I just acquired a concours condition 1978 280CE with 125k; this car is as close to perfect as one can get. Like a new car, really. Anyway, I bought the car because of the condition and not its performance; poor fuel mileage, sluggish acceleration. I assume that the motor is plugged up with smog devices and does not breath well.

I am aware that euro camshafts are easily had for this car. What I am looking to know is what would it take to get this car to the point where it will get 20mpg on the open road and breath correctly (so it does not feel so constricted). I assume the exhaust system would have to be upgraded, the cams, ...what else? Doe the car have a recirculation pump (ie; smog pump) that can be removed (strictly for offroad use, of course)?

A friend has a 1983 280sl with a high performance version of the same engine; feels like a different engine. That motor screams at 6000 rpm and will trounce any 450SL automatic around easily.

Can anybody point me in the right direction on this?

Regards,

Carl

The euro M110 after 1981 made over 190hp, find one of these & then your car will go as well. The stock engine(US version) won't make this kind of HP unless you turbo charge it.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
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190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
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I'm not an expert, but I heard the w123 was a luxury sedan (even the coupe althought it looks sportier). I was told the chassis wasn't designed to handle more than +/-200HP (without any other major modifications)

Here are the Euro specs:

Euro specs

(I'm not sure if this is the same for the American versions)

The 280E is fast! (relatively... i mean..)
When I was a kid my dad had one and my mum drove it most of the time.. after he got rid of the 280E and bought a new W124 230E... my mum's comment was... "this car is slow"

Can't you remove all the smog equipments? or is it illegal?

Thanks for the input. What I am looking for is are there any sources to acquire standard performance parts.....low restriction air intake, headers, exhaust systems, cams, pistons, et al.

I could take off the smog if I wanted. Would this be easier to simply acquire another engine and build it up and then do a swap and sell this motor?

Regards,

Carl

I'm not so sure of performance parts for the 2.8L I6 motor..
but would you be so kind to put up some pictures...

Thanks

There is a guy in FLA that raced a 280E in SCCA for 5 years. HE made his own headers. The engine that he last used made right at 300HP. NO TURBO!
However the car wasn't streetable at all, with full cage the car weighed only 2,400 lbs
I also autocrossed a EURO 280E for 3 years before my 190E racing. My car made over 200hp & was very streetable! But you need a 4 (or 5) speed manual transmission.
You can't but parts off of the shelf to do this, PLUS you need to start with a late EURO engine as they have over 40 more HP than US engines.
Almost EVERY interior engine part is different including the cylinder HEAD & that is where the HP comes from!!
This guy might sell you some of his extra parts as he has 2 190E race cars now!!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Sounds like I should be on the lookout for a used euro motor. Thanks for the input. One more question: know if the speakers (ADS) I pulled out of my w124 1987 sedan will fit in this 1978 w123? The ADS speakers are 4" (A4/is) and 5.25" (a5/is).

Thanks,
Carl