7g Tronic Tranny
S500 facelift
E350
SLK350
As most agree, C55 is a tactical subproduct of CLK55. Any newer technology will go to the CLK55 first.
cnt
S500 facelift
E350
SLK350
As most agree, C55 is a tactical subproduct of CLK55. Any newer technology will go to the CLK55 first.
cnt
E350 7 speed could have been a more sensible upgrade from my 2001 W210 E320; but I did not wait
but I got the C55 instead
I would prefer the 7G as it does save fuel.
Despite the high vechicle tax, if I am still employed, there is a high chance I will upgrade to the 2006/2007 C AMG if it has a new engine and 7G. I am just falling in love with mid size sedan since I just departed from the heavy W210
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E350 7 speed could have been a more sensible upgrade from my 2001 W210 E320; but I did not wait
but I got the C55 instead 
So when should Zung Fu get the E350? By the end of the year?
So when should Zung Fu get the E350? By the end of the year?
Only one shop (name forgot ) I inquired , as they also posted on their advs that E350 7 speed is coming. Hope zung fu do that soon , guess the E320 discount will be more this year as they will clear the stocked for sure.
Guess no more E320 next year....or forever no more.
Personally I think this is why the W203 failed to get the new larger AMG brakes from the SLK and CLK. The SLK and CLK will get the new direct injection V8 with a great deal more power than the current 55 AMG motor so those chassis's need to have larger brakes and better drivelines of accommodate the new changes down the pipeline.
Just my take tough.
Brief History
Back in the late 90s (around 98-99), Mercedes planned to offer an AMG model for all its current (except A Class). After the success of the C36, C43 and C55 (W202) AND E50 and E55, there was more demand to spread AMG 'magic' across all other models. They faced a problem with the SLK, introduced in 1996, since no current AMG engine (all V8) fits without extensive modification in the SLK. When the new C Class (W203) was introduced, it was destined to share an AMG engine with the SLK (financially and physicaly possible now to create a new engine).And so the C32 and SLK32 were born. No V8 option was planned for W203 at that time.
It is no suprise that the new AMG SLK share the same engine with 'new' facelifted C-Class. The V6 Kompressor engine is currently used in the Crossfire SRT-6. NOW comes the issue of the new 7G transmission. The reason for not having it in the C55 is because... it simply doesn't fit. I was told that AMG were not so happy about that. I sent an email to AMG to confirm and they replied:
"not for the C55 in the 203 chassis. But don`t worry the car has enough power and is well equipped with 5-speed."
So we'll have to wait for the next C Class (W204), with the new AMG engine to enjoy the new 7G.
Brief History
Back in the late 90s (around 98-99), Mercedes planned to offer an AMG model for all its current (except A Class). After the success of the C36, C43 and C55 (W202) AND E50 and E55, there was more demand to spread AMG 'magic' across all other models. They faced a problem with the SLK, introduced in 1996, since no current AMG engine (all V8) fits without extensive modification in the SLK. When the new C Class (W203) was introduced, it was destined to share an AMG engine with the SLK (financially and physicaly possible now to create a new engine).And so the C32 and SLK32 were born. No V8 option was planned for W203 at that time.
It is no suprise that the new AMG SLK share the same engine with 'new' facelifted C-Class. The V6 Kompressor engine is currently used in the Crossfire SRT-6. NOW comes the issue of the new 7G transmission. The reason for not having it in the C55 is because... it simply doesn't fit. I was told that AMG were not so happy about that. I sent an email to AMG to confirm and they replied:
"not for the C55 in the 203 chassis. But don`t worry the car has enough power and is well equipped with 5-speed."
So we'll have to wait for the next C Class (W204), with the new AMG engine to enjoy the new 7G.
Great research. Does this mean the 7G cannot fit into the CLK55 too?
Anyhow, what I could recall .... the first generation of CLK was really coming from the C , so I suppose C was once taking the strategic lead.
The current CLK , if it is still based on the W203 chasis then , it is not that 'new' as I first thought it is.
cnt
1. Market demand vs Cost Effective.
2. Research and development cost.
3. Target Market.
The C and CLK might share major components, but the target market is different. The new CLS is built around E Class Chassis (modified?). Sometimes knowledge can be misleading when you try to understand Mercedes Benz's focus and how they 'see' the market. I've had the benefit of reading some of the marketing docs and presentation slides that MB use to educate its sales people. One interesting point... I have not seen any mention of the BMW M3 in the Training slides that points out it as a competitor to the C55. The target market is mainly C32 owners or prospect C32 buyers, and ALSO people who think the true successor to the C43 is the current C55!!! They talk about POWER... CONTROL... CLASS AND BRAND LOYALTY. Did you ever see an Advertisment (TV or Magazine) for the C55??? Not me.
1. Market demand vs Cost Effective.
2. Research and development cost.
3. Target Market.
The C and CLK might share major components, but the target market is different. The new CLS is built around E Class Chassis (modified?). Sometimes knowledge can be misleading when you try to understand Mercedes Benz's focus and how they 'see' the market. I've had the benefit of reading some of the marketing docs and presentation slides that MB use to educate its sales people. One interesting point... I have not seen any mention of the BMW M3 in the Training slides that points out it as a competitor to the C55. The target market is mainly C32 owners or prospect C32 buyers, and ALSO people who think the true successor to the C43 is the current C55!!! They talk about POWER... CONTROL... CLASS AND BRAND LOYALTY. Did you ever see an Advertisment (TV or Magazine) for the C55??? Not me.
Agreed. C55 is designed for the C36 and C32 owners.
The senior sales manager of MB HK took me to lunch at the HK Jocley Club after I picked up my C55 and we ride the C55 together.( Pity my wife missed this glory event ) He told me that MB salesman are slow to learn. Because even they have average sales skills , they have no worry to meet sales targets!
Potential C32 owners could also be potential M3 owners
#1 is why an M3 can keep up with a C55
The C55 gets about as good gas milage as a 5.5 liter car will get so I don't think we are missing out on much with a 5 speed. If it had a really low 1st you would just spend your time spinning the tires and shifting through gears!
Scott
#1 is why an M3 can keep up with a C55
The C55 gets about as good gas milage as a 5.5 liter car will get so I don't think we are missing out on much with a 5 speed. If it had a really low 1st you would just spend your time spinning the tires and shifting through gears!
Scott
I have a E500 with the 7g and it is the best trans I have ever driven (all but the odd logic for the touch shift portion). The car has a long 1st gear but the spacing of 2nd, 3rd and 4th makes freeway pulls an easy job. If the car stays at peak power and rips through the gears the car will always be fast. I bet that if the C55 had the 7g it would be .2 or so faster in the 1/4 mile. From say 60-140 the C55 would likley be several seconds faster than the 5 speed version. It is all about gear spacing after you get the car out of the hole.
I have a E500 with the 7g and it is the best trans I have ever driven (all but the odd logic for the touch shift portion). The car has a long 1st gear but the spacing of 2nd, 3rd and 4th makes freeway pulls an easy job. If the car stays at peak power and rips through the gears the car will always be fast. I bet that if the C55 had the 7g it would be .2 or so faster in the 1/4 mile. From say 60-140 the C55 would likley be several seconds faster than the 5 speed version. It is all about gear spacing after you get the car out of the hole.
I m an idiot of car mechanics ; but based on my experience on the 5 speed C55 , I guess the 7G will have improvement s if it were on the C55 in some driving occasions as you mentioned it shifts to higher gears in quickest manner yet giving best torque at every gear upshift. As most 5 speed presents , the 2nd gear is high torque but not fast enough, the 3rd is high torque and fast but once it upshifts to 4th the torque will not be much left unless in highspeed. So you are right, the 7G will perform better than the 5-speed at lower speeds.
So generally we can expect high revving motors from AMG in the future coupled to DSG Gearboxes, is AMG becoming BMW M?

Scott


