shaggag

Hey All, I've been creepin around this forum for a while gathering as much info as possible and am totally sold on the G55. I'm hopin to get it in the next 6 months but havent had time to drive one yet!

I had a chance to drive a G500 but all I've heard from dealers are warnings that the G55 is much stiffer. This may be a good thing to me. I thought the G500 was a little soft - also, I currently drive an 03 E500 and always have the suspension on the stiffest setting. Is the G55 stiffer?

Any other cars you can compare it to? thanks for the help!

Guido1986

trust me its the stiffest ride around......I have a F-350 super duty for my company and and it floats like a waterbed compared to my G55.

jimmyg

The 2005+ G55 has a suspension setup that is about the same stiffness as my Aston...I guess comparable to a BMW M3. That doesn't mean handling is the same, but it's one of the stiffest suspensions you'll find on any stock SUV.

xiaohan82

I have a G500, but I recently rode in a G55 and i gotta say...my behind kinds hurts lol. I wasn't used to that kind of harsh suspension. G500 is a little bumpy, but the G55 is fast, its kinda crazy for an SUV, but I think the ride is kind of "rough", def doesnt feel good going off-road either

Eventho the suspension in my mind is a bit harsh, i still wont mind an AMG

PS-At the dealership, the salesperson told me the same thing about the stiffness of AMG suspension vs G500 suspension. They werent kidding around thats for sure.

dharrar

I've owned a bunch of G's starting with an '86 280GE then '95 G320, '99 G500, '02 G500 and '03 G55. This was one of the first G55's before the Kompressor version. That suspension was so hard that I took the vehicle back to my dealer and got my '02 G500 back that fortunately was still there.

After my, and other complaints, they modified the shocks making the ride somewhere between the G500 and early G55. I purchased an '05 G55 with the slightly softer shocks and that's exactly what they were... slightly softer. The ride was still far to harsh so I ordered a set of 4 standard G500 shocks and had my dealer swap them out. Yes, it cost about $1200 but now my G55 rides quite nicely just like the G500.

Anyone who has a G500 and wants to do the reverse, let me know and I can provide a set of unused G55 shocks at a bargain.

Carl Lassiter

I have a friend who did the same thing.

Guido1986

I was thinking about that but.....it might sound stupid but isnt the stiff suspension supposed to keep the g55 grounded because of the high powered engine???? I mean if you took a corner with the g500 shocks and with the power of the g55 wouldnt it flip???

jimmyg

Starting with the 2005 model year, Mercedes actually tweaked the suspension on the G55 to make it more comfortable without compromising cornering stability much. The model years with the super-stiff suspension were 2003-2004.

Bux

so how can i get my dealer to do a swap for "$1200", i asked and they said $8,000! (obviously thats bs)

Ted Baldwin

............Just go to to ebay
............Get a VIN number for a 2001 or newer G500
............Go to the parts dept at your dealer and purchase 4 G500 shocks NOT Springs
...........Go to any mechanic, even one that is trained by a baboon. He/she can swap your shocks. Very simple.

Ted

Mobsteel

Ted - Did you sell your G ?

Ted Baldwin

..........I still have it.

Ted

Mobsteel

Don't mean to change topics but I know there were some issues surrounding it. Everything get worked out? I kinda sorta kept up with it.

Ted Baldwin

...............Thanks for asking. The car is finally back together. All issues resolved.

Thanks.

Ted

Mobsteel

I'm in the market for one and I can appreciate what you did to yours. If you ever want to let her go please keep me in mind.

Guido1986

I talked to a tech yesterday at the benz dealer when i dropped off my mothers GL and he told me that theres a reason for the way the G55 drives like it does and all AMGs drive alittle rough. He said that theres so much power and that the stock AMG wheels are very heavy that it would blow the shocks of a G500...he said it wasnt a great idea by doing it because its a AMG and its built that way and could face alot of problems down the line.

Ted Baldwin

...............That is some horse manure. The AMG wheels do not weigh that much more than the non AMG W463 rims. You are right though, this topic has been beaten to death. AMG cars ride rougher on purpose because of stiffer suspension for improved handling. Period end of story. No story about heavy tires or heavy rims. You will loose some in the handling department if you make your suspension less stiff. Period, end of story.

..........As has been stated, the 03 G55 was the stiffest. The 05 and newer G55's are less stiff. And the G500's are the softest relatively speaking. Most people with 05 G55 or newer are probably fine with it. I have owned both 03 and 05 G55's so I know. I did the shock swap in my 03 g55 but not my 05.

.............Finally, if one were to choose to swap their shocks; this is an easy thing to do. Really not sure why there are so many threads expressing confusion on how to swap shocks. If one chooses not to do it, that is fine too.

Ted

Tyler Durden

I was likewise toying with the idea of a G-wagon, and based on the comments here I'd be real interested if any G owners have ever driven a Jeep SRT? I parted ways with mine recently and it's suspension was uber firm and would knock the fillings outta your teeth on these lovely New England roads...

Guido1986

Where about in New England are you from?? Im from Boston.

Two of my buddies had SRT Jeep's....there pretty sick and I think they have a faster 0-60 time than the G55???

Tyler Durden

Guido,

I'm in RI, near the University (URI) in Kingston.

The SRT Jeep is retarded fast, bone stock. 0-60 is low 4s, 1/4 in low 13s. Top speed is limited to 155 MPH. They're quicker (not faster, if that makes sense) than the other LX based SRT-8s (300, Charger, Magnum) because of the AWD and the gearing, but they turn into a flying brick shortly after the 1/4. 0-80 they're a hoot and about the best bang for the buck you can get ($40-ish K) all in a 4700 pound, 420 HP/420 Torque SUV package.

I miss mine but I have the MB/AMG bug something fierce, and if I could nail down a good deal on a G55 the way I did my S, I could forget all about the Jeep SRT, even if the G is slower...

2fast4amg

not easy...theres nothing in the world like a G55 AMG the sound........the sound is like the LM004 do u remember? bader than a SLR. from 0-60 you feel like in a F-16. let me tell you, after 7 month of work on my E 55 i always ask Kleemann, tell me let me know, how is the sound, and so on...Now i understood, there are no words to explain, you have to feel it. Out of yr mounth will come only one cry.......wow can't belive it