What track did you get the E55 up to 180 on? A road course?

 

actually the american versions I think are speed limited to 155 or so. Not sure why. But the Euro versions have routinely hit 330 to 335 kph, which is over 206 mph. If you remove the limiter, these cars will go over 200 mph. Is the ticket bigger if you get caught at 200 mph versus 154?

 

When I had Kleemann mod the ECU they removed the 155 limiter. I hit that speed at VIR here in VA about 18 months ago.

 

Not trying to be rude but I don't think there is any way possible you got an E55 up to 180 at VIR. Maybe indicated (and if so your speedo may be WAY off), but no way with GPS and managed to stop in time. I don't think any of the modded Turbos and GT2's are hitting 180 mph. I think I only got 165-170.

e55's are strong, but not that strong, and trying to stop all that weight from 180 by the time you get to roller coaster around a bend from 180 mph would be insanity, or into turn 10 trying to stop down to 30-40 mph.

 

I saw what I saw - looked like 180 to me - and the E55 does have very massive brakes and yes it was a bit of a hairy ride. It was a private track day with some friends and no accurate timing - so you could be correct. In any event, the E55 is fast, comfortable and a real pleasure to drive. I am still wondering about the M5 top speed.

 

A bit hairy doesn't even begin to describe what stopping a 4000+ lb E55 (on street tires?) from 180 mph going uphill and around a corner (back straight) or around a corner (front straight) into uneven braking zone would be like.

I've never understood how people can look down at the speedo while stopping from 160-180 mph. But nonetheless I don't think the E55 can accelerate or stop fast enough or it would outrun every Porsche here that has run on that track, and every other car too that's not a Trans-am, DP, LMP, GT1 or similar car.

And these are down to sub 2minute cars with 500,600,700 hp and almost 1000 less lbs. Highly improbable.

From the sounds of it, it was just a ECU flash that added power and took away the limiter. Not a chance.


Here is a tube frame challenger that runs as fast as grand am and has 700 + hp and weighs a little over 2,000 lbs. Top Speed 172

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x13C7...rom=PL&index=6

 

Apology and correction!!! I am embarrassed to post this but will for the sake of accuracy. Went out to drive the E55 this morning and realized the speedo only goes to 160 - sooooo, I was only going about 160 NOT the 180 I thought I remembered. As to the car - it has the ECU, a different pulley, headers and larger TB. It does make 600 hp and 595 ft-lbs at the the crank. Again I apologize for my earlier mis-statement. Just don't have the memory cells I guess now that I am 62.

 

All good, that sounds about right, which is amazing for a 4,000 lb sedan.

 

haha, ya, I was thinking the same thing haha, our 997 cup cars only hit 160-170 gps verified mph haha. I think it would take a good 800 hp gt2 converted cup car or vette etc to do those kind of numbers haha.

 

Yeah, given usual speedometer error at those speeds, it would probably be in the low 150's if he had it pegged at 160.

You know what the funny thing is that I used to really car how fast I was going on the back straight at Road Atlanta and peek down going into turn 10 and all I saw was 160, but I was getting actually 169-170 by traqmate.

 

E55, we are on our second one. Awesome cars, effortless highway stormer and I believe a better all round car than the 5 series.

Only car I ever regretted selling (so wifey got one when a good one came up)

Love how you shot them all out of the water and went with an E60 M! Enjoy it

 

thanks. I did it not because of the potential power it can have. I know that an E55 can be made faster because of it's SC, but stock it's about the same in a straight line. Handling is a whole different matter. I also have a friend that has both. The E55 he has is pretty well modded. 15psi pulley, huge IC, exhaust, blah blah... I can absolutely crush him with my Turbo. I don't need to worry about fast, as I already have that. I wanted an iconic 4 door sedan and the M5 is at the top of that heap. The E60 is better looking(IMO), has a better built engine (8500 rpm redline), that sounds like an F1 car, Has more bhp than the E55 motor and does it with half a liter less and no supercharger like the AMG has.

has a transmission that is about as close to manual as it gets, it is a manual. It even rev matches on down shifts and rolls back at stop lights like a std stick. The suspension is much stiffer and more planted. The overall package is better than the E55 stock. If I wanted a drag machine, yes the E55 with an SC would have been the way. If I wanted a well rounded machine, I think the M5 in any variation would is the choice.

 

So in reality. the RS6 was never in the running, which is odd for where you live?

 

I'll take an M over an AMG all day. More driver oriented.

The only AMG that's in the ballpark would be the Black Series. If Mercedes would get off their humps and put a decent transmission in them and take some weight out, they would be a SERIOUS contender.

But seems AMG is more geared to the bling crowd, not enthusiasts. I mean seriously, no manuals for like 20 years now, not even a dual clutch. All autos.

 

Auto in the AMG is the other reason I did not pick it.

As for the RS6, I have seen a few and honestly, did not like the condition they were in. This M5 is absolutely mint. As for weather. We have gotten 2 feet of snow in one day, and the roads were clear the next day, so not so much an issue.