Just picked up an e90 M3, thinking of trading in the C55.
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From: nj
a car that can't do the throttle reset.
SMG is a single clutch, electro-hydraulically actuated manual transmission
DCT (aka DKG, PDK) uses dual clutches, one for even gears and another for odd gears. Shifts are near instantaneous as the gearbox is essentially always in 2 gears at the same time. When an upshift or downshift occurs, the next gear is selected, and driveline power is switched by engaging the opposing clutch while disengaging the other clutch at the same time.
The E9x M3's DCT is manufactured by Getrag and is similar to the unit used by Ferrari in the California.
DCT (aka DKG, PDK) uses dual clutches, one for even gears and another for odd gears. Shifts are near instantaneous as the gearbox is essentially always in 2 gears at the same time. When an upshift or downshift occurs, the next gear is selected, and driveline power is switched by engaging the opposing clutch while disengaging the other clutch at the same time.
The E9x M3's DCT is manufactured by Getrag and is similar to the unit used by Ferrari in the California.
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From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
It was the shortest time I have owned a car ever!!! I will say 1 thing though, I bought the car for 25,500 and sold it for 23k with its goodies... I have never bought and sold a car with such a close margin... Going back to an AMG car as soon as I get my business off the ground...
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From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
all of the clunkiness is gone... SMG technology is old, DCT is the new hotness... if for some reason it fails though, these trans units are like $15k+ and not just any shop can replace them or rebuild them
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
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From: Canada
C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Car & Driver is the only magazine that does the rolling 5-60mph timed acceleration run. This represents what most people do on the streets, as it would be foolish to routinely drop the clutch from a high rpm launch, which is what is always done to get the fastest acceleration runs from a standing start (the typical 0-60mph, 0-120mph, 1/4 mile, etc).
2007 test: E92 M3 6 speed manual: 5-60mph: 5.1 seconds
2005 test: C55 AMG 5-60mph: 4.9 seconds
There is no doubt that the E9x M3 will catch up and overtake the C55 at higher speeds, but at the beginning, the C55 likely could be ahead at 60mph and beyond.
This applies to rolling starts at highway speeds too. The E9x M3 is all about being in the proper gear and being high in the rpm range to get that maximum push you back in the seat feel for maximum acceleration, whereas AMG cars like the C55 and C63 have abundant torque lower down in the rpm range, which is more easily accessible. Different power delivery, and different type of fun.
I personally love the E90 M3. If I didn't love my C55 so much as a "do everything" type of car that keeps me looking good at lapping days, I would have gotten a E90 M3 already with M-DCT and adaptive dampers (the two things which I wish the C63 has).
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From: nj
a car that can't do the throttle reset.
Damn. SMG was great, but was real clunky for me for daily driving. DCT sounds great... and kind of scary. Hear anything about longevity?
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From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
What you are feeling is probably real. If a 6MT E9x M3 is starting off the line without a proper high rpm launch, a C55 could very well be ahead at the beginning. In fact, there are numbers to show this.
Car & Driver is the only magazine that does the rolling 5-60mph timed acceleration run. This represents what most people do on the streets, as it would be foolish to routinely drop the clutch from a high rpm launch, which is what is always done to get the fastest acceleration runs from a standing start (the typical 0-60mph, 0-120mph, 1/4 mile, etc).
2007 test: E92 M3 6 speed manual: 5-60mph: 5.1 seconds
2005 test: C55 AMG 5-60mph: 4.9 seconds
There is no doubt that the E9x M3 will catch up and overtake the C55 at higher speeds, but at the beginning, the C55 likely could be ahead at 60mph and beyond.
This applies to rolling starts at highway speeds too. The E9x M3 is all about being in the proper gear and being high in the rpm range to get that maximum push you back in the seat feel for maximum acceleration, whereas AMG cars like the C55 and C63 have abundant torque lower down in the rpm range, which is more easily accessible. Different power delivery, and different type of fun.
I personally love the E90 M3. If I didn't love my C55 so much as a "do everything" type of car that keeps me looking good at lapping days, I would have gotten a E90 M3 already with M-DCT and adaptive dampers (the two things which I wish the C63 has).
Car & Driver is the only magazine that does the rolling 5-60mph timed acceleration run. This represents what most people do on the streets, as it would be foolish to routinely drop the clutch from a high rpm launch, which is what is always done to get the fastest acceleration runs from a standing start (the typical 0-60mph, 0-120mph, 1/4 mile, etc).
2007 test: E92 M3 6 speed manual: 5-60mph: 5.1 seconds
2005 test: C55 AMG 5-60mph: 4.9 seconds
There is no doubt that the E9x M3 will catch up and overtake the C55 at higher speeds, but at the beginning, the C55 likely could be ahead at 60mph and beyond.
This applies to rolling starts at highway speeds too. The E9x M3 is all about being in the proper gear and being high in the rpm range to get that maximum push you back in the seat feel for maximum acceleration, whereas AMG cars like the C55 and C63 have abundant torque lower down in the rpm range, which is more easily accessible. Different power delivery, and different type of fun.
I personally love the E90 M3. If I didn't love my C55 so much as a "do everything" type of car that keeps me looking good at lapping days, I would have gotten a E90 M3 already with M-DCT and adaptive dampers (the two things which I wish the C63 has).
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Check out 4:57 of this video. Car drops from 7th to 5th. Keep in mind this is a slow shift because it's droping 2 gears so you lose the dual clutch advantage. Still ultra fast. Don't blink.
Here's launch control. Yes the US version gets this launch control enabled, no warrany concerns and you can use it as many times as you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJqrtHSd0y0
The 1-2 shift is rough because the car is still trying to get traction and chirps into 2nd gear. DCT slams into gears at full throttle in S6 mode, it's pretty violent. The rest of the shifts are as you would expect, listen closely you can hear the engine back on the throttle and putting down power before the needle can get down to the RPM it's supposed to be at.
Here's launch control. Yes the US version gets this launch control enabled, no warrany concerns and you can use it as many times as you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJqrtHSd0y0
The 1-2 shift is rough because the car is still trying to get traction and chirps into 2nd gear. DCT slams into gears at full throttle in S6 mode, it's pretty violent. The rest of the shifts are as you would expect, listen closely you can hear the engine back on the throttle and putting down power before the needle can get down to the RPM it's supposed to be at.
Out Of Control!!
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Yeah the guy is driving like an idiot, but it was the best example of a downshift I could find. A single gear downshift is even quicker, once you pull the left paddle it's done. Hey John you should take my car out for a spin next time!
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Forget all this M3 talk. Put the DCT in the 1M and I will get in line! 
Now, that's something I would like, 360 ft-lbs at 1700 with overboost! True M suspension, smaller package, 150 lbs lighter. Ugly as my dog's butt, but hey what the heck.
Now, that's something I would like, 360 ft-lbs at 1700 with overboost! True M suspension, smaller package, 150 lbs lighter. Ugly as my dog's butt, but hey what the heck.
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From: Hotlanta
AMG
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C55 AMG T with Kleemann K2 and some stuff: 414 hp and 562 Nm :-)
I too like the torque at take off in the C55.
At higher speed other fast cars can probably take me.
At really high speeds it can change again...
It reminds me of last summer at Autobahn when I
raced a Porche Carrera S Cab with 385 hp:
(We´re talking about speeds above 125 mph, up
to 160 approx.)
When I was in the front, he couldn´t really catch
up. When he was in front I could catch him up!
That shows, in my eyes, that the huge high compression
high revving V8 is a real Autobahnkiller AT REALLY HIGH
SPEEDS! His smaller pancake-engine couldn´t match the
big raceinspired AMG M113 at those awesome speeds...
Torque is king!
I was both impressed and surprised over the fact but
it all makes sense at the bottom line.
Unfortunately I can´t experience that too often since
I don´t live in Germany, I can´t utilize that upper hand.
//P.
At higher speed other fast cars can probably take me.
At really high speeds it can change again...
It reminds me of last summer at Autobahn when I
raced a Porche Carrera S Cab with 385 hp:
(We´re talking about speeds above 125 mph, up
to 160 approx.)
When I was in the front, he couldn´t really catch
up. When he was in front I could catch him up!
That shows, in my eyes, that the huge high compression
high revving V8 is a real Autobahnkiller AT REALLY HIGH
SPEEDS! His smaller pancake-engine couldn´t match the
big raceinspired AMG M113 at those awesome speeds...
Torque is king!
I was both impressed and surprised over the fact but
it all makes sense at the bottom line.
Unfortunately I can´t experience that too often since
I don´t live in Germany, I can´t utilize that upper hand.
//P.
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[QUOTE=55fanatic;4576758]we all come back at some point... I learned my lesson, should have bought an E55 so many years ago and skipped the M3, although it was somewhat fun...
Welcome back, at least temporarily.........
Not that I'm telling you anything you don't know but find yourself a 06 E55 and mod it..........a virtual torque monster or a C63 with the P30 or P31...........
Welcome back, at least temporarily.........
Not that I'm telling you anything you don't know but find yourself a 06 E55 and mod it..........a virtual torque monster or a C63 with the P30 or P31...........
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
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From: Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA
'05 C55 AMG '15 Jeep SRT '11 G37S
Good for you for stickin with school, and no, I can't believe you're already a sophmore! I think you were in like 9th grade when we started whorin it up.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
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From: Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA
'05 C55 AMG '15 Jeep SRT '11 G37S
I've been driving it now for 4 days, and I'm starting to agree with you. Yet every time I drive home and see the C55 parked in the garage I think, man, do I really want to sell this sucker? Tell you what tho, I think the AMG definately gets more looks......
