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 > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-11-2000, 10:04 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Posts: 50
Folks,

Caught a new 328 in my E430 mirror as I moved into the left highway lane. Expected, as I floored it, to see the leetle beemer drift back... back... waaaay back. Nope. So I stayed into the throttle up to 130mph... and had to slow down for traffic before my Teutonic speed governor said hello.

The blasted leetle Bavarian got a bit smaller in the mirror as I out accelerated him, but not by as much as I would have LIKED, ahem.

Questions --
-- Time for an E55?
-- Time to congratulate the leetle straight six for perkiness and verve?
-- Time to assume he just hit third with a manual at the right time, and the cars a more closely matched than I want to think?
-- Is this just another example of my car feeling slower on hot days... it was 102F on the car thermometer with the air on? [It does tend to move better and give much sexier induction noises in on cold dense air.]
-- Or is it just a matter of perspective... e.g. I did pull away, but it would have been a lot more fun to make it show more?
-- Should I break down and buy some new wheels and tires so I at least look better while going not as fast as I hoped...

Now don't take me wrong. I did elect to buy this E430 on the basis of refinement over the more boy racer likes of the 540i I tested. Besides, there ARE a lot of 328's in every high school parking lot around.

The nice part of this whole deal is that I was puffing on an Ashton Churchill the whole time with the windows down and a serene look on my face.... so at least when the roundel caught me due to traffic I was properly unruffled.




------------------
GParker
'99 E430

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-12-2000, 12:33 AM
Michael's Avatar
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Boston, USA
Posts: 2,701
If you're looking for affirmation, you've got it; you appear to have bought the right car for the right reasons. BMW 328's, when new and fresh and still with their OE compression are strong cars (Double VANOS on the newest 328); and on the highway he's not likely gonna screw up a shift. And quite simply your power/weight ratio's not a lot better, nor your coefficient of drag (yours is worse, actually) so you're not gonna just blast away unless it's at a lower speed AND he blows a shift AND you're in the sweet spot of your motor (AND it's a cool night).

I think the real issue is who you want to please: you or the Bimwad. If it's the Bimwad, then get a Dinan 5 series with quad turbos. Strap a Nitrous tank onto an external luggage rack, pop on 20" wheels, Porsche brakes and you're done.

But if you're the well-considered guy I think you are (you DO drive an E430 after all, eh?), do some wheels and a nice stereo. And wait for these MercedesShop lunatics to hook up with Kleeman and put a blower on it. Hehehe.

Then you get to watch 328s fade properly.

But seriously, even though I know 500Es are quick cars, and my 500E seems to at least be an average one (best so far at the drags was 13.8 secs.@ 102.1 on a cold day, no mods to car x/c 17" rubber), honestly I'm less than satisfied with how I pull away from cars. Much has to do with the fact that you're looking thru a mirror; IMHO it distorts your depth perception considerably and lessens the accelerative effect. Also, when you ARE pulling away you're doing so in a Benz, which is a smooth-running ride. Hence your ability to puff said Churchill. And that very smoothness makes 'em feel slow. My '82 5.0 Mustang felt quicker to both my wife and I, but really...I'd embarrass that car at any speed it could attain.

So, be careful in the battles you choose, and watch out for Benzmac in that nutso pickup!!!

------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-12-2000, 03:25 AM
need2speed's Avatar
speedaholic
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,253
Hey man, you can't have your cake and eat it too (I think that's how it goes )

MB's gearing for top speed doesn't help with the stop light drag races. Of course, your doubley cursed with the dreaded 2nd gear start.

The V-8 is uncatchable above 120 mph...too back we can rarely operate in that stratosphere!

------------------
Dean Albrecht
94 E500
99 ML320

www.need2speed.web.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-12-2000, 08:52 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,342
0-60 is more power/weight, 60-150mph is more power/aero drag.

The V8 should be more in its element on the highway from about triple digits on. In that range huge amounts of revs + clutchslip will not help. (as they would off the line)

If the bimwad was already getting ready to pass he likely already had the "passing gear" in. You had to punch the gas and wait for the tranny/motor to get their act together. That alone could make the E430 seem less capable than it was. Plus if he was carrying more speed than you before you punched it. It takes tons more power to overcome a shift delay and/or speed defeceit. Also, acceleration from higher speeds is less dramatic than from lower speeds. This could make a big difference seem smaller. Put your foot on the gas from 15mph and notice how quickly you feel an effect. Put your foot in it at 115mph and try the same thing.

That said, (as has been noted above) you still have em "dead-er than hell" when it comes to the view through the mirror.

Hope this helps...Lee
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-13-2000, 08:23 AM
CMCon98
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Guys,
I think comparing Benzes to BMWs is comparing apples to oranges. M-Bs, for the most part, are not marketed as sporty high performance cars, but as sensible, grown-up, well-engineered cars that also perform well. If you're buying a Benz based on how it performs in a street race, save thirty grand, buy a new six-speed Z-28 Camaro, and have at it. Most stock BMW sedan models will outrun the equivalent stock Benz sedan model, and that is simply fact. For example, a 328i will outrun a C280, and a 540i will outrun an E430. The Bimmer models are all offered with performance-oriented manual transmissions because BMW buyers want them. Most US Benz buyers probably prefer automatics, or M-B would import more manuals. The point of all this is that the two brands have different philosophies and different customers, and the cars they produce reflect this. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and whichever you buy, enjoy it for what it is.

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 On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2002 E430 - Disabling BrakeAssist rzb Tech Help 1 11-23-2004 09:59 AM
2000 E430 AMG what is it? coltm4 Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 4 06-06-2003 06:29 PM
E320 or E430 ; 2w vs 4w DavidWeis Tech Help 6 04-11-2003 05:15 PM
Differences between e430 and e430 Sport? Sterling Gee Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 2 01-05-2003 05:02 PM
Electronic Speed Limiter E430 GParker Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 8 12-16-1999 07:21 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:23 PM.


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