Two tips before breaking loose your LWB W220
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Two tips before breaking loose your LWB W220
1) Find some even and smooth pavement
2) Find a LOT of deserted space
I did something a bit stupid today.
I was just driving and decided to have a little fun when I came to a deserted small street intersection. So I decided to turn traction control off and make an aggressive U-turn.
Let me tell you, once you break the end of a LWB 4200 lbs sedan loose, counter-steering won't help. I let off the gas and braked just in time almost colliding with the light pole.
So after that, I decided that I needed to know the limits and the characterisitics of this car before I do anything stupid. I found a large deserted parking lot and just had some fun.
Bottom of the line is, for those that don't know, the S-class is happiest in a straight line. Once it starts sliding, it will continue to slide in a straight line as long as you're on the gas, with some counter-steering. So if you're heading for that light pole and you're trying to correct the direction of travel, bummer. Or even better, don't try to drive the S too hard. It's one stubborn tank and if you're not gonna drive it, it will take over and go crazy and maybe, well, hit something.
Just thought I'd share.
2) Find a LOT of deserted space
I did something a bit stupid today.
I was just driving and decided to have a little fun when I came to a deserted small street intersection. So I decided to turn traction control off and make an aggressive U-turn.
Let me tell you, once you break the end of a LWB 4200 lbs sedan loose, counter-steering won't help. I let off the gas and braked just in time almost colliding with the light pole.
So after that, I decided that I needed to know the limits and the characterisitics of this car before I do anything stupid. I found a large deserted parking lot and just had some fun.
Bottom of the line is, for those that don't know, the S-class is happiest in a straight line. Once it starts sliding, it will continue to slide in a straight line as long as you're on the gas, with some counter-steering. So if you're heading for that light pole and you're trying to correct the direction of travel, bummer. Or even better, don't try to drive the S too hard. It's one stubborn tank and if you're not gonna drive it, it will take over and go crazy and maybe, well, hit something.
Just thought I'd share.
Last edited by newton22; Nov 27, 2005 at 02:44 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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been there, done that :D
I acctually tried that too, i had to feel what my 5.0 L 306 HP could do 
But yea its VERY hard to control the car, cuz you have no feeling with it, you dont know what its doing, and the automatic gearbox cant be controlled the way a manuel can...
Its good fun tho, if you're about to change your tires
But yea its VERY hard to control the car, cuz you have no feeling with it, you dont know what its doing, and the automatic gearbox cant be controlled the way a manuel can...
Its good fun tho, if you're about to change your tires
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
Likes: 3
From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Yeah, long wheel base. I guess a SWB, like the S350 would be easier to handle. Swinging out our s-classes is like swinging out a long pole, you're asking for it to hit something on a narrow street.
