It's unfortunate MB feels compelled to dictate how fast we Americans shall travel.

 

The point of my post is to question why MB designs and builds cars that can safely and easily travel at speeds of over 155 mph and then turn around and limit them to 130 mph.

 

To save the typical poorly trained American driver from themselves.

That's my guess.

 

I think its a requirement by the United States government to have a governer (no pun intended) on the cars here...can someone elaborate?

 

Oh cmon guys what are you talking about.
Its just an e-class with a speed limiter because of the tires.
In my E430 i had the same. I guess you can take it off at the dealer, not sure about that.

 

Cause in the US and Canada we have laws about selling vehicles with tires that are not rated for the top speed of the car, thus the car must be governed to the speed that the tires are rated for.

 

Im just wondering if E430 with sport pakage does have the same limiter or no?

 

Buy a posrche.... i don't think the 911's are limited..... that'll solve your problems.... although the porsche boxter might be limited.....

 

There are several reasons for speed limiter. One is YES tires do dictate how fast you can go safely (hence most car with H rated are well under 130mph). There is also a pact between some (not all b/c Porsche is not one of them) manufacturers to limit the cars. Typical speed limit is 105/110 for most S rated, anything with H or higher get 130mph...next leve typically 155mph...then the exotics mostly dont have limiter. If anyone has found a CHEAP way to remove the Vmax (i think thats what MB speed limiter is called) please let me know. I know Renntech and a few other tuners do it but for about a $1000.

 

That 'gentlemans agreement' between German auto manufacturers is 155 mph. There is only one reason we're limited to the 130 mph, because of the tires. I guess MB got a good deal from Conty, Good Year and the rest to supply them with H rated tires. Sure, you can have the limiter taken off and the tires replaced but come on . . . I mean really. Don't get me wrong, I love MB but it's the little things: full leather, CD, parktronic, decent cup holders that come standard on other makes but not MB. MB would, and has, responded by saying their cars have way more safety features than others which is true, but on average your paying $5-10,000 more for the Benz.

Look at a 5-series or GS, less money with more options. When I purchase an MB I expect a top speed of 155 mph, full leather and a CD player, anything less as standard equipment is unacceptable.

Just my 2 cents.

 

A lot of the japanese cars

RSX / Celica are not speed limited and come with crappy tires also..

MB just does it out of safety


~fk

 

Some of the new AMG models speedo reads to 200 mph. I think I would get blue ***** if i had an '03 E55 that cut off at 130.

 

Does anyone know how to remove the speed limiter? Seems like $1000 is a little pricey.

 

Will you get blue ***** if it cuts-off at 155/160mph? b/c more then likely thats what it will be

 

Serious?

Our Windstar can go *** kmh (sorry, somebody told me I shouldnt be posting my exploits) and Im pretty damn sure the speed rating of those American tires don't. Actually, it doesnt have a speedrating stamped on it but was told that if it doesnt have a rating, it's a 140kmh limit

 

Your dealer should be able to do this free of charge!!!

BMW removes governors for free, why shouldn't Mercedes. Besides, removing the governors is simply removing a computer chip! $1000 to open a box and remove the chip?? Nah! Go to your dealer and ASK.

 

BMW removes it for free??? i doubt it. i know several tuners does do it though... not for more then 500 bux. along a performance chip.


Jerry

 

quick qestion...were u at a track when u got to that speed?

 

It's more than removing a chip. To delete the Vmax, you need to swap the chip with one that has had its Vmax area rewritten. Why tuners charge so much is usally becuase these re-worked ECU chips also contain optimized parameteres to get every hp and lb-ft of torque out of an engine. This takes a lot of R&D, etc. Also, it should be known that any Mercedes in Northern America that has the Vmax removed also will have a TOTALLY voided warranty.

 

most cars that dont have a limiter will top out when the engine cant go any faster. MB makes their engines so it can handel higher speeds then the tires and then puts a limiter. thats b/c when your car is limited to 155 MPH you can floor it all the way 155 and the engine wont have any problem b/c it can really do more then 155. unlike other car that are toped out at 155 will take much longer to hit 155 b/c you working its engine to the fullest, and its not to good thing to work the engine at its fullest.

 

I've talked to my dealer before and they are strictly prohibited to remove the Vmax or change the fuel settings because of US regulations and EPA, I even tried bribing the service manager and he wouldn't do it (standar practice for a mexican like me )

 

A CLK 430 with the exact same tire as the CLK 55 (Michelin pilots) in the exact same size (I don't know the sizes off the top of my head, but I'll say 225/45/17 and 245/40/17) has different top speeds...

430: 135mph
55: 155mph

The 430 has 275hp and should easily handle 155mph, especially with the wheel and tire package. Not sure why it's limited to 135. The 430 came out a few years before the 55, so I can't imagine it's done to protect the performance factor in the 55.

 

My Camaro was limited to 130 i think, I bought a hypetech programmer and removed the limiter. The chip for it was around 300 I think. The speedo only registered 155 but I could hit that at 3000rpm in 4th gear with plenty left. The coupe is working hard to get to 130, but not working at max power. I think the coupe could hit 140 stock, 150 with a chip.

 

It is a federal law regarding importing. No vehicle may be imported into the USA without a speed limiter set at 155.

You are able to have the limiter removed after the vehicle has been brought into the USA.

 

Dealerships will not perform this work. An aftermarket shop however will (i.e., RennTeach, etc.)