E320 Coupe, too easy to wheel spin??

[aka$h]

Ive been driving the CE a fair bit over the past two weeks, I have had new ContiSportCOntact2's all round but am a little concerned about the amount of wheel spin on acceleration.
The car does not have ASR, but even in 2nd gear pick up the car spins the back wheels quite often in the dry but almost all the time in the wet. As much as its fun, I just wanted to know if its normal.

 

[Rose Chap]

I used to have a '91 300E which was similarly wheel spinny, particularly in the wet. I put it down to a fairly powerful engine, no traction control, and no LSD.

Not a lot you can do about it I don't think, apart from run with the gearbox in economy mode and accelerate gently.

By way of warning, my 300E met its end following a distinct lack of traction resulting in amrco whacking episode leaving the M4 one November morning in 2001. Beware!

Andy

 

[imadoofus]

You see, you thought that ducktail actually provided some downforce, didn't you?

I run mine in economy (ha!) mode, and it wheelspins occasionally when pulling away in anything other than a straight line. Drifts nicely on wet roundabouts, too ( ) I don't have ASR.

If you floor it, then it'll wheelspin off the line at the drop of a hat, but generally, I don't have any concerns.

My throttle linkage is a bit sticky, and can occasionally catch me out and cause wheelspin, but if it was continual, I'd be questioning my compound or the weight of my shoes or something. I've got Michelin Pilots, which is what were on it when I bought it. They're not close to needing replacement, and I'm pretty happy.

Incidentally, I have Conti SportContacts on my bicycle, and they're blummen useless in the wet.

PJ

 

[andy_k]

I've found that sticking a pair of 225 tyres on the back helps a lot and not being over enthusiastic with my right foot stops the wheel spin in all but the worst conditions.

Andy

 

[jaymanek]

my e320 saloon that i had found it very difficult to get round a roundabout without spinning! but then that had something to do with my right foot...
seriously though, it did get quite dangerous at times...

 

[aka$h]

Ive got 225/45/17's all round, Picking up at the lights the speedo was reading 75mph and the car wasnt even moving, I think its just my heavy right foot

 

[KLP 92]

If you think the 320's are bad, imagine what i was doing in the Brabus CE

It was a manual, engaging 2nd gear with 1000revs in the wet from standing start used to erupt wheelspins. Flooring the car in 2nd gear at 40mph in the wet used to cause the back end to slide wide when the car was in a straight line

 

[aka$h]

If you think the 320's are bad, imagine what i was doing in the Brabus CE

It was a manual, engaging 2nd gear with 1000revs in the wet from standing start used to erupt wheelspins. Flooring the car in 2nd gear at 40mph in the wet used to cause the back end to slide wide when the car was in a straight line

Yes I remember, if only Brabus had redesigned the ducktail spolier I have on mine, it would have provided so much additional downforce

 

[kth286]

Aka$h

Agreed !!

If any car needed LS Diff as standard it was this model.

Both ASD and ASR were options after around 1993, but mine has neither.

I am 'slowly' investigating the options from the rest of the Merc range, and also a purpose diff custom made by a small specialist in Coventry.

I will let you all know if I get a result - but don't hold your breath !!!!!

Regards

 

[aka$h]

Aka$h

Agreed !!

If any car needed LS Diff as standard it was this model.

Both ASD and ASR were options after around 1993, but mine has neither.

I am 'slowly' investigating the options from the rest of the Merc range, and also a purpose diff custom made by a small specialist in Coventry.

I will let you all know if I get a result - but don't hold your breath !!!!!

Regards

If you drive it in a 'sensible' manner its fine. You know when its going and as long as both your rear tyres are the same type it will usually stay in a stright line.
It certainly makes a change to the drive Ive had from younger Mercs.

 

[MangoMan]

I have to say that mine, (300ce) doesn't spin that much at all, if driven normally, it moves off in 2nd anyway.

But if you want to play, then it's only too happy to oblige, if I floor it from standstill it jumps into 1st, and screams away, if kept flat, it even wheelspins going into second, and this is in the dry, in the wet it simply doesn't move!

I have to say, I haven't tried drifting it yet (coward). lol.