Bilal

AMS tested M5 and CLS AMG back to back ... here are the numbers:
0-100 km/h M5 4,7 CLS 4,7 sec
0-160 km/h M5 10,0 CLS 10,3
0-180 km/h M5 12,2 CLS 12,8
0-200 km/h M5 14,8 CLS 15,5

Breaking from 190 km/h to 0 km/h = M5 137m CLS 139m (cold brakes)

18m Slalom (unloaded) = M5 65,3 km/h CLS 62,9 km/h
ISO-Slalom (unloaded) = M5 = 138,5 km/h CLS 136,6 km/h

Not bad ... CLS wins the test against the M5 because of better comfort and less fuel consumption .. at the same time its not really less fast ??!!

Funny ... the CLS even wins the chapter "powertrain" by 77 to 71 points ???


I know many people from the M forums will say take this with a grain of salt, but then again they would whenever the M5 loses.

I know its slower but the fact that Germany's most respcted magazine chose it over the M5, its gobsmacking!

Felix

keeping in mind that the CLS55 is 300pounds heavier and a lot more luxury-orientated these numbers are awsome!
another proof that that AMG has done very well, while constructing the 5.5 V8 Kompressor.

Bilal

With 700Nm @ 2650rpms, what did you think was gonna happen? No wonder AMG won consecutive International Engine of The Year awards for the 55K and 65TT, torque talks

Felix

bilal, imagine what happend when you put a rear differential (form the AMG-manufaktur, Kleemann or Brabus) to the 5.5Kompressor and give him a 7gear-automatic strong enough to handle the huge torque!
at least with the facelift of the e-class the new AMG tranny will be ready. both together will drop the 0-100km/h time by 0.4-0.5sec. bye, bye M5 & M6!

Bilal

Felix that would be a dream AMG car. But the sad thing is, AMG is replacing the 55K in favour of a 6.3 N/A V8. Can't wait to see how that will sound....

krispykrme

M5 lost m\by 3 points due to the following category- Comfort, SMG, and I-drive.

On two of them , we already knew that M5 is going to be dinged on. BMW has never been about comfort feature in the car. So ding a sports sedan on comfort is really Oxymoron. Since if i had cared for comfort, i probably would not have choose the M5 to begin with. I-drive, no magazine likes it. I found it to be okay and tolerable, although would have prefer a touch screen feature. The I-drive concept is not bad, but the use its a bit awkward. If BMW did not cheap out and give it touch screen, it would be very easy to use.

Powetrain was not due to the engine but the SMG. So far none of the magazine likes the idea of SMG because it's hard to be driven smooth (which I think it's more of a driver issue, because SMG when drive correctly is actually very smooth other than occasionally hiccup on the rapid down shift).

Performance wise M5 wins in a land slide. You failed to post slalom number as well.

CLS55/E55 and M5 are different in their approach. Clients are different. AMS has prefer softer and more comfortable rather than M5's sport 1st luxury 2nd approach.

But by hard number alone, CLS got slaughter. To pull almost 1 second ahead at 200 km/hr is quiet a difference. Which EVO stated that pulling away from E55 by 11 length at up to 200 km/hr is more than justified based on the AMS number above. I guess Beltomato would now have to believe that M5 did pull away by 11 car length or more from E55.

Although, AMS number looks so familiar, it appears that this is BMW published number rather than actual test.

So far all M5 test has come up with much better numbers. Including taiwanese magazine which usually would come up with significantly worse number than factory.

absent

Evo's Harris drove the car(M5) in normal traffic,not tested it really.
His claim to pull 11 lengths on someone's E55 is more a "dramatic" story to make his writing a bit more interesting.
Besides,with so many "fake" E55s around ,maybe he "raced" an E200 Kompressor?

Bilal

Autocars Harris did race an E55. The thing is, the M5 is limited to 174mph, NOT 155mph.

Naturally, any car that gets "stuck" at 155mph is going to be obliterated by one that can ago a little higher.

krispkrme, didn't you once say you intended to buy two M5's?

Is the M5 that good?

krispykrme

But at 155 mph, that is 248 km/hr. Based on AMS number, M5 is 0.7 seconds ahead at 0-200 km/hr, by simple calcuation, that is about 10 car length. So Harris's story does fly with limiter in place, because neither car has reached the limiter.

Still the plan, but more likely would be an M5 with a M6. My wife like the 6 series and is interested in trading away her CLK320, which she says is not powerful enough for her (go figure, this woman can't even drive the car well enough to be straight). So i take that as a green light to get the M6.

My preference has actually changed. I have testdrove DSG equipped TT, and loves it more than SMG-II on my ex M3. I was leaning more toward a new RS6 and M5 arrangement. But my plan is now up in the air since wife thinks 6 series is so beautiful (i admit, i have no taste in outside appearance, but to say 6 series is most beautiful coupe out there is ridiculous).

RossN

Hello Felix,

What differential options exist for the E55/CLS55? Does anybody know of someone who has done this modification?

Felix, any new rumors about the 65 engine in the E or CLS Class chassis?

Regards
Ross

deedee545i

I love both.. I think both are superb!! They satisfy different customers...I think comfort, SMG and I-drive on M5 are fine...you could hate it but more will love it.The real annoying stuff on M5 are the electrical buttons!! Too many buttons and you won't even know where to start the race....the P400 P500 thing is really useless!! As someone mentioned the LSD for the future AMG models...Actually it won't help the handling very much and very costy indeed.... As always, M5 will be a lot faster on tracks whereas CLS55 will be a nice show-off cruiser....

Felix

Hi ross,
there are some companys that offer differentials for the e-class. i.e. Kleemann or brabus. since the CLS is based on the E there shouldn´t be a problem to install it in the CLS. the AMG-thing can be found in the AMG-manufaktur price-list:
http://www3.mercedes-benz.com/omb/am...manu_preis.pdf

for rumors check www.jesmb.de there is a really good roadmap for upcoming models and engines.

RossN

Thanks Felix,

You mean installing a LSD in the CLS? I orginally thought you meant a different gear in the differential for better acceleration. Do you know what gear ratio the E55/CLS55 has? I'm guessing a 2.65.

Is there available a higher gear for improved acceleration? As you know, Vmax isn't that important in the US and a higher gear would drop the acceleration times, combined with a LSD, the car would be awesome.

Its nice having a source of information so close to the Home of Mercedes and AMG, keep the info flowing.


And to Bilal,
Many thanks for all the info you provide, I always learn something new!

Bilal

You're welcome Ross anytime. On a side note, you own a great classic Benz, the 500E

Anyways, with regards to your question, I might be able tp help. MKB, a well known MB tuner offers such equipment. They offer the LSD for the E55, so it should be able to fit the CLS sinece this car uses the same chassis and mechanical components as the E55.

The E55 does have a 2.65 ratio, the CLS has the same ratio. The SL55 in comparison, to avoid being upstaged by the E55 in acceleration has a 2.82 ratio. MKB offers an LSD and a 2.82 ratio for the E55, which in turn should be retrfofittable to the CLS55. The problem is, AMG will only fit the LSD when the car is in Affalterbach, MKB however may be a different story, (you will have to email them to find out) :p

Anyways, the E55 is as quick as the SL55 in acceleration, if not marginally quicker. The CLS is marginally slower than the E55 because of its extra 80kgs weight penalty, but only marginally.

In summary, LSD should be available for CLS from MKB, (ask them), it should be able in US (ask them again). Kleemann also ofer LSD, ask them for info and pricing, you might want to talk to mbworld member " for advice on puchases "Harris". And MKB offer quick 2.82 ratio as well. This will be beneficial for acceleration, but only marginally, you might want to weigh up the costs and benefits by asking experts such as the companies that offer them.

As always, glad I could be of any help.