Pinned

The E63 is noted as having significantly better handling than the E55. Aside from the steering rack what are the differences that add up to the better handling? Can any retrofits be made to the 55 to match the 63's performance in this aspect?

CharlyE500

06 E55 share the same steering rack as W211 E63 and W219.

nivram13

I've got an 2005 E55 which has the update steering rack.

Pinned

Good to know!

Given the way I've read the reviews it seems as if there were other differences as well - because most mention the E63 cornering significantly flatter. I can't find info on any other changes - are there any physical differences beyond the steering rack or just programming for the airmatic?

CharlyE500

I have never drove W211 E63 however, my 06 CLS55 handle much better than my 06 E55. They both same steering rack but handle very different.

Pinned

I wonder what the reason for that is - because these cars seem to share very similar or identical suspension components. But everything I've read suggest a big enough difference between the E55 and E63, handling wise, that I'm curious where the change comes from.

StarvingArtist

I caught the Top Gear re-run were they tested the cls55. They said the suspension was 40% stiffer than the E class. No further clarification. It did run the same track time as a Porsche carrera GT3, and a 1/10th of a second slower than a Ferrari 458 GTO.
Might explain why my car handles like a race car and rides like a lumber wagon. Careful what you wish for.

Pinned

Given that they run the same airmatic struts it seems like it'd just be a difference in pressure (though maybe there is something else to it). Is there a control module for the suspension system or is it something that can be altered in STAR?

LandCruzer94

Are you sure he didn't just say the *chassis* was 40% stiffer? That's more believable.

StarvingArtist

I had it on my DVR and watched it a few times, so I'm pretty sure that was the wording. It was a while ago though. I wonder if the actual part #s from the factory are truly identical. My tires are lower and wider so that might account for some of the harshness, but a lot of you guys are running similar sizes. 255-35-19/ 285-30 19.

Will an E55 keep up with a Ferrari on a race track with just new wheels and tires? The body shape shouldn't really make any difference. It would be cool to watch the episode when the E55 came to town and see what time it put down.

If the shocks are different, I'm ready for something a little softer.

Mike450

Wasn't there a suspension or rack change with 09 E63? I recall reading the 09 E63 was a significant upgrade over the previous models.

Of course, this was a while ago, so I could be msitaken.

Edit: or maybe it was the 2010

CharlyE500

Or maybe they were comparing with E500 40% softer not E55 ? My E55 rear suspension start to drop after 3 days parked. I will do BC Coil over in 2 weeks. Hope will handle as well as my CLS55.


Here are the tires comparison:
CLS55 using 255/30/20 and 295/25/20
E55 using 245/40/18 and 285/35/18

StarvingArtist

You are the one to ask. Sooo, does the E feel like it has softer shocks? On the e500 thing, maybe, but that would be a weird comparison.

LandCruzer94

I found the Clarkson review of the CLS on Youtube, I stand corrected. He mentions it's setup to be "40% stiffer and sportier than the normal E-Class"

Other searches stated the front springs are 30% stiffer in compression and 10% in rebound on all three suspension modes. No changes to the rear springs.