MB AMG

I remember that someone posted about the S55 not have a redline marking on the tach. He said the owners manual says (like the W210 E55) that a gas cut off will interviene to prevent engine damage. Where is the redline anyways?

Bilal

6500rpm.

Doody

if it's a non-variable number (like the beemers do these days), why isn't it just marked? is it 6500 for all gears at all times?

doody.

MB AMG

I have no idea? Are beemer redlines non variable. The 3 series has a redline at 6400RPM(the red gets thicker). When I was driving the E500, I was worried because I revved at 6200RPM, 200RPM over the redline. The E55 shifts right at the redline. I wish all cars would do that with an auto tranny.

Doody

bad sentence structure, sorry.

the beemer redlines ARE variable. started with the E39 M5 i think, and now most if not all of them do it. makes sense.

i'd be STUNNED if the S55 redline were fixed at a certain number and they didn't bother to show it.

the reason it matters is that, as MB AMG wishes it to be, the tranny in the 55s has the manual mode and it will NOT upshift for you - so knowing where redline is isn't entirely academic.

doody.

MB AMG

The S55 tach reads until 7000RPM with no marking whatsoever. Normally if a car doesn't have a marking, it has a light. I think it's stupid they don't have a marking. How would you know when to shift? You would lose time if you bounced the engine off the redline. It could possibly have a redline of 6200RPM, fuel cut off at 6500RPM? The W124 E500 has a redline of 6000RPM, fuel cut off at 6400RPM.

CynCarvin32

The red-line on the S55 is 6500. The car does not have a variable red-line like the M-Power (also X5 4.6/4.8is) cars. The car will shift at 6500 if the ecu is set to its highest performance setting. I know the C32 has 3 settings for engine timing (and shifting). The setting for each car depends on the octane rating of the gas in your area. Here is Southern California where gas is about as terrible as it comes (91 octane) the ecu stays in the second of the three settings(first is for 87-89 octane, the second is for 90-92, and the third is for >92 octane). Some owners say putting better gas and setting the ecu to the "performance setting" makes the car shift at 6220 each time and advances the timing a bit as well.. ie more power (in a c32 where the red-line is 6220)!

Now with the S55, I know there is no red-line posted on the tach but the car will shift before 6,500 each time (if set to the highest octane setting I assume). Some cars will shift slightly sooner when shifting from first to second than when shifting from second to third. This occurs because the transmission cannot handle the stress of snapping off a red-line shift off at when at WOT (wide open throttle).

The C32 shifts at 6000 from first to second and then at 6150 from second to third and 6220 from second to third. With our car, the red-line is shown as being at 6000 rpm on the tach but it will go right past the indicated red-line. The looks like a method of cost cutting. Being that the AMG cars have custom made clusters why would they not modify the red-line label as well (or put one in for that matter)? I’m stumped!

Now, I have an E55k arriving in 3 weeks but I am starting to wonder if this is the car I want to replace my 2001 S55. I have a bad feeling I should get another S55 instead of the E55. The E55 seemed great in theory but all these articles stating how terrible the car is when thrown through some corners makes me wonder if it is worth giving up all the space and comfort provided in the S55. Any thoughts? I will post this in a different thread very soon.

Who here traded their 2001 S55 for a 2003 or 2004 S55? If anyone did this please let me know what you think. I need to make a decision before my E55 shows up

Bilal

The E55 has a smoother ride than the S55 and is more sporty and of course faster.

http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Mercedes4.htm#S55%20AMG

http://forum-international.amg-owner...ilightuser=797

DslBnz

Not in the same league as an S55 Kompressor, but the old Merc diesels never had redlines displayed either. Tach went up to 6K rpm, but engine redline was actually between 5K and 5.5K rpms.

rekjr40

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bilal
[B]The E55 has a smoother ride than the S55 and is more sporty and of course faster.

I disagree with that. I drove both the E55 and the S55 many times before deciding on the S55. Both cars are great machines, in my opinion, but the S55 is smoother and quieter than the E55. There is no question the E55 feels more sporty and because of its less weight quicker. But certainly not smoother.

gup998

I saw in some magazine that the GT3's redline is at 8,000

MB AMG

Like I wanted to know where the GT3`s redline is. The redline is actually at 8200RPM. What did Porsche do to the 3.6L boxer 6 anyways. I can`t do question marks or some other signs! My keyboard is messed up!

JimmyK

This is all personal taste, but I would never go from an S55 to an E55. I feel that an S55 is the best of both worls, while the E55 may be superior in some aspects overall there is a necessary sacrifice to achieve that performance superiority.

Plus the S55 is just damn sexy for her size.

DHH

I had the same choice E vs. S55. My S55 was to arrive today but with the snow I'll have it Monday. Going to be a long weekend.

rekjr40

Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy the car as much as I have mine.. With a few minor exceptions I have no complaints...