to 'sport' or not to 'sport?'
09-28-2002, 06:40 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
to 'sport' or not to 'sport?'
Lots of debate on this topic but here is an interesting fact regarding the maximum speed being limited by the standard MB tires on both the e320 and the e500. This is in the owners manual.
The top speed on a 'non-sport' E-Class is limited to 130 MPH, based on the H rated tires stadard on both the E320 (16")and the E500 (17"). H rated tires have a max speed rating of 130, thus the limit imposed by MB.
The Sport Package has W rated tires (rated to 155 MPH) so there is no limiter placed on the engine.
Not that most people will be cruising past 130 MPH, but a thought just in case you want to challenge a 911!
The top speed on a 'non-sport' E-Class is limited to 130 MPH, based on the H rated tires stadard on both the E320 (16")and the E500 (17"). H rated tires have a max speed rating of 130, thus the limit imposed by MB.
The Sport Package has W rated tires (rated to 155 MPH) so there is no limiter placed on the engine.
Not that most people will be cruising past 130 MPH, but a thought just in case you want to challenge a 911!
01-22-2003, 04:15 PM
#4
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you know, it seems to me that if its true that speed limiter is dependant on tire rating, then it must simple to set the speed limiter via dealer on board computer settings. It would seem hard for MB to match the right motronic unit to whatever tires end up on a car, seems like more of a post production thing.
For example, on my '99 boxster, it came from the factory without any external temperature indicator, but it turns out it was prewired for it, but only turned on if you had also ordered on board computer. All it took was telling the cars computer that you did have on board computer (even if you didn't) and magically the external temperature would appear on the dash.
However, having said all that, I think a much more likely scenario is that MB simply ships all US bound cars with US motronic that limits to 130mph and with H rated tires. Seems so much simpler if you look at it from their perspective.
Hope I made some sense :p
For example, on my '99 boxster, it came from the factory without any external temperature indicator, but it turns out it was prewired for it, but only turned on if you had also ordered on board computer. All it took was telling the cars computer that you did have on board computer (even if you didn't) and magically the external temperature would appear on the dash.
However, having said all that, I think a much more likely scenario is that MB simply ships all US bound cars with US motronic that limits to 130mph and with H rated tires. Seems so much simpler if you look at it from their perspective.
Hope I made some sense :p
01-23-2003, 05:46 AM
#5
W-tire wear?
How much worse could the wear be? The handling has got to be much better with W-tires. Anyone have experience with how long w-tires last. My high speed tires usually lasted 15,000 to 20,000 miles.
