RE: Mercedes E60 AMG | PH Heroes

[Dapster]

I thought the only wheel option on the E60 was the deep dish 3 piece AMG wheels - given that the car in the article is from Mercedes's own collection, it would obviously be the correct spec, but the one that was on display at MB Brooklands had the AMG wheels as did the MB press cars at launch, perhaps the wheels from the Limited were a no cost option?



The actual production process was nuts. The initial build took place at Mercedes, the cars were then shipped to Porsche for main drivetrain components, back to Mercedes for final paint, back to Porsche for the engine installation and final assembly, then back to Mercedes for inspection, sign off and shipping.

Would definitely be in the Mercedes subsection of my lottery garage - along with a W100 600, W116 6.9, C126 560SEC, W201 Evo II and CLK GTR

Edited by Dapster on Saturday 20th April 15:34

[grumpy52]

An old V8 Merc is on my list of cars to own before I stop driving.

[RK22]

That said the 1989 560 SEC that sits alongside the E60 is a fun old school Mercedes V8 experience for a fraction of the price…..

[NGK210]

It may only be a 3-box design, but its poise and proportions are perfect.

I wonder if Mechatronic could transplant a nicer autobox?

[howardhughes]

Venisonpie said:

Ja!

Remove the badge and exhaust tips for something more subtle and it's perfect.

What!, No! Leave them on, so people will know it's a '500E'

[Agent57]

Dapster said:

I thought the only wheel option on the E60 was the deep dish 3 piece AMG wheels - given that the car in the article is from Mercedes's own collection, it would obviously be the correct spec, but the one that was on display at MB Brooklands had the AMG wheels as did the MB press cars at launch, perhaps the wheels from the Limited were a no cost option?

Edited by Dapster on Saturday 20th April 15:34

Don't like those wheels. Prefer the ones in the main pics.

[McGee_22]

Fabulous machine and very rare but isn't 355bhp from a six litre V8 pretty low?

Alpina were getting 340bhp from just about three-quarters of that engine in the same year - their first 4.6 in the E34. Additionally the author waxes lyrical about the spec with electric seats, electric steering column and automatic air conditioning - again all available and some quite common in E34's of the time.

Fabulous machine though and despite being a Munich machine fan I would definitely make space for something as special and bonkers as this. Did they make an estate? As I understand it these top end AMG's were pretty much bespoke machines made to specific orders only.

[JJJ.]

McGee_22 said:

Fabulous machine and very rare but isn't 355bhp from a six litre V8 pretty low?

Alpina were getting 340bhp from just about three-quarters of that engine in the same year - their first 4.6 in the E34. Additionally the author waxes lyrical about the spec with electric seats, electric steering column and automatic air conditioning - again all available and some quite common in E34's of the time.

Fabulous machine though and despite being a Munich machine fan I would definitely make space for something as special and bonkers as this. Did they make an estate? As I understand it these top end AMG's were pretty much bespoke machines made to specific orders only.

I think it's all about torque or torque spread over the rev range, not to mention keeping the engine on the low side of stressed.

[LotusOmega375D]

The earlier Lotus Carlton had 377bhp (382PS) and 419 lb.ft torque with a manual 6 speed gearbox and weighed 1655kg, so quicker still without the girly speed limiter.

[Agent57]

McGee_22 said:

Fabulous machine and very rare but isn't 355bhp from a six litre V8 pretty low?

Alpina were getting 340bhp from just about three-quarters of that engine in the same year - their first 4.6 in the E34. Additionally the author waxes lyrical about the spec with electric seats, electric steering column and automatic air conditioning - again all available and some quite common in E34's of the time.

Fabulous machine though and despite being a Munich machine fan I would definitely make space for something as special and bonkers as this. Did they make an estate? As I understand it these top end AMG's were pretty much bespoke machines made to specific orders only.

On the face of it, I agree. But this is from a time of classy, burbling engines rather than screaming power.

To compare:

BMW M5 E34: 311 / 340 HP
Lotus Carlton: 377HP
Jag XJS 6.0 V12: 304HP
BMW 850i 300HP 850CSi 375 HP

[Water Fairy]

So where's your 200k going? Yes it's nice, really nice, but 200k?

[quigonjay]

Agent57 said:

McGee_22 said:

Fabulous machine and very rare but isn't 355bhp from a six litre V8 pretty low?

Alpina were getting 340bhp from just about three-quarters of that engine in the same year - their first 4.6 in the E34. Additionally the author waxes lyrical about the spec with electric seats, electric steering column and automatic air conditioning - again all available and some quite common in E34's of the time.

Fabulous machine though and despite being a Munich machine fan I would definitely make space for something as special and bonkers as this. Did they make an estate? As I understand it these top end AMG's were pretty much bespoke machines made to specific orders only.

On the face of it, I agree. But this is from a time of classy, burbling engines rather than screaming power.

To compare:

BMW M5 E34: 311 / 340 HP
Lotus Carlton: 377HP
Jag XJS 6.0 V12: 304HP
BMW 850i 300HP 850CSi 375 HP

These are more like 400hp. Don't know where the 355 comes from but in the SL60 (same engine) I think they officially quoted 380 as they did not want to step on the toes of the more expensive 390ish V12 version. But I believe these are commonly accepted to produce around 400

[Andy83n]

RK22 said:

That said the 1989 560 SEC that sits alongside the E60 is a fun old school Mercedes V8 experience for a fraction of the price…..

But you'd want the AMG Widebody version which is a half a million Pounds car

[McGee_22]

Agent57 said:

On the face of it, I agree. But this is from a time of classy, burbling engines rather than screaming power.

To compare:

BMW M5 E34: 311 / 340 HP
Lotus Carlton: 377HP
Jag XJS 6.0 V12: 304HP
BMW 850i 300HP 850CSi 375 HP

The power figures for the comparable saloons tell one tale;

Mercedes 500E 322bhp
BMW 3.8 M5 340bhp
Alpina B10 4.6 340bhp
AMG E60 355bhp*
Alpina B10 BiTurbo 360bhp
Lotus Carlton 377bhp

The torque figures for the engines of these saloons are a little more revealing I think;

BMW 3.8 M5 295 lbft
Mercedes 500E 354 lbft
Alpina B10 4.6 354 lbft
Alpina B10 BiTurbo 375 lbft
Lotus Carlton 419 lbft
AMG E60 428 lbft

The M5 really gets left behind in this company.

Edit to add; The Wiki entry for the E60 states 381bhp which would be more in keeping with the size of the engine but still quite conservative for a mid 1990's 6 litre V8.

[jay-kay-em]

When an AMG badge actually meant something.

[howardhughes]

jay-kay-em said:

When an AMG badge actually meant something.

Here, here!

[MickyveloceClassic]

I have the baby brother to this fabulous car.

Admittedly it’s down 90bhp, but is a bit lighter and shares much of the same dna.

And it only cost £5k.

[RK22]

Officially output was 381bhp. Lots of stories abound that AMG held back the official output to not challenge the output of the Mercedes own flagship 6.0 V12 but that actual output was more likely 410bhp. It is certainly not lacking BHP or torque.

[Skeptisk]

Oh my. I think I would have that over any current Mercedes. So cool.

[GTRene]

lovely cars, or should I say, cars from the past that had something over them, the wider wings, the V8 power, the high price and fast...

I remember a compagnie were I worked for long long time ago, that boss over there bought a new Mercedes, it was a dark colored 400E, looked impressive when he visited us on or workplace and I sat in that car for some moments, what a machine (at the time as a young(er) man)

other then that? much GT car I guess and ow, not a lightweight...
now in the hands of mostly other sort people then when they came out.