SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: E55 compared to SL65
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'10 E63
E55 compared to SL65
I'm thinking about trading my '05 E55 for an '05 SL65, and for those of you who have driven both, how do they compare? Not in terms of performance; I know the SL is faster which is why I'm contemplating trading. I'm talking about steering feel, seats, interior room, etc. I like all those things about my E and don't want to give them up if possible. Also, does the SL feel heavier than the E during spirited cornering? Thanks in advance.
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SL65 AMG
I'm thinking about trading my '05 E55 for an '05 SL65, and for those of you who have driven both, how do they compare? Not in terms of performance; I know the SL is faster which is why I'm contemplating trading. I'm talking about steering feel, seats, interior room, etc. I like all those things about my E and don't want to give them up if possible. Also, does the SL feel heavier than the E during spirited cornering? Thanks in advance.
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From: Riverside County
2013 SL550 2013 M6 f12 2011 X5M
Remember, once the Biturbos Kicked in, BAM YOU'RE GONE.
(JUST MAKE SURE THE 65 DOES NOT HAVE THE IC pump problem).
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From: Riverside County
2013 SL550 2013 M6 f12 2011 X5M
You are talking about the exact trade I made last year. I think as far as comfort the sl is very nice with the abc suspension, being wider and lower it feels more nimble but I am not sure if it is. I did like the seats in the e55 better if you have the active seats. The sl has heat/cool and pulse but no dynamic feature which was kinda cool. My 2006 e55 had the k2 package and was very fast and the sl did not feel as fast, but was much faster. It does about .7 and 12-13mph faster in the 1/4 then the e55 k2 car. It is just a different animal. To me the e55 had a better throw you back in your seat kinda of feel where as the sl is smooth and the engine is not loud at all. The e55 sounded and felt like a muscle car where as the sl feels like a luxury sports car. There are days I miss the e55 and days I love the 65. The 65 does gain speed much faster but the 55 was a fun car that could burn rubber very easy. Tough call but a ecu, pulley and header combo on the 55 is hard to beat as far as feel and sound.
R. Range
If possible keep the e55 and get the sl65, get rid of the 06' CLK350 IMHO.
Last edited by george1234k; Jun 28, 2007 at 04:29 AM.
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'10 E63
Biturbo, thanks for the feedback, and I know exactly what you mean about the E feeling like a more refined muscle car. I do like that about it, even though I know the SL65 is clearly faster. Frankly, if I had to keep the SL stock, I doubt I'd be thinking about this. What makes the SL really attractive is adding another 100-150 hp/tq via a simple ECU flash. Much easier and less expensive to add big power than on the 55k cars (speaking of which, I remain mystified by why no one has come up with a replacement blower or turbo system for the 55k cars yet, but that's another topic).
George, that's not a bad idea, and my wife would probably go for that (the CLK is hers), but it's the only car I have that's leased, so dumping it right now would be complicated.
George, that's not a bad idea, and my wife would probably go for that (the CLK is hers), but it's the only car I have that's leased, so dumping it right now would be complicated.
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SL65 AMG
You will laugh but I would get the sl55 with the 030 pkg. Main reason being being the sl in general feels different then the e class so if you get get the feel of the sl and the feel of the 55 motor that is a great combo. Get 600hp out of that 55 motor and it is a blast! Besides the sl55 will soon be gone where as the sl65 or at least the 65 engine may be around longer.
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SL65 AMG
[QUOTE=R. What makes the SL really attractive is adding another 100-150 hp/tq via a simple ECU flash. Much easier and less expensive to add big power than on the 55k cars [QUOTE]
Yes and no. If you take the cost of the 55k car and add 10k in upgrades you will still come out cheaper then the cost of just the 65. Also 100hp may be a bit high to gain. Most guys gain 40-60whp from the ecu tune which in itself is anywhere from 4500-6500 and if you add the only air box on the market that is another 4k. Think it all through and see what you like. There is just way more out there for the 55 motors then the 65 motors. The down side to the 65 motor is you max out the tranny right away with all the lbft. So you can only add very little hp and your done. Where as the 55 motors have the same tranny limit but seem to only add a small amount more lbft for the increase in hp. So you could have a 700-800hp e55 and still not be at max torque. Look at the slr perfect example. Also the sl is a heavy pig which bugs me. At 4500-4600lbs compared to the e55's 3900-4000lbs. If you could get 700-750hp out of the e55 it would be a beast. My car is at 680-700hp depending what kind of dt loss you give it (565whp). I have not tuned the car yet it is just a freak. But if you look at NSM's dyno he made about the same power and he had 794lbft at the wheels so if the tranny can only handle 840lbft then I can only gain 15-20whp and 40lbft at the wheels and I am done? I want to gain 40whp and have 600whp but I dont know where the lbft will and if the tranny can take it.
Yes and no. If you take the cost of the 55k car and add 10k in upgrades you will still come out cheaper then the cost of just the 65. Also 100hp may be a bit high to gain. Most guys gain 40-60whp from the ecu tune which in itself is anywhere from 4500-6500 and if you add the only air box on the market that is another 4k. Think it all through and see what you like. There is just way more out there for the 55 motors then the 65 motors. The down side to the 65 motor is you max out the tranny right away with all the lbft. So you can only add very little hp and your done. Where as the 55 motors have the same tranny limit but seem to only add a small amount more lbft for the increase in hp. So you could have a 700-800hp e55 and still not be at max torque. Look at the slr perfect example. Also the sl is a heavy pig which bugs me. At 4500-4600lbs compared to the e55's 3900-4000lbs. If you could get 700-750hp out of the e55 it would be a beast. My car is at 680-700hp depending what kind of dt loss you give it (565whp). I have not tuned the car yet it is just a freak. But if you look at NSM's dyno he made about the same power and he had 794lbft at the wheels so if the tranny can only handle 840lbft then I can only gain 15-20whp and 40lbft at the wheels and I am done? I want to gain 40whp and have 600whp but I dont know where the lbft will and if the tranny can take it.
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I'm thinking about trading my '05 E55 for an '05 SL65, and for those of you who have driven both, how do they compare? Not in terms of performance; I know the SL is faster which is why I'm contemplating trading. I'm talking about steering feel, seats, interior room, etc. I like all those things about my E and don't want to give them up if possible. Also, does the SL feel heavier than the E during spirited cornering? Thanks in advance.
If you trade the E55, you will miss the seats, the interior room and the long distance comfort!
I can know it......
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'10 E63
[QUOTE=BiTurboAmg;2295640]
Yes and no. If you take the cost of the 55k car and add 10k in upgrades you will still come out cheaper then the cost of just the 65. Also 100hp may be a bit high to gain. Most guys gain 40-60whp from the ecu tune which in itself is anywhere from 4500-6500 and if you add the only air box on the market that is another 4k. Think it all through and see what you like. There is just way more out there for the 55 motors then the 65 motors. The down side to the 65 motor is you max out the tranny right away with all the lbft. So you can only add very little hp and your done. Where as the 55 motors have the same tranny limit but seem to only add a small amount more lbft for the increase in hp. So you could have a 700-800hp e55 and still not be at max torque. Look at the slr perfect example. Also the sl is a heavy pig which bugs me. At 4500-4600lbs compared to the e55's 3900-4000lbs. If you could get 700-750hp out of the e55 it would be a beast. My car is at 680-700hp depending what kind of dt loss you give it (565whp). I have not tuned the car yet it is just a freak. But if you look at NSM's dyno he made about the same power and he had 794lbft at the wheels so if the tranny can only handle 840lbft then I can only gain 15-20whp and 40lbft at the wheels and I am done? I want to gain 40whp and have 600whp but I dont know where the lbft will and if the tranny can take it.
I agree there's a lot more out there for the 55k cars, but the 65's start with ~100hp/200ft lbs more than the 55's, and that's a heck of head start to overcome. Getting an E to the numbers for NSM's car with just ECU/TCU mods isn't gonna happen without a big shot of nitrous, and while I agree the tranny is an issue, I bet you could have Renntech strengthen the tranny less expensively than you could buy headers, pullies, ECU tune, exhaust, cooling upgrades, throttle body and all the other stuff it would take to max out an E. And once the tranny is upgraded there would be room for even more boost.
I guess in the end a lot of it is coming down to whether I'm willing to give up my roomy 4 door for a 2 seater. Don't think there is a "wrong" decision here, fortunately.
Originally Posted by R. What makes the SL really attractive is adding another 100-150 hp/tq via a simple ECU flash. Much easier and less expensive to add big power than on the 55k cars [QUOTE
Yes and no. If you take the cost of the 55k car and add 10k in upgrades you will still come out cheaper then the cost of just the 65. Also 100hp may be a bit high to gain. Most guys gain 40-60whp from the ecu tune which in itself is anywhere from 4500-6500 and if you add the only air box on the market that is another 4k. Think it all through and see what you like. There is just way more out there for the 55 motors then the 65 motors. The down side to the 65 motor is you max out the tranny right away with all the lbft. So you can only add very little hp and your done. Where as the 55 motors have the same tranny limit but seem to only add a small amount more lbft for the increase in hp. So you could have a 700-800hp e55 and still not be at max torque. Look at the slr perfect example. Also the sl is a heavy pig which bugs me. At 4500-4600lbs compared to the e55's 3900-4000lbs. If you could get 700-750hp out of the e55 it would be a beast. My car is at 680-700hp depending what kind of dt loss you give it (565whp). I have not tuned the car yet it is just a freak. But if you look at NSM's dyno he made about the same power and he had 794lbft at the wheels so if the tranny can only handle 840lbft then I can only gain 15-20whp and 40lbft at the wheels and I am done? I want to gain 40whp and have 600whp but I dont know where the lbft will and if the tranny can take it.
I guess in the end a lot of it is coming down to whether I'm willing to give up my roomy 4 door for a 2 seater. Don't think there is a "wrong" decision here, fortunately.
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EVOTECH Mercedes AMG
[QUOTE=R. Range;2296071][QUOTE=BiTurboAmg;2295640][QUOTE=R. What makes the SL really attractive is adding another 100-150 hp/tq via a simple ECU flash. Much easier and less expensive to add big power than on the 55k cars
I agree there's a lot more out there for the 55k cars, but the 65's start with ~100hp/200ft lbs more than the 55's, and that's a heck of head start to overcome. Getting an E to the numbers for NSM's car with just ECU/TCU mods isn't gonna happen without a big shot of nitrous, and while I agree the tranny is an issue, I bet you could have Renntech strengthen the tranny less expensively than you could buy headers, pullies, ECU tune, exhaust, cooling upgrades, throttle body and all the other stuff it would take to max out an E. And once the tranny is upgraded there would be room for even more boost.
I guess in the end a lot of it is coming down to whether I'm willing to give up my roomy 4 door for a 2 seater. Don't think there is a "wrong" decision here, fortunately.[/QUOTE]
And we have more mods coming out for the 65 pretty soon....
I agree there's a lot more out there for the 55k cars, but the 65's start with ~100hp/200ft lbs more than the 55's, and that's a heck of head start to overcome. Getting an E to the numbers for NSM's car with just ECU/TCU mods isn't gonna happen without a big shot of nitrous, and while I agree the tranny is an issue, I bet you could have Renntech strengthen the tranny less expensively than you could buy headers, pullies, ECU tune, exhaust, cooling upgrades, throttle body and all the other stuff it would take to max out an E. And once the tranny is upgraded there would be room for even more boost.
I guess in the end a lot of it is coming down to whether I'm willing to give up my roomy 4 door for a 2 seater. Don't think there is a "wrong" decision here, fortunately.
[/QUOTE] And we have more mods coming out for the 65 pretty soon....
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
SL65 VRP1000 and 20" Monolites
E55 v SL65
I had (past tense) an E55.
I have (present tense) an SL65.
Both great cars, one has 4 doors, one has a small trunk.
Can't go wrong either way, but obviously I chose the SL.
Good luck.
I have (present tense) an SL65.
Both great cars, one has 4 doors, one has a small trunk.
Can't go wrong either way, but obviously I chose the SL.
Good luck.
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'10 E63
Thanks. I'm still on the fence. What I really want is an E65 (and yes I know I'm not the first person and Renntech or Brabus or someone actually put the 65 engine in an E for a nice six figure sum on top of what the E cost). I've also been looking at some CL65's, which have the advantage of having a back seat but don't do much for me in the looks department. If someone would come out with a larger s/c or turbo system for the 55 engine I'd definitely keep the E, and may end up doing so anyway.
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I drive an E55 almost daily, and have driven an SL65 a few times and there is no comparison. The SL65 is better looking, driving, more luxurious and more exclusive than an E55.
The only advantage, with regards to your needs, is that it has rear seating which I'm assuming you really want. If that's the case, what do you think about an S63/CL63?
The only advantage, with regards to your needs, is that it has rear seating which I'm assuming you really want. If that's the case, what do you think about an S63/CL63?
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'10 E63
I drive an E55 almost daily, and have driven an SL65 a few times and there is no comparison. The SL65 is better looking, driving, more luxurious and more exclusive than an E55.
The only advantage, with regards to your needs, is that it has rear seating which I'm assuming you really want. If that's the case, what do you think about an S63/CL63?
The only advantage, with regards to your needs, is that it has rear seating which I'm assuming you really want. If that's the case, what do you think about an S63/CL63?
