Originally Posted by Beowulf

Honestly, I don't know for sure if I have the new steering rack or not, but there seems to be less on-center slop with the new car and the turn-in feels quicker.

According to magazine reports, the new steering rack from the CLS would be installed on E55's, beginning with November production. According to tommaey, (see https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...steering+ra0ck ), it's been installed in all E55's since July, including my old one.

It's also installed as part of the new W211 E350 Sport Package, which has already been released in Europe, and which also includes the metal SL pedals.

My car completed production on 12/09/04 and shipped on 12/12/04. My car also includes the metal SL pedals - the first W211 that I've heard of to come stateside so equipped from the factory. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but the steering does seem to be more responsive, both on-center and in transient maneuvers.

Wish I could offer more definitive info, but I'm limited to subjective impressions for now.

Originally Posted by Vetluver

My previous 03 E500 has a much less responsive steering rack than my 05 E55 built in late July. I couldn't tell any difference when a drove a new one last weekend. It seemed to me changeing to ps2s made even more of a change than the rack change however.

Originally Posted by Brav

Beautiful car. I really love the steering wheel, big improvement. Ahh... must resist the itch to upgrade...