underwhelmed by e55..

[fredT]

i've been thinking for a while that i wanted to get a e55 to replace my c320 cdi and pretty much made up my mind to get one.
i found a nice one and went to test it yesterday convinced that the car would sell itself.. not so yeah the car is obviously very fast nut not in the way i expected. i thought it woudbe brutally fast where t was just very fast..

is it just the way they are built to deliver power smoothly or could there be something wrong? the car looked like it been looked after and only had just over 40k on the clock. it probably hadn't been thrashed too much as it looked very much like it had been used by a family with kids

left the dealer somewhat disappointed as i thought it be leaving owning a snarling supercharged v8 beast..

 

[Seamster15]

I've read a simular story in here about a chap (member) that had a chipped 535d (by DMS) and his friend who had an M5 felt it a waist of money after driving the 535d and having all the usable power he needed.

Have you thought about tweeking you're 320 cdi?

 

[fredT]

nah not much point in tweaking the diesel for me, also it still have warranty.

i just thought i'd treat myself to something mental but in the end of the day its just a very fast, smooth family car suppose that what you should expect from a mb and maybe i set my expectations to high

 

[Adam230K]

Coming from a diesel engine that delivers only a little bit less torque than the E55 i'm not surprised. But what you have to realise is that diesels have an initial huge torque push which doesn't last very long (hence why they aren't very fast in terms of drag strip performance) but feel massively fast when you sit inside the car.

The E55 will get to 100mph (for example) in a much less time than the 320cdi, even though you cant feel this difference, it is very measurable.

 

[DJC013]

Hello, my mate has an E55, have to admit i thought it was quick for the size of the vehicle ! Not bad brakes either ! Regards Damian.

 

[robert.saunders]

Different strokes for different folks Power delivery is a taste for each to their own

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/73695-first-drive-v10-m5.html

 

[flango]

Different strokes for different folks Power delivery is a taste for each to their own

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/73695-first-drive-v10-m5.html

From this and the thread above E55 Vs M5 Vs XFR. I have had the pleasure in road and track testing the 3 above cars and would agree with the OP the E55 is an underwhelming experience, calm, composed and powerful but definitely underwhelming. The XFR is Jags attempt to muscle in on the M5 only trouble is the bits won't stay on the car long enough to compare we lost the exhaust back panel and windscreen trim on our test making the car incredibly noisy. (This is the second XF we have lost bits off which is worrying)

The M5 is leagues above these 2 for one simple reason "The gearbox" whilst MB and Jag persist with sloppy auto's the SMG box on the M5 if set up correctly is a delight and allows you to press that M button and use all 507 ponies to your delight, this comes into its own around the ring and the reason BMW use them as ring taxis, although their versions kick out 570 bhp. Even in its 400 bhp everday form its still potent and in everyday use still manages to get into the 20's for mpg.

I have not had the pleasure in driving any MB C63's but have driven quite a few Brabus cars but still have to say the V10 M5 is an awesome car

 

[robert.saunders]

I loved the M5

 

[peterg1965]

From this and the thread above E55 Vs M5 Vs XFR. I have had the pleasure in road and track testing the 3 above cars and would agree with the OP the E55 is an underwhelming experience, calm, composed and powerful but definitely underwhelming. The XFR is Jags attempt to muscle in on the M5 only trouble is the bits won't stay on the car long enough to compare we lost the exhaust back panel and windscreen trim on our test making the car incredibly noisy. (This is the second XF we have lost bits off which is worrying)

The M5 is leagues above these 2 for one simple reason "The gearbox" whilst MB and Jag persist with sloppy auto's the SMG box on the M5 if set up correctly is a delight and allows you to press that M button and use all 507 ponies to your delight, this comes into its own around the ring and the reason BMW use them as ring taxis, although their versions kick out 570 bhp. Even in its 400 bhp everday form its still potent and in everyday use still manages to get into the 20's for mpg.

I have not had the pleasure in driving any MB C63's but have driven quite a few Brabus cars but still have to say the V10 M5 is an awesome car

I loved the M5

Music to my ears....

Just need to save up the pennies now and then find a very well looked after low mileage, well specced M5!

 

[Nibbo]

is it just the way they are built to deliver power smoothly or could there be something wrong?

A lot of that may be down to the way the current owner drives it.
I think I read somewhere that the ECU learns the drivers style and adjusts to suit (someone please correct me if I am wrong; I may have taken a blue pill on a red pill day!).
Perhaps a test drive after an ECU reset would have been better.

 

[C240Sport97]

you need to engage real kickdown on the E55K .. you do that by stamping on the accelerator until there is click.

Then you will be held back in your seat

 

[flango]

you need to engage real kickdown on the E55K .. you do that by stamping on the accelerator until there is click.

Then you will be held back in your seat

Do that in a M5 and you will slip under the seatbelt over the seat and get deposited out of the rear screen

 

[IanA2]

I can believe you are underwhelmed. My CLK is a smaller car than the E55 and I think that's pretty slow compared to the SL60.

 

[fredT]

Do that in a M5 and you will slip under the seatbelt over the seat and get deposited out of the rear screen

hmm looking at figures there is not much in it between the the supercharged e55 and the m5 v10 so in real life there is probably zero difference. gonna go check out a m5 anyway just because..

is a 2005 e55 generally pretty reliable or any common faults? it wouldnt surprise me if the supercharged didnt work properly and boost was down, thats how it felt. no proper KICK

and yes obviously i drover it proper foot beyond the kick down and all that

 

[gaz_l]

i've been thinking for a while that i wanted to get a e55 to replace my c320 cdi and pretty much made up my mind to get one.
i found a nice one and went to test it yesterday convinced that the car would sell itself.. not so yeah the car is obviously very fast nut not in the way i expected. i thought it woudbe brutally fast where t was just very fast..

is it just the way they are built to deliver power smoothly or could there be something wrong? the car looked like it been looked after and only had just over 40k on the clock. it probably hadn't been thrashed too much as it looked very much like it had been used by a family with kids

left the dealer somewhat disappointed as i thought it be leaving owning a snarling supercharged v8 beast..

I feel for you, Fred. I was in exactly the same position a few months ago when I had my heart set on an SLK32. Ticked all my boxes, found one, drove it, knew in the first mile it wasn't for me. Quick, yes, but uninspiring in a way I just wasn't expecting.

It's the only supercharged car I've ever driven (had a few turbos over the years) and I think it's the linear power delivery that left me cold. Turbos give you a bit of shove when they spin up and even a sporty NA engine gets more urgent when it comes on cam (or more likely these days, when the variable valve timing changes).

So you're not alone.. good luck in the search!

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[EDZ649]

M5 M5 yawn yawn yawn! I thought this was a Merc forum!

Well all I can say is that you haven't driven one hard enough because every time I drive mine I come home with a huge grin on my face an mine is normally aspirated!

 

[gaz_l]

M5 M5 yawn yawn yawn! I thought this was a Merc forum!

Well all I can say is that you haven't driven one hard enough because every time I drive mine I come home with a huge grin on my face an mine is normally aspirated!

So was my C43 and that was much more dramatic to drive than the SLK32.. flat topped torque curves may be to blame..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[flango]

M5 M5 yawn yawn yawn! I thought this was a Merc forum!

Well all I can say is that you haven't driven one hard enough because every time I drive mine I come home with a huge grin on my face an mine is normally aspirated!

You obviously have not driven the V10 M5 then Difference is chalk and cheese MB gearbox is a joke compared to BMW SMG. Sorry as much as I love MB nothing I have driven so far touches the M5. Have to admit have not driven a C63 but that will be rectified next month.:bannana:

 

[C240Sport97]

I feel for you, Fred. I was in exactly the same position a few months ago when I had my heart set on an SLK32. Ticked all my boxes, found one, drove it, knew in the first mile it wasn't for me. Quick, yes, but uninspiring in a way I just wasn't expecting.

It's the only supercharged car I've ever driven (had a few turbos over the years) and I think it's the linear power delivery that left me cold. Turbos give you a bit of shove when they spin up and even a sporty NA engine gets more urgent when it comes on cam (or more likely these days, when the variable valve timing changes).

So you're not alone.. good luck in the search!

Cheers,

Gaz

you can't compare a supercharged V6 with a supercharged V8 ...

they are completely beasts

 

[EDZ649]

You obviously have not driven the V10 M5 then Difference is chalk and cheese MB gearbox is a joke compared to BMW SMG. Sorry as much as I love MB nothing I have driven so far touches the M5. Have to admit have not driven a C63 but that will be rectified next month.:bannana:

My point is that I fail to see how anyone can be underwhelmed by an AMG car if you drive it like it's supposed to be driven, unless your the STIG of course!