EDWARD CONROY

Stephen commented on this in another post, but I wanted to start a thread on it with my opinion and would like to know what you guys think. In some car reviews I read, this was a major issue. One I read quite a while back said, be prepared for lunging stops and starts. I said to the wife, the car sounds great, but who the heck wants to put up with that??? Some others said one would probably get used to them, but always it was noted as a down side to the car. My first test drive on city side streets I didn't notice a thing. On the second one I was with my wife. As is my style, I started applying light pressure well before reaching a red light. I see what they mean, I told her. The car didn't seem to want to stop until I really applied more pressure. But, since we picked the car up it isn't even a thought. Yesterday I started using the paddle shifters more though for slowing down. Don't want to replace these brakes any time soon. But the point is, how many people were scared away by bad reviews of something so much a non issue?

absent

It's more of an issue for magazine testers and people who test drive the car for a few minutes.
It is non issue for the owners of this car,it is a new technology and it is going to stay and within a few years will be introduced to most other cars.
MB was, is, always a pioneer of new technology(remember when people hated ABS or disc brakes when they were introduced?)

anerbe

Many of the car magazines put down innovation and change when it comes to driving characteristics. This also includes such things as active handling and very controlling skid protection features.
They b*tch on how esp intervenes with doing powerslides and extreme oversteer. Although I am guilty of doing these things and loving it, how many MB consumers would rather have the safety of such a system.
I'm sure when they tested the w211, they made no effort on changing the way they brake. If it is a totally different system, one would think they would need to brake differently. I never had a problem with the brakes either. I always like to ease up on the brakes before a stop to soften the lunging effect. If these test drivers can't modulate the brakes, then i'm sure they need some practice with their feet control.
The testers should get out of their comfort zone! These car magazines need to realize that not everything sporty needs to drive like a track car........

Eddie Knopp

I too concur - I find the brakes fine, in fact in yesterdays snow in NY they worked great - this was sith the stock Conti's. The car handled fine as well (I was very thankful - thought I might get stuck - not even close). Just had my snows (Dunlop M3's 18x8 all around) put on - will assess over the weekend. The drive back home was fine.

Dr Chill

After driving an early production 2003 E500 for several weeks, I really was very disappointed with the feel of the electronic brakes. They grabbed sharply at the slightest pressure on the pedal and made it very hard to stop smoothly especially at low speeds. Then I drove a friends E320 which was produced 6 months later and it felt much better suggesting some software update. I was still leery until the AMG Challenge when I had the opportunity to drive an E55 extensively. The W211 E55 brakes are head and shoulders better than the other W211 models. Since that time and 3700 miles and 2 track days later on my own car, the brakes are horrible, but that's because they are worn out. They have performed well until the second track day when they started to fail. I'm planning on upgrading the pads to race pads which may not be great for the street but will help when slowing rapidly from 145 mph to make the next turn. The calipers need not be replaced, and the rotors from MB are fairly inexpensive and look cool. A Brembo rotor would help, and when I need new ones, I will probably go for an upgrade 2 piece rotor. I have already ordered stainless brake lines and have switched to Castrol SRF racing fluid ($70/qt and this car takes 1.05 qts, so I'm .05 qt low).

Carbon fiber brake ducts made a huge difference in cooling. Now if someone would send me a set of spent pads for either Porterfield or Carbotech to put a race compound on. Then I'd be set for my next track day-Jan 31 at Sebring.

The W211 E55 brakes are great. It's the car's excessive weight and body roll that sucks!

EPower

I could not disagree more with these statements. It is NOT just an issue for magazine testers, and how can you say it is a "non-issue" for owners of this car? These statements may be true if BMW and Porsche did not exist and have developed far superior braking systems, but they do exist and they continue to have far superior braking systems. BMW, in their current M5 and 540 models for example, have OUTSTANDING brakes. These brakes excel in daily driving, emergency stops AND "track" use. Mercedes new braking systems excel only in emergency braking situations. Daily driving and track use really sucks. The complaints from the many magazine testers and owners really focus on MB's inability to match the competition's braking capability. New technology is great as long as it brings about improved performance, but that is not the case.

W210

So from Dr. Chill's comments, it appears the E55 brakes are way better than the regular E class which is why most E55 owners here do not have real issues compared to others?

I would also be curious to find out the new brakes' wet performance as they're supposed to keep the pads dry automatically.

absent

E55 has practically the same braking distance as M5 or RS6,so where is the problem?

BenzoBoi

I second that...

jkrutch

Third that, Chill!

I just took my 996TT out for the first time in what seems like 2 weeks...What a difference in performance from my E55!!!

I know I shouldn't compare the two, but since there have been a lot of reference made to the E55 vs. the 996 TT, I must comment.

I am amazed at the Porsche's performance even more so after driving the E55 for a while. The E55 is a phenomenal sedan, but it is NOT a sports car by any stretch of the imagination. Although I have read to the contrary, I don't think the E55 will keep pace at any part of the power band. I couldn't believe how hard the 996 pulled tonight while entering the highway...I drove the same road yesterday and made the same exact move. Maybe its the more luxury suspension, but it felt much slower. On the other hand, my Porsche now has 9k miles v. barely 1k on the MB...The Porsche is must faster now than when it had 5k miles. The cold front that moved through this A.M. also makes a huge difference.

stephens

The E55 has updated software by AMG, which, I assume, is why it is different (better) than the rest of the E class range. There are no issues with the E55 braking system that I have noticed, slow stop, emergency stop etc. I haven't driven a regular E class so can't comment on their relative performance.

norb

EPower, I think you've been reading to many BMW forums, because the E55 brakes are easily as good as the M5's.

EDWARD CONROY

Eddie, hope my Dunlops do as well as yours. Doesn't bode well that the first snow we got here in NY was a major storm. Dr. Chill, thanks for that detail on replacement options and cost.

Stephen04E55

Stephens....could you comment about your engine performance upgrades and where you purchased these parts? I know this isn't the correct thread...but if you have already posted this info could you lead me in the right direction? You had previously posted that you wouldn't bow down to Renntech and their ridiculous prices with their ECM and pulley upgrade at over $5K. How did the performance increase after your changes...dyno, dragstrip, or otherwise? Thanks.

EPower

You have obviously not driven the E55, and certainly not an M5, on a track then. Comparing an E55's brakes to an M5's is not even close. Again, in a straight line, EMERGENCY braking situation, the E will perform close. But please, on a track, or even in any type of aggressive, cornering type of road use, it is not even close... And yea, I read too many BMW forums, but only because I have driven 540's and M5's for years. Put any MB on a track like Willow Springs here in CA., and the brakes turn to mush in less than 10 laps. Whats worse than the mush after repeated use and heat is that there is no "feel", even when the brakes are fresh and cold. The M5's will go all day....

W210

Especially for street use, they're perfectly fine. I have been testing them in the heavy rain and they are rather effective.

norb

Epower, so you're talking about track use? Well everyone here drives their E55 on the track on the way to work, right. M5 owners are also on the track on the way to work. Oh I get it. Obviously you haven't driven the E55 cause the brakes are superb, better feeling that my M3.

eclou

I am sorry but unless you are driving in the kinder-care groups the M5 brakes will not even come close to lasting all track-day.

They are manufactured by ATE and are floating calipers that use a single piston and 2 non-metallic guides to slide on (subject to deformation). The single piston seal will invariably unseal/tear within one weekend of driving. The front rotors are only 28mm thick and are not even a floating design.

The caliper is also cast iron and a brick, but it also traps heat vs the aluminum calipers used by brembo.

The few people who insist on tracking their M5's beyond the novice levels usually will upgrade to ----->> Brembo brakes!!

norb

Or an M3!

absent

Who, in his right mind tracks an E55 or M5?
These are large and heavy ,luxury "sport" sedans ,not designed for tracking!
Get a light ,real sports car for that.

AMG Fan

In reality, unless you are a great driver (most 911 Turbo owners are not) the 911 TT will lose to the E55 in race from a roll at any speed. The AMG transmission shifts faster than any human could. In addition, the E55 shifts so smooth that it doesn't feel as fast as your 911's manual does when you hold it in high RPM and accelerate.

Blocktrader

Um, I have had the E55 on a track. What you are saying makes no sense. The brakes are electronic. The pedal feel never changes because it is not affected by heat. That's why there is a warning light. Without it you would have no clue if the brakes were overheating. The one thing the E55 brakes will never do is turn to mush. The big negative is that, in typical MB fashion, there is too much safety margin for the light. (it comes on too early) I took an experience 996 turbo driver around the track in my E55. He came away impressed with the comfort and the brakes.

I had several people drive my car. Brake feel has never been enough of an issue for them to mention it. Also, I had an E500 for six months before my E55 came. The brakes are in fact smoother on the E55. I got used to the 500 brakes after a couple of weeks though.

Blocktrader

The problem here is that the E55 feels slower than it is, and the 996 TT feels faster than it is. If you put the two side by side, you will find they run neck and neck with neither ever pulling by more than a car length. The 996 will dust the E55 on a road course because of it's advantage in the turns, not the straightaway.

jkrutch

I think you're nuts! I can definitely bang gears much faster than the E55 auto tranny! It is smooth because it doesn't shift very quickly. Even the BMW SMG which claims 80 millisecond shifts is BS! How come the SMG cars are slower 0-60 than manual cars in every test??? It is not the same tranny that F1 cars have...it is the same principal. I bet the F1 trannys cost more than 3 M3s combined!

There is no doubt in my mind that my 911TT is quicker than my E55...especially at lower speeds. I do consider myself an above average driver. I won a few (or placed 2nd) at a few Viper events and most Viper owners can certainly drive! I can't speak for other 911TT drivers. Auto trannys are inferior to manual cars for performance...look at every magazines's test results.

jkrutch

You might be correct with one exception....the first gear of the 911TT is lighting quick and it definitly pulls much stronger in first gear than the E55. Even 2nd feels stronger. After that, the HP advantage of the E55 could help even them out or even pull the E55 ahead. I notice on a daily driven stretch that I was able to hit 100MPH easier in 911TT than in the E55. One important point here though...the 911 has 9k miles and the E55 only has 1k. The 911 is much faster now than it was with 3k on the clock. I am curious to see how the E55 "ages". I have always noticed cars seem to get faster at around 4-5k miles. I could be crazy, but it certainly seems that way.