Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Non-repair car talk
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kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:59 pm I splurged again because...why not.

Ordered a brand new engine cover which this car is missing. I have owned my STS for 3 years and been annoyed that it didn't have the full engine bay dress. The SRX was missing its engine cover since we owned it. So...not doing that with this car. This wasn't much more than eBay for used and those are scuffed, have broken tabs, missing Mercedes logo, etc.
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 1130100967

Then I realized why the front end looks so plain. It's missing the hood ornament! Someone specifically debadged the Mercedes logos. I'd like to add them back. They were cheap. In the place of the star logo, someone added these little AMG badges. They are OK but I think the car could use just a little (factory) bling.

Hood ornament:
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 2108800186

Trunk badge:
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 2117580058

So with shipping that's $214.

Yes I know, I just dropped $940 on stuff. It's fine. I like this car and I think I'm going to keep it a while. This is my favorite part actually, the TLC/maintenance process after purchase. I think this really started when I got my Fleetwood though I enjoyed maintaining my Caprice and Camaro before that.
I have STILL not received this order. This is damn annoying. It seems to be in RI but where the hell is it? Maybe I'll get it tomorrow. It was scheduled for last Sat but after that came and went, I think it just stopped predicting a delivery time. What a joke (USPS).
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Looks like it will arrive today. Geez. I feel like this was one of the first things I ordered! Last to arrive...
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Nope. Should be today. So slow.

I guess the upshot is this was probably my least important order.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Tracking says delivered. I'll believe it when I see it (when I get home).
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:59 pm I splurged again because...why not.

Ordered a brand new engine cover which this car is missing. I have owned my STS for 3 years and been annoyed that it didn't have the full engine bay dress. The SRX was missing its engine cover since we owned it. So...not doing that with this car. This wasn't much more than eBay for used and those are scuffed, have broken tabs, missing Mercedes logo, etc.
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 1130100967

Then I realized why the front end looks so plain. It's missing the hood ornament! Someone specifically debadged the Mercedes logos. I'd like to add them back. They were cheap. In the place of the star logo, someone added these little AMG badges. They are OK but I think the car could use just a little (factory) bling.

Hood ornament:
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 2108800186

Trunk badge:
https://www.mercedesbenzpartscenter.com ... 2117580058

So with shipping that's $214.

Yes I know, I just dropped $940 on stuff. It's fine. I like this car and I think I'm going to keep it a while. This is my favorite part actually, the TLC/maintenance process after purchase. I think this really started when I got my Fleetwood though I enjoyed maintaining my Caprice and Camaro before that.
2/3 are installed.

Nice 2 day shipping, USPS.
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I do think it looks better with the star hood ornament.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Have appt for inspection on Sat. Going to do windows down and cross my fingers. The tint isn't as dark as the STS was. Hopefully they don't reject it outright. Wondering whether I should try talking to the tech first or leave it alone. Really don't want to remove this tint as it is not super dark and helps with a black on black car...
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Commuted in again.

It's funny how a hood ornament changes the feel of the car. I like it though I'm still torn because I'm trained that hood ornaments are for old man cars (which is the E class in general). I mean even in the 90s GM was like....we need to remove the hood ornament to make this Impala SS.

But I think it works. I actually think it's cool that Mercedes still uses them. They are a throwback. And it's not like this car is overstyled. It's the opposite if anything. Not counting the previous flat emblem I just removed, there is just one AMG logo on the entire car and it's on the trunk like any car would have.

It looks like this EXACT hood ornament was used generally at Mercedes from 1993 through 2007.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merced ... 2108800186

This one from around 2007-2010. Very similar.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merced ... 2218800086

Also this happened though it seems like it was a US market decision not a global one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1534 ... m-c-class/
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Had a bit of a revelation today.

I cruised at 100 for a bit on my commute (got there quickly in 5th with very little throttle - car is awesome). About 3,000 rpm at 100. Seems high for a 2.65 gear. Then again I already thought 2000+ was high for 70. This got my curiosity piqued.

I found my speed vs gear spreadsheet, looked up revs/mile for a Continental 265/35-18 and plugged in the trans ratios. Sure enough I was onto something. With a 2.65 it should only be turning 1,8xx rpm @ 70 mph and 2,5xx rpm @ 100 mph. Did a little digging and 3.07 is a common Mercedes ratio. Plugged 3.07 in and guess what - it lines up PERFECTLY. Calculates to 2,086 rpm @ 70 and 2,979 rpm @ 100 which is basically exactly what I saw on the tach.

So apparently this car has upgraded diff gears. That's pretty cool though I don't think it needs it. Then I got all nervous about the trip computer. I had noted in excess of 22 mpg highway. What if that was off and some coefficient in the trip computer thought I had traveled further then the car really did and thus calculated a higher fuel economy? Well, I filled up this afternoon and this was the first time Fuelly had calculated fuel economy data. I entered everything and noted the trip computer said 17.8 mpg since I last reset it (beginning of this tank). What did Fuelly say? 17.8. No shit. Highly unexpected, honestly, but I'll take it.

Oh, on my drive home I did check to see what the computer reported for speed and rpm vs the gauge cluster. They are exactly in agreement, so that's good. It rules out the tach being way off and making me think the car has different gears when it doesn't, but it clearly does.

I got under it tonight and the stamping on the diff does say 2.65. So that means they upgraded the gears in the stock housing which is normal. What would be REALLY cool is if they also upgraded the carrier to a Quaife or other Torsen-style limited slip. These cars had open diffs with just traction control based limited slip, stock. A real limited slip is always better.
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So if I may bench race for a moment...this car has a tune (allegedly) and probably a 3.07 and maybe even a mechanical limited slip. It seems to me that on a prepped strip, this car might be good for a low 12 second 1/4 mile (OK, after I replace the intercooler pump I guess). That ain't too shabby, eh? For 1/2 the price of a V2 (which runs low 12s).
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

Have a look at the ratios.

Stock
E55 2.65.png
With 3.07
E55 3.07.png
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Mercedes E55 AMG hunt (W211)

Post by kevm14 »

GPS verified the speedo last night. It's right on. So the tach and speedo match the computer, and the speedo matches GPS. Conclusion: this definitely has a 3.07 or thereabouts.
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