Pre-Winter Prep Questions
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Pre-Winter Prep Questions
I'm starting to get the 89 300E ready for winter. The G320 has no problems and requires no winter prep, but the W124s just don't have that off-road capability, leaving me worried when I have to drive the baby in winter storms.
1.I'm gonna get Dunlop Winter Sport M2s for the winter. Is this worth it? I have the Yokohoma AVS db right now, and I don't think they will do very well in the snow.
2.When roads get icy, I throw these like 30LB (or maybe its 50? or 80? I can't remember) sand bags in the trunk in the wells for improved traction. Do ya think this is worth it, or is just decreasing my gas mileage and performance?
3.Also, should the idling RPM be tweeked up a bit, to like a few under 1k RPM?
4.I'll be getting my starter system worked on, as its awful right now. It has trouble starting cold (just takes a few more seconds than normal) and intermintently(sp?) doesn't start hot. While I'm getting the whole darn starter system worked on, what shouldn't I leave out?
Any other hints/tips for a 300k mileage 300E about to go through it's 15th winter?
Thanks for all the help! The Baby Benz and myself thank you for all your great hints in advance!
FYI: Chicago can be pretty mild (30-20'sF) in the winters or pretty cold (0- neg30F). We usually only get like 5 big storms (6in + in one night) here during the season. The slush gets bad here, and so can the ice.
1.I'm gonna get Dunlop Winter Sport M2s for the winter. Is this worth it? I have the Yokohoma AVS db right now, and I don't think they will do very well in the snow.
2.When roads get icy, I throw these like 30LB (or maybe its 50? or 80? I can't remember) sand bags in the trunk in the wells for improved traction. Do ya think this is worth it, or is just decreasing my gas mileage and performance?
3.Also, should the idling RPM be tweeked up a bit, to like a few under 1k RPM?
4.I'll be getting my starter system worked on, as its awful right now. It has trouble starting cold (just takes a few more seconds than normal) and intermintently(sp?) doesn't start hot. While I'm getting the whole darn starter system worked on, what shouldn't I leave out?
Any other hints/tips for a 300k mileage 300E about to go through it's 15th winter?
Thanks for all the help! The Baby Benz and myself thank you for all your great hints in advance!
FYI: Chicago can be pretty mild (30-20'sF) in the winters or pretty cold (0- neg30F). We usually only get like 5 big storms (6in + in one night) here during the season. The slush gets bad here, and so can the ice.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 33
From: Germany
'00 S320 W220, '98 A160 W168/ sold in 2005 '86 260 E W124 '90 260E W124
Hi Chubber,
1) I once was of the opinion I dont need snow tires, but eversince I was skidding along the side rail of the German Autobahn, on sludge, I was cured for ever. It's well worth it to invest in those tires. It's not only the tread pattern, but much more the rubber mixture of winter tires. Summer tires get much harder during low temerature, and this starts (with older tires >2 years) at around 40 degrees F.
2)I think having winter tires is ok. The ballast in the trunck could help somtimes, when trying to drive uphill, after a standstill. But it's not a guarrantee. I guess driving carefully and a little slower helps more.
3) the idle control, if set properly, take care of any temperature condition, and does not need any tuning for winter conditions.
4) This goes with item 3 of your post. The starter control system seems to be rather complicated to understand, but the bad guys in the system are the temp. sensors and their wiring, the electric starting valve (blue socket) at the manifold and the backflow valve at the fuel pump and some times the spark plugs, if the valve seals allow oil to leak into the burning chamber and foul the spark plugs.
5) Dont forget to let the A/C run once in a while, also during winter. This prevents the seals dry out and the system leaking. Otherwise, the first spring day may come, 70 degres and no A/C kicks in.
Drive carfully to give your baby benz the 16th winter.
Bamberger_1
1) I once was of the opinion I dont need snow tires, but eversince I was skidding along the side rail of the German Autobahn, on sludge, I was cured for ever. It's well worth it to invest in those tires. It's not only the tread pattern, but much more the rubber mixture of winter tires. Summer tires get much harder during low temerature, and this starts (with older tires >2 years) at around 40 degrees F.
2)I think having winter tires is ok. The ballast in the trunck could help somtimes, when trying to drive uphill, after a standstill. But it's not a guarrantee. I guess driving carefully and a little slower helps more.
3) the idle control, if set properly, take care of any temperature condition, and does not need any tuning for winter conditions.
4) This goes with item 3 of your post. The starter control system seems to be rather complicated to understand, but the bad guys in the system are the temp. sensors and their wiring, the electric starting valve (blue socket) at the manifold and the backflow valve at the fuel pump and some times the spark plugs, if the valve seals allow oil to leak into the burning chamber and foul the spark plugs.
5) Dont forget to let the A/C run once in a while, also during winter. This prevents the seals dry out and the system leaking. Otherwise, the first spring day may come, 70 degres and no A/C kicks in.
Drive carfully to give your baby benz the 16th winter.
Bamberger_1
