tommaey

I swear i made a thread about this a few weeks ago, but i didn't get any constructive replies, and i can't find it anymore.

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!

tommaey

oh come on

vitaman

I'd love to know too. Cars built in November should start to hit dealers right about now. People taking delivery this month who have driven previous E55s are the ones who will know.

tommaey

yeah thats true... i'll wait a few days, not everyone will have their cars yet.

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

BoBcanada

I have 2005 does that mean i have a 2.8 turn lock?

gmdebruyn

mine is an end of october build. how does one upgrade, if at all possible?

tommaey

Sorry my mistake
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

Beowulf

I fall into the latter category since I have an early-model 2005 E55 built July 25th. It's to be replaced with another E55 scheduled to be built next week (see sig).

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.

tommaey

There is a good reason why they don't tell us.

How are they going to sell models without the upgrade if everyone knows about it?

tommaey

woooo reply from AMG good news for all!

"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"

vitaman

Well if that is true, there are several people here that have driven pre and post 7/04 Builds. Anyone notice a difference?

tommaey

Well that means my dad has driven an E55 without it and an E55 with it in the space of 2 weeks.

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.

Gunite

Not very good news in my eyes because the one I test drove about a month ago was a 2005 and it certainly had moderate understeer.

gmdebruyn

i may be wrong, but pretty sure that understeer and this post's topic are two different items.

jrmmrj

My 05 E55 was produced on Sept. 13. I took delivery on Nov 3. I have driven BMW's since 1975, the latest being a 2001 740i sport package. I don't see that much difference in steering or handling between my new E55 and the best handling BMW I owned, the 740i Sport. It may be because I had low expectations for the E55's handling, but I'm thrilled with the steering and handling of this car. Not quite a BMW, as far as roadability goes, but close enough for me. And the acceleration of the E55 just surpasses anything that I ever owned with BMW.

tommaey

The car will always understeer, this is unrelated

The upgrade means the cars wheels will turn 10% more for the same amount of steering

Gunite

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.

tommaey

not quite . 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.

mhh

Is this correct? A change to steering ratio surely must affect the number of turns lock to lock, unless the lock angle itself is changed (affecting the turning circle). Or do you mean MB has gone with faster steering near the straight ahead and slower steering as full lock is approached ( i.e. increased variability of the ratio)?

tommaey

Yes, but then (this may surprise you), the steering has always been variable. Anyone heard of parameter steering? Its standard on E55, but i think its optional on C55. I think the ratio would be modified with this, but im not sure