[SPAM] [R129 SL] SL 500 drinks more than owner
George Simpson
george.simpson.r129 at tiscali.fr
Wed Jan 19 05:18:01 EST 2005
The R129 instruction book says that the settings are E - Economy and S -
Standard. In E mode, first gear is not engaged when moving off in D or 3
whereas in S mode, 1st will engage if full throttle is used when moving
off, otherwise 3nd is used. Few of us floor-board it when moving off due
to tyre wear and fuel economy. Also, as noted below, the change points
are at lower revs with E engaged.
Fuel ecomony is a joke with the 500SL. The old phrase "If you have to
ask how much, you can't afford it ...." comes to mind. Yesterday I was
in Sluis which is on the Dutch/Belgian border. The cost of 95 oct. lead
free in Belgium is Euro 1.04 whereas 3 klicks away in Sluis it is Euros
1.32. Stangely, diesel in Holland is a few cents cheaper per litre than
in Belgium but I have difficulty getting my 1990 500SL to run on that
fuel !!!!
George Simpson
Cognac, France
P.S. Mijnheer Jan - the word champagne that one sometimes sees
associated with the better cognacs ( never brandy - please) refers to
the soil on which the grapes are grown. Champagne in this context is an
old French word derived from Latin that means open fields where the soil
is rich in chalk. The various districts - each of which have different
soil characteristics are Grande Champagne , Petite Champagne, Borderies,
Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires.
Victor R. Lopez wrote:
> hey guys
> Doesn't that rocker switch mean winter summer. meaning that in the
> winter the trans will start out in second gear thus illuminating wheel
> spin. my two cents
>
> */"gregoiro at weststargroup.net" <gregorio at weststargroup.net>/* wrote:
>
> Jan;
>
> I have a 1991 500SL and had (until recently) a MBZ 400E (with theh
> 4.2 liter V-8), so I know of what you talk about. My big Mercedes
> sedan got better mileage than the 500SL, and it is partly due to
> the fact that I put my foot intot the 500SL more - meaning I drive
> faster in the sports car! The sedan was for cruising. But I get
> about 18-20 miles per gallon in my 500SL, highway or city
> driving. But I do watch that little guage which shows what kind
> of mileage you are getting when I am on the freeways.
>
> Just my 2 cents worth. Hope all is well in your end of the world.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
> West Hills, CA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jan Kuylaars <mailto:jan at rian-bv.nl>
> *To:* r129list at mbcoupes.com <mailto:r129list at mbcoupes.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 18, 2005 6:07 PM
> *Subject:* [SPAM] [R129 SL] SL 500 drinks more than owner
>
> Hi list, I downloaded all the mail from the last three jeers,
> and had 2 months off reading.
>
> So I know Satish, clif (ton) Richard (son) UK , Daneal
> schilmeister US, Gordon lamm China, George Simpson out the
> French Champagne , Becky , Cinthya Carr and so on.
>
> Now I am filtering all the mail, so that I can make a document
> with inputs from our members on different issue's and problems.
>
> I also have downloaded the original sales and technical
> introduction booklet from MB 1989 from MB 129 classic page
> from Germany.
>
> Together with your comment and the things I discovered (110
> small problems) before I hade an excellent 500 SL, gives a small
>
> Workshop manual, what I, off course, will share with you, when
> it's ready.
>
>
>
> I am very happy now with my 1989 R129 500 SL, (1750 Kg) but
> one off the things a want to know, is de average mileages your
> cars drives on a gallon
>
> Gasoline. I use normal gasoline with octane 95. The gasoline
> costs in Holland now 5.6 $ a gallon (4.5 litre) or 1.2
> Euro/litre and I drive a average
>
> Of 14 miles on a gallon in the city. (Dutch standards 5 Km on
> 1 litre, or 20 litres for 100 Km) On the Highway the best I
> can do is 25 miles on a gallon
>
> (1 litre for 9 Km) I had a 420 S from 94 (2000 Kg) and that
> did make on the highway 28-30 miles/gallon (11km/ltr) and an
> average off 20 miles/gallon (7 Km /litre)
>
> So for a lighter car, and also 8 cylinders but 800 cm3 more,
> there is a big difference.
>
> I believe it is the transmission. The 420 SL switches earlier
> to a higher transmission then the 500 SL. Every time I must
> think: ok leave the gas pedal and then
>
> the transmission shifted up. I have a switch near the
> transmission with S and E, what is I think. Sport and
> economic. The 420 s limousine react with earlier shifting
>
> on S, but the 500 SL douse not. I believe the only difference
> is that the car earlier react on "kick down" and shifted
> quickly back on S, and reacts slow on E by not shifting back.
>
>
>
> So every week I tank 80 litres of gasoline for 90 Euro (say 95
> $) and that because we have a government that makes us stop
> and accelerate again for
>
> Small mountains they make in the road for "safety". It also
> costs me all ready two Pirelli P9000 tires from 265-30-18 on
> the back wheels, because the
>
> Rubber was broken on the side off the tires. That's because I
> have 8J wheels on the front and the back. For 265 you must
> have 8.5 J.
>
> Now I have 235 in front and the back, and I am happy with it,
> only I must keep my feet off the gas pedal when it was rainy.
> If not, the ASR begins to work.
>
> More then with 265 tires.
>
>
>
>
>
> With kind Regards,
>
> Jan Kuylaars
>
> Technical manager Rian BV
>
>
>
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