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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| PA to FL
Hey everyone, I'm finally taking the W140 on a "little" road trip. A buddy and I are driving from Pittsburgh, PA to Sarasota, FL in mid-May. I was curious to konw what you all recomend I have done to my car before I leave. Its about 1,200 miles and we plan on driving straight through the night, so I can't worry about ANYTHING! I'm going to have the oil changed, the brakes checked, and the tires rotated. This is the first time I've taken my baby on a trip further than Indiana or Detroit. I'm really anxious to get going, but I need to be 100% sure the car will make it. Oh by the way, I'm taking the 500SEL b/c I'm trying to keep the miles low on the Grand.  |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
hmmm.. It sounds good to me. I think you should be ok. Make sure to have a good spare, cuz sometimes the roads may have nails and stuff in them... |
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NZ Benz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: New Zealand
Vehicle(s): 1993 300SEL/S320
Posts: 2555
| RE: PA to FL
As long as your car is in good repair then you have nothing to worry about. I just drove mine through the floods and earlier this year did about 2500km in three days these cars are made for this type of trip. just make sure all your fluids are up to it and that your spare is in good order. |
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AsianML
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
Sounds like you are making the right precautions. Like the others said: - Check all fluids (oil too)
- Bring pressure gauge with you so you can inspect the tires at the destination
- Check the spare tire, because the spares often have leaks and are worthless
- Also check your lights, because in some areas they will fine you for having a light out
That's all I can think of for now. I know what you're going through. We drove from W. Michigan to Orlando, FL for Christmas last year. |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
Make sure you time it right to NOT be anywhere near Tampa during either rush hour. 75 becomes a parking lot. |
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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
Yeah, I know all about it... I've been told to stay out of the DC area, and the Tampa area during rush hour. I don't think I'll have a problem because it will take me approximatly 17 hours from start to finish and I plan on leaving at 8:30pm so I'll be in my Condo in Sarasota by the rush home, and probably somewhere between Jacksonville and Tampa during the morning rush. I have an appointment to get the car "road ready" in May. Thanks for all your help! I can't wait to let my 500SEL stretch her legs.... |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
dantefr - 4/27/2006 6:56 PM
Yeah, I know all about it... I've been told to stay out of the DC area, and the Tampa area during rush hour. I don't think I'll have a problem because it will take me approximatly 17 hours from start to finish and I plan on leaving at 8:30pm so I'll be in my Condo in Sarasota by the rush home, and probably somewhere between Jacksonville and Tampa during the morning rush. I have an appointment to get the car "road ready" in May. Thanks for all your help! I can't wait to let my 500SEL stretch her legs....
hopefully, you can afford all of that gasoline.  |
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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
Yea, with prices the way they are, I could be spending a hell of a lot more than I want in gas.... I'm hoping to average 20 miles per gallon, which is very possible considering when I took a trip to Indiana last year I was geting 21.3 MPG.... |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
dantefr - 4/27/2006 10:10 PM
Yea, with prices the way they are, I could be spending a hell of a lot more than I want in gas.... I'm hoping to average 20 miles per gallon, which is very possible considering when I took a trip to Indiana last year I was geting 21.3 MPG....
that's quite good gas mileage for a 500. 
Is it true the pre-facelift W140's were slightly more powerful than the post facelift. At least for the 500 and 600 SEL, I think they had more horsepower than the later versions of the 500 and 600. |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
You’ll be coming at a good time of year – it’s getting hot but the humidity hasn’t set in yet, nights are still cool. It’s the humidity –not the heat – that kills you here. |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
jdc1244 - 4/28/2006 4:13 PM
You’ll be coming at a good time of year – it’s getting hot but the humidity hasn’t set in yet, nights are still cool. It’s the humidity –not the heat – that kills you here.
Well, despite that, I'm sure it will be a great trip. What is better than bonding with your Mercedes-Benz. |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
About every other month I make a trip to Destin, FL, and back – 843 miles round trip. Both 126s are excellent road cars, they eat up the miles. |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
jdc1244 - 4/28/2006 5:29 PM
About every other month I make a trip to Destin, FL, and back – 843 miles round trip. Both 126s are excellent road cars, they eat up the miles.
I agree. the W126s are very strong driving cars. They can withstand nearly everything. |
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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
Yeah, I've been going to Sarasota since before I can remember, but this is my time driving down. I've always wanted to try it and now that I have the car for it, I can't wait to do it!
As for the horsepower in pre-facelift W140s.... the 1992 500SEL had 322 HP and the 600SEL had 402 (i think) and the 1993-1999 S500s had 315 and the S600 had 389. So the power difference wasn't between pre and post facelift, but just 92 and 93. If anything, the newer W140s are better off since they are lighter and have a 5-speed tranny. |
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1996_S500
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
dantefr - 4/28/2006 10:07 PM
Yeah, I've been going to Sarasota since before I can remember, but this is my time driving down. I've always wanted to try it and now that I have the car for it, I can't wait to do it!
As for the horsepower in pre-facelift W140s.... the 1992 500SEL had 322 HP and the 600SEL had 402 (i think) and the 1993-1999 S500s had 315 and the S600 had 389. So the power difference wasn't between pre and post facelift, but just 92 and 93. If anything, the newer W140s are better off since they are lighter and have a 5-speed tranny.
oh, ok. I see now. Thanks Dantefr,
I have been wondering about that for quite a while now. Thanks for clearing it up. |
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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
well, i'm leaving in just 12 days and I still haven't had the car checked out..... My power steering pump is making this aweful whinning noise and for some reason, the AC doesn't blow cold all the time. If I can't get the car ready to go by my departure date, I'll just be taking my Grand Edition... haha oh well! Oh yea, that reminds me, on the Grand, there are 18inch AMG rims, but the spare is only a 16inch stock rim for the 97-99 S500. Can I run that car for long distances on a rim that is not 18inches? I'm assuming the car will sit level with that rim b/c the tire is so much bigger from the rim to the tread than the low profile ones on the AMG rims. Let me know what you guys think!!
And 1996_S500, I'll snap a few pictures of the lighted doorsills later today... |
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AsianML
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
I don't think running with 16" spares is a good thing. Might mess up the car big time. Think about it, even though the extra height in the tires might make up for the smaller rim, you still have to take into account that the weight of the car pushes the tires down, so to speak.
You will have more "stress" on the 16" because you have more tire for the weight to be pinned on, compared to the 18" which has less tire.
I'd probably buy one of those repair kits that you can like inject something in to fill the hole.
I'm basically just guessing on all of this, not really a technical kind of person. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this situation. |
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dantefr
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: PA to FL
Well, I decided to take the spare out and look. It is BRAND NEW! The rim and tire have never been used! Anyway, on the outside of the rim, there is a sticker that says 50MPH Max. I'm sure this sticker is included on on the Grand Edition spare tires.... |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: PA to FL
An MB with a doughnut spare! Say it aint so…  |
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NZ Benz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: New Zealand
Vehicle(s): 1993 300SEL/S320
Posts: 2555
| Re: PA to FL
dantefr - 5/7/2006 6:35 PM
well, i'm leaving in just 12 days and I still haven't had the car checked out..... My power steering pump is making this aweful whinning noise and for some reason, the AC doesn't blow cold all the time. If I can't get the car ready to go by my departure date, I'll just be taking my Grand Edition... haha oh well! Oh yea, that reminds me, on the Grand, there are 18inch AMG rims, but the spare is only a 16inch stock rim for the 97-99 S500. Can I run that car for long distances on a rim that is not 18inches? I'm assuming the car will sit level with that rim b/c the tire is so much bigger from the rim to the tread than the low profile ones on the AMG rims. Let me know what you guys think!!
And 1996_S500, I'll snap a few pictures of the lighted doorsills later today...
I have a 16 rim to go with my 18 rims. I dunno about running it for long distance. But it will get you where you have to go to get it repaired. |
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