Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
bolidemichael said:
Nice summary Adam! I was chortling whilst supervising my son's homework (based on the Bloodhound SSC day that they are having tomorrow at school!).
Most Mercs have the two stage acceleration. One step is a progressive acceleration, whilst the next step (on the 'click') is the balls out acceleration. Perhaps you are engaging the second step in your enthusiasm? Additionally, my experience is that the manually selected gear adds as an upper limit to the gears (though the car will change gear through prolonged misuse of the revs) rather than maintaining the current gear irrespective of the throttle input.
I still delude myself into thinking that C mode is going to save microlitres of fuel. Ho hum. Have you played around with the suspension settings as of yet? I find a tangible difference to the responsiveness when changing direction, particularly when the car is full of people. I also tend to operate the ride height at 'raised' in town in order to soften the impact on speed bumps and pot holes, so on and so forth.
It's interesting that you find it notably more improved that the E39 too. Most people say 'last of the proper Beemers/best 5 series' etc.
I certainly do engage the kickdown balls out pressure in the scenario I suggested. I'm of the opinion manual mode should not be overridden no matter what I do with the throttle though. Surely the point is to give full control. I guess I'll have to spend more time learning to work with it. This is my first automatic car so it's all new to me. Most Mercs have the two stage acceleration. One step is a progressive acceleration, whilst the next step (on the 'click') is the balls out acceleration. Perhaps you are engaging the second step in your enthusiasm? Additionally, my experience is that the manually selected gear adds as an upper limit to the gears (though the car will change gear through prolonged misuse of the revs) rather than maintaining the current gear irrespective of the throttle input.
I still delude myself into thinking that C mode is going to save microlitres of fuel. Ho hum. Have you played around with the suspension settings as of yet? I find a tangible difference to the responsiveness when changing direction, particularly when the car is full of people. I also tend to operate the ride height at 'raised' in town in order to soften the impact on speed bumps and pot holes, so on and so forth.
It's interesting that you find it notably more improved that the E39 too. Most people say 'last of the proper Beemers/best 5 series' etc.
I have played with the suspension settings. I can see the merits of the super floppy raised setting for town and have used it a couple of times, but I find the normal comfort mode gives sufficient smoothness so tend to leave it at that. The hardest setting certainly helps with direction changes and weight management. The thing I find it really changes is the reduced amount of rear end squat when maximum acceleration is called for. It's comedy in comfort mode. Ive only had two people in the car but look forward to fiddling about with the settings when fully loaded.
I merely suggested that 20mpg isnt that large a jump from 26mpg as I got in the e39. The BMW was a joy to drive (before the marketing department destroyed the phrase.) The chassis was ever so well balanced. It was the last of the proper bmw's. (I'm one of those people.) It's apple and pears with these two cars. I wouldn't say the merc is better. It's different. Comfort and gadgets are far better in the w211, but to drive it's the e39 every time.
Benzslammer said:
This thread was a very enjoyable read. I still have my E500 Avantgarde S211 in 189 Emerald Black with electric boot floor amongst other options! Its now back on its original plate KY54 YCZ. Its currently unused and will be for sale soon.
.
Ive since had a W211 E500 and now have aS212.
Post this in the Barge 1-5 thread, someone will bite your arm off..
Ive since had a W211 E500 and now have aS212.
Hi Benzslammer, thanks... it's been a while since an update but I'll catch up slowly but surely. Have you a chassis number that you can share for option geekery?
0a... where is this thread to be found? I often read about the loser conference too which sounds great, but cannot locate any details.
0a... where is this thread to be found? I often read about the loser conference too which sounds great, but cannot locate any details.
This it the warning message for the rear-facing folding bench seats for children:
and raised (headrests neatly folded):
Whilst the windscreen was being worked on, I was inspecting the rear end of Magnus (fnarr) and trying to get to grip with the various things that appeared wrong and generally curious.
These two disks, as far as I can figure, sit back to back on the underside of the LP type fixture for the spare wheel, in order to secure it:
Like so. If anyone knows any different, please do correct me:
I also found this neat collapsible chock:
This handle for the folding back rest had been broken by a previous owner and I didn't spot it during the purchase.
There is also the end of this really handy 'easy load pack', which is in-tact on the offside:
and cracked on the nearside:
and so the shopping list with MB Brooklands, begins....
and raised (headrests neatly folded):
Whilst the windscreen was being worked on, I was inspecting the rear end of Magnus (fnarr) and trying to get to grip with the various things that appeared wrong and generally curious.
These two disks, as far as I can figure, sit back to back on the underside of the LP type fixture for the spare wheel, in order to secure it:
Like so. If anyone knows any different, please do correct me:
I also found this neat collapsible chock:
This handle for the folding back rest had been broken by a previous owner and I didn't spot it during the purchase.
There is also the end of this really handy 'easy load pack', which is in-tact on the offside:
and cracked on the nearside:
and so the shopping list with MB Brooklands, begins....
After a clean, I spotted the first scuff on the recently purchased, refurbished alloys. It's one of those moments when I think of who may have had the key and draw up a mental hit-list of potential victims - of course, it could never have been myself... or could it?
The side profile of Magnus was attractive to my eyes, nevertheless, on a brisk January morning, whilst I enjoyed a nice, parsimonius and slightly burnt and bitter coffee from a local business.
The side profile of Magnus was attractive to my eyes, nevertheless, on a brisk January morning, whilst I enjoyed a nice, parsimonius and slightly burnt and bitter coffee from a local business.
I took the car to 'Old School Windscreens' in Chertsey for a quotation to remove and replace the tint. They confirmed that the current installation was a cheap one which is why it was streaked. The edges are darker than the visible glass, demonstrating that the film has perished over time.
Spring came around and I drove to Battle in Sussex on a social visit. Spring was in the air early and on a lovely Sunday morning, I had a nice opportunity to tackle the local B roads, which are very good and also quiet. The most noticeable thing for me was that the 'Sports 2' (of 2) setting enabled me to be surprisingly aggressive with late braking and accurate on the turn-in. Coming from my last V8, the E63 645Ci, it is an even better handling car!
This unusual sight caught my eye, how often is a Scimitar shell enjoying the fresh air?!
After that, I took a nice drive to Box Hill in order to get a cup of tea at Ryka's and browse the bikes in the car park. After so many years as an active biker, it's almost like a homing beacon to me. Nature did it's nest to stop us, though...
I'm a sucker for a nice 'blade and the paint scheme on this is fantastic with the slick acrapovic can too:
On the way back, I stopped at the Epsom Downs and admired the lovely views of London:
This Sunday was a lovely solo day with the car, great bonding time.
This unusual sight caught my eye, how often is a Scimitar shell enjoying the fresh air?!
After that, I took a nice drive to Box Hill in order to get a cup of tea at Ryka's and browse the bikes in the car park. After so many years as an active biker, it's almost like a homing beacon to me. Nature did it's nest to stop us, though...
I'm a sucker for a nice 'blade and the paint scheme on this is fantastic with the slick acrapovic can too:
On the way back, I stopped at the Epsom Downs and admired the lovely views of London:
This Sunday was a lovely solo day with the car, great bonding time.
Back to business, the loading capacity was pressed into duty when asked to help my brother move house. Notice the precision loading in the E61, developed over the years from me time learning how to load a Mini in order to cart my stuff up and down the M6 from London to Stirling Uni.
and the clearance of the arches is great, thanks to the airmatic
well packed, also, bear witness to the self-induced damage on the rear offside, no thanks to a very low bar in a supermarket car park. I can't help feeling that I should've taken photos and claimed from the insurance, as this bloody thing was so low and randomly placed. Anyway, there's no avoiding my own idiocy! Bugger.
I'd say, that's a job well done:
and the clearance of the arches is great, thanks to the airmatic
well packed, also, bear witness to the self-induced damage on the rear offside, no thanks to a very low bar in a supermarket car park. I can't help feeling that I should've taken photos and claimed from the insurance, as this bloody thing was so low and randomly placed. Anyway, there's no avoiding my own idiocy! Bugger.
I'd say, that's a job well done:
A couple of throwback... racing in 2007 at Castle Combe:
On the Paso della Futa on the way to the MotoGP at Mugello, during a solo journey to Greece on my lovely CBR900RR3 (most riders get hacked off at the speeds I maintain and the frustration is reciprocated!), an incredible experience:
On the Paso della Futa on the way to the MotoGP at Mugello, during a solo journey to Greece on my lovely CBR900RR3 (most riders get hacked off at the speeds I maintain and the frustration is reciprocated!), an incredible experience:
Adamxck said:
*cough*
If anybody was interested in procuring a particularly nice example of one of these, the present time in particular could be favourable.
Were one to be interested, where ought one to look? If anybody was interested in procuring a particularly nice example of one of these, the present time in particular could be favourable.
- cough*
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff