Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Regional Forums > Featured Cars

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-11-1999, 08:33 PM
akry's Avatar
W140 Maniac
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 960
Lee,

I look around on the net after C.C.C.'s post about S55 AMG, and confirmed that S55 AMG indeed is out. Since you have a way to allocate rare cars, maybe if you can be so kindly to find out more info/pics for that car?? Thnx in advance.

Also, can you tell me more about SL73 AMG?? It's not imported to North America as of my knowledge(the same goes to SL60).

Oh, and one suggestion, maybe we should have a AMG/Lorinser/Brabus section, too, to post all those rare tuned cars(C36, C43, C55, E55, SL60, SL73...ect.) Thnx again...

P.S. C55, that's right, it's not a typo, it exists. Just that it not import to North America....AGAIN..

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-12-1999, 05:54 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,342
Akry,
Check out my post to CCC's thread on the S55. When we can get our hands on an S55 we will do a review.

The SL73 is a SL600 with the V12 bored/stroked to 7.3 liters. Other body/brake/etc mods can be expected. I'm sure you could get a conversion of an existing SL600 done by Brabus, AMG, etc.

I know of the C55. It isn't in the US yet, whether it comes or not will probably depend on what the next generation M3 will be like. If they need it, it is in the arsenal.

MB is beginning to get downright competitive with BMW and the rest of the gang. We might not get every single toy they make, but we should get more of them than in years past. I don't have the demographics offhand, but I remember reading in a recent auto-mag that 8 out of 10 BMW M-cars go to the states. If the MB market is anything like similar, we should see some really neat stuff in the next few years.

For now, you can check out the Customer On-Track article in "What's New" or "Featured Cars". It has summaries of the cars we drove on Richmond Intl Raceway and the VA area. AMG cars are covered....

Hope this helps...Lee
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-12-1999, 07:32 PM
akry's Avatar
W140 Maniac
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 960
Lee,

Thnx for the info. One thing that I would like to point out, is that BMW has put a V8 and 6-speed tranny, although, there is also rumors about steptronic/tiptronic-like tranny(V8 from the upcoming M5)in the new 3-Series. Although the car is still in experimental state(or prototype), from the insider, BMW is very serious about make it into production. Can it possibly be the next M3?? Hm, guess we will have to wait 'til 2001....
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-12-1999, 09:49 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,342
Last I heard or read the next M3 will have a larger inline 6 good for about 300-350HP and plenty of torque. The 6-speed should be included as well as the new E46 chassis should allow the 6-speed tranny to fit without hacking it to death. BMW has had a SMG gearbox for awhile in Europe. Whether they send over the true sequential gearbox or a electronically controlled automatic (like Tiptronic, Steptronic, etc) remains to be seen.

I doubt MB will vary from the habit of using the 722.6 5-speed automatic. Even in the concept only SLR they are using a 5-speed automatic. Most people can't drive a stick faster 10 out of 10 times, but there always is the "fun factor". I think the market of "must have manuals" (especially in E-class/5-series size cars) is small enough these days that MB is content to let BMW have those folks.

Horsepower wars are a good thing...Lee
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-13-1999, 02:47 AM
akry's Avatar
W140 Maniac
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 960
Lee,

I just found out that either Car&Driver or Motor Trend has some info about the V8 powered E46. Maybe you would like to check it out!!??

As for manual tranny, well, ages of ppl who's going to buy BMW or MB have dropped dramatically over the years. Although BMW 540i maybe the only "true" sports sedan with 6-speed(well, M5 will be added soon, too. But still, it's a 5-Series). However, as what I have seen on Mercedes-Benz's official website, MB seems to be fed up with BMW, and started to do something about it. As you may know that the current E-Class for '99-'00 will be face-lifted. However, what many of the MB fans don't know is that MB has developed a 6-speed tranny which will fit under the face-lifted E-Class. Hm, think about a E55(or maybe S55!!??) with a 6-speed tranny. With all the torque that comes from the 5.5L V8, it would just blow M5s away....

Well, we will have to wait for 2 more years and see for ourself, I guess......

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70000 KM
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-13-1999, 03:08 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,342
Andy,
You were right about there being something in Road&Track about the upcoming E46 M3...

According to the August 99' issue of Road&Track the next generation M3 will have a inline 6 displacing more than 3.2 liters, making somewhere around 350HP. The article states specifically that it will not be available with a V8. It also states that the US should get the same M3 as the rest of the world. Perhaps you should check out the article.

The last thing I read about MB "uping" the E55 was that they were working on a SMG transmission and a supercharged 5.5 V8 and giving the car ABC, ESP, etc.

Time will only tell....Lee
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-17-1999, 07:36 AM
cheyun
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Hi, everyone. Just wanted to put a few comments on the topic and raise a few questions ragarding the subject matter.
Why is that Mercedes hads to put a such big displacment on it's engine ? like 4.3,5.5 etc. ( Sort of had an American car) While all M series of cars had the capabilities to compete or even beat them with a smaller displacments, along with the double Variable value timing VANOS (inlet and exhaust). Power output ratio seem to be far better ( I made such comparsion, because M series and AMG series are identical rivals, and based on the sporting nature and peak power). ( Who eats more gas C43 or 321 M3 ? )
I know that Mercedes also hads variable value timing, but no one seems to know anything about it! Rather if it is a cam changing system (VTEC), or a Cam phasing system ? Mercedes never advertises camshaft technologies to the public or as a selling point , while everyone is knows what a VTEC, VVTI, or VANOS are (= more power ). Maybe Mercedes focus more on its refinments,and the luxuary feels. However on the other hand, others might have negative interpretations of Mercedes capabilities on camshaft technology.)
There is one other point I don't understand. I can really have access to the weight distribution datas for Mercedes ? It got left out, because Mercedes hads bad weight distributions ?
I am not putting mercedes down or saying Mercedes hads bad technologies, is just doesn't feel right when you feel you are limited to resoures.
Speaking for Mercedes. Mercedes did a lot to further refine it's products, the new engines could be use as an anology for illustration. The Aluminium units are lighter, smoother quieter and more torquey in low speed ( people like horsepower but love torque right ? , I do )Technologies such as variable valve timing, double balance shafts, variable induction manifold and twin spark plugs are now available current models.
Although BMW M series might be faster, but I think Mercedes are more easy to daily driving. (as I am not that good nor that experience of a driver) I think Mercedes unique "Stairs" driver adpative automatic transmission can shift gear faster for me. If I had a choice between the M3 or the C43. C43 will be my choice even it cost more! From a personal ponit of view for Luxary, size, class and comfort MB over BMW, while Mercedes didn't lose much on the sporty side.
Last of all, I would like to mention something from VW. From magazine articles, there is this VR8 coming up for the C43 and M3, anyone knows anything about it?
Pete regards
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-17-1999, 09:07 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 79
Greetings!
I would think that the reason MB uses bigger displacement engines may have something to do with longevity. After all MB has a reputation for building cars that last, and a larger displacement engine is stressed less than a smaller displacement one.
I'm not sure that the BMW is faster. I seem to recall a few comparison tests done in some of the car magazines, and typically the Bimmer is was about 4/10's of a second quicker to 60, but it was equipped with a manual tranny. There was a comment in one of the tests that they had driven a automatic BMW and that it was about half a second slower to 60 than the manual. They stated that an auto wasn't availible for the comparison test.

------------------
Darko Vusir
1994 C220
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-17-1999, 05:59 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,342
Generally the manual bimmer is slightly quicker than the automatic MB. The reality of someone getting perfect times off a manual every single time is slim. Besides, the SOHC 3-valve/twin-plug engines need more displacement to achieve comparable output of DOHC engines. Since they are lighter and get better fuel economy, fitting a larger engine really has no downside. With the upside of a flatter torque curve. I don't have any measurements offhand, but I'm willing to bet packaging a E430's engine is easier than packaging a 400E's engine. (after seeing them side-by-side)

Darko did touch on another big point. MB engines go forever, even their "hot-rods". How many BMW 540's or even BMW's in general do you see with over 100K on the odo? For most MB, that is just getting started. BMW's seem to be pretty much used up by 100K. I know of a particular 500E that has well over 100K and recently ran some VERY stout times at a dragstrip....

I'd like to see comparison testing done when new, at 50K, at 100K, 150K, and 200K. That would be more telling. Assuming all the vitals of the BMW had not been replaced by then...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-17-1999, 11:48 PM
akry's Avatar
W140 Maniac
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 960
Lee has a very good point on how BMW engine and MB engine lasts. Another point that I want to point out is that, BMW tranny doesn't last as long as MB tranny, too.

I used to have a '88 BMW 520i(I am from Taiwan, 520i is not available in North America), the auto tranny has shift problem just after 60,000km. It shifts so hard, and sometimes even delays shift for no reason. Even my '93 Grand Cherokee has better tranny....

Comments??

Regards,
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
70,000 kM

[This message has been edited by akry (edited 07-17-1999).]

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
AMG History: was the '92-'93 190E Sportline the first AMG - MB factory collaboration? c43amg Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 37 06-10-2008 12:45 PM
Spent yesterday driving a new C55 AMG!!! Great Little Car! Bryan Harter Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 11 10-30-2004 04:56 AM
1992 W124 factory option 662 5 spk sprt wheels? moruzzi Mercedes-Benz Wheels & Tires 6 02-13-2004 03:40 PM
Just heard a S55 AMG Jim Anderson Off-Topic Discussion 3 06-12-2003 11:10 AM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page