GarciaE55

I have been entertaining finding a CLS with the 030 package and wondered how much better it actually handled over a regular CLS55.

I am aware of the upgrades to the brakes, speed limiter, wheels and etc, but how much better does it corner and is there any noticeable increase in handling feel with the upgraded suspension and limited slip diff?

Thanks

cls55

people who has it says YES.

2K6E55

I love mine... My CLS55 w/030 handles much better than my E55 and braking is also better.

Improviz

LSD will definitely help it handle better, in that you can apply more power without breaking the rear end loose. Ditto w/the suspension upgrade. Even in comfort mode, it has practically no body roll under cornering.

auclutch

how can you tell if the car has the 030 package? I bought mine fully loaded from the dealer here (Korea) but don't know if I have the package. is there an easy way to tell? thanks

Improviz

Wheels are different (see my sig pic), the steering wheel has alcantara and leather on it as opposed to the regular one which is leather only, there is a sticker on the gas cap saying something about tire pressures needed for 300 km/h, front brakes are noticeably larger than CLS w/o this pkg.

Oh, and you can keep going well past 155 mph if you can find a safe place to do so and are crazy enough to do it.

Zod

how would you know if its better then a normal cls55

Have you raced one yet ?

m_berman

030 for the 55

1. Alcantara Steering Wheel
2. ZR (Y96) rated rubber
3. Spare Tire Delete (air pump only)
4. Air pressure sticker on fuel door
5. 2 Piece 5 spoke wheel fitted together with exposed allen head screws.
6. Bank account minus $10K for the P030 option

Improviz

It'd better be better for $9500!! It certainly isn't going to be worse with LSD, bigger brakes, and a higher top speed...

auclutch

damnit, I don't have that package. i have, however, run my car to 187mph

Zod

Well to me here are the good things

1 LSD but from what i recall locking was at 20-30%? maybe 15 can not remember. It is not like the LSD in the 63's.

2. Speed limitation delete, is nice, but can be done for much less from any tuner, but i guess u could lose warrenty.

3. The wheels are to die for i have to admit and them alone really cover the price, but they are 19's and i do not think they are the lightest either

4.Steering wheel hmm maybe its nice, but alactar has a problem if you wear them in alot no? sweety hands from all that racing n speeding?

5.Brakes i suppose you can not fault this and can only bee seen as a +++, but stock brakes are nothing to laugh at either

6.The suspention, This needs to be checked, does the 030 have a different suspention?

If so then if you look at all of the above then yeah 9500 can be taken in for the net worth of them ....I want LSD! and the wheels, but they are pricy & am not sure if they add to performance...but the look ohhhh
You know by now that i have taked my self into wanting 030 package

Improviz

I think it's higher than this, but I forget exactly...anyone know this?

Yeah, true...note that it's not totally deleted either, just bumped up to 186...which to me makes a nice conversation piece and nothing more, as unless I'm being chased by armed crazies in a very fast car, I won't ever touch that speed on any public road.

I recall reading that they are forged, but not sure of the weight...agree w/you on the appearance, though, I just love 'em.

Actually this is a concern of mine as well, although it is mostly on the front; back is still leather, and that's where the bulk of my sweaty hands are sitting.

True dat...I actually wish that there had been a road test dome somewhere on an 030, but I haven't been able to find one. It would be interesting to see the differences, although unless temp etc. was similar between two tests, it'd be tough to determine as I wouldn't expect differences to be huge...

I recall reading that it is recalibrated by AMG to be something like 30% stiffer...it does feel stiffer than the other CLS55s I drove, although not to the point of unpleasantness....



I'm just glad I was lucky enough to find one w/the stuff I did (and didn't) want.

GarciaE55

The size of the rotors on the 030 performance package are the same as the SL65 at 15.4". Are they the same ones?

I read somewhere that the SL65 rotors cost $1000 each, is this true?

Thanks

c32used

Murtaza

Yep same 2 piece rotors.

Improviz

Aww, crap!

Well, I never had to do rotors in the CLK55, so I'll just have to be a good boy in this one!!

m_berman

Hope you are running with zr rated tires or get some life insurance.

m_berman

Dealer pricing for the 2 piece 55 rotors only are a $1000.00 each. Has anyone changed the rotors yet to confirm the pricing.

Improviz

Actually you want Y-rated (max speed 186):
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=35

And, hopefully, a nice, long, straight, deserted section of road with nothing and nobody to hit!!

Kar don

You still have Ontario plates in socal? I saw you on the 405 in OC a few months ago in my GS, which blew past your SL500 quite easily .

m_berman

Stand corrected.

I still have (after 17k mi) the original 030 tires, Pzeros Russo, 285/30x19 ZR (96Y XL) rear and 255/35x19 ZR (98Y XL) front. Over 100 mph tire pressure is increased to 48 (fronts) and 49 (rear)psi.

Most guys when changing out the 030 tires forget the Y and XL ratings. This is really important at 150+ mph which these cars are easily capable of.

Improviz

Yeah, definitely, particularly with the heavier cars like this....higher weight = higher friction = more heat = ya better have tires rated to handle the speed!

Murtaza

I have my Ontario plates on my SL55 now, I haven't driven the 500 in months and I do not remember ever being beaten by a GS350. I don't think that was me.

2K6E55

Damn, I need to change mine soon.

GarciaE55

Hey guys,

I test drove a CLS55 the other day and noticed that the ESP when disabled would come back on whenever I got on the throttle when exiting a corner, which cut the power and more importantly the fun.

I was trying to get the rear end out and could not do it without the disabled ESP intervening.

Does a CLS55 w/ the 030 Performance Package have the same problem? How does the 030 car's LSD effect the automatic intervening of the disable ESP? I have not driven an 030 car yet, but was seriously disappointed with the standard CLS55's handling.

Thanks for the help!