Gear usage and Engine noise

[Stuttgart68]

Hello,
Now after 6 months having my 230SL I want to share my driving experience with you.
I bought the Pagoda with a rebuilt 280SE engine which drives nicely, since I have no intension to re-sell the car I am not worried to lose value on it either.
The only minor concern has to do with the engine noise, when driving around 70 M/H I wished the car had a 5th gear.
The sound of the car is in my opinion a little too loud, and so I am constantly changing gears. I remember changing gears on those engines around 3000 RPM.   
What is your experience related to the combination speed/gear usage/noise? I am a gentle driver, am I hurting my Baby ??
If you have no problems with that, then it's time to see Bud's..
Thanks
Enzo 

[Bonnyboy]

There has been significant discussion about this on the site and many owners end up changing rear ends to get an engine speed that is somewhat more Americanized - many rear ends coming out of sedans. When I meet other pagoda guys the issue of rear ends usually comes up as swapping rear ends seems to be popular.  These things are toys after all.

Personally I have grown to enjoy the buzziness as it seems almost sedate as compared to the sound when I take the car well over the legal limits once in a while (only when I have to pass a slow semi or motorhome - honestly ocifer). 

I think the ratios range from 3.27 to 4.08 with 3.46, 3.69, 3.75, and 3.92 inbetween which may or may not have come on your car.  I think the 230sl had the older finback rear end while the 250 / 280 had the 108 rear end so if you want to keep your drum brake you may be limited by what is available.    What ratio is your rear end (numbers engraved on the drivers side of the differential)?

[georgem]

Hey Enzo,

After being a member of this site for many years and enduring the numerous discussions (ad nausium) re five speed gearboxes and reducing the revs at highway speed by new diffs and after recently completing a round trip of about 3000km  at highway speeds, I offer this advice. Over 50 years ago, when those devilishly clever German engineers employed by Mercedes designed and refined the engine that is in our 230SL, they calculated a horrendous number of things - involving torque curves, rotational speed and a whole lot of other things that are way beyond my comprehension. In short, they designed an engine and drive train to perform at its optimum at those speeds. At 70mph, the engine is turning at about 3500rpm AND LOVING IT -that's what it was designed to do: for hours on end. Is it noisy compared to your 2013 Ford or Mercedes or whatever - sure is, ridiculously so, but hey, its 50 years old - its a classic. Now, to try and turn it into something its not, some people believe they can tinker with the calculations that those very clever engineers made (with their slide rules) and change the dynamics of the drive train because their sensitive hearing is offended.................... or they want to listen to classical music - the only music at that speed that needs to be heard is the roar/growl/howl of the engine

Get the picture - let it be loud and enjoy

cheers

PS - if you picked that this has become a bit of a hobby horse of mine - you are spot on.

[mdsalemi]

GeorgeM.  Thanks for telling it like it is!  I haven't attempted a 3K km trip yet, but when I am on the highway, I've done 4K RPM for hours on end.  Yes, it was designed to that and it loves it.  Be loud, and be proud.

That "hours on end" thing, at high speed, is not to be ignored.  British cars of yore, in the land they came from, were not unreliable.  It was when they came here, and our roads turned to highways, and we Americans expected Minis and Austins and MGs to go for hours on end at high speed that the calibration of the Brits slide rules became an issue...so I've been told.