Raced and beat a CLS500 today with my 320CDI..
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 2
From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Raced and beat a CLS500 today with my 320CDI..
So I am driving around Scottsdale today between meetings and I pull up to the light right next a new CLS500 with a young guy at the wheel. He gives me this "I've got a better benz that you" look, and looks away at the light. So I don't think anything of it..
The light turns green, and he pulls out at a moderate speed, as I do.. then he looks over at me and appears to gun it.. so I did the same.. and even though he got an edge on me, by the time we broke it off (doing about 65+ in a 40mph zone) I was at least two car lengths ahead of him. Needless to say, he didn't have the guts to make eye to eye with me after than, knowing that his 5.0 V8 was just smoked by a 3.2 I-6 (diesel to boot!)..
After today, I finally got the meaning of the old saying that "Horsepower sells cars, and Torque wins races"..
To be fair, I have the Renntech tuning which adds about 10% to the HP and torque, and we never got to open them up all the way, where I would have probably fallen on the back side of the power curve at above 110mph while he still had more room on the RPM gauge.. but it was nice to embarrass that ***!
:p
The light turns green, and he pulls out at a moderate speed, as I do.. then he looks over at me and appears to gun it.. so I did the same.. and even though he got an edge on me, by the time we broke it off (doing about 65+ in a 40mph zone) I was at least two car lengths ahead of him. Needless to say, he didn't have the guts to make eye to eye with me after than, knowing that his 5.0 V8 was just smoked by a 3.2 I-6 (diesel to boot!)..
After today, I finally got the meaning of the old saying that "Horsepower sells cars, and Torque wins races"..
To be fair, I have the Renntech tuning which adds about 10% to the HP and torque, and we never got to open them up all the way, where I would have probably fallen on the back side of the power curve at above 110mph while he still had more room on the RPM gauge.. but it was nice to embarrass that ***!
:p
Last edited by Sam Samaha; Jun 16, 2005 at 09:57 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 2
From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Sorry man, I'm kinda new here... maybe a moderator can move me over to the appropriate thread.
OR I'll just cut and paste the post there myself!
OR I'll just cut and paste the post there myself!
Last edited by Sam Samaha; Jun 16, 2005 at 10:16 PM. Reason: I'll just post it there myself...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
I'm not the Topic Police, so it's up to you where you post a "kill story." It's relevant to this section as well as the "Kill Stories" section, but a lot of people don't know about the "Kill Stories" section, so ....
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: The OC
MY MB WAS LEMON'D
Originally Posted by DWP
I'm not the Topic Police, so it's up to you where you post a "kill story." It's relevant to this section as well as the "Kill Stories" section, but a lot of people don't know about the "Kill Stories" section, so ....
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 2
From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by DWP
I'm not the Topic Police, so it's up to you where you post a "kill story." It's relevant to this section as well as the "Kill Stories" section, but a lot of people don't know about the "Kill Stories" section, so ....
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
Anyway, most published 0-60 figures have the CLS500 around 5.5 seconds and the E320 CDI around 7.0 seconds. I realize that time-to-distance isn't the same as time-to-speed, and over whatever distance you and the CLS sparred, your CDI might have been quicker due to massive low-end torque. Still, the significant difference in 0-60 times makes me wonder if the guy in the CLS had his heart - and his foot - 100% committed to the competition. We'll never really know.
yeah.. I re-posted my thread over there, and my theory as well, which is that since we pounced on it at about 30mph, my low end torque got the better of him thru about 65... but had this been a 0-60 he would have gotten me by about 1 seconds... I timed my car 3 times 0-60 (non-scientific stopwatch with friend in car method).. and averaged 6.5 sec. The 10% more power from the Renntech may be a factor, but I've read 0-60's on the CDI of everywhere from 6.6 to 7.2 in the media and in MBs on figures.
I have to wonder if the gearing on the CLS500 is different and favors 0-60, since the E500 which is a bit lighter doesn't get 5.5 sec to 60... Both have a 7 speed too. The CDI is about 3835 empty (Car & Driver claims it's closer to 4000), the CLS is about to 4050, while the 500 is about 3812.. but published figures are 5.9 sec vs the CLS' 5.5, am I missing something?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 74
From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
If the gearing program in the CLS is anything like the E500, there is a significant lag in the 7-speed before the gearing drops down for max acceleration (assuming you don't manually drop down). Drives me crazy!
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
From: Northern NJ
2014 BMW 550i
Originally Posted by CALBenzo
If the gearing program in the CLS is anything like the E500, there is a significant lag in the 7-speed before the gearing drops down for max acceleration (assuming you don't manually drop down). Drives me crazy!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 2
From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Yes, an E55 is indeed both... thus the 180mph top speed AND 0-60 under 5 sec.
I drove my bro-in-law's CL55 Komressor and I know how that feels.. doubt I'll ever own one (unless I win the lottery).
The hot summer has finally arrived here in the Valley of the Sun..
I drove my bro-in-law's CL55 Komressor and I know how that feels.. doubt I'll ever own one (unless I win the lottery).
The hot summer has finally arrived here in the Valley of the Sun..
Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 107
Likes: 1
E430
So I am driving around Scottsdale today between meetings and I pull up to the light right next a new CLS500 with a young guy at the wheel. He gives me this "I've got a better benz that you" look, and looks away at the light. So I don't think anything of it..
The light turns green, and he pulls out at a moderate speed, as I do.. then he looks over at me and appears to gun it.. so I did the same.. and even though he got an edge on me, by the time we broke it off (doing about 65+ in a 40mph zone) I was at least two car lengths ahead of him. Needless to say, he didn't have the guts to make eye to eye with me after than, knowing that his 5.0 V8 was just smoked by a 3.2 I-6 (diesel to boot!)..
After today, I finally got the meaning of the old saying that "Horsepower sells cars, and Torque wins races"..
To be fair, I have the Renntech tuning which adds about 10% to the HP and torque, and we never got to open them up all the way, where I would have probably fallen on the back side of the power curve at above 110mph while he still had more room on the RPM gauge.. but it was nice to embarrass that ***!
:p
The light turns green, and he pulls out at a moderate speed, as I do.. then he looks over at me and appears to gun it.. so I did the same.. and even though he got an edge on me, by the time we broke it off (doing about 65+ in a 40mph zone) I was at least two car lengths ahead of him. Needless to say, he didn't have the guts to make eye to eye with me after than, knowing that his 5.0 V8 was just smoked by a 3.2 I-6 (diesel to boot!)..
After today, I finally got the meaning of the old saying that "Horsepower sells cars, and Torque wins races"..
To be fair, I have the Renntech tuning which adds about 10% to the HP and torque, and we never got to open them up all the way, where I would have probably fallen on the back side of the power curve at above 110mph while he still had more room on the RPM gauge.. but it was nice to embarrass that ***!
:p
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 882
From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Nice zombie thread bump.
The NA cls, losing about 3% hp/1000' elevation gain might not have the edge vs a tuned turbo at 2165' above sea level.
Say'n.
Let's leave this beaten horse dead.
The NA cls, losing about 3% hp/1000' elevation gain might not have the edge vs a tuned turbo at 2165' above sea level.
Say'n.
Let's leave this beaten horse dead.
Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 107
Likes: 1
E430
any deisel mercedess is a joke compared to a v8 m113. It’s not even comparable power wise , doesn’t matter how much boost u add to the deisel. It won’t touch any m113 car. I’ve owned both
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 882
From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
It's ok to be wrong.
I had an '05 CDI at the same time my friend owned an E500 of the same year. He was not amused that I could easily beat him in a short race. It is possible he might have a higher top end than 132mph, but the diesel wasted no time hitting that speed limiter at 6500'. Part of that may be the power losses of a 4matic compared to the rear wheel drive efficiency of the CDI, but there was no question who won the heat.
I had an '05 CDI at the same time my friend owned an E500 of the same year. He was not amused that I could easily beat him in a short race. It is possible he might have a higher top end than 132mph, but the diesel wasted no time hitting that speed limiter at 6500'. Part of that may be the power losses of a 4matic compared to the rear wheel drive efficiency of the CDI, but there was no question who won the heat.
Last edited by rapidoxidation; Dec 16, 2025 at 09:55 AM.
