Mercedes-Benz E-Class - E55 AMG

E55 AMG

The previous AMG model of the E-Class was the W211 E55 with 469 hp (350 kW) and 516 lb·ft (700 N·m) between 2650 and 4500 rpm (the power band). A supercharger system was used to increase the power of the base engine of the E55 from 369 hp (275 kW) to 469 hp (350 kW). The E55 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.3 seconds and has a quarter-mile time of anywhere from the high 11's to low 12's depending on driver and each individual car. The difference between the E55 opposed to the newer naturally aspirated E63 is the potential of one to the E55. Since the E55 engine has a forced induction system (supercharger), this allows for smaller pulleys to be installed and tuned to gain more power. The major drawback to the E55 is the cooling system (mainly the stock Bosch intercooler pump does not have sufficient flow rate) which is highly prone to heat soaking after a series of high speed pulls. The solution to this common problem is replacing the stock intercooler pump with an aftermarket Johnson CM30 pump.

Prior to the W211 E55 was the W210 E55 model which has a naturally aspirated AMG-tuned powerplant. The M113 powered the W210 E55 which used a 5.4L V8 SOHC 24V to produce 354 PS (260 kW; 349 hp) (in US-spec) and 391 lb·ft (530 N·m) of torque. The body styling on all of the W210 AMG models was the same until 2000 when a facelift and numerous interior upgrades were implemented. The W210 E55 was the last vehicle that a major portion of production took place by hand at AMG in Affalterbach. Production was actually split between Affalterbach and the Bremen Mercedes-Benz facility until the end of 2001. The 2001 E55 AMG was a rare version of the W210 E55, of which only 659 units were produced in 2001. Various road tests revealed 0–60 mph in 4.5-5.8 seconds, (with a fresh ECU computer), and 5.5-8.0 seconds (with a bad ECU computer) and quarter-mile times of 13.3–13.5 seconds.