Jakpro1

http://www.itv-motoring.com/news/2005/july/11/6505.asp

**think this will ever come to the US??****

11 Jul 05)

There's a gentleman's agreement among several manufacturers to limit the top speed of their high-performance models to 155mph, but that may be about to change. Although this may seem to be an academic issue in the UK, it's significant in Germany, where many stretches of autobahn remain unrestricted, and there is some embarrassment about the fact that some cheaper, less powerful models are able to overtake apparently much quicker vehicles on these roads.

Audi, BMW and Lexus are all considering the idea of abandoning the 155mph limit, at least on some models. Porsche has never adhered to the limit at all, while customers of AMG Mercedes Benz products can request higher limits. In any case, the matter is largely academic - even if it's still politically sensitive - since some buyers fit new ECU chips to bypass the governors as soon as they take delivery of their cars.

(Source: Automotive News Europe)

Chappy

No. In fact, most Mercedes-Benz cars that come here are electronically limited to about 130....but are capable of much more (S500, for example).

Fast55

Here? Not a chance. All MB's are limited to 130 unless it's an AMG, then 155 is all you're gonna get. Especially when GM is still locking their stuff down to 99!!

medici78

I read somewhere that only the US models are limited to only 130mph

Fast55

For the US, yes. My 430 stopped at exactly 130 mph, but I've had the 55 to 150+. I believe euro models are all 155, AMG or not.

Noredline

Weird that the AMG's and most other cars are limited, when my Viper is not limited at all

YYZ-E55

Often the reason for the limit is due to the factory tire rating - GM often uses tires with lower speed ratings to save costs and help improve ride/tire wear/etc.

Vetluver

My 96 E320 is limited to 137. It might be off a bit but I don't think so.

I've been told the reason for limits is because of the construction of the tires. There are very few passenger car tires which can stand the heat buildup above 155. Only recently have the tires begun to match the performance of our vehicles. Legally I think the manufacturers are covering their a$$es.

Fast55

It should be 130 MPH due to the "H" speed rating of the stock tires. The original "Z" rating you'll see on a lot of "performance" tires meant "in excess of 149 MPH", but it did not state how much more. Now we have "W" (168 MPH) and "Y" (186 MPH) ratings. The "R" rating you see on a lot passenger car and truck tires is 106 MPH, so you're right. It's the cheap tires that they are protecting us from!

Frank Wiesmann

Mercedes should start equipping their US cars with real tires and let them do what they can do the world over, in other words dump all limits, even the 155 mph one.

AMG FANATIC

I've read in a magazine that all AMG's are gonna be restricted at 300km/h from now on here in SA.

vraa

186.411358 mph

That's roughly what I've seen some cars restricted at. The really powerful AMG's that were 'unrestricted' but still on a governer because of lack of tires.