does anyone know some performance mods. that i should consider doin to the car? i plan to get koni shocks and h&r shocks...but as far as the engine goes...im not sure...any help guys? Thanks Scott L.

I've got major mods on my SEC but as far as quickness goes, try a different rear-end. You've probably got a 2.47 or 2.25 or something. Try to find a 2.82 or 3.07 and you'll notice a big difference in quickness. Older SL's have some of these ratios. I have a 3.27 ratio and its really fast but may be too much if you do freeway cruising. I'm running about 3,000rpm at 72mph. As far as other small stuff, exhaust does a little. There's not much to do to that motor except swap a 560 in! I've ridden in 500's that smoke the tires out of first gear easily and I've ridden in them when they can't even break them loose. Can you spin the tires out of first gear? Remember on the Euros, you can start out in "3" on the shifter and it will launch in first gear. If you start in "D", you'll launch in 2nd gear. The older 500 euro motors, '80, '81 seem to have more potent engines for some reason I've noticed. Anyone else agree?

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Mike
-W126C 560SEC 040 Black
*6.0L AMG M117 32v Hammer
-W163 ML320 Brilliant Silver
-W124 300E Pearl Black

Its no slug...it will do a number on my bridgestones haha. Any way im prob. gonna try a different rear end ration, and as far as exsaust i deff. gotta do something, i'll prob take it to the guy that designed a custom exsaust system for my euro 380SE which is a high 7's 0-60 car...pretty strong for what it is. Anyway the exsaust on my SEC is the basic rotting rusting system you would expect on a car of that age...sometime it has been messed with and now only goes through one cat and has a VERY restrective rear mufler on it (Midas i beleive) what junk! ha, but once i get a all aluminum dynomax exsaust i would hope to see a big increase. What do you think of swaping the air intake with one off a 560 since it has dual intake pipes? Anythoughts? Anyone?
Thanks Scott L.

Don't know if the "dual snorkel" will do much but every little thing can add up I guess. Mercedes mapped out the air intake pretty good and making more air available to be sucked in won't really matter... you gotta jam it in! I have a K&N filter but I'm not sure if it did any good. It honestly feels like it runs better with the regular filter on. I think, for the money, swapping out the rear end for a 2.82 or something will give you most bang for the buck. Who knows, maybe since you'd be trading your's in it wouldn't cost you too much out of pocket. Sounds like the muffler would be a good idea to change as well. If you ever run accross some european exhaust manifolds from a 560, try putting those on too. They get rid of much more air than the factory 500's. European down pipes, a new muffler and rear end will make it feel like a new car.

__________________
Mike
-W126C 560SEC 040 Black
*6.0L AMG M117 32v Hammer
-W163 ML320 Brilliant Silver
-W124 300E Pearl Black

Awesome...sounds like i got a game plan now! thanks for helpin me out...you got any pics of you 500/560 SEC? Thanks Scott L.