oktane

Have any of you compared the E55 and SL55 behind the wheel? I know everyone claims that the 469hp vs. 493hp is just marketing hype, but the SL55 really does drive like the more aggressive car.

In the SL55, even at low speeds you hear the engine growl, and feel a rumble in the seat of your pants. Step lightly on the gas, and the tires bite into the road and zip you forward. In the E55, keep light on the gas and you'll think you're driving an E500. There really is no intense feeling of power, and the car doesn't beg you to push it harder.

I suspect part of this is due to the 2.65 differential in the E55 vs. the 2.85 in the SL55. The rest may be due to ECU tuning and/or supercharger control. It seems the supercharger in the E doesn't stay engaged unless you have been driving very aggressively, and it is unpredictable in delivering its full potential. The SL has a lower threshold to go into super pursuit mode and seems consistently ready to play.

Has anyone done ECU mods or differential swaps that give the E55 a more intense feel? I wonder if swapping with an SL55 ECU is possible?

Thanks.

Jim Brady

The night I picked up my E-55 from the dealer my wife was driving the SL-55 following me home. I couldn't resist the temptation to see how the E-55 would do.
The W211 had less than 20 miles on the clock so it may not be reprsentitive of a fully broke in engine. Nevertheless, from a 20mph roll the SL pulled a good car length up to about 70 when she slowed down.
My seat of the pants dyno says the SL pulls harder from the get go, which I believe is due to the axel ratios. I find that the E-55 can easily spin the 265 tires which would be another reason for the higher gearing. I'll do some Gtech timing to confirm times if it doesn't rain this weekend.

Schiznick

I had a 2003 E55 that I traded in on my 2004 SL55.

I would say the E55 is faster by a bit.

I will be taking my SL55 to the drag stip next month to see where it ends up.

The SL55 sounds so much better than the E55 but I would have to say the the E is faster.

Schiz

AMG Fan

The E55 is faster than SL55 by .2 to .3 tens of a second to 60 or 100 mph. I also belive the E55 feels more agile than SL55. Althought the SL55 looks more sleek, in reality it is not.

stephens

The SL55 ecu is identical to the E55, in fact I believe all of the V8 compressors are the same.

shoes

I have owned a 2003 SL55 and still own a 2003 E55.

I agree with the other posts that the E55 feels a smidge faster than the SL55. The exhaust roar from the SL55 make it sound faster, but I find this a little over the top.

I debadged both vehicles and prefer the element of surprise, which is tougher to pull off with the noises that come out of the SL55.

Also, I feel the handling of the E55 is a little better than the SL55 because of the 400 fewer pounds it lugs around.

Bilal

Truth be told, the E55 weighs nearly as much as the SL55, around 1900kgs...its been weighted and although it is disapponting, that engine more than makes up for it!

The ultimate sleeper is the SL600 in non-AMG trim...

oktane

I feel that ABC makes the SL handle much more solidly through the turns. I haven't tracked the cars or done power slides, but in everday driving I feel the SL to be the more fun car, not just based on looks or exhast note...

BlownV8

"The ultimate sleeper is the SL600 in non-AMG trim..."

Man, that's the biggest understatement of the year! I saw the recent review by Car and Driver and just about fell out of my reading chair. They reported the SL600's ability to hussle it's not so svelte 4501 lb frame to a 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 11.9 @120 mph!

Here is what they said about the comparison between the SL55 AMG and the SL600:
"Yet another contrast: The SL600 trumps the SL55 AMG, even though the AMG edition weighs in a tad lighter (4410 pounds) packs the same horsepower (493), and is the designated SL family hot rod. But in our Novemnber '02 test, the SL55 managed only-only!-4.5 seconds to 60, and cruised through the quarter in 13.0 seconds at 110 mph."

tjcMBE55AMG

I saw an SL-600 at our dealer (Princeton MB) day before yesterday in black with its own unique MB wheels ... almost forgot to pick up my E55 it was so gorgeous.

Sorry ... didn't get pics ... here are stock photos (unfortunately not with the very cool wheels that I saw):

http://www.princeton.mercedescenter....delCode=SL600R

TJC

moa4r

there was a huge debate on mbworld about the c+d times reported for the 600, the (scientific) conclusion of the debate was that those times are for an sl600 with renntech upgrades, which sometimes come straight off the dealer showrooms

pocholin

Either the SL55 is faster or your wife is a batter racer than you are ........

Jim Brady

The roads finally dried out enogh to test the SL-55 and E-55 on the Passport Gtimer. Temp 59 F. damp. good forced induction weather.
E-55 SL-55

0-20 1.05 1.13
0-40 2.38 2.45
0-60 4.20 4.28
0-80 6.30 6.30

1/8 mile 8.18 8.12.

The ESP was far more intrussive on the SL than the E at launch I believe in part due to the lower axel ratio. The Sl has 9100 mi. and the W 211 has 1100. E-55 was easier to launch and get traction than the SL. Next test will be to go head to head. Stay tuned for more fair and balanced reporting.

MBE55AMG

Oooh! Very close timings!

Broker

Ever put them up head to head? Sounds like the SL is a bit faster from a roll; racing from a stop the E appears to have less wheel spin from a less aggressive gear ratio and take off faster.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

Has anyone changed their rear diff to a 2.83
Is the sl unit a direct bolt on?

Zod

jackpro has and a guy over here has...not sure what you gain from it though