I have test driven an E55 before and decided that it seemed to be an appropriate car for me. Yesterday my neighbor came home and had just purchased an 06 silver/black E55 and told me to take it for a spin.

To make a long story short, he didn't care how fast a drove and therefore, I didn't either. I guess maybe my expectations were too high or something but it really wasn't the "BEAST" that it seemes to be ever so often referred to.

When flooring the car, the acceleration is amazing in the sense that you'll look down and be going 80 without even feeling the car shift. I did however find the shifts (esp the downshifts) to be very slow and lagged while using the paddles. Am I missing something here? Maybe the car just doesn't "feel" quick like I had thought??

John

 

John, depenmding on how the previuous owner drove the car, it may need an ECU reset. Simple to do :

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/148019-holy-crap-you-guys-sneaky-ecu-reset-works.html

 

John,

Everyone has their own frame of referencce. The auto in the E55 isn't an SMG, and yes - the shift response isn't lightning quick. The E55 is not really a track car and I don't think most people on here claim it to be as such. I don't know what you are looking for in a car but the real complaint you seem to have is speed and response of shifting, in which case you may be happier with an E60 M5 - but be prepared for tradeoffs.

-m

 

I don't get it. You said you test drove the car before & it was appropriate for you, so you obviously knew how it ran. How was that experience different than the last one in your neighbors car?

 

Maybe an IC pump issue again

 

A few suggestions...

First, try driving one yourself and see how the shifs feel. Second, there are different transmission settings for the E. One is "comfort" mode. This is what you'd put the car in if you were tossign the keys to your mother for the day, or if you want a smother (but slower) launch. It starts the car in second gear (try that in an M3) and shifts sooner and softer than in 'sport' mode. With the amount of torque the E has at the rear wheels, most people have NO CLUE that the car is actually starting in second gear. Even from a stop going up super steep hills, the second gear launch feels powerful but much more smooth than the normal first-gear start.

But the E55 transmission is pretty lame in 'manual' mode. Shifts slowly and is not what anyone with an E uses when we (ahem) routinely break into the mid to low 12's bone stock I use M occasionally when I'm driving through twisties, more often I use it to force a two-gear downshift, but I usually kick it back to normal automatic mode shortly thereafter.

But I find that in 'sport' mode, the transmisison shifts quickly if not harshly. Additionally, it does a fantastic job of holding gears if you goose the throttle, back off for a corner or car in front of you, and then get back on the gas. Most cars I've been in will put you in the higher gear and drop the RPM. The E will keep you in the lower gear.

It is a fairly smart transmission, it eats up a relatively small % of the power@ the crank, and can handle close to 1k lb-ft of torque in stock form, I believe. It is NOT the best component of the car by any means, but not a problem or big performance robbing problem either.

The sneaky ECU reset can do wonders to get snappier shifts, since the transmission learns how the previous driver normally drives. My E shifts fairly quickly after a few hundred miles post-reset.

But if you are transmission fixated, check out the new E63 with the seven speed. Or stick with an SMG equipped car. Those are cool transmissions! Some say they are harsh, but I love 'em.

Skeeter

 

Exactly what car are you comparing the E55 to???

 

Don't get one. If you drove one and are even on the topic of little things like manual shifting, then a 55K just ain't gonna do it. It should literally take a few months to just get used to the acceleration, which is where the beast concept comes in. This is not a manual or "driver's" car. It is a beast. You get in, hang on, and GO.

As far as the manual tranny mode. I also only use it in the twisties when I want to hold a gear. Other than that, it is in Sport mode and quite responsive.

 

Well first things first, the E55 doesn't "feel" fast ever. In fact is feel quite slow, way slower then my old 996 turbo and even slower to my friends then my old S4. When you take out the stop/go nature of a stick shift you loose a lot of that but dyno you may be used to. Another thing to keep in mind is that unlike your M3, the E has max torque at 2500ish RPMS which is where you feel max pulling sensation. These cars are more toque oriented then HP as with the BMWs. Even SMGs have more of a stop/go feeling than the merc auto which keep in mind has a torque converter! I understand why you feel like the car is slow, but you can't appreciate it's speed unless you are next to another car. Whenever I drive the 599 though interestingly enough I miss the torque of the E55!! The E is really quite an amazing car, to think in a 3600 pound ferrari with 611hp I miss the torque of my benzo grocery getter is quite a statement.

 

Sorry you were disappointed, I have disappointed many folks with my E55.
Tell your neighbor to come and visit us here at MBWorld.org

 

Always amazes me that someone who can't spell owns a Ferrari 599. Or does he.

 

After reading those two comments, I can pretty much guarantee that you've never driven an E55, let alone owned one. To say that an E55 never feels fast ever & feels quite slow is complete & udder BS, sorry.

 

You're completely overlooking the fact that he says he has a 599GTB. Which qualifies for five more

 

Blow me, more pics to come because you are pathetic and feel the need to spew your jerkoff bull**** on the internet. Who cares even if I was a 12 year old making this stuff up? Are you the internet police? I bet you think you're better than me cause your big bad E55 don't you? I feel sorry for you, honestly I do.

 

Oh just in case you thought I was pulling pics off the internet. The 599 pics are different days if you look at the weather, plus one has the temp tag, the other has the real license plate. Thank you and PS, some of us have jobs that are more important than internet **** measuring contests, so I may misspell a couple of words while trying to contribute actual content to the site and working versus calling people out I don't even know.

 

i am having trouble uploading pics sorry

 

Good job, all you've shown us is pics of a 599 that could or could not be yours, and an E55 window sticker. Wow, we'll all shut up now.

Where's the 599's window sticker?

I'm thinking its rich daddy time, who's with me.

 

LMAO


btw, yes the E55 is deceptively fast. i own a w210 E55 but even it "feels" a lot slower than my S2000, even though in real life racing E55 smokes the S (straight line drag).

 

LOL!!!! I love it. A little talk and the beast comes out. Maybe I should run to Symbolic and take a pic of me in a Veyron and say I bought it??

 

Wow this escalated quickly!! let's try to keep it civil everyone. The man has an opinion and to be honest with you, i tend to agree wit hsevera lfo his points. While the E55 has brutal torque, I agree that it doesn't feel "that fast"....however that is deceptive since the car is made to be as tame and comfortable as possible for this level of power....speed is also a relative term though as i have a 9 second bike and had a 570rwhp Z06 also. So had i come from a ford escort or something it would be unreal

The E55 is a smooth operator and moves like a bat out of hell for what it is, a full size luxo sedan, but it is not apples to apples to compare it to a turbo Porshe or ferrari.

While i absolutely love my E55, I also agree wit hthe transmission issues he stated. The shifting is slow and IMO the manual shift is pointless as all you do is seand a message to the comp that says shift, evidently is processes the info and then shifts....there is no instant shift. I noticed this on my old benz as well that was an 06' C280 7-speed.

This car is so awesome though I could care less about those details.

 

Laminated in the car, I would post photos of the dedication plate with my name on it but knowing the internet you would probably try and steal my identity.

 

Not to mention he's being all pompous about having to "work" which is "more important", but he takes a picture of his car in his driveway?? I'm over here on the East Coast champ, and I'm still at friggin work, no time to go home, take a picture of my **** on the hood of my M5, and come back here and upload it. Some things, like work, are more important.

 

Guys lay off. I know him from 6speed. It's legit.

 

Oops, you're pinched little boy, RICH DADDY SYNDROME:

You're still in school boy.

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...63#post2322463

Linkey to proofey.

You must not know bout me, you must not know bout me.....

 

Lol go ahead, then take pictures on two multiple days with distinctly different weather conditions, at different locations and we will talk.

I did find all of the owners material that came with the car, the spare key, and todays newspaper. You must be a democrat as you can obviously never admit when you are wrong.