What is "AMG Sports Suspension" in the S-Class?
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: East Bay Area, CA
2013 SL 550 (Previously 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo-S, 2015 Tesla P85D, 2007 S600, 2005 E55 AMG)
What is "AMG Sports Suspension" in the S-Class?
Here is a basic question... In the case of the 221 S-Class what does "AMG Sports Suspension" actually mean within the context of the standard Active Body Control available on all models?
It does not seem from what I can read that there are any additional pieces of actual suspension hardware in the S63/65... Is AMG Sports Suspension literally just a software mapping to the ABC to stiffen things up even more than usual?
When I test drove the S63 and then got my S600 I could not really tell much difference but did not really have the S63 long enough... And the handling of 2.5 tons of S600 in S mode seems fine to me... How does, say the S setting in my S600 compare to an S63/65?
In fact could one get "AMG Sports Suspension" (obviously brakes and wheel sizes might also be adjusted) in the S-Class by a simple re-programming if one knew how to do it?
(Just musing - not that I want to do so particularly!)
Chris
It does not seem from what I can read that there are any additional pieces of actual suspension hardware in the S63/65... Is AMG Sports Suspension literally just a software mapping to the ABC to stiffen things up even more than usual?
When I test drove the S63 and then got my S600 I could not really tell much difference but did not really have the S63 long enough... And the handling of 2.5 tons of S600 in S mode seems fine to me... How does, say the S setting in my S600 compare to an S63/65?
In fact could one get "AMG Sports Suspension" (obviously brakes and wheel sizes might also be adjusted) in the S-Class by a simple re-programming if one knew how to do it?
(Just musing - not that I want to do so particularly!)
Chris
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
2010 CL65
My vague recall from reading various sources is AMG chassis changes involve both software and hardware (have always found AMG's explanations of chassis diffces of various cars to be lacking)....sorry, don't know more details on rapid recall....
Will comment that subjective handling capabilities/precision of CL63 030 is notably better than my prior '07 CL600 in tight, steep mtn twisties (like those above Woodside....and have serially used my CLs (550/600/63) as my wkend mtn twisties cars for past 13mos)....but need to also deconstruct role of vastly better brakes, lighter wheels, perf tires, steering calibration (IIRC, CLs have a nonlinear steering setup, like 997TT and unlike 599/430, so poss AMG calibration is different vs 600), 250lbs less wt over nose of car, traction, ESP calibration, etc etc....
Suspect factory engineers spend a fair amt of time calibrating these cars' chassis/drivetrains for the varied needs of different speeds/road surfaces/driver preferences, etc....and each of these dynamic elements of hardware and software may have a small input/nuance, but IMO the real achievement is creating a dynamically cohesive car vs real-world conditions.....
How it all works seamlessly and is so well-balanced vs real-world conditions is why I have been far more impressed w/CL63 than any other car I've ever driven (incl CL65, 599 and 997TT), even in mtn twisties driving, as well as in high-speed fwy driving on real-world CA pavement and hills (and traffic)....ironically, many of the world's allegedly greatest perf cars suffer from some rather humbling dynamic issues/concerns as dubious/laughable passive safety; glaring turbo lag; effeminate exhaust notes; tq/traction balance issues, etc.....
Will comment that subjective handling capabilities/precision of CL63 030 is notably better than my prior '07 CL600 in tight, steep mtn twisties (like those above Woodside....and have serially used my CLs (550/600/63) as my wkend mtn twisties cars for past 13mos)....but need to also deconstruct role of vastly better brakes, lighter wheels, perf tires, steering calibration (IIRC, CLs have a nonlinear steering setup, like 997TT and unlike 599/430, so poss AMG calibration is different vs 600), 250lbs less wt over nose of car, traction, ESP calibration, etc etc....
Suspect factory engineers spend a fair amt of time calibrating these cars' chassis/drivetrains for the varied needs of different speeds/road surfaces/driver preferences, etc....and each of these dynamic elements of hardware and software may have a small input/nuance, but IMO the real achievement is creating a dynamically cohesive car vs real-world conditions.....
How it all works seamlessly and is so well-balanced vs real-world conditions is why I have been far more impressed w/CL63 than any other car I've ever driven (incl CL65, 599 and 997TT), even in mtn twisties driving, as well as in high-speed fwy driving on real-world CA pavement and hills (and traffic)....ironically, many of the world's allegedly greatest perf cars suffer from some rather humbling dynamic issues/concerns as dubious/laughable passive safety; glaring turbo lag; effeminate exhaust notes; tq/traction balance issues, etc.....
