[AGB]

Alright, the link below is of my R129 doing approximately 275 KPH, I did manage a 283 top speed before but that wasn't on video. I don't have a speed limiter and I have no-cats, straight pipes going back into the resonator and then the stock muffler. I have 245/40-18 Toyo Proxes T1 Sport in the fronts and Michelin Pilot Super Sports 275/35-18 at the rears. At 275-280 KPH there is still around 500 rpms to redline and the car feels like it has more to give, I think on a longer stretch of road, it can get quite close to 300 KPH

This was done before I got my broken odometer gear replaced, hence the non-moving odometer.

https://youtu.be/VaITFvHzSCQ

I went for a ride tonight trying to clock my 0-100 KPH, my worst time was 6.10 and my best time was 5.59 secs. Please note that this was done using a stopwatch, so there might be some room for human error here. However, I did this a couple of times and averaged 5.8-5.9. All those runs were made with ASR on, the 6.10 run was made with the snow chains switch on, which from my understanding increases the threshold at which ASR interferes for speeds upto 40KPH. Maybe this was causing too much wheelspin at launch.

My best time of 5.59 secs was made by manually shifting into first and keeping the snow chains switch off.

 

[macysum]

Impressive!

I had my 560SEC over 140 mph once...decided after that event that I preferred airplanes at those speeds. The SEC was ready to fly anyway given all the lift under that car...

What is the blinking light (like a police car's) reflecting off the speedometer near the end? Did you have an escort or were you being pulled over :smile

 

[AGB]

Thanks, actually the car is quite stable at such speeds but I wouldn't dream of doing this one handed haha.

No those are actually light poles, I had to slow down to avoid the speed camera.

 

[macysum]

Thanks, actually the car is quite stable at such speeds but I wouldn't dream of doing this one handed haha.

No those are actually light poles, I had to slow down to avoid the speed camera.

Okay, well you must not be a Prince because I've heard they just blow through those cameras and have their assistants pay the fines when the ticket arrives...sort of like the tolls on the motorways

(I have to admit my knowledge is from UAE, not Kuwait as your location indicates)

 

[AGB]

Okay, well you must not be a Prince because I've heard they just blow through those cameras and have their assistants pay the fines when the ticket arrives...sort of like the tolls on the motorways

(I have to admit my knowledge is from UAE, not Kuwait as your location indicates)

Hahaha far from it. And yeah some of them tend to do that here just as well. What a life yeah

 

[cliffyk]

My USA delivered '98 SL500 topped out at 153.8 mph (per a GPS, 156 or so indicated) when the US DOT mandated speed limiter kicked in--I wondered if I could sue Mercedes, because it's not supposed to kick in until 155... :wink

 

[AGB]

Haha maybe you should

Actually this car is faster than we think it is. I know for a fact that I can beat a second generation Dodge Charger R / T. For some reason the charger loses steam at around 230KPH. I also had a go at a second gen SRT8 out of curiosity and he was ahead of me by one car's length, which isn't that bad really.

 

[waterdrop]

This is very cool, any mods to the car? And any info on stock 0-60 of the SL. Was it underrated perhaps? Pretty impressive if it's getting over 270 stock.

 

[cliffyk]

This is very cool, any mods to the car? And any info on stock 0-60 of the SL. Was it underrated perhaps? Pretty impressive if it's getting over 270 stock.

It's 270 kph--kilometres per hour--around 168 mph, or about what any SL500 could possiby do "pedal-to-the-metal" if the speed limiter is defeated...

 

[waterdrop]

It's 270 kph--kilometres per hour--around 168 mph, or about what any SL500 could possiby do "pedal-to-the-metal" if the speed limiter is defeated...

Yes, I was aware of the speedometer readout. I just didn't know that it was capable of 170+ de-llimited in stock form. I find that pretty darn impressive!

 

[cliffyk]

Yes, I was aware of the speedometer readout. I just didn't know that it was capable of 170+ de-llimited in stock form. I find that pretty darn impressive!

That's why the US DOT made them put the speed-limiter on 'em. I have had my '98 up to 154 (at 4700 rpm) and based on my butt-dyno--continously updated and calibrated over the last 60 years--it had at least 10 mph left when the speed-limiter kicked in...

 

[monkeymerc]

Alright, the link below is of my R129 doing approximately 275 KPH, I did manage a 283 top speed before but that wasn't on video. I don't have a speed limiter and I have no-cats, straight pipes going back into the resonator and then the stock muffler. I have 245/40-18 Toyo Proxes T1 Sport in the fronts and Michelin Pilot Super Sports 275/35-18 at the rears. At 275-280 KPH there is still around 500 rpms to redline and the car feels like it has more to give, I think on a longer stretch of road, it can get quite close to 300 KPH

This was done before I got my broken odometer gear replaced, hence the non-moving odometer.

https://youtu.be/VaITFvHzSCQ

I went for a ride tonight trying to clock my 0-100 KPH, my worst time was 6.10 and my best time was 5.59 secs. Please note that this was done using a stopwatch, so there might be some room for human error here. However, I did this a couple of times and averaged 5.8-5.9. All those runs were made with ASR on, the 6.10 run was made with the snow chains switch on, which from my understanding increases the threshold at which ASR interferes for speeds upto 40KPH. Maybe this was causing too much wheelspin at launch.

My best time of 5.59 secs was made by manually shifting into first and keeping the snow chains switch off.

The 0-100 time you averaged is bang on target for what was claimed when the car was launched they claimed 5.9 . They changed this when the upgrade arrived to I think 6.3 not wanting to make the older cars look faster. With the non cat engine you have more bhp ,you had the option to delete the cats on some markets GB was one of them my 90 model doesn't have them either. However I've put both my 90 and 99 model to the test (not a very accurate one ) and my 99 one appears to be quicker because of the 5 speed gear box :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[e-420]

That's why the US DOT made them put the speed-limiter on 'em. I have had my '98 up to 154 (at 4700 rpm) and based on my butt-dyno--continously updated and calibrated over the last 60 years--it had at least 10 mph left when the speed-limiter kicked in...

US DOT didn't make them put speed limiters on them. It was a "gentlemans agreement" between the German gov't and european auto makers in the early 1990's that started the 150MPH limiters. There was a push to limit speeds and the auto companies agreed to put limiters on.

In the U.S. the companies aren't required to have a limiter. However they ARE required to have tires rated for the max speed of the vehicle. So, in the U.S. the vast majority of vehicles have a limiter set around 100mph, the limit for the typical "S" rated tire. Some are set higher, often 130MPH for "H" rated tires, and then there are the ones like the SL that just followed the euro limit and have "W" or "Z" rated tires.

MB did put "H" rated tires on the E420 so it has a 130MPH limit vs the euro versions with 150MPH. Similar situation on many other MB U.S. versions with 130MPH limit vs. a higher euro limit.

My 3/4 ton pickup is limited to 99MPH again, for the tires. Some are set even lower depending on what is available for tire speed ratings. I've seen some at 85MPH.

 

[cliffyk]

The 0-100 time you averaged is bang on target for what was claimed when the car was launched they claimed 5.9 . They changed this when the upgrade arrived to I think 6.3 not wanting to make the older cars look faster.<snip>

If the 0 to 100 kph performance went from 5.9 s to 6.3 s then the older cars were faster.

FWIW I have seen 0-60 mph (a bit lower terminal velocity) for the '96 to '98 SL500s with M119.982 engine stated as 5.9 s. Extending that proportionally (which is most likely not even a little bit accurate) would place 0-100 kph at 6.1 s...

 

[AGB]

My car is stock, however it has straight pipes and no rev limiter. 275 kph is 170 miles as stated, the fastest I got was around 283 kph which is 175 mph. I realistically think it can get close to 290-300 kph.

I'm 95% happy with my 4 speed auto after numerous adjustments. However, I never tried the 5 speed in the R129 or the V12 for that matter. I would love to try them, actually if I were to buy another R129 in the future that's not an AMG, it would have to be a 01 or 02 SL600 with all the bells and whistles.

 

[cliffyk]

US DOT didn't make them put speed limiters on them. It was a "gentlemans agreement" between the German gov't and european auto makers in the early 1990's that started the 150MPH limiters. There was a push to limit speeds and the auto companies agreed to put limiters on.

Thank you for the background, I had thought I read it was a DOT imposed restriction specifically on the r129.

The "new-edge" Mustangs only had limiters on those cars delivered with lesser rated tires, as you indicated; but it could be easily disabled in the tune. I imagine same could be done with our cars, though I have lost my zeal to get as deeply into tuning (very deply) as I was with the Mustangs...

 

[rorypff]

Got my CLK 320 up to 235 kph (GPS read out) and chickened out for fear of a speed camera. The SL 320 maxed out at 220 kpm at 6000 ft asl (rpm @ 5000).

Merc engines sure are impressive, age is irrelevant:laugh

 

[monkeymerc]

If the 0 to 100 kph performance went from 5.9 s to 6.3 s then the older cars were faster.

FWIW I have seen 0-60 mph (a bit lower terminal velocity) for the '96 to '98 SL500s with M119.982 engine stated as 5.9 s. Extending that proportionally (which is most likely not even a little bit accurate) would place 0-100 kph at 6.1 s...

Yes I meant that the older ones were faster :thumbsup:

 

[wlb50]

I think the limiters on our cars are self-imposed by the factory. Most R129 V8s and V12s are limited to 155 - mine is limited to 149 and I think it all has to do with the tires that are installed at the factory. Years ago the W140 people were complaining that the interval and expense of replacing the V-rated tires - it was about then that the factory started limiting the cars to 130 and installing H rated tires. Other than AMG all Mercedes other than the SL are limited to 130 - in fact I think even the new SL (non-AMG) has that limit.

I think too that the 155 limit was an arbitrary "gentlemans agreement" with Daimer and BMW - too many crazy things going on on the Autobahn.

Porsches I think just go until they can't - a standard Boxster is about 165 mph.

At least that is my take on it.