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Old 12-14-2005, 02:17 AM
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E350

I came across an aggressive driver in a brand spanking new (paper plates) E350 tonight on the way home and couldn't pass up on the offer. After a few miles of toying around, we finally got a quick run from 50-80mph, during which I was able to pull away a bit.

I got c0cky and lined up with the Benz at the next red light. I got a little over my head and spun my the tires a bit, while the Benz hooked nicely and simply took off. My car is definitely tuned for torque, and my launch usually puts me ahead of most people. To my disappointing surprise, the MB had about a 2 car lead on me until 30mph. I kept my foot in it though and started gaining quickly at topend. By 80mph I was riding his bumper.

From then on we went through another series of cat and mouse runs from various speeds, and in 1st gear and the bottom of 2nd, the MB was hauling pretty hard (bless that 7-speed auto), but at top end I was all over it and pulling away. At one high speed point I was wondering if he was still going since I was gaining rather quickly, so I cracked my window and heard it still sceaming.

I always wondered how the new MB's are off the line since the older models, frankly, sucked. I am pretty surprised now at how MB has improved their off-the-line acceleration and now I'm even more curious about how the F/I 55's feel off the line.

Last edited by Roupin; 12-14-2005 at 02:20 AM.
Old 12-14-2005, 05:10 AM
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Old 12-14-2005, 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Roupin
I came across an aggressive driver in a brand spanking new (paper plates) E350 tonight on the way home and couldn't pass up on the offer. After a few miles of toying around, we finally got a quick run from 50-80mph, during which I was able to pull away a bit.

I got c0cky and lined up with the Benz at the next red light. I got a little over my head and spun my the tires a bit, while the Benz hooked nicely and simply took off. My car is definitely tuned for torque, and my launch usually puts me ahead of most people. To my disappointing surprise, the MB had about a 2 car lead on me until 30mph. I kept my foot in it though and started gaining quickly at topend. By 80mph I was riding his bumper.

From then on we went through another series of cat and mouse runs from various speeds, and in 1st gear and the bottom of 2nd, the MB was hauling pretty hard (bless that 7-speed auto), but at top end I was all over it and pulling away. At one high speed point I was wondering if he was still going since I was gaining rather quickly, so I cracked my window and heard it still sceaming.

I always wondered how the new MB's are off the line since the older models, frankly, sucked. I am pretty surprised now at how MB has improved their off-the-line acceleration and now I'm even more curious about how the F/I 55's feel off the line.
If you wanna race a supercharged 55K engine, go for it but you wont win. Massive amounts of torque all the way to redline and the roque is literally available at around 2K rpm.

However the new E350 is a blessing, its fast, great torque in the entire powerband and simply outshines many other engines in its class IMO not to mention its fuel friendly too.
Old 12-14-2005, 11:32 AM
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Don't get me wrong, I wasn't challenging a supercharged 55 to a race, I already know the numbers they put out. Just out of curiosity I've raced a CLS55 and I was nothing more than a joke to him. I was just talking about the "feel" of the car on launch (how hard it slams you into the seat).

I need a looser converter
Old 12-14-2005, 12:35 PM
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2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
383 Stroker that 350!

I put a Vortec 383 into my old 1989 Boxy 2500 Suburban 4x4. That thing really hauls butt for its size and can tow 10,000 lbs!

What's the rear axle ratio in the Buick?

Weren't they like 3.08 or so stock?

Back in the day I could beat the Chev Impala SS cars (1994-1996) with my 1981 Olds Toronado.

I snuck a nicely built 403 motor and lower final drive ratio into it, very unsuspecting, especially to the primitive "ricers" of that era. Left the wire hubcaps on for the sleeper effect.

BTW I have run my CDI versus a P71 Ford Interceptor (2001 build). Puts the Crown Victoria to shame, badly.

Last edited by cdiken; 12-14-2005 at 12:38 PM.
Old 12-14-2005, 01:30 PM
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Stock axle is 2.93 gears. My only mods now are cold air intake and programming. I used to go nuts over racing and had loads of parts ready to go in (4.10's, 3k stall converter, headers, aluminum driveshaft...you get the idea) but I started getting in too much trouble racing around, so I started working on the stereo.

200 pounds in the trunk later, I'm still racing

Now I'm passively thinking of a twin turbo once I put this car aside for weekend duties. With the whitewall tires, it's a total sleeper.

Originally Posted by cdiken
I put a Vortec 383 into my old 1989 Boxy 2500 Suburban 4x4. That thing really hauls butt for its size and can tow 10,000 lbs!

What's the rear axle ratio in the Buick?

Weren't they like 3.08 or so stock?

Back in the day I could beat the Chev Impala SS cars (1994-1996) with my 1981 Olds Toronado.

I snuck a nicely built 403 motor and lower final drive ratio into it, very unsuspecting, especially to the primitive "ricers" of that era. Left the wire hubcaps on for the sleeper effect.

BTW I have run my CDI versus a P71 Ford Interceptor (2001 build). Puts the Crown Victoria to shame, badly.
Old 12-14-2005, 01:39 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
the E350 is amazing for a 2 ton, 3.5L V6 car... The 7spd also help in the off the line... but I drove my mom's after my CDI, and the CDI has much more torque, but it was hard to tell which car was faster... which is a big improvement over the E320 v6.
Old 12-14-2005, 03:48 PM
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What do you all think of the E350 engine compared with the E500?
Old 12-14-2005, 04:21 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by RBrenton88
What do you all think of the E350 engine compared with the E500?
Having driven both, but only owning the one, I can say this in my opinion:

E500: more power, V8 sound, older tried technology
E350: more efficient, more power per liter

If they use the E350 technology to make the next V8, it will surely be a screamer!
Old 12-14-2005, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by CE750
Having driven both, but only owning the one, I can say this in my opinion:

E500: more power, V8 sound, older tried technology
E350: more efficient, more power per liter

If they use the E350 technology to make the next V8, it will surely be a screamer!
But you own the CDI, right? That thing has much more torque than the gas 350. I drove a 320 CDI and thought 'oh my, this thing moves!'
Old 12-14-2005, 05:43 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by RBrenton88
But you own the CDI, right? That thing has much more torque than the gas 350. I drove a 320 CDI and thought 'oh my, this thing moves!'
Yes but my mother in California drives an E350 that I got her.. and I drive it whenever I'm out there.. I just don't list it in my profile since it's technically not mine..

and yes.. the CDI is a lot quicker, especially 30-60 passing..
Old 12-14-2005, 08:01 PM
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I'm assuming that the Roadmaster has the GM 350 smallblock LT1 (or is this some other LT1 )?

I am very surprised to hear that a E350 can hang with it. How heavy is your Buick? Last time I checked, a LT1 Camaro/Firebird/Corvette will eat a E350 off the line.
Old 12-14-2005, 08:08 PM
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02 ML320, 06 E350
I would of thought the E350 would be ok off the line but way faster in high speeds since it has 7 speeds the spacing between the gears is smaller allowing more power. like the M5 vs E55, E55 can take it till 100mph but then the M5 with 7 gears can put more power down due to closer gearing.
Old 12-14-2005, 09:54 PM
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My Roadmaster weighs in at about 4400 pounds, plus the 200 pounds of subs/amp/wiring and a full tank of gas. I'm guessing I'm tipping the scales at about 4600-4700 pounds.

This is the same LT1 used in the Chevrolet Impalas from 94-96. The Camaro/Firebird/Corvette puts out a bit more power and they have aluminum heads.

At best I think I could have recovered half a car length with a better launch, but not much more. That car just seemed to have much more traction off the line.

Originally Posted by newton22
I'm assuming that the Roadmaster has the GM 350 smallblock LT1 (or is this some other LT1 )?

I am very surprised to hear that a E350 can hang with it. How heavy is your Buick? Last time I checked, a LT1 Camaro/Firebird/Corvette will eat a E350 off the line.
Old 12-14-2005, 10:02 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by Roupin
My Roadmaster weighs in at about 4400 pounds, plus the 200 pounds of subs/amp/wiring and a full tank of gas. I'm guessing I'm tipping the scales at about 4600-4700 pounds.

This is the same LT1 used in the Chevrolet Impalas from 94-96. The Camaro/Firebird/Corvette puts out a bit more power and they have aluminum heads.

At best I think I could have recovered half a car length with a better launch, but not much more. That car just seemed to have much more traction off the line.
that's a bit more than an E55.. or about what an S class weighs.. so ofcourse it's going to be slower than a 3800lb E350..
Old 12-14-2005, 11:07 PM
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2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
My Carlsson C-Tronic is on the way

Going to be up in the 425+ lb-ft of torque range.

Team CDI is gonna have to take some prisoners! CDI....the ultimate Cannonball Run car if you got a big bladder!

I must admit I'm jealous at how cheap it is to mod those Chevy's....you can really buy some real power on a beer budget.

Eaton Limited Slip Differential for GM 10-bolt about $375, and that is a nice, very effective LSD.

AMG E55 LSD something like $4000 to perform the same function.

450 HP Chevy...about $5000 for the whole motor. 450 HP MB.....well, if you have to ask......



BTW I would put that 4.10:1 into the RoadMonster. Or at least a 3.73:1. You have a deep enough overdrive that highway cruising will still be pretty comfortable. Your launch/hole-shot would be absolutely stunning! I love seeing big, unsupecting looking cars like your RoadMaster leap off a light like a loaded spring, especially when putting ricers junk to shame!

Last edited by cdiken; 12-14-2005 at 11:12 PM.
Old 12-14-2005, 11:11 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by cdiken
Going to be up in the 425+ lb-ft of torque range.
.
My RENNTECH numbers are right around 417 on my last dyno.. so that's not bad..

My goal now is to break 15.0 on the 1/4 mile...
Old 12-14-2005, 11:19 PM
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2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
I wonder if the E55 AMG limited-slip is a bolt in?

Yeah I know it costs a fortune, but ESP is a joke, and with ESP off, the tires just spin insanely on the CDI, sending all power up in smoke, and that's with a stock motor.

Another item is the transmission....what a slushbox. I have an old Ford Bronco with a shift-kitted (for towing) C6. What a crisp, decisive yet comfortable set of shift points.

In my opinion, the MB trans shifts way too late for the diesel, often triggering the rev limiter at W.O.T. Hopefully at least the Carlsson software will wake the engine up a little at the 4,000 RPM range and it will then cooperate better with the transmission.

Finally, the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are just way too protracted. I know its a comfort thing deliberately engineered into the car. But I get no comfort knowing my clutch packs are playing tug of war with eachother instead of sending that power to the road.

Does anyone know of a tuner that writes transmission software for MB, or is the MB "slushbox" a mechanical limitation that cannot be overcome?

I guess in the end, why ask for too much performance out of a diesel 4dr car, but like Dyson, I just want things to work properly!

Last edited by cdiken; 12-14-2005 at 11:22 PM.
Old 12-14-2005, 11:25 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
ESP is a joke for take off, but after your up and running it works wonders if you start to loose control during a turn, etc.. if you're going to drag your car, definitely turn it off... but for the rest of the time, it's a live saver.. keep it on. I always wonder how much faster this car would be if MB was able to bolt on the 7G that's in the E500 and E350 to the I6... oh well..
Old 12-14-2005, 11:31 PM
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2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
It might be slower with the 7G....

If it is anything like the 5-spd, a slushbox. If the 7 is not a slushbox, different story.

The torque elasticity is so good on the diesel, that I feel that it is during shifts that motion is wasted.

If anything, the 7 would be great for normal driving, where you could almost drive it like a plane and just "set the power."

Lets say you are at 0 mph, but are likely to be at a 65 MPH cruise speed. Squeeze the gas just enough to get 2200 RPM and leave it there, let it work up through the gears. With the 5 speed, you have a lot more RPM fluctuation, as each gear is held longer.
Old 12-14-2005, 11:38 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by cdiken
If it is anything like the 5-spd, a slushbox. If the 7 is not a slushbox, different story.

The torque elasticity is so good on the diesel, that I feel that it is during shifts that motion is wasted.

If anything, the 7 would be great for normal driving, where you could almost drive it like a plane and just "set the power."

Lets say you are at 0 mph, but are likely to be at a 65 MPH cruise speed. Squeeze the gas just enough to get 2200 RPM and leave it there, let it work up through the gears. With the 5 speed, you have a lot more RPM fluctuation, as each gear is held longer.
Why stop there, maybe MB can get a CVT trans installed in a future CDI, alas it will be a V6, but nevertheless..
Old 12-15-2005, 12:29 PM
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Oh I'll be modding it for sure. As soon as I get my hands on another daily driver so I won't be worried about downtime. The only problem right now is the space to keep all these cars. There's another one on its way now coming in from Florida. I'm so sick of paying storage fees for the oldies too.

Anyone ever seen whitewalled drag radials on stock wheels? That will be a sleeper for sure.


Originally Posted by cdiken
Going to be up in the 425+ lb-ft of torque range.

Team CDI is gonna have to take some prisoners! CDI....the ultimate Cannonball Run car if you got a big bladder!

I must admit I'm jealous at how cheap it is to mod those Chevy's....you can really buy some real power on a beer budget.

Eaton Limited Slip Differential for GM 10-bolt about $375, and that is a nice, very effective LSD.

AMG E55 LSD something like $4000 to perform the same function.

450 HP Chevy...about $5000 for the whole motor. 450 HP MB.....well, if you have to ask......



BTW I would put that 4.10:1 into the RoadMonster. Or at least a 3.73:1. You have a deep enough overdrive that highway cruising will still be pretty comfortable. Your launch/hole-shot would be absolutely stunning! I love seeing big, unsupecting looking cars like your RoadMaster leap off a light like a loaded spring, especially when putting ricers junk to shame!
Old 12-15-2005, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Roupin
My Roadmaster weighs in at about 4400 pounds, plus the 200 pounds of subs/amp/wiring and a full tank of gas. I'm guessing I'm tipping the scales at about 4600-4700 pounds.

This is the same LT1 used in the Chevrolet Impalas from 94-96. The Camaro/Firebird/Corvette puts out a bit more power and they have aluminum heads.

At best I think I could have recovered half a car length with a better launch, but not much more. That car just seemed to have much more traction off the line.

4600-4700?? Wow, that's more than a w220 s-class.

LT1 I'm purchasing soon will be a Camaro Z28. Those weigh ~3700 lbs and have 330 lb-ft of torque at just over 2000 rpms. I guess that's why the z28s will eat the E350.
Old 12-15-2005, 01:30 PM
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The Z28 is fun, but you'll miss having a real trunk. That's what turns many people to Impalas. With just a few lightweight parts, Impalas can get down to about 4000 pounds without sacrificing any comforts or safety like sound deadening, airbags or A/C.

My Buick is exactly the same engine/drivetrain as the Impalas, with the exception of rear drum brakes (gone soon) and 2.93 gears vs. 3.08's.

I'd personally recommend a 95 since they are easier to tune (pre-OBDII), but there are OBDI conversions out there for only a couple hundred bucks. And there are many T56 6-speed manual Impalas out there. The complete swap takes a day and everything bolts right up.

If it's within your budget and you're bent on the Camaro, look for the LS1 since that engine is much improved over the LT1. The LS1 produces more power throughout the rev range, whereas the LT1 is a bit "peakier" (if you can say that about a torquey motor).

Good luck either way. Let me know if you have any questions.


Originally Posted by newton22
4600-4700?? Wow, that's more than a w220 s-class.

LT1 I'm purchasing soon will be a Camaro Z28. Those weigh ~3700 lbs and have 330 lb-ft of torque at just over 2000 rpms. I guess that's why the z28s will eat the E350.
Old 12-17-2005, 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Roupin
The Z28 is fun, but you'll miss having a real trunk. That's what turns many people to Impalas. With just a few lightweight parts, Impalas can get down to about 4000 pounds without sacrificing any comforts or safety like sound deadening, airbags or A/C.

My Buick is exactly the same engine/drivetrain as the Impalas, with the exception of rear drum brakes (gone soon) and 2.93 gears vs. 3.08's.

I'd personally recommend a 95 since they are easier to tune (pre-OBDII), but there are OBDI conversions out there for only a couple hundred bucks. And there are many T56 6-speed manual Impalas out there. The complete swap takes a day and everything bolts right up.

If it's within your budget and you're bent on the Camaro, look for the LS1 since that engine is much improved over the LT1. The LS1 produces more power throughout the rev range, whereas the LT1 is a bit "peakier" (if you can say that about a torquey motor).

Good luck either way. Let me know if you have any questions.
Oh yeah, without a doubt, if insurance wasn't such a killer, I'd be all over a LS1 now.

As far as trunk goes, the trunk in the s-class is empty 95% of the time. I really don't need it. :p

I'm a huge fan of f-bodies and GM smallblocks. Any forums you're on? Or better yet, I'll catch you on AIM sometime.

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