dubzino

I just bought a 2011 e550 a couple weeks ago and am I loving it. Recently driving on the highway I noticed at around 75MPH the rpm are around 2000. Is this normal for these cars?

GuestFromTampa

yes,this is what it should be at 75 MPH, its a 5.5L V8 engine

thefisch

very normal - nice, smooth and quiet. Love highway driving in the E550. Remember to downshift for passing.

dubzino

Oh ok thanks. I thought it seemed kind of high. Didn't really realize how loud this exhaust system is on this car as I didn't take it on the highway for long on the test drive.

thefisch

loud exhaust is a different question. Mine is very quiet at 75 - mainly here the road, not exhaust. Are you stock?

GuestFromTampa

Mine is very quiet as well

KEY08

no exhaust noise at that speed for me either and the rpm sounds about right.

dubzino

Well not exactly loud but you can hear it slightly. I am coming from a gs350 Lexus so ya... But also you know the coupe does have an entirely different exhaust note then the sedan.

nicobaires

I can't hear my exhaust at all, I need it louder!

dubzino

Do you have the coupe also?

The G Man

Maybe the last owner straight piped it.

J.M.G.

The E-Coupe (C207) is basically a C-Class (W204) and uses a totally different exhaust system compared to the E-Class sedan (W212) and wagon (S212). Also, the C207 has a shorter gearing in the rear differential (M273 5.5 N/A cars only) than the W212 / S212! Therefore RPMs are a bit higher.

Both factors will result in higher interior noise!

Johnny Rad

FWIW, the M278-powered W212 E550 comfortably and quietly loafs at ~1,900rpm at 80mph. Downshift to pass? Nah, max torque is just about peaking / peaked by then.

By comparison, my last car was spinning somewhere around 3,000rpm with much the same redline as the Merc. Seems like a frenetic pace now versus the Merc.