E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

a pic of my w211 replacement... B6 S4

Old Sep 4, 2005 | 12:51 PM
  #1  
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lig
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
a pic of my w211 replacement... B6 S4

I still enjoy hanging out here. One of the better car forums out there.

In the event anyone cares here is what I replaced the M-B with.

I may be jinxing myself - but it's been stone cold reliable so far. :fingerscrossed: I really enjoy having a 6 speed manual and 340+ hp.
Attached Thumbnails a pic of my w211 replacement...   B6 S4-smallers4.jpg  
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 01:11 PM
  #2  
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2007 ML 320CDI
No way, buddy...
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 03:27 PM
  #3  
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
My best friend as an S4 and with the exception of the quickness of that car (and it is VERY quick), he envies everything else about my CDI.. If I had an E500 he'd probably steal it..

Not sure you're car was a trade up... especially for the $50K they sell for... but it's a nice car, and I can't speak ill of it... just to say that I think the E is on a higher level..

BTW.. I read that stock handling on the 200' skidpad on an A4 Quattro (.80g) is worse than my CDI (.83g)..and E500 (.85) not very impressive considering the category of the two cars.

Last edited by CE750; Sep 4, 2005 at 04:11 PM.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 03:36 PM
  #4  
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11 W212 E350 Sport, sold 06 W211 E350
Definitely two very different cars in two very distinct classes, can't really compare them. Enjoy your new ride, it' s a good looking car!
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 03:43 PM
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Thanks, sacguy.

The enjoyment factor for me is far greater with the S4 than the E320. This is a drivers car. I'm sure the reason I had such a bad experience with the W211 is that mine was a very early '03. On the plus side - my E was a great freeway cruiser. The E got way better gas mileage and it had more appeal to label ******. The minus side - all the crazy electronic issues. The terrible feel of the SBC brakes. The indecisive throttle/tranny programming was annoying too.

Track days are fun with this car with one issue - it goes through brakes pretty quickly. I've already won an SCCA Club Trials event with the S4 on street tires going against other cars on R compounds. No way that would ever happen with an E320/350/500. Doubtful even with the E55.

Having owned both - I have no regrets with my choice. They really are apples and oranges and at this juncture the Audi is better at doing what I want it to do.

To each his own.

Last edited by lig; Sep 4, 2005 at 04:00 PM.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 04:09 PM
  #6  
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03 C32 AMG
Nice car, I like the B6 but i think its a bit unfortunate for it that it came between the B5 and the B7 which were both heavy revisions for audi. The B5 practically saved Audi single handedly and the B7 is just completely refreshing in a time of severe atrophy in German auto styling. I wish that Audi had kept the turbo feature on the S-line though, the B5 S4 was just so amazingly tunable that the V-8 was a bit of a disappointment for me. On the upside, have you seen the B6 S4 v. E46 M3 video on Top Gear? M3 takes the straight line but round the track the S4 stays just of the time of the Murcielago! Enjoy the car, i miss my Audi from time to time (interior quality especially) but given a choice i dont think i'd go back to my A4. But these new monsters coming out of Ingolstadt are another animal altogether, maybe someday...
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 04:12 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
I definitly like the 2000-2005 nose better than that new one ^^

Audi and VW both went in the wrong direction with that gaping mouth..

(BTW.. I corrected my skidpad data... I was going off memory, of which I have none )
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 04:12 PM
  #8  
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Forgot to compliment you on that wheel selection. It really works with the car's overall color, i like those RS4 mirrors too. Any suspension or engine mods yet? I remember shortshifters were hugely popular with B5 drivers, you should check them out.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 04:19 PM
  #9  
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
I deliberately chose the B6 because it's my daily. I'd be way too tempted to mod the living ***** out of a B5. Stock vs. stock - B6 > B5.

The differences between the B6 and B7 S4's are pretty small. Ugly nose on the B7. Engine/chassis pretty much the same. The only thing I would have liked is the next year's B7 S4 will have a 40/60 Quattro split instead of 50/50.

Only mods for now - H&R coilovers, 19" BBS RS-GTs, Labree Stainless Catback.

RS4 = wet dream. :LOL: Honestly though - for that kind of $$$ I'd be looking at the new Z06 or 997 S.

p.s. that is a great video. i wanna be the stig.

Last edited by lig; Sep 4, 2005 at 04:22 PM.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 05:12 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by lig
I deliberately chose the B6 because it's my daily. I'd be way too tempted to mod the living ***** out of a B5. Stock vs. stock - B6 > B5.

The differences between the B6 and B7 S4's are pretty small. Ugly nose on the B7. Engine/chassis pretty much the same. The only thing I would have liked is the next year's B7 S4 will have a 40/60 Quattro split instead of 50/50.

Only mods for now - H&R coilovers, 19" BBS RS-GTs, Labree Stainless Catback.

RS4 = wet dream. :LOL: Honestly though - for that kind of $$$ I'd be looking at the new Z06 or 997 S.

p.s. that is a great video. i wanna be the stig.
True enough, i test drove a stock B5 S4 and although there was a huge difference between it an my 2.8, i really couldnt feel it (S4 was auto, 2.8 was stick). Its kinda like the 1.8T, stock its less than impressive, but once you get into modding it, look out. As for the 40/60 quattro, looks like audi finally figured out that understeer really sucks.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 06:40 PM
  #11  
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05 E500 Wagon
nice S4...spending your time over at audiworld.com now?
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 09:47 PM
  #12  
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Simply beautiful! Pls post more pics.
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 11:39 PM
  #13  
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Sweet ride lig and nicely done.
Gotta ask though..... Hows the service center????? Big screen TV's, Starbucks, danish and three piece suits to greet you???
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:31 AM
  #14  
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Cute car.

BUT....

I'll race ANYDAY. Not apples and oranges buddy. Apples and sour grapes!!

LOL. Won the SCCA class, cause you are the only one in it!
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:34 AM
  #15  
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Originally Posted by jangy
Cute car.

BUT....

I'll race ANYDAY. Not apples and oranges buddy. Apples and sour grapes!!

LOL. Won the SCCA class, cause you are the only one in it!



E55 vs. S4 on a road course? I'll take that race. 1/4 mile? ahhh... I believe I'll pass on that one. :p

Maybe we can meet at a neutral track and put a few bucks on the fastest lap time. I should say that I won my run group. ASP, BSP, ESP, A Stock etc... there were 9 cars in my run group. Two of the drivers were/are SCCA National Champs. I'm not saying that I'm a better driver than they are but I did run the fastest time of my run group.

Last edited by lig; Sep 5, 2005 at 12:37 AM.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:52 AM
  #16  
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Could care less about YOUR driving skills (lol).

Any track any day, just make it a track. The ONLY place an S4 is faster than me is in a KMart parking lot.
You are fat up front. Don't confuse that car with the nimble lil cars, like the M3.
We don't need to get into it. Go find a mud rally to join, since that is where your technology was born.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:59 AM
  #17  
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
I'm so wounded by your words. you sound like a guy who lost his gf to an S4 owner or something.

I'm glad you like your E55 - it does have a better weight distribution than the S4.

I didn't start this thread with the intention of it being a pissing match. If you can't take out a car that costs 30K less than I would be disappointed to say the least.

I'd still be happy to run you on a road course though. You're in SD - I'm in Seattle. How about PIR?
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:14 AM
  #18  
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sl and M-class E320 4Matic SLK350
Old biases die hard

I guess I am old school, but an Audi is still a Volkswagen to me. Then again, VW has a luxury car of its own now so maybe that is not such a negative anymore. That said, I give credit to Audi for coming out with all wheel drive convertibles and wish Mercedes would offer 4-Matic on its open top sports cars.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:20 AM
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Not better weight distribution. Mine is a tank. A tank with 500 supercharged horses.

Yours is HEAVY up front. The chassis was NOT designed for the weight!. LOL. All Wheel Drives don't handle better. Why would the real racers (i.e. not you) prefer rear wheel drive?

You are right about me smoking your car (we need not get into the $$) and that it ain't no 'thang.

Screw PIR. Let's race through the streets of LA!!

You started by bashing the E. Don't drive an E320 and tell me how an E55 rides. NOPE.

Sorry you couldn't figure the electronics out. You had better run off and worry about the other rally racer wanna bees that are coming out. Which one of them ISN"T faster than yours?
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:22 AM
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Guys keep it civil. Don't let it get ugly, keep it to the sheet metal.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by jangy
Not better weight distribution. Mine is a tank. A tank with 500 supercharged horses.

Yours is HEAVY up front. The chassis was NOT designed for the weight!. LOL. All Wheel Drives don't handle better. Why would the real racers (i.e. not you) prefer rear wheel drive?

You are right about me smoking your car (we need not get into the $$) and that it ain't no 'thang.

Screw PIR. Let's race through the streets of LA!!

You started by bashing the E. Don't drive an E320 and tell me how an E55 rides. NOPE.

Sorry you couldn't figure the electronics out. You had better run off and worry about the other rally racer wanna bees that are coming out. Which one of them ISN"T faster than yours?
Wow, look who's tough on the internet.

I'd take an E55 over an S4 anyday, heck i switched from an A4 to a comparable MB, but you cant seriously believe all that smack you're talking, if you do you need to watch Audis and Subarus in action to learn about how much there is to be gained from AWD and a manual tranny. Oversteer is alot of fun, but AWD will keep you in line better and give better times. I think the E might take a stock S4, but not one with lighter wheels and a racing supension, you've got him on the straight line power for sure tho. No one's *knocking* the E class here that i see, i dont even think the two cars are in the same class. If you want to pick on someone your own size, go race one of these...
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:42 AM
  #22  
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
street racing?
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:49 AM
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haha... been looking for something my size and that ain't it. Glad you see that I am being called to the top of the hill to hear about how Subaru and Audi are dominating the field.

HAHA!!

Go find a Mitsubishi whatever or a Civic Si to play under.



I love how Audi runners have always had Rear Wheel Drive envy. Must be from their Volkswagen roots. Is the S4 built on a GTI chassis?
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 01:59 AM
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jangy, this is my second warning to you. Heed it otherwise there will be consequences.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 02:04 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by jangy
haha... been looking for something my size and that ain't it. Glad you see that I am being called to the top of the hill to hear about how Subaru and Audi are dominating the field.

HAHA!!

Go find a Mitsubishi whatever or a Civic Si to play under.



I love how Audi runners have always had Rear Wheel Drive envy. Must be from their Volkswagen roots. Is the S4 built on a GTI chassis?
As far as tunability, you're dead right subaru and audi dominate MB, not the Audi in question, but there are some STIs, EVOs, 1.8T variants, and yes probably a few Civic Si tuners out there that would mop the floor with you. Dont get me wrong, i love the E55, and ive seen your car on the forums before and dont doubt that like most AMGs, its hugely fast, but MB builds these cars for straight line performance mostly, the E and S are just too heavy. Dont knock these other "lesser types" because you have that AMG badge. It doesnt make you unbeatable. The RS6 has alot of tuning potential (ive seen numbers 520hp+) and with its quattro system it would more than outmatch the E round a track.
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