Are the brakes on the E500 better than the E320's?
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From: Boston, MA
'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
Are the brakes on the E500 better than the E320's?
The front brakes on the E500 has 4-piston calipers and a larger rotor. But is performance much better? Is it worth upgrading to the E500's front brakes? Has it been done?
Just curious since if we get an E, it would be a E320 CDI wagon and it could get pretty loaded up on vacations. I'd like better brakes if it can be done affordably.
Just curious since if we get an E, it would be a E320 CDI wagon and it could get pretty loaded up on vacations. I'd like better brakes if it can be done affordably.
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
The E320 sedan and wagon and E500 sedan and wagon all have 4 piston calipers in the front.... The difference come's with the rotors....12.3" ventilated for the E320 sedan and wagon and 13.0" ventilated for the E500 sedan and wagon (also 4matic).... The performace difference???? Probably not enough to justify the $$$ or hastle.....
Last edited by HELL ONA HARLEY; Jan 6, 2004 at 10:28 PM.
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From: Boston, MA
'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
Originally posted by HELL ONA HARLEY
The E320 sedan and wagon and E500 sedan and wagon all have 4 piston calipers in the front.... The difference come's with the calilpers....12.3" ventilated for the E320 sedan and wagon and 13.0" ventilated for the E500 sedan and wagon (also 4matic).... The performace difference???? Probably not enough to justify the $$$ or hastle.....
The E320 sedan and wagon and E500 sedan and wagon all have 4 piston calipers in the front.... The difference come's with the calilpers....12.3" ventilated for the E320 sedan and wagon and 13.0" ventilated for the E500 sedan and wagon (also 4matic).... The performace difference???? Probably not enough to justify the $$$ or hastle.....
EDIT: I just checked my brochure. You are right they are the same calipers. I guess it's just an error. I didn't have the brochure handy when I wrote the post.
And of course, you are right, not worth the change just for a 0.7" increase in diameter. Thanks anyway. This is good news.
Last edited by mbr129; Jan 6, 2004 at 10:16 PM.
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From: Scottsdale AZ
E-500
E320 brakes are NOT the same as E500!
The E320 brakes are not even close to the E500 brakes performance wise. Mercedes has been saying they are 4 piston fixed calipers for over a year.
I told Mercedes a year ago that their brake spec was wrong on the E320. But they ignored me 4 TIMES. Thinking I would wait to see what was going to happen with the NAV fiasco. I dropped the issue.
Then my car turned into a rolling disaster with regards to reliability so I wrote a letter, in an attempt to get a buy back. It worked, and Mercedes for all intents and purposes, really stepped up to make me a happy customer. BUT, they never acknowledged my find (about the calipers). It appears they finally have! (by updating their website, however they never even thanked me for pointing this out
) Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent in November. But I originally brought this to their attention back in January 03’.
This is their website November 03’
This is a picture of the front caliper removed from my car (03’ E320)
I told Mercedes a year ago that their brake spec was wrong on the E320. But they ignored me 4 TIMES. Thinking I would wait to see what was going to happen with the NAV fiasco. I dropped the issue.
Then my car turned into a rolling disaster with regards to reliability so I wrote a letter, in an attempt to get a buy back. It worked, and Mercedes for all intents and purposes, really stepped up to make me a happy customer. BUT, they never acknowledged my find (about the calipers). It appears they finally have! (by updating their website, however they never even thanked me for pointing this out
) Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent in November. But I originally brought this to their attention back in January 03’.
Last but not least I pointed out an error with regard to the E class specifications published in both the E class brochure and on the Mercedes Benz USA website (please see attached e-mail and pictures) I find it very troublesome that Mercedes does not know the correct specifications for a car which IT produces. With regard to the brakes on the E-320 it is my belief that they are NOT “4 piston calipers”, what would be considered a very high performance system, but rather a single piston caliper, or a very typical configuration for probably 95% of the cars on the road. This would have most certainly raised my concerns due to the hefty weight of the e-class sedan, and likely explains the feelings of inadequacy when making high speed stops. Mercedes, has continued to mislead it's customers by publishing these false specifications. This is a clear breach of automaker - consumer trust, something which is so easily garnered by a brand such as Mercedes.
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This is their website November 03’
This is a picture of the front caliper removed from my car (03’ E320)
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
Re: E320 brakes are NOT the same as E500!
Originally posted by E-1F4
[B]The E320 brakes are not even close to the E500 brakes performance wise. Mercedes has been saying they are 4 piston fixed calipers for over a year.
I told Mercedes a year ago that their brake spec was wrong on the E320. But they ignored me 4 TIMES. Thinking I would wait to see what was going to happen with the NAV fiasco. I dropped the issue.
[B]The E320 brakes are not even close to the E500 brakes performance wise. Mercedes has been saying they are 4 piston fixed calipers for over a year.
I told Mercedes a year ago that their brake spec was wrong on the E320. But they ignored me 4 TIMES. Thinking I would wait to see what was going to happen with the NAV fiasco. I dropped the issue.
Last edited by mbr129; Jan 7, 2004 at 08:45 AM.
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From: Minneeeesoootah
Re: Re: E320 brakes are NOT the same as E500!
Originally posted by mbr129
So I WAS right. That sucks. I guess you answer my question then, the E500 has better braking performance than the E500.
So I WAS right. That sucks. I guess you answer my question then, the E500 has better braking performance than the E500.
my girlfriends 10 year old mitsubishi diamante even has dual-piston front brakes. what the hell is going on here?
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 128
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From: Boston, MA
'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
Re: Re: Re: E320 brakes are NOT the same as E500!
Originally posted by WannaBeAMG
without a doubt the E500 has better brakes than the E500, not even close!
my girlfriends 10 year old mitsubishi diamante even has dual-piston front brakes. what the hell is going on here?
without a doubt the E500 has better brakes than the E500, not even close!
my girlfriends 10 year old mitsubishi diamante even has dual-piston front brakes. what the hell is going on here?
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Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 98
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From: Eureka, California
2003 E500
Re: Re: E320 brakes are NOT the same as E500!
Originally posted by mbr129
So I WAS right. That sucks. I guess you answer my question then, the E500 has better braking performance than the E320.
So I WAS right. That sucks. I guess you answer my question then, the E500 has better braking performance than the E320.
Am interested in selling the originals if anyone is interested.
-Geoff
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
E-320 with single piston floating caliper! My gosh, I had a 1968 Volvo 244 with 4 piston front calipers. I realize that the newer brake technology may be better than 1968 but this sounds like false advertising. I wonder what MBUSA would do if sued. I know there is the fine print in the brochures that says they reserve the right to change the specs at will but this seems to more than just changing specs.
