Well, boys, the gauntlet's been thrown...my friend at MBUSA has just "invited" me to join him at a track event 4-12 at Lime Rock Park. He'll be piloting an E55, and me in my 500E. Should be interesting.

Now, this guy's a very good, well-trained driver...I'm marginal at best (just ask anyone that's been to a track event with me!). How bad is he gonna kill me? Last time out, he gave me a really tough time with a C32, and that little sucker pulled me on the main straight! Actually held my own in the twisty bits, but that little sucker is QUICK

Can anyone else join us, and perhaps defend our honour more capably than myself?? Hendy? Tackman? Dean? Guido? Neil (and to Dean, Neil & Guido: I don't want to hear any "it's a long drive" whining...I need help here amigos!!)?

I vote Tackman (I will personally purchase the "500E" emblem and mount it on your trunklid, once I slice off the RENNTech badge and put on cleen wheels to hide your 18" brakes) 'cuz he'll simply walk away, sliding...love that guy and what he does to the Porsche-types! Hendy'd probably give him a go, just 'cuz he's a crazy bloke...anyone else with cojones and HP out there?

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"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Don't feel bad about seeing C32 taillights. It's 300lbs lighter and has 20-30 ponies on you.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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Michael (Schumacher),

Strip your car (rear seats, etc) and go get octane 100!

Show no fear and good luck! Come back and tell us about your victory.

Uh, 100 Octane won't do much good. The 500E won't advance the timing until detonation. It retards it if it is sensed.

Stripping the car might help, though. Take out the spare, the passenger seat and rear seats. Take out the tool kit, jack, first aid kit, and so on. Also, make sure you've got about 1/4 tank of gas. Enough to avoid starvation, but save on the weight of extra gallons.

If you're having traction or ASR intervention problems, think about some Hoosiers or A-032R's to help.

The E55 definitely has an acceleration edge, but if your course has enough tight bits, you can equalize it a little with handling.

And don't bother with 17 or 18" wheels. You'll add unsprung weight and get little in return. Just get some racing tires for your factory 16's.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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John,

I've recently installed Michelin MXX3 245/45-17 on AMG wheels. Combined weight I think is about 4 lbs per corner more. But it's quite a bit bigger contact patch, and with these tires I think I'm doing okay, maybe 70% of the traction of, say Kumhos on OE wheels.

I do plan to strip it, though , perhaps even more than you've suggested (wheel center caps, door handles, passenger seat, carpet, door panels, speakers & entire stereo system, door pulls & check straps, wondow glass & motors, y'know

As to the fuel suggestion, John, bear in mind that averaging over the last 3 track events, on-track I averaged just under 5 MPG-a tank goes quick on a track day, and refueling opportunites can be limited

Lastly, I'm looking into throwing it into "Diagnostic" mode (jump pins 1 & 6 on the CAN)-does anyone know if this shuts down just ASR, or kills ABS too?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Mike - have your friend bring his E55 down the Las Vegas in September and we can dance on the Speedway road course before the Silver State Classic.

I'd love to rub door handles

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Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Hey John- have you driven or owned a 500e or e500???

Appears you have quite a few limiting opinons on this car.

-fad

No, I haven't spent much seat time in an E500, but reality is reality. If you're going to take on an expert driver in an E55, it's not going to be a cakewalk. I've had more time in an E55, and it's pretty fast, no doubt. Better than an M5 anyday! (my attorney has both...am I green?)

What exactly does "limiting opinions" mean? Does it mean that I should rah-rah the E500 and simply exclaim that the vaunted E can take all comers? I think it is a fantastic car. I love Q-ships, and the 500 is one of the best. For such an old design, it's nothing short of amazing that it can run with the 21st century big-dogs of performance sedans.

But, the truth is that an E55 or new M5 is a formidable opponent, and dismissing their capability is a crucial mistake when taking to the track.

My "limiting opinion" on the E500's weight is in fact reality. It's heavier than either the C32 or the E55. Weight on the track is bad. In this particular show-down, our E500 driver needs all the help he can get, as he clearly states he's outmatched when it comes to driver skill. Driver skill is the largest factor in this contest, and it's probably going to win the day, but we can try can't we?

Before you take out your window glass, check track regs. Without a net, some tracks insist "windows up." You might just have to leave the driver's door glass in. Make the call before spinning the wrench.

If you can disable the ASR, great. Are you using the ABS on the track? If getting rid of the ASR means losing ABS too, can you live with that? Bloody ASR! Electonic nannies are fine, but give us an "off" switch. My C36 was hobbled by that rotten computerized gizmo.

And I AM hoping you win! For one thing, maybe MBUSA might report back to the home-office that the new W211 E55 NEEDS the 476hp engine from the SL55!! Oh, baby. The other thing is that it's nice to see the underdog win. My friend Jay is easily the best non-professional driver I know. But, he doesn't strut this fact. Watching him take on cars with twice the power and thrash them is FUN! Let's face it, seeing a 10 year old 500E passing a 2002 E55 would be AWESOME!

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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Michael,
Please video tape this if you can. This would be very interesting to watch.
Good luck !

Mike, depending on what I have planned...I can video the both of you at the Rock; I may even be working on site there that day; being low in the river by the start/finish would be a cool vantage point, don't ya' think...won't be able to run with you though...the car won't have all the work done by then and I'll have too many excuses if I'm not up to par with the rest of you fellas....

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Thanks, Jim for the offer-sounds great

John, I was overstating what I intend to rip out of the car-realistically I'll pull pretty much what you outlined, maybe a few other things.

Hopefully I can fit a track event in prior to the big showdown-anyone have any ideas?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

E55 would jump on you right after apex, IMO, with all the torque it has.....and 5 speed tranny on E55 shifts firm and quick compare to hydraulic unit we have with M119..... so feel don't bad if you have a bit hard time keeping up...

Andy Kuo

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
http://members.shaw.ca/AKRY/W140_Side.gif

2002 Acura TL Type S
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I think ASR is my biggest enemy...in order to drive to keep it at bay, it requires a different line that rewards keeping the car real flat (and 0 oversteer). I think "slow in, fast out" is the only way to gothru the corners, and hope this keeps me in shouting distance

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Another interesting bit-the 500E and E55 have exactly the same 4 gear ratios, and final drive ratio. Only difference is that an E55 has that additional taller fifth gear

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Uh, I was just joking. Btw, I don't really think he is Michael Schumacher either (or is he???)

Actually I only use octane 94 because there is an obvious seat-of-the-pants improvement over say 92 but I agree 100 would do nothing but retard timing.