10% more direct steering 2005 E55
We all heard about this news "E55 gets 10% more direct steering, which will be available in all CLS models"
Magazines said this was available from November 2004 production. Can anyone confirm this on their car??
Mercedes-Benz will not give my dealer a straight answer, they like to keep us in the dark about these sorts of things
. It is frustrating because I want to buy this car, but I am not going to buy it and find out i've missed the upgrade by one month's production!!
HELP PLEASE!
For those who read this, and haven't driven an older E55, the sterring should be approximately 2.5 turns lock to lock instead of 2.8
Apparently the number of turns lock to lock does not change from 2.8
The parameter steering is modified so that you have to steer 10% less to achieve the same effect.
This is similar to the 5 series steering, but to a lesser extent.
This means that only previous model E55 drivers will be able to tell the difference
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Apparently the number of turns lock to lock does not change from 2.8
The parameter steering is modified so that you have to steer 10% less to achieve the same effect.
This is similar to the 5 series steering, but to a lesser extent.
This means that only previous model E55 drivers will be able to tell the difference

My salesperson has been trying to get confirmation on the steering rack upgrade, but it wouldn't surprise me if no info were available until the actual change is made. M-B doesn't always pre-announce running changes (e.g., dropping of the REST function, deletion of the charcoal filter, etc), but you'd think a positive upgrade like this might be worth some PR. The new E350 Sport package released in Europe has the steering upgrade, but I've seen no mention of the ugrade on the E55, save that lone Auto article in October.
I dropped my salesperson another note last night asking for an update. She's been diligent in all our dealings so far and if there's any news, I'll report it here asap.
Last edited by Beowulf; Dec 8, 2004 at 06:45 AM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
"Dear Mr. xxxxxxxx,
Thank you very much for your kind inquiry.
Regarding the steering, please be informed that the E55 models are equiped with the more direct steering
already since July 2004 production.
We hope we have beenof service to you and remain
with kind regards
Volker Nieweg
Customized Products & VIP
Mercedes-AMG GmbH
Daimlerstrasse 1
D - 71563 Affalterbach
Tel. +49 (0) 7144 302 - 130
Fax +49 (0) 7144 302 - 217
mailto: ev.nieweg@mercedes-amg.com"
He wasn't able to tell the difference. Maybe if one stepped out an old one and straight into the new one, then it'd be noticable.
The upgrade means the cars wheels will turn 10% more for the same amount of steering
The upgrade means the cars wheels will turn 10% more for the same amount of steering
Doesn't understeer mean that when you turn the steering wheel the car is slow to turn in ( the nose pushes away from the corner) as opposed to oversteer that implies just the opposite. So if they give the car 10% more direct steering as you say ( I never heard it explained that way before) will the car essentially have less understeer and turn in quicker. I assume MB is just changing the steering rack ratio to allow the car to turn in faster. Correct me if I'm wrong.
. Understeer is when u turn the wheels but there is not enough grip, so the car pushes through the corner. Turning the wheel more and more isn't going to miraculously give your front wheels more grip.This is opposed to oversteer when you turn and there is too much grip on the front wheels, or more accurately, too little grip on the rear wheels, so the tail of your car swings out.
"10% more direct steering" = steering ratio change. *However* you will ultimately have the same amount of turns lock to lock (2.8). So this upgrade will affect normal driving, not parking etc. You will not have to turn the wheel as far to get the same result of previous model E55s.
Last edited by mhh; Dec 9, 2004 at 02:42 PM.



