Nam

HI:

My 2003 E55 arrives in the next 2-3 months. I want to re-badge it as an "E200 CDI".

Does anyone here know how I can get this badge - I asked my local dealer and they say it's not available in North America.

Any help/imput would be highly appreciated.

Regards

2003 E55 (coming..............)
2003 996TT (Silver/Black, Turbo aerokit, HRE 543R)

99DINAN3

wat does E200 CDI stand for?

Nam

2.0 liter turbodiesel.

It'll really be a sleeper

amg55

Why not get Pontiac Grand Prix badges?

Nam

Why not? Because the E55 is not a Pontiac smartA$$.

I guess no one here can help. I probably will get more help from my 996 Turbo forum (rennlist.org).

KrispyK

I think it's a fantastic idea, EXCEPT: people who don't know cars that well will not know what a E200 CDI is. And someone who KNOWS what an E200 CDI would likely be able to tell that it's got the AMG kit, dual exhausts, etc. Why not go with an E320 badge? That, too, would be one HECKUVA sleeper.

Nam

Now that was what I was looking for - a good suggestion and not some wisecrack.

Your point is well taken - most people won't know what an E200 is.

My E55 will become an "E320".



Thanks

Dr Chill

Seems kind of silly saying something you're not. If you want a more understated look, then just debadge. I kinda like the word "kompressor" on the side though because most non-car people have no clue what it means. Changing the emblem to read E320 would be great if you can insure the car as an E320. Just pray it isn't stolen though.

Dr Chill

That would only work for the new 5 Series BMW!!!!!!!!

Nam

I also thought about that as well - debadging everything.But I kinda like to have some kind of script on the back.

It's amazing what Mercedes is building - a 469 hp automatic sedan that will go 0-60 in 4.5 secs and also carry passengers/groceries etc.

My 2003 996TT will do 0-60 in 3.9-4.1 sec s but it's a 6-speed and if shifted poorly, I bet the new E55 could overtake it. Don't get me wrong - I love my 996TT - but I'm sure if I could only have 1, I bet it'll be the E55.

Thanks for the comments

NW

KrispyK

My best friend has a 911 Turbo; it's either '01 or '02, I don't really know, and all I can say is that the acceleration on that thing is DOWN RIGHT SCARY. The first time I drove it, I floored it in first, and I thought I was riding a rocket!

On the other hand, I've been told that the E55 may have a faster 1/4-mile time than the 911 Turbo ... any thoughts?

TNblkc230wz

An E55 Kompressor will not out run the turbo 911.

Why put a 200 CDI badge on to make a sleeper.
1. People who know what a 200 CDI is will know it is not.
2. People who know what an E55 is will know it is.
3. Most people don't really know what either car is and won't realize the performance potential of an ordinary looking MB. Hence it is already a sleeper.

I'm jeolous already. I'll still be jeolous if you debadge or put 200 CDI badges on.

amg55

You need to relax a bit, there Nam.
If you bother to read any of the other threads in the E55 forum you'd find there have been some good natured jabs at BMW, suggesting they could be rebadged Pontiac Grand Prix.
Humor is not your long suit.

Stiggs

I agree with amg55...Nam got a little too snappy. Relax...you'll live longer. And as far as rebadging an E55...I'm not even going to touch that one. I think people have very strong opinions about that, and my opinion shouldn't matter. But I'll give it anyways :o

I think if you buy an E55 then you keep it an E55. You just short change yourself by taking off the badges.....keep it fresh from the factory. If you have a priceless comic book, would you rip off the first page so it can be different??? I think not!! (Ok, bad example but oh well)

Nam

I am sorry for snapping out - had I known it was good humoured fun, I would not have snapped out.

I had traded in my BMW E39540 for the W211 E500 and let me tell you, the bimmer.org was often not a friendly place...lots of trolls causing trouble deliberately etc.

I guess the guys over at my 996turbo forum aren't too humourous and I'm not used to these light-hearted comments.

In any case...I appreciate all comments and will be sure to visit here more often.

BTW, here's some of my experiences between Porsche and Mercedes:

Before my 996turbo, I owned a 996 Carrera 4. My girlfriend drove my E500 while I drove my 996C4 (6 speed). On a straight level road, the 996 beats out the E500 in 2nd gear. However, on slight incline, it takes 3rd gear to get ahead of the E500. If I don't shift perfectly, an E500 will run head to head with a 996 all the way up to the next stop-light. On the highway, I'm sure a 996 would be faster but in the city, 339lb torque goes a long way.

I think that an '03 E55 will be similar to my 996TT like my E500 was to my old 996.

The only drawback of the new E55 is traction. A 996TT puts almost all the power to the ground via its 4WD. I heard that if you floor an SL55, you basically smoke the tires or engage the ESP. I'm sure this will hold true for the E55.




Nam

pocholin

Well, it looks like you are going to have to call a Benz dealer in Europe, order it and have it shipped overseas.

IMO, you shouldn't rebadge, more than half the people out there don't know what E55 stands for, 3/4 of the people out there won't race you on the street because they see a Benz. Unless you are afraid it will get stolen, then you should buy something else. Why rebadge?

KrispyK

I actually read in Car and Driver that the E55 will do the quarter in 12.4 seconds, whereas a 911 Turbo will do it in 12.7. Of course, there may be variations (i.e., some cars may produce more or less horsepower, testing times, etc., differ) but at a minimum, I'd say they're both neck-and-neck at the quarter-mile mark.

muhri

In my opinion its a poor idea to debadge and rebadge lower. Just debadge if you want the stealth look / feel but degrade the e55 and badge e200 cdi.. yikes.. i just shiver thinking about it.

KrispyK

You know, I think it's up to Nam to decide whatever he wants to do with his car. Some people get body kits that I think are the most garish thing, but the way I see it, if the owner is happy with it, f*** it, let him be.

I am too ostentatious and arrogant to ever de-badge an E55. But if Nam wants to be stealthy and create a "sleeper" more power to him.

MikeC

Re-paint the E55 pink and get the "MARY K" badges, then you can call it the "K" car.

Is this a method if you get trashed/beaten by someone else, then you can say you were driving a turbo diesel.

Car enthusiasts will know an E55 different from an E320 different from a 200 CDI.

Let the car be what it is.

M6toE55

My $02:

De-badging for stealth or to avoid theft/vandalism is one thing [and okay in my book] - to re-badge to give the appearance of a much lesser model, simply to entice others into a street race where your victory is assured is entirely different...

If your objective is to lull other drivers of lesser cars into an easy kill for you, then I'd say you've got a confidence problem. Who cares if you smoke the over-confident driver of a riced-out 325 [as an example] - all he will think is you've spent a lot of $$ to mod out your cdi [nitrous perhaps?] - he still won't know that what really kicked his a$$ was the mighty e55.

Of course this is just my opinion...

muhri

I couldn't agree more with MikeC.

99E55

I cannot believe we are still discussing this. Come on guys lets move on. There much more interesting topics to talk about when it comes to an E55!

C55

Just wait 'till you drive the beast - the best part is the active suspension settings. Mother in law in the morning, as passenger, then someone with big.......in the afternoon.

The brakes are also sensational........you will not miss your Porsche......I haven't for a while........

AMG4life

why dont u just get a REAL e 320 and take it to kleenmann