R107 Vmax and 0-100

[T-Modell]

Hi guys,

in these times you have time, so ... ... Autobahn more empty than usual, so I took the 500SL for a drive to test vmax ...

Factory figures: 500SL, RUF, 245hp, Vmax 225 km/h

Well it's in good shape, as the speedometre was at its end and the GPS clocked 234 km/h, not bad for an old car, but I might have had a bit of head wind .
https://vimeo.com/402912772

The 0-100 video was started a bit late, so the 6 seconds is not correct, but even if the 0-25 took another 1.5 seconds, it's pretty good.
https://vimeo.com/402912533

Good that we talked about it
Thomas

[Christo C]

For a moment there I thought you were driving with one hand holding the camera; but gratified to hear another voice...

[T-Modell]

No,
I couldn’t hold the camera. I had my phone in one hand doing a call and my coffee in the other hand
Thomas

[tsharkey]

Is the trapezoid holding the clock a Thomas invention ? I am thinking of something similar when I adapt an electric W126 speedo for the 722.6 transmission in a W123. Also, love the analogue outside temperature gauge .....

[CraigB]

I love Australia but if there was a list of advantages of living in Germany, the ability to take my car out and wind the speedometer off the clock would be right up there!

I have done this once (ok maybe a couple of times and highly illegal) many years ago in my modified rotary Mazda. From memory I think the speedo went to 200 and i got it to go past that. Back in the days when they didn't lock you up and throw away the key for such things! But even sillier was riding my Ducati MHR at over 200 on Northern Territory no speed limit highway. It felt incredibly stable and relaxed at those speeds but you come up on another car or truck doing 100 and its like someone stepping out in front of you when doing 100 and heart beats a bit faster as you grab the brake harder and harder. Great feeling but doesn't bear thinking about how long it takes to stop on your arse if you come off at those speeds.... and how much of your arse hasn't worn away!

[tsharkey]

I was on the AutoBahns of Germany in my little Golf GTi, heading at around 140Kms just after the wall came down. It was somewhat disconcerting to come up behind a smokey trabunt with GDR plates put putting away, but too afraid to get in the left lane as a big (and near new) W126 would be hurtling along at a much greater velocity .......

[Christo C]

...and my coffee in the other hand

Coffee? Here we drink beer!

[T-Modell]

Hi guys,
I wanted to try it with the "original" exhaust (8-4-2), before we get a speed limit here ... with all the climate discussion, it might come (although it's bs). Unfortunately the Autobahn on the way to the North was too full to test, so I guess the head wind from the South was the reason why it took so long.

Is the trapezoid holding the clock a Thomas invention ? I am thinking of something similar when I adapt an electric W126 speedo for the 722.6 transmission in a W123. Also, love the analogue outside temperature gauge .....

All original; it's one of roughly 50 R107 with the bord computer (Reiserechner). In this case, the rev-metre is on the left and the clock is digital. After 1985 (or 1981), the temperature gauge in the middle was standard here. My car is original.

...and my coffee in the other hand

Coffee? Here we drink beer!

Regards
Thomas

Edit: as you can see here:

[tsharkey]

All original; it's one of roughly 50 R107 with the bord computer (Reiserechner). In this case, the rev-metre is on the left and the clock is digital. After 1985 (or 1981), the temperature gauge in the middle was standard here. My car is original.

Thanks Thomas, I have seen those onboard computers for sale on occasion, generally for a W126 but there is one for a W124 500E at the moment. Wondered what they did with the tach and clock so thanks for the fullpicture. I imagine they require a bit of intgration with the tank sender, speedo sensor to calculate rate of fuel based on speed and provide the necessary stats. Or does it also need a flow meter to calibare such .... Looking at the rear of the one on eBay, looks like it wants to integrate with the dash bus with the PCB connector (Speed + Odometer ?) and there a separate control module that connects to that round plug.

W124 Reiserechner Hinten.JPG

You can buy the manual for it for EU$14.19 from Bonn. Or a whole kit for a W126 300SE from Altshausen for EUR 2.2K !

W126 Reiserechner Bausatz.JPG

Is the section where the clock is a plastic overlay or part of the metal facia of the speedo ?

[T-Modell]

...Is the section where the clock is a plastic overlay or part of the metal facia of the speedo ?

Hi,

I guess it's just a plastic overlay, I haven't taken my cluster apart yet. The thing still works perfectly, there's not even one segment of the LCD not working. It was also fascinating on our 4,000 kms Ireland trip, that the mechanical trip counter and the digital one were exactly - on the km - identical.

I know, pretty rare, especially in a R107. Still I wouldn't pay that much money for it, normally you get it with a car attached

Regards
Thomas

[matthewz108]

That's super... what was the tacho reading at that speed?

[T-Modell]

That's super... what was the tacho reading at that speed?

Because of the long ratio, it only revs around 4,000 at 200km/h, so I assume something around 4,500 ... didn't actually look

Regards
Thomas