RE: Mercedes Trainees Create V8 B-class

RE: Mercedes Trainees Create V8 B-class

Wednesday 22nd December 2010

Mercedes Trainees Create V8 B-class

Q: Can you fit a socking great V8 into a B-class? A: Yes



It's safe to say that the B-class is not one of our favourite Benzes, but this is probably as close as we're ever going to get to a B-class that we actually like.

It's called the B55 and it's been created by a team of Mercedes trainees at the firm's Rastatt plant. Unbelievably, they've managed to squeeze a 5.5-litre, 383bhp Mercedes V8 into that stubby nose.

It wasn't even that tricky a heart transplant, it seems - for a team of twelve second-year and third-year trainees specialising in production mechanics and automotive mechatronics, that is.


Out went the old 2.0-litre turbodiesel lump, and in went the V8 - without even the need to change engine mounts. Naturally, retaining front-wheel drive was out of the question, but the rear axle from an old W210 series E-class was found to fit snugly into the car to provide proper-wheel drive, while the brakes were pinched from an old C32 AMG.

The only real headache, we're told, was getting the ECU to talk properly to the rear axle - and boy, are we glad they overcame that hurdle...



   
   
Author
Discussion

scubadude

Original Poster:

2,618 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Loving the concept, little car + unecessarily large engine + good IMO.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/inc/popup3.asp?pictur...

Looks a "tad" nose heavy now mind you!

kambites

67,463 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
I'm quite surprised that the transverse I4 diesel and longitudinal V8 have the same mount locations.

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Want.

Leicesterdave

2,282 posts

179 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
I'd have it.

lordlee

3,137 posts

244 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Imagine the chaos on the school run with mum's getting their hands on these!
>shudders<

poison-rose

12 posts

202 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Is it just me, or will that thing handle worse than a transit. Wayyy too much weight at the front.
It is kind of cool though. =D

carl carlson

786 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Love it. Good to see trainees coming up with stuff like this. Hopefully they will get into high places and sanction crazy st like this for the masses to buy.

Oelholm

321 posts

184 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
This sort of thing never gets old, does it? biggrin

rob.e

2,861 posts

277 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
I like that.

It'd make excellent fast family transport. IMO there are not enough practical family cars with RWD and a V8.

hehe

nonplussed

3,338 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Garlick said:
Want.
Now.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Should be very rapid. Thought they only managed a V6 in the past- perhaps i'm thinking of a-class? scratchchin

R360

4,316 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Great idea, i remember they once made a smart car with 2 engines, think it wa a one off for Mika Hakkinen

kambites

67,463 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
R360 said:
Great idea, i remember they once made a smart car with 2 engines, think it wa a one off for Mika Hakkinen
I think that was an A-class.

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
I'm quite surprised that the transverse I4 diesel and longitudinal V8 have the same mount locations.
Probably able to use the same chassis / subframe pick up points, with fabricated mounts linking the chassis to the engines - A transverse engine and gearbox will need a mount each side under/over it, as will a longditudinal V8

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Airfilters from Halfords?! Either way I like it!

kambites

67,463 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
kambites said:
I'm quite surprised that the transverse I4 diesel and longitudinal V8 have the same mount locations.
Probably able to use the same chassis / subframe pick up points, with fabricated mounts linking the chassis to the engines - A transverse engine and gearbox will need a mount each side under/over it, as will a longditudinal V8
So is that I4 not used longitudinally in the C-class? I'd assumed all their engines would share mounts for longitudinal installation, since I'd imagine some engines are used both longitudinally and transversely, but no cars have some of their engines longitudinal and some transverse, if that makes sense.

HowardB

145 posts

174 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
now that is a worthwhile thing to do at college!

PaulMoor

3,209 posts

162 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Nice! Very silly, and must have been sooooo much fun to build.

(also, note to any British enginering companys... This is why we have a lack of young engineers in the UK. Companys in other countrys offer training and make it seem like a cool job, but in the UK you just blaim the schools and uni's for giving people a genral education)

shakotan

10,679 posts

195 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
R360 said:
Great idea, i remember they once made a smart car with 2 engines, think it wa a one off for Mika Hakkinen
I think that was an A-class.
Smart Roadster, IIRC

james_tigerwoods

16,287 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
shakotan said:
kambites said:
R360 said:
Great idea, i remember they once made a smart car with 2 engines, think it wa a one off for Mika Hakkinen
I think that was an A-class.
Smart Roadster, IIRC
No, no - it was an A class.