A couple of 450SEL qns from a new guy

[Obrut]

Hi all,

I've always liked the 6.9's and I'm getting tempted again.

First question is how do they go as tow cars? I have a 300kg trailer with a 950kg historic sports car on it. I assume that power/torque would not be a problem but that fuel consumption would be (very) high. Do the gearboxes stand up well to towing? Regular use would be from central Sydney to Eastern Creek and Wakefield Park with the odd run to Philip Island and Winton.

Second question is has anyone built, seen (i.e. have pictures of) a Red Sow inspired 450SEL? E.g. Ronal/Penta wheels, bumpers off, foglights on etc. Wouldn't go as far as flared guards.

Thanks, Ryan

 

[Styria]

Hi Ryan, first and foremost, I would like to extend to you a cordial welcome to joining TK. I have to confess that I had not been aware that you had submitted a post or query, and furthermore I am surprised that no one has responded to you - including myself, of course. I would like to think that you will be able to take an active interest in the running of TK - your contributions would be most welcome.

Now to your query. I have only ever towed a heavily laden 7 by 5 box trailer with Gleaming Beauty (my 6.9), and it was not for a great distance, thus cannot make any comment regarding additional fuel consumption. Regarding capacity to tow - GB is fitted with a genuine Mercedes approved tow bar, and quite honestly I never got the impression that I was towing a trailer. It was totally effortless. Regarding consumption - there can be no doubt that towing a race car will significantly increase consumption - chances are that you will drop from about 18mpg down to about 12-14mpg. Let me put this into some perspectives.

Many years ago, I towed a horse trailer with one cow fully grown but no milk content ) with my Rover 3500S from Sydney to the North Coast. Under normal driving conditions, i.e. without the trailer, the Rover would return 25 mpg. on the open road. Towing the horse float with my 'girlie' (the cow, of course) increased that consumption to 18 mpg. On another occasion, I took two cars up to the North Coast. The aforementioned 3500S, and when we arrived at Taree (about 196 kms.), I refuelled at a cost of $9.00 (ah, the good old days). I was also towing that same trailer carrying a Kawasaki Road bike with my 300SEL 1966 Fintail Mercedes, and it took double the amount of petrol, i.e. $18.00. Assuming the Rover did 25mpg, that would indicate that the 300SELwas down to about 12 mpg. Under normal open road driving, the Benz would consume at the rate of 18mpg. I guess you could expect similar comparisons for a 6.9 - perhaps slightly less as that M100 engine does possess a lot of torque. Hope this helps. Regards Styria

 

[motec 6.9]

Sorry Ryan didn't see your post but seeing as fuel consumption between 450SEL and the 6.9 is only about 1 litre difference per 100km I would assume the 6.9 would not have as great a deficit towing as it has more in reserve.

 

[Michel]

Welcome to the Forum Ryan,

IMHO, the 6.9 would tow your load without much effort.
With nearly 550Nm of torque you would hardly notice a lot of difference.

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Ryan Michel has a 6.9 for sale in your neck of the woods.

 

[Oversize]

The only issue with a 6.9 as a tow car is the chassis. Many cars with old bars fitted are hiding rust under the flanges and fittings. And being they don't have a separate chassis like a 4x4 these areas are critical to towing safely. I'd recommend having them removed and checked thoroughly, or buy one without a bar and have one professionally fitted later.

 

[motec 6.9]

Seeing as you have discovered this with one of yours its probably a good idea.

 

[Styria]

Mark, your comments may well be appropriate and perhaps even well founded. I have never paid any attention to 116s that may have had a bar fitted, therefore I cannot comment on the possibility of rust issues at various mounting points.

The bar fitted to GB is a genuine Mercedes accessory available when the cars were new in the '70s, ostensibly at a cost of $3000.00. I managed to purchase my "new" bar from one of the Sydney wreckers. It was marked as 'scrap', and was obviously part of a container load of spares received from overseas. When I came to fit the bar, I noticed that some quite substantial body brackets were already in place applicable to a previously fitted unit, with the exposed and accessible part of the bar having been removed. Naturally, I went back to square one and fitted the whole assembly.

The substantial body brackets neatly follow the contour of the unitary body itself and those brackets are attached by strategically placed securing bolts. There is absolutely no chance of rust ever getting to any part of those body areas. Believe it or not, it is just recently, after 16 years, that I have had the unit wired up in case I have to engage in any lengthy towing. Regards. Styria

 

[Obrut]

Gents,

Thank you for the welcomes and the feedback.

Now does anyone have any opinion on the second, more unusual, question inspired by the AMG 300sel race car?

"Second question is has anyone built, seen (i.e. have pictures of) a Red Sow inspired 450SEL? E.g. Ronal/Penta wheels, bumpers off, foglights on etc. Wouldn't go as far as flared guards."

 

[Obrut]

Thanks for the replies, and the welcome.

Anyone care to comment on qn 2: any hot-rodded 6.9's floating around?

 

[Oversize]

I've not seen any except for a 450SE race car that had a 6.9 conversion. Sadly I believe the car has since been scrapped after the crate engine developed a 'Cam' issue!!

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Obrut almost all Australian known modified W116 are in this thread. Oscar has a Red Sow drawn picture as his Avatar. SELfor50 had the 450SE 6.9 race car. 13B still has his 450SE with Torana flares in his garage. Then you have me who is not in this thread with former Motec M48pro 6.9 and current Euro 6.9 which with current mods has done 14.24@97.21mph at Kwinana I have parts to complete 7.6 litre hi comp engine and adjustable cam sprockets. http://www.topklasse.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1068

 

[Oversize]

Here's some other threads that might be of interest:

http://www.topklasse.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5325&highlight=modified

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L0DqIZKRYo

http://www.topklasse.org/forums/showthread.php?t=766&highlight=teamw116

 

[Oversize]

And:

http://www.topklasse.org/forums/showthread.php?t=536&highlight=teamw116

 

[Styria]

Just stumbled across this thread. It's amazing how threads can disappear without a trace - so to speak. I wonder if Ryan ever got the towing situation sorted out? I guess we'll never know. Regards. Styria

 

[Michel]

Sadly Ryan hasn't been on TK since 2014