The larger displacement of the 280 and 300s would have counteracted that somewhat, but the bottom line is still the same:

The I-6 is a sports car engine, not a luxury car engine. To get the most out of it, you really have to have a manual transmission. It's a great engine, but it doesn't fit the "personality" of the W126 very well at all.
 
#9 ·
Yes, but keep in mind that a Euro-spec 280SE weighs substantially LESS than a American-spec 500SEL, so much so that in a race i wouldnt bet on the 500. Especially if that 280SE was a 5-speed model (although Benz 5-speeds are known to be a bit clunky)

Also keep in mind the 250 engine and the 280 engine are VERY different and nothing parts wise is shared. My dad has a 1978 250 T (W123). The 280 TE for example, simply blows it away.
 
#12 ·
I would figure appx lbs advantage because of

* lack of US bumper & beam supports (Euro-spec)
* being a shorter wheelbase (longer SELs weigh more than their SE counterparts)
* the engine is substantially less weight

There's the advantage.
 
#13 ·
merouby - 1/18/2004 8:29 AM

I would figure appx lbs advantage because of

* lack of US bumper & beam supports (Euro-spec)
* being a shorter wheelbase (longer SELs weigh more than their SE counterparts)
* the engine is substantially less weight

There's the advantage.
  • First off, compare the 2.8L properly. Compare the 280 SE to the 500 SE and the 500 SEL to the 280 SEL.[/*]
  • The difference in bumper weights is what, less than 200 pounds? In fact, it's probably less than 100 pounds. Not enough of a difference there to even mention.[/*]
  • Same goes for the engine weight. An aluminum block and heads makes for a small difference in weight between the two.[/*]

If we didn't have the silly Federally-mandated 55 MPH speed limit here in the U.S. during most of the eighties, Mercedes just might've actively marketed the 2.8L in the W126 over here.
 
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