Anthony 98 GTS

I have no 1st hand experience, but from talking to friends that is the problem with both the new 63 and M5. They both make great power on the big end ........but you have to wind them up to get there.

That is where I see the beauty of the 55's....power comes in early for a better daily experience. Just my $.02.

AMG_55

joe, tyhanks for the write up.

i agree, having driven cars w/ both motors (e&cls), the 63 is just as fast and only gets faster as the speeds climb, its also a more involving car to drive because the engine actually peaks and there isnt an overwhelmong amount of tq down low. overall the 63 is a much better car... IMO

05VENOM

Here is some data , only 2nd run with the car. One or two more times at the track and she will be running faster. Car not even broken in yet.

05VENOM

This might be better. Mph didn't register for some reason.
It reads 12.789 (computer is so f#ck!n annoying, still can't work the scanner right)

chiromikey

i can't really make out anything from the scan but i appreciate you offering some real data. iirc, a 12.79 is almost a full second off the best e55 time at that track and probably a half second off the average e55 timeslips there. while that is a great time it doesn't help in proving the title of this thread accurate.

--phill--

my bit,

whats the in gear 30mph-70mph

60-100 times for both

thats where realistically you power from

i.e in gear the e55 has loads of torque more than the e63

cheers

05VENOM

Tried to darken the slip & zoom in but guess scanner is a lousy one. Anywaythe high 11's some people posted are few and far between. Those are the rare strong ones fromthe factory. Most STOCK e55 I've seen at Englishtown run mid 12's (anywhere from 12.3-12,6).
This was only the second time I dragged her. The track was crappy, weather was even crappier (windy) , I pampered her off the line (60' 2.109) and the car is not even broken in yet. Still I thought the time was pretty solid for the car( at this point) I am positive I will get her in the 12.3- 12.6 range after she is broken in more.

p.s. I weighed the car at the track also, 4,550lbs(with me in it) , To me that makes the 12.7 even more impressive. Car has to be making high hp to move that much weight done the 1 /4. IT DEFINITELY NEEDS A DIET THOUGH...SO DO I!

DJE55

I would agree that the cars are close and who really cars but... This is all some of the 55 guys are saying. You guys are working and hoping to get your 63's down to where the 55 guys are starting out. My first pass in my car ever was a 12.25. The second time out the car ran 12.09 in August heat. If you feel that you can improve to get into the 12.3-12.6 range you are just then running the average time for a 55. Do a search and you'll see a ton of guys running low 12's stock and a few running high 11's. The 63's aren't looking like they are going to be anywhere near those numbers when you guys figure the car out.

I say who cares! AMG obviously went in a different direction with the 63 and it's a wonderful car. You guys have the top end power the 55 guys have the low end power. Enjoy it!

enzom

Venom - you suck at posting slips. Even worse than me.

--phill--

lightweight wheels, lighter flywheel, recaro seats, aluminium bonnet or even better carbon fiber when vorstiener gets its finger out. no back seats should bring weight down by a large ammount

juicee63

The 55 has had nearly 5 years of track time. I can assure you the 63 engine seems to get better(more power) after driving her hard for several thousand miles. The 55 guys have all the tricks of the track and yes have a huge advantage on the drag. I know first hand the 63 was better on actual laps than the 55. It will be difficult for the 63 to ever match the best 55 times. I imagine we will start seeing some better 1/4 mile times this spring with filter removal and ecu reset. I would love to race a stock 55 this weekend here in LA. On a track please. Either way it would be fun to see the 63 55 battle. I have much respect for the 55 and all of the folks that spend so much time on this forum helping mere commuter types. I guess the AMG challenge would likely have a 55 vs 63 match

jangy

Which track and what model and year 55 vs 63? I'd love to run the CLS63-030 against my E55 on a street track. Lets try to hook up at Willow sometime.

The AMG challenge will not have any such event. It is a great event and well worth the $1200, but they simply wouldn't make money of of having that race setup. Even last year, when the two models were both out, AMG was careful on when and where the 63 was matched up.

juicee63

Was a twisty 3.5 mile track called Spring Mountain. there was a backside straight that the 55 seemed to always catch me on. I was in a Novice grouping so decided to lend my car to a pro. He also owned a 55. He ripped it a few times and swore head up and down the car was better on the track than his 03 55. He was impressed how easily the heavy CLS was thrown around the track and said he pushed it to about 80-85%.From the Novice driving group I was getting pulled by both the 55's on the track, I managed to stay fairly close like within 1-2 cars, but fact is I was always ahead until the straight section of the track going from say 50-110. Willow would be AWESOME, I wouldbe up to join you guys anytime, I am sure we could get a great so cal crew together for a helluva time at Willow. Overall the two cars are so close it will certainly be fun. 1/4 mile times still are pathetic for the CLS compared to the E, I know we could do better than the 13** on drag times, that would be my first goal Set it up Jangster

jangy

Got it. An '03E55 is a whole nother ball of wax. I agree that the cars are all similar enough that driver matters most.
There is a Willow day coming up on May 9th, but that is a Wednesday and I have the AMG challenge on that weekend so i wasn't going to attend, BUT I may would if we can get enough people signed up with a good enough variation in cars?
If not, I will see if Symbolic would consider sponsoring a track day at Willow, since i prefer weekends. The full day only costs about $5K and that is full expenses, including lunch. The key is that you have to have rented their smaller tracks before they will set you free on the faster one, so I need Symbolic to "run" it. I asked them during their open house a few weeks back and they were down, so I'll follow up and see if we can get a date that everyone would show up for.

2K6E55

Well said.

toro4me

hypothetical question:
if benz made both E55 and E63 right now as new model, just 2 different engine choices, both look the same and same interior and etc. just engine being different, the N/A high revving 63 and S/C'ed 55 torque monster.

which one would you pick?

05VENOM

Well then..that's the last time I take advice from a Dell rep over the phone. He bullied me into buying the all in one photo printer...with scanner!!

jangy

I'd pick #5. Oh, you mean cars. I'd likely go with the 55K, only because of the modding potential. I would actually consider the smoother motor, IF the drivetrain was as strong to match, which the 7g isn't yet.
I'm more of a track type of guy and the smoother band would actually be easier to drive than the rough beast is. But, I love having all that wound up TQ.

Addicted2Speed

Not really true. SLK55 w/ kleemann S8 makes close to 600hp and almost as much torque. I'm actually planning on doing this upgrade on my SLK55 next month, the shop I contacted (2C Desing) has supercharged 4 SLK55 already with no transmission problems reported. There are kompressors available for 550 cars as well. The 7-speed tranny can definitely handle a lot more power, its just a matter of time before kompressors are released for 6.2 engine. Check out kleemann SLK55 dyno (490whp and 460wtq) and 1/4 mile pass below (11.7 @ 120mph):

enzom

Venom - I love the E63 and think it is great that MB made the E more of a driver's car. I am certainly not an E63 "hater". I never drove an E63, but have to believe that it is an all around better car than the E55.

Two points - My E55 loves the strip, and has posted some better than average times. But it is only putting down "average" power and torque per my dyno runs. (Still not sure of whether a 4th gear pull would have shown more or less power than third, btw). I am not sure why more E55s that run at e-town and Atco aren't posting 12.0's or better. I'd actually like to drive some other local E55's at the strip to see if the difference is the car or the launch technique.

Your car, with you in it, weighs 230 lbs more than mine did last time I went down there. That is worth over 2/10's right there. So, it is arguable that you ran a weight-adjusted 12.5 with a gentle launch.

What I find a bit more concerning is the MPH. My car is running 117 mph consistently, which is 5 mph more than your E63 ran a few weeks ago. I can't for the life of me figure out why that's the case. I would have thought that the 7 speed tranny would have kept the engine in the sweet spot for the whole run and caused it to trap much higher than 112. Also, you should look at the speed interval between the 1/8th and the 1/4 as a general indicator of how fast the car is at speed compared to other cars.

I'd be interested in seeing where you trap once your car is more fully broken-in.

Maybe one of these days we can all get together at the track and put faces to our screen names.

05VENOM

Set aside a date and time and I am there. I usually visit
E-town on Fridays(used to go wednesdays until my work schedule changed..usually alot less crowded). I try to get there at least twice a month. Weather here, as you know, has not been favorable lately.

I will say this about the E63, it is a pleasure dragging an automatic for a change. The past ten years I have only dragged manuals ('99 Z51 Vette, '02 Z06, and my current '05 Viper). The 63 is a no brainer, justy roll to the staging lanes and punch it( or so I thought). I still cannot believe my 60' times (granted I only went to the track twice so far) have been inferior to my manual times.
This says alot if anyone here has taken a viper to the track.
Takes lots of practice with the run flats on the Viper to nail a 1.8 time. Could my 63's times be effected by the conticintact 2's. Most 55's run on the MichPS2's. Is there that much difference?
Anyway, when we do get together I let you take the 63 for a spin. Would like a 55 owners opinion of the car.Let's get to E-town soon. I missed yesterday and are already feeling withdrawals.
Chris

MLMCLK430

Well said. I agree with you, especially when you keep hearing about all the problems with the IC pump. I don't believe my car has had that problem yet, but some times I think my E55 is slow. Of course the dealer says nothing is wrong. With a N/A engine, I don't have to worry about the supercharger engaging or not.

MiamiAMG

What a stupid remark.

jangy

I FULLY disagree and would NOT be te first to blow up a 7g. The cost would be huge and likely not covered under warranty. The tranny is rated. Look up the numbers. The 7g is simply NOT made to take more TQ. Power, yes, but not TQ. If you boost it AND add traction, you will eventually get into trouble whether you like it or not.

Addicted2Speed

Sorry, but you're wrong. There are over 20 supercharged SLK55 in the USA alone, with no transmission problems of any kind. Kleemann, Renntech, Carlsson, and other companies all offer superchargers for 7g application. These companies have been around for a long time and kleemann puts over 20,000 hard miles on their test cars before putting them for sale. Several members on this board have had supercharged SLK55 for a long time and have had no transmission problems of any kind. According to kleemann, the komoressors for SLK55 have been out since 2005 and many vehicles have put over 30,000 miles since the conversion and not one had a problem. We would've known about it if they did cause the tranny to break. And I did look up their numbers, the 7g transmission has been tested by Mercedes to endure 760nm (~560lb-ft) continiously. Mercedes builts all of their components to withtand much more power than stock, the 7g transmission is no exception.