Since its founding in late 2008, 500Eboard has become the leading resource on the Internet for all things related to the Mercedes-Benz 500E and E500. In recent years, we have also expanded to include the 400E and E420 models, which are directly related to the 500E/E500.
We invite you to browse and take advantage of the information and resources here on the site. If you find helpful information, please register for full membership, and you'll find even more resources available. Feel free to ask questions, and make liberal use of the "Search" function to find answers.
We hope you will become an active contributor to the community!
Here's a pic of the 458 my brother has been charged with cleaning in Florida. He's driven it once and said he gets nervous even cleaning it!!
Little does the owner of the beast know this is coming from the same brother that took our father's 6.9 for a cruise once around 1979 and dropped his then 18 year old friend off on an infamous stretch of 95 south towards Providence and drove past at 140mph so "we'd know what it looked like driving by at 140." It had the self leveling suspension option.
Self-leveling suspension wasn't an option on the 1975-1979 450SEL 6.9. It was standard equipment (all four corners) on all 6.9s produced from the factory.
Per DOT regulations at the time regarding cars that could be raised and lowered, U.S. cars had an aluminum ferrule about an inch long on the control cable that led from the dashboard to the main control valve underhood, which restricted the up and down movement of the car but didn't hinder the self-leveling capability. This ferrule could be removed in about 90 seconds, and restored the approximately 3" of suspension rise. Made it very nice when it came time to change the oil on the car (which had a 12-quart capacity dry-sump system). You just raised it up, and drained the puppy !!
I'm going to have to ask my father if he did that. It seems like the type of thing he would have done (removed the aluminum ferrule). I can barely spell ferrule let alone tell anyone what one is!!
The 6.9 is a very large, heavy cruiser. It only has a 3-speed automatic transmission, which is not a HUGE negative due to the torque curve that those 417 cubic inches provide. That torque delivery is quite stunning !
All that said, the 6.9 is by no means a hot-rod, and is a very different animal than its father, the 300SEL 6.3. The 6.3 is more like the 500E/E500. You get about 11-13 MPG with the 6.9, as well. The suspension is decent, but IMHO not nearly as good as the air-ride suspension as used in the 6.3 and the Grand 600 (and adopted again in recent years by Mercedes for its flagship cars).
So, yes, a good car to drive and experience, but there are far better collectable MBs out there. The 560SEL was a HUGE improvement on the 6.9 in just about every way.
The W126 is the best Luxury car in History. There will never be another car with its status and prestige.
But I would still like to see how the W116 6.9 compares.
The W126 is the best Luxury car in History. There will never be another car with its status and prestige.
But I would still like to see how the W116 6.9 compares.
Wow, what a car (6.3). That must have been fun to own. It's got to be one of the coolest things out there still. I read a few of the links posted above and the times are just incredible, thanks for putting that stuff up.
There are two 300's on eBay now that are fun to look at:
I dove in to read about the 300 and came across a decent quality 8 minute video of the Spa 24h 1971, when AMG's so-called "Red pig" 300 finished 2nd in a field of lighter fare as the only Mercedes entered.
Below are what made up some of the 57 other entries that year for visual reference if you check it out:
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Ford Mustang
Castrol BMW TeaM BMW 2800 CS
Alpina BMW 2800 CS
Steinmetz Opel Commodore
Ford Capri
AMG Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 "Roten Sau" "The Red Pig"
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAm
Ford Escort RS 1600
Alpina BMW 2002 TI
Scaldia Volga Moskvitch 412
Lucien Bianchi Citroën SM
The 6.3 and 6.9 are Mercedes legends and classics.. But for me, the 500E is still the best Mercedes ever built ! its going to be worth much more than the 6.9 when it gets the 30 year old classic status.
The front frame rails were widened a bit (splayed outward) to accommodate the engine
The transmission tunnel was widened
The inner firewall was modified (I believe moved a bit backward) to make more room inside the engine compartment
Front track widened by 3.7 cm at the front; 3.8 cm at the rear
Structural/physical modifications were also made to the main floor, rear floor, center (interior) console, chassis reinforcements and front and rear fenders (wings)
Some of those numbers are incorrect though, or at least misleading.
The 286HP number is for non-US 6.9s; US cars only had 250HP and 360 lb-ft.
The 250HP number for the 6.3 is SAE net HP, which was not used when the 6.3 was new -- the 300HP SAE gross HP number was used. Also, the actual number for 6.3 torque was 434 lb-ft, not the number given.
The 0-60 times for the two cars, in reality, are much farther apart. I can definitively attest (as I have the timeslips to prove it) that the 6.3 is MUCH faster in acceleration than the 6.9 is. The article is correct (per my own points above) that the top speed of the 6.9 is higher due to its longer legs (transmission final drive ratio).
There is a great article in the archives here that compares the 6.3, 6.9 and 500E. It's very much worth the read.
Great article. I had a chance to speak with my father on the 6.9 over the weekend at a family St. Patrick's Day get together and show him the detailed post above on the differences between the 6.3, 6.9, and 5.0 (which he understood technically and enjoyed reading). Indeed he *did* remove the aluminum ferrule! And that is probably why my 10 year old brain remembered the whole car going up and down quite a bit. He mentioned as suggested in this thread that the aluminum ferrule was implemented only in the USA for safety compliance (to keep the bumper at a standard height or it would hit above other bumpers in an accident).
He also detailed the 1979 purchase of the car in which he let my 18 year old brother drive it off the show room floor and parking lot. In the days following, the teenager then allowed very many of his friends to commandeer the fastest sedan in the world (unbeknownst to its owner). Certainly not long after, there were quite a few police cars chasing an anthracite grey 6.9 across the small town of Westwood, MA. They escaped capture once or twice. After one run, the teenagers ditched the cops by pulling into a garage and shutting the doors. But the luck wouldn't last. They went back to the scene of the crime and just days later the world's fastest sedan was suddenly cornered and trapped by 5-10 police cars from two towns. But it wasn't what the police were looking for exactly...they were in pursuit of a grey sedan that had been identified in a recent bank robbery. While it wasn't the bank robbers the police were hoping for, the police were finally able to put a face on the tail lights and exhaust they had been pursuing in vain for a couple of weeks. Community service hours were then awarded to the teen. The 70's....what a decade.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
