1 What does CDI stand for? I heard it means common rail direct injection but have no idea what that means.

2 What does CLK stand for?

3 Is Sensotronic Brake Control only on "e" classes and is it really a help?

4 How does PRE SAFE work? What does it do other than tighten the seat belts if the car skids?

5 Why would someone buy an S55 over an S600 or vice versa? I hear the S600 is a luxury ride and the S55 is a sport ride, other than that 0-60 times are identical.

6 In the "S" class sedans, how much longer is an "L" than a standard car? For example, how much longer is an S500L than an S500? I realise in the USA cars aren't given the "L", but in Europe some cars are badged with an "L" and others aren't. Are we getting the short version or the "L" version in North America?

1) CDI is kinda like EFI for Diesels. Instead of a mechanical pump timing the fuel charge, there's a common source of fuel supplying all the cylinders and an electric solenoid valve (injector) at each cylinder that opens and closes on command from an ECU somewhere. Direct injection means that the fuel charge does directly into the combustion chamber, not upstream of the intake valve. There are direct injection gassers outside of the US. I understand they get very good fuel mileage. I don't understand the benefit or the mechanics.

2) I would think coupe light kompressor, but as I understand the CLK320 doesn't have a supercharger. The CLK is or was built on the C-class platform but the styling looks more E-class. Such being the case, I doubt C stands for C-class.

4) It also adjusts the seats to a more 'survivable' position; low, far back and backrest vertical. I don't know how they keep the drivers hands on the wheel and feet on the pedals. I don't know at what point the seats return to their previous position if there is no impact.

5) I put that one with Stonehenge.

6) There's typically an extra 4" of wheelbase and rear seat legroom in the LWB S-class. I don't think MB offers a SWB version of the W220 (current S-class) in the US. I see the terms S320V and S320W to describe SWB and LWB varieties of the 6cyl W140(previous S-class) but the suffix doesn't make it to the badging.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

#3 Sensotronic Brake Control was introduced in the new SL. It is also an integral part of pre-safe and will soon be on all models. It is supposed to help in emergency situations, I have heard it does help, but how much is hard to quantify.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired