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Well I decided to get the ED1 after all, I had a better deal on a white one but the dealer (who is a top regional seller) got a hidden allocation on an ED1 still at the VPC. So that was that and I went last Sunday to get it. Here is a funny story though: The Salesman comes up to me and asks "Vic, you like Pirellis or Michelins?" and I say of course "Michelins". He then told me I was in luck because they found a huge piece of metal in the left rear tire and it was now flat. Instead of replacing the tire which they did not have, they swapped out a set of black wheels that was on the white one that I was going to get in the first place . And of course, this set had the 4S tires- so I got lucky.
The car feels every bit as fast as advertised and the handling is shocking for the weight of this car. No wonder it turned out the time it did at VIR with such amazing exit speeds. The car is dropped with the OEM links; my tech in Huntington Beach is adept at such mods and it took all of 45 min to make it happen. The car is very taut but also very level with hardly any roll- I run the Sport setting for the dampers (one light). The throttle is a bit slow as it takes about a 50% input to get it moving, but that's also because I'm used to tuned cars where the throttle is more sensitive. The steering is good with mild, very mild, understeer in hard bends and turns and I can not believe this car weighs over 4500 lbs they way it moves and how I am able to drive it. I have had limited miles with the car so I need even more to give further perspective but for now its definitely one of the best handling sedans I've owned, if not the best. I have the acoustic package which makes the exhaust note inside more muted which I don't like. When we were under the car we checked to see what we could remove from a resonator standpoint and there just aren't any. It looks like its similar to my GTS set up with just a post cat attached to the DP. I think I might pull that off at some point.
I will say that my current RS7 with a tune feels just slightly faster from a roll and is more violent from a dig but the car is pushing 700 hp and 725+ lb/ft of torque.
Some minor mods:
Painted front grill (plasti dip)
Wrapped door handles
Wrapped Rear Bar
30% Tint
Lowering
15mm front spacers (I need smaller rears still)
Xpel Stealth Clear Bra
Big thanks to Benzworks (sponsor here) for lowering the car and installing the spacers. The pics are from my cell phone so I'm sure I can do better
'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
Very nice! So no resonator and do I see two H-pipes? Interesting. I’m looking forward to your comparison against the RS7 once you get this car tuned. I’m sure there’s no comparison in the handling department but I am interested in 1/4 times. Also, does the new interior quality step up to Audi?
Very nice! So no resonator and do I see two H-pipes? Interesting. I’m looking forward to your comparison against the RS7 once you get this car tuned. I’m sure there’s no comparison in the handling department but I am interested in 1/4 times. Also, does the new interior quality step up to Audi?
Yes, Ill give a better comparo once I get more seat time in the benz. Based on initial impressions, the interior of the benz is better. The dual screen is amazing and views are very crisp but I have the full alcantara headliner in the Audi and the 3k add for comfort seats and its very nice from that standpoint. I do think the Audi with the B&O upgrade has the better sound system too. Ill probably tune the car in a few weeks and then report back on the speed adjustments which I'm sure will be in the Benz's favor. The Benz is definitely faster stock vs stock over the Audi.
Damn... looks amazing. Can you explain how your tech lowered the car with OEM links?
Its harder to explain without pics which I do not have but:
There are 4 links under the car next to each wheel and each sets a ride height based on the link angle. In the front, my tech pulled a bolt out of the link which allowed him to adjust the angle. He did this on both the front ones to achieve the height. On the rear he had to manually adjust each wheel's links but changing the angle or length of the link. Once he did all those to the 4 corners, we lowered the car on the rack to the ground, started the engine, put it in sport plus, hit the raise/lower button, and allowed the car to settle. The first run yielded the fronts to be even with each other but too low for me (under 26 inches fender to ground) and the left rear was spot on while the right rear was a half inch too high. He raised the rack and adjusted the front two again and the right rear. Once we re cycled the car on the ground, it was all perfect with the front sitting about 26 3/8 inches fender to the ground and the rear at 26 1/2 inches.
If you have a tech that knows his stuff, there is no need for a module or even the adjustable links. My tech at Benzworks is that guy.
Congrats and love the ED1 and what you have done so far.
Good to know no aftermarket lowering links are needed and is air on all 4 corners vs only the rears for w212 E63s
Originally Posted by Vic55
Its harder to explain without pics which I do not have but:
There are 4 links under the car next to each wheel and each sets a ride height based on the link angle. In the front, my tech pulled a bolt out of the link which allowed him to adjust the angle. He did this on both the front ones to achieve the height. On the rear he had to manually adjust each wheel's links but changing the angle or length of the link. Once he did all those to the 4 corners, we lowered the car on the rack to the ground, started the engine, put it in sport plus, hit the raise/lower button, and allowed the car to settle. The first run yielded the fronts to be even with each other but too low for me (under 26 inches fender to ground) and the left rear was spot on while the right rear was a half inch too high. He raised the rack and adjusted the front two again and the right rear. Once we re cycled the car on the ground, it was all perfect with the front sitting about 26 3/8 inches fender to the ground and the rear at 26 1/2 inches.
If you have a tech that knows his stuff, there is no need for a module or even the adjustable links. My tech at Benzworks is that guy.
Yes, Ill give a better comparo once I get more seat time in the benz. Based on initial impressions, the interior of the benz is better. The dual screen is amazing and views are very crisp but I have the full alcantara headliner in the Audi and the 3k add for comfort seats and its very nice from that standpoint. I do think the Audi with the B&O upgrade has the better sound system too. Ill probably tune the car in a few weeks and then report back on the speed adjustments which I'm sure will be in the Benz's favor. The Benz is definitely faster stock vs stock over the Audi.
Car looks great... congrats and enjoy. The ED1 didn't get an audio upgrade option? The wagon does not, which kinda bums me out, but I'll live with!
vic, we need to see a photo that shows your entire (current) car collections ... so we can all drool and admire
hahaha Im afraid it will only pale in comparo to Quickburn's!!!
Thanks again to all for the compliments as well. I got a few more good runs in the car yesterday via roads Ive driven with all my prior cars. All I can say is im impressed all too much about how this car feels. Dare I say it feels as good today compared to current rivals as my E39 M5 felt back 15 years ago when I first got that car (damnnn). The steering feels really good albeit just a bit artificial but thats ok, its not a Porsche GT car nor is it trying to feel like one. The 4WD system really is quite unintrusive. I feel the pulls up into 130+ mph comes very easy on roads Ive traveled before. No wonder this car puts up the rolling numbers; its not losing as much power to the ground with its 4Matic + system. I really think with a tune this car runs very low 130's in the quarters. Its already at 11.2/11.3 car stock so the tune will bring it over the top. When I line it up side to side with the RS7 it does look less sleek as the Sportback profile of the RS7 runs a lower roof line but thankfully to me, the Night Black Magno paint makes it still look very mean along with the drop. So far the CCB's are just fine, I bedded them right away with heavier stops and speeds up and down with braking to match which Ive done with all my CCB's. I dont hear any squeaks... yet. So more driving to come; oh Im sure the Michelin 4S tires do not hurt the handling cause here. Im so glad for that big chunk of metal.
There are some quirks I was wondering about/or voicing an opinion:
1. Race mode in Drive is useless around the city unless you manually shift up. It holds the rpms to redline so unless you are ripping it 100% its gonna wind up and wind down. I like Sport + with Cali traffic.
2. My Comand is very slow on my USB device input meaning when I plug in an Ipod if I change the song, it takes a few seconds to not only change the song but also change the display of whats playing. Any thoughts here?
What do you think of my RS7? Some will think its redudant but I love sedans and its not a sedan look IMHO. The car is rather polarizing with that "kobe bryant" love it or hate it look LOL.
Oh these seats are excellent--- no issues with comfort which is highly subjective I know.
'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
I was actually hoping you got the multi contour seats so you could compare to the Audi. They had the most amazing massage function in a car I’ve ever driven in, rivaling some of the therapeutic chairs I’ve sat in!
I was actually hoping you got the multi contour seats so you could compare to the Audi. They had the most amazing massage function in a car I’ve ever driven in, rivaling some of the therapeutic chairs I’ve sat in!
The ED1 only come with the sport seats.
I wouldn't go that far WRT rivaling therapeutic chairs. Well, maybe some of them, but I have a portable massage thingy that I can set up in my office chair or use on my couch, etc. It does far stronger massage that what the seats in the E63S do. That said, I thought the seats in the E63 were pretty nice, with a wide range of different modalities to choose from. My wife loved them.
I was actually hoping you got the multi contour seats so you could compare to the Audi. They had the most amazing massage function in a car I’ve ever driven in, rivaling some of the therapeutic chairs I’ve sat in!
My RS7 has the full comfort seats and the massage level is strong as it covers the entire seat back plus there are 7 modes and 5 speeds within each mode (or close to that.. I dont use it too much). As for the ED1 seats, I have not taken the car on long drives but the seats have not had any negative impact. In fact, in sharp curves and higher speed bends over 100 mph the seats are incredible in their support. I think they are more aggressive than my GTS ED1 seats.
11-26-2017, 12:04 PM
. And of course, this set had the 4S tires- so I got lucky.
