ABS - a wonderful thing

[Peterdon]

I bought my 1990 300TE-24 in March this year. 236K on the clock, a great deal of service history and 12 mths MOT. It appeared to have been well looked after. The main reason for purchase was the load capacity as the other family cars are a Saab 9-3 Aero convertible and an MGTF, no space in either!

So last week I packed the 300TE up to the gunnels and headed off to France. Driving sedately out of Concarneau a little below the 70kph limit a "young man" in an old Clio coming the other way decided to do a high speed u-turn in front of me . I hit the brake, the ABS worked, I veered sharply right into an entrance way and stopped with my bumper nearly touching his passenger door. He took one look at me, rammed his car into 1st and took off. No doubt to change his pants and clean the seat.

I shudder to think what my trusty old W124 with its own weight increased by a boot full of all sorts of equipment would have done to his little Clio if all had not been well on my car.

As an aside the car covered 1200 miles in 4 days without a murmur. It behaved impeccably all the way. I love it :bannana:

 

[recycled]

236k miles. What a journey. Has the cam chain been done or is it carrying its original?
The benefits of ABS are unlimited .i am sure most guys would have experienced it one time or another.

 

[Ian B Walker]

As an aside the car covered 1200 miles in 4 days without a murmur. It behaved impeccably all the way. I love it :bannana:

And what else would you expect from a 300-24 W124. (love them to bits or as bits )

 

[Peterdon]

236k miles. What a journey. Has the cam chain been done or is it carrying its original?
The benefits of ABS are unlimited .i am sure most guys would have experienced it one time or another.

I have experienced the joys of ABS before but never with such a close finish.

Cam chain has been done and head gasket twice. The car came with a file full of invoices of work that has been done over the years.

It's now passed 242K miles and still going strong. i had it looked over by a local indie before going to France. I asked him to do anything he felt absolutely necessary for the journey. Ended up with an oill and filter change for £71, nothing else required .

 

[recycled]

Well that is one to keep. What mileage was it changed as no one is quite sure when to do what on this engine. i have hardly come across a car with that many miles still going strong. I guess cliche warning) "they dont make em like they used to"

 

[crockers]

I think all new cars now have to have ABS by law..... See how the world catches up.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The funny thing is that ABS doesn't allow you to stop in a shorter distance, it just stops you from losing all control over the direction of the car.

Lock the wheels on most cars on dry tarmac, and you'll pull up well short of a car with ABS. You'll have pretty big flat spots though

 

[Rose Chap]

I think all new cars now have to have ABS by law..... See how the world catches up.

Not sure about that. If it is the law I don't think anyone remembered to tell TVR or Koenigsegg!

 

[Dieselman]

Lock the wheels on most cars on dry tarmac, and you'll pull up well short of a car with ABS. You'll have pretty big flat spots though

I don't think that's the case. A locked wheel has less friction due to overheating of the tyre, although a nearly locking wheel can stop a car quicker than an ABS system.

 

[BlackC55]

I don't think that's the case. A locked wheel has less friction due to overheating of the tyre, although a nearly locking wheel can stop a car quicker than an ABS system.

You are right Mr Diesel. Try it on a skidpan and an abs car will pull up faster.

Cadence braking will also stop a car faster than a lock up.