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W126 Performance

200K views 144 replies 60 participants last post by  rainiervermaak 
#1 · (Edited)
This is a performance orientatd thread for all interested in what can and has been done to the W126. This is not just an index of links to previous discussions, but all are welcome to ask and talk about all things perfromance regarding the W126.
 
#96 ·
According to him those were the only two mods that were needed in order to output 355HP, compared to the long list of expensive mods that were performed on the Carobu setup (first shop + Carobu).
The cams are race profile so the idle will indeed be rough but I know there are a few that might actually prefer that kind of German muscle under hood.
I highly doubt these aggressive cams would do anything to help promote reliability but they are his companies cams (currently out of stock) so I'm sure they have undergone some testing before being offered for public sale.

If you're interested, I've noticed that he is incredibly quick to respond to any questions that are asked via Private Message on his Facebook page.
 
#98 · (Edited)
The package you see Mike at dkubus has provided for the white Euro 300hp 560 RUF engine that he has just finished dialing in (tuning) is as follows-
(Note: His product is for un-opened engines, so no internal work done)

His bolt on FrankenCIS KE-Jet Kit (spark & fuel)

276 duration Cams he now has made local in Aust from blank cold chill billets (so these are top shelf cams in terms of quality - no cheap arse shortcuts here)

His higher stall converter - needed to work with the cams for good street manners and this is an exchange basis for yours or send yours in to get done and shipped back.

All of the above are required for the the power/torque increase to achieved (along with non faulty CIS system (FD & injectors & fuel pumps all good and no vac leaks etc) as the kit can't mask any pre-existing faults.

The 300hp Euro RUF engine has 10:1 comp & Tr-Y's as standard and this coupe also had a custom exhaust (no factory Kidneys or Factory rear muffler)

And yes he has achieved smooth idle at normal factory idle speed and pleasant road driving manners with this tune (so no stalling or shaking engine) it just sounds mean and has that glorious lofty idle where you know the engine means business when you pull into a servo etc (that luscious cammed sound in the exhaust note with the tight lobe separation causing overlap)

The aprox cost of applying the above system is AUD $10k

The build cost on the Carobu engine would have been in the $20k to $30k range easy.
 
#100 ·
No Problem - with the exchange rate of the Aussie to USD or GBP even the Euro it works in your favour - AUD $10k = USD$7.8k
The cams are AUD$2.5k for the pair, so not cheap. The only way you could get that cost down is if Feind Motorsports in USA was still in business but he has been off line since late 2015? (production cost was a bit cheaper from his cam maker source back then +2yrs ago) Hence why Mike had to go his own way in getting these made for the Kit.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/feindmotorsports/posts/?ref=page_internal

If you had an existing Euro 300hp 560 and wanted to just add the tuning kit he does not have a tune for that engine yet (requires him to create a tune with many hrs of work with that combo engine in his workshop, on the street and dyno time.
 
#107 ·
The M119 5L has been done (see member Axel Wulff W126 SEC) and so has the 12 Cyl.
A transplant of the M113 as in W210 E55, I haven't heard of yet, but its just a question on how much $ someone is willing to spend.
German Mechatronic offers a from ground up restored W111 3.5 coupe with the M113 55 drive train, but the car sells for $450k


edit: 11/21/21
For English sub text:
Watch video on YouTube, click CC (for subtitles), click settings, click 'auto translate,' click on the right arrow Language menu, and select 'English.' It's not perfect, but works pretty well
 
#113 ·
I came upon this posting on 'sistership' OzbenZ recently and felt our membership might benefit as well.
John Green is a well respected Mercedes enthusiast from Down Under and regular contributor to that forum.
I have yet to see a better explanation.

Thank you John.

MBL
***

Had to type this out for someone else so thought I would share it here as well.

  • All W126’s can be broadly categorised as “series 1” and “series 2”
  • The change is October 1985
  • From October 1985 the 560SEL and SEC could be ordered with option code 822
  • Code 822 ran from October 85 to March 88 and applied ONLY to the 560SEL and SEC
  • Code 822 was never used for the series 1 W126’s
  • Code 822 could not be ordered with a 420 or 500 engine.
  • Vehicles with code 822 were 10.0:1 compression and 220kw, the standard engine was 8.5:1 compression and 185kw
  • Engines with code 822 have the letters HV stamped after the engine number.
  • Code 822 was NEVER offered as an option for Australian delivered cars

  • From March 1988 there was a mini model update, if you like you could call it “series 2.1”
  • This was from chassis A 363799 onwards, with the exception of the following chassis numbers

A 360603,A 360655,A 360679,A 362163,A 362184,A 362368,A 362452,A 362494,A 362538,A 362542,A 362553,A 362557,A 362601,A 362610, A 362621,A 362626,A 362630,A 362635,A 362640,A 362648,A 362651,A 362654,A 362660,A 362662,A 362673,A 362680,A 362687,A 362690, A 362696,A 362698,A 362732,A 362736,A 362737,A 362747,A 362770,A 362787,A 362791,A 362799-A 362802,A 362810,A 362814,A 362820, A 362824,A 362834,A 362838,A 362845,A 362847,A 362853,A 362867,A 362872,A 362879,A 362883,A 362899,A 362913,A 362914,A 362916, A 362918,A 362923,A 362928,A 362930,A 362932,A 362934,A 362937,A 362940,A 362942,A 362948,A 362950-A 362954,A 362958,A 362962, A 362967,A 362972,A 362974,A 362980,A 362984,A 362986,A 362989,A 362992,A 362994,A 362995,A 362998,A 363001,A 363009,A 363015, A 363020,A 363024,A 363030,A 363031,A 363033,A 363037, A 363039,A 363041,A 363043,A 363045,A 363047,A 363049,A 363050,A 363053,A 363055,A 363060,A 363061,A 363066,A 363068,A 363071, A 363073,A 363075,A 363079,A 363085,A 363090,A 363091,A 363095,A 363102,A 363109,A 363111,A 363112,A 363114,A 363122,A 363127, A 363129,A 363131,A 363134,A 363138,A 363139,A 363143,A 363148,A 363156,A 363157,A 363161,A 363162,A 363167,A 363168,A 363175, A 363176,A 363182,A 363186,A 363188,A 363190,A 363201,A 363202,A 363204,A 363215,A 363220,A 363226,A 363229,A 363231,A 363235, A 363237-A 363239,A 363243,A 363245,A 363247,A 363253,A 363254,A 363258,A 363261,A 363266,A 363272-A 363275,A 363279,A 363284, A 363285,A 363290,A 363291,A 363304,A 363306,A 363309,A 363310,A 363311,A 363314,A 363320,A 363324,A 363331,A 363334,A 363335, A 363339,A 363340,A 363347,A 363350,A 363353,A 363359, A 363366,A 363371,A 363377,A 363379,A 363383,A 363387,A 363388,A 363395,A 363396,A 363404,A 363406,A 363412,A 363415,A 363417, A 363419,A 363427,A 363435,A 363437,A 363439,A 363450,A 363455,A 363456,A 363459,A 363462,A 363464,A 363468,A 363469,A 363474, A 363475,A 363479,A 363482,A 363485,A 363486,A 363489,A 363492,A 363497,A 363501,A 363505,A 363508,A 363517,A 363518,A 363527, A 363533,A 363540,A 363543,A 363548,A 363550,A 363551,A 363553,A 363555,A 363557,A 363559,A 363561,A 363564,A 363573,A 363579, A 363583,A 363585,A 363593,A 363595,A 363598,A 363604,A 363605,A 363611,A 363618,A 363620,A 363622,A 363629,A 363631,A 363641, A 363643,A 363651,A 363653,A 363661,A 363664,A 363670,A 363675,A 363680,A 363683,A 363690,A 363703,A 363705,A 363714,A 363716, A 363721,A 363723,A 363730,A 363734,A 363745,A 363754, A 363758,A 363760,A 363764-A 363766,A 363771,A 363774,A 363776,A 363779,A 363782.

  • The code 822 was cancelled and was no longer a “tick the box” option for someone ordering a new car.
  • The 420,500 and 560 engines were now all available in either 8.5:1 or 10.0:1 compression
  • If the engine was a 10:1 compressions engine it was stamped after the engine number, the term HV was no longer used.
  • The engine that was supplied in the car was dependant on the country the vehicle was ordered in.
  • Countries with restrictive emissions laws got 8.5:1 compression engines, countries that didn’t mind killing off baby seals got 10.0:1 compressions engines.
  • The following counties had 10.0:1 compression engines as standard:

UK, Hong Kong, Japan, RSA, all of Europe except Switzerland.

- The following countries had 8.5:1 compression engines

Australia, USA, Canada

- As code 822 no longer existed, you had to look for country of delivery and the build sheet (what parts were used) to determine if it had a 10:1 compressions engine.


So as a summary:

  • no such thing as a series 1 W126 with an HV engine
  • before chassis A363798, you could only get a 560 HV engine and it was expressed as a code on the datacard and HV after the engine number
  • after chassis A363799 you could get a 10:1 compressions 420, 500 or 560 engine if the vehicle was ordered for delivery in certain countries and it had 10:1 stamped after the engine number.
-
Kind regards, / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

John Green, Member Institute Automotive Mechanical Engineers

MB Spares & Service, supporting Australian Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts - Supporting Australia's Mercedes-Benz Enthusiasts.
****

Original post:
 
#114 ·
#118 ·
Correct and to be noted the 300hp version does not run Cats and also no O2 sensor (no closed loop function).

So what that means is all the duty cycle testing that is often talked about with KE-Jet tuning is out the window
The only real way of doing this is installing a modern wideband O2 sensor & aftermarket air-fuel ratio meter (like innovative LM2 which can run dual O2 sensors & data logging) and then you can dial the engine in correctly yourself (or paying for a dyno tuner)

300hp version has a number of clues besides no cats & no closed loop function - external factory oil cooler with its own pump / FD is coded 016 and not 018 / 2.65LSD diff / Code 822 ECE engines have stamping HV after engine # on block & rear end of heads are painted in red 822 / RUF have 10.0 stamped after engine #
The only real thing restricting them from unleashing more power/torque is that damn lower intake manifold re the plenum chamber design (the upper intake runner design is fine) and Carobu been firm about not selling their modded intakes on their own unfortunately without them working on the engine in-house
 
#120 ·
Good to see you around and kicking.
I am not KRH, but his 2:65 is probably the best compromise. If I didn't confuse you with someone else, your 6.9 had the 2:65 LSD.
According to a member who dismantled a few differentials, Gen I to Gen II only the housing changed, the innards are the same.
I believe Euro M117 cars had 2:27 (?) and US 240 something.
 
#121 · (Edited)
Don i have attached a chart of all the models around that era and their diff ratio's and a lot more detailed info as well
If you scroll down to page 5 you will see all the Gen1 and Gen2 diff ratio's

Don't foget the Gen1 diffs are smaller 1.1ltre with 185mm crown-wheel
Gen2 are larger 1.3ltr with 210mm crown-wheel

185mm crown-wheel ratio's start at 2.65 and go all the way up in 8 different sizes to 3.92
210mm crown-wheel ratio's start at 2.24 and go all the way up in 8 different sizes to 3.69

Probably the best ratio in 210mm is 2.65 but for more fun 2.82 and even 3.06 were a very popular choice with AMG where fuel economy was low on the priority list
Probably the best choice in 185mm is 2.65 or 2.87 but for more fun 3.07 and even 3.27 were a very popular choice with AMG
1st gear is pretty useless in those lower ratio's other than smoking the tires up - haha

John you are right - ammeded my comments
 

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#127 ·
Been done over here in Australia with great success - see pics below
The only problem is it will most likely de-value the re-sale value of the car if that is even a consideration.
There is also a member on BW based in USA driving around in his coupe with an LS1 swap done by the previous owner
 

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#128 ·
You shouldn't post remarks like that here for several reasons. In the first place it makes me slobber and drool all over my keyboard. That Coupe is absolutely gorgeous. Second, it might create the impression that you could end up with a car that is fast, economical to drive, and is so reliable that it could be driven anywhere. Power train parts are available anywhere and repairs wouldn't require a "specialist" who would charge $135 per hour to work on it.
When my brother took a 1961 Cadillac Eldorado body and powered it with a 2008 STS engine, the "purists" all bent over and wretched. The owner now has no hesitation about driving the car across the country and breaking down somewhere, gets phenomenal fuel mileage, and has lots and lots of power under his foot. So for those who are not DIYers, transplants are a great way to go.
2669488
 
#129 ·
That looks amazing.

It could be said that a well maintained SEC should be more than able to qualify for fast long distance reliable journeys. With reasonable mileage.

These modified ones sound fun though. Myself, I like the idea of a supercharger on a stock motor.
 
#130 ·
That looks amazing.

It could be said that a well maintained SEC should be more than able to qualify for fast long distance reliable journeys. With reasonable mileage.

These modified ones sound fun though. Myself, I like the idea of a supercharger on a stock motor.
I do as well. But is there enough room under the hood for either a "centrifigal" or "roots type" blower~? Can you imagine what a Whipple or an Eaton would do for a 560 engine if you could squeeze in in without modifying the hood~?
 
#131 ·
Benz man, while I'm well satisfied with my SEC the way it is. I've been trying to talk my son into "modernizing" his restoration of his 1954 Cadillac with a newer drive train, meaning parts are easier to get. He says he wants it bone stock and original, it was driven for a while but is now down for the restore
 
#132 ·
I put the word Supercharged into advanced search on this section of the forum only, and got 24 pages. Didn't realise there was so much. An example below. I was actually just looking for our well known forum car owned by @magicbigdaddy . Come tell us about it Mike.

Here's another random example. Sounds like a fun car, wonder if it ended up sorted.

 
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