OT - SL55 delayed six weeks - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mmunson · 11th April 2002, 23:37

This seems interesting... before reading this, I noticed that at the NJ motor show, the official MB stand quoted the SL55 having 498 US bhp... and then this in Autoexpress in the UK...

It's red faces all round at Mercedes – engineers are going back to the drawing board after they realised the SL55 AMG wasn't as fast as the new hot E-Class. Not yet launched in Britain, the 476bhp supercharged convertible went on sale in Germany in February. Around 100 had been delivered when production was halted for six weeks to uprate engines to 500bhp.

This move ensured the SL55, the flagship of the AMG range, wasn't overshadowed by the next performance E-Class. The E will use the same engine, but as it's lighter and more aerodynamic than the SL, it had proved quicker in testing.

tfung · 11th April 2002, 23:51

hmm.. very interesting.. I wonder if this has anything to do with the driveshafts breaking? maybe they're going to update the entire drivetrain as well?

I always thought that the new SL was a bit on the heavy side...

A_Train · 12th April 2002, 00:24

Doesn't seem like U.S. cars will have their late Sept / early Oct launch date delayed. Stinks for UK and other European folks now waiting for their 55's which would otherwise have been arriving much sooner.

- A-Train

chunpng · 12th April 2002, 06:25

Quote:

Originally posted by mmunson
This seems interesting... before reading this, I noticed that at the NJ motor show, the official MB stand quoted the SL55 having 498 US bhp... and then this in Autoexpress in the UK...

It's red faces all round at Mercedes – engineers are going back to the drawing board after they realised the SL55 AMG wasn't as fast as the new hot E-Class. Not yet launched in Britain, the 476bhp supercharged convertible went on sale in Germany in February. Around 100 had been delivered when production was halted for six weeks to uprate engines to 500bhp.

This move ensured the SL55, the flagship of the AMG range, wasn't overshadowed by the next performance E-Class. The E will use the same engine, but as it's lighter and more aerodynamic than the SL, it had proved quicker in testing.

Are you saying the new E55 is faster than the SL55?

That is scary because Gutav (Johann?) listed the 5 fastest cars tested and the SL55 was scarily fast. That SL55 test car must be produced BEFORE this pause in production to uprate the SL55. So if the E55 ouruns that SL55 test car, it will surely be faster than almost anything else.

On the other hand, if the are 'up-rating' the SL55 yet again, wonder how it will stack up if they tested it against the GT2 and the Lambo Murceliego again. As is, Lonman got one of the earliest SL55 delivered (before any up-rating presumably) and his GT2 is 'lethargic and slow' by comparison. So how fast is the new E55 and the up-rated SL55? It just boggles my mind.

The new V-10, 500 HP M6 and M5 are in some stifff competition.

CP

Lonman · 12th April 2002, 10:33

Mine was the first uprated engine SL55 in europe. The "uprated" was more to do with the fuel economy, rather than outright power though.....but i'd be very surprised if the E55 were faster.

I personally think that the SL55 will be the first and last of it's type. It really is too loud, fast and mental for the "average SL/MB" driver. You sit in traffic and the car vibrates around you. It's a rock hard ride round town, but good on the open road. We'll see......

Are any of you East coast boys around on the 23-24 April for when the car arrives?....I need to do a few fast miles!!

alpywhite · 12th April 2002, 11:07

Ha - how about that. Makes perfect sense, too.

NYC_M5 · 12th April 2002, 15:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Lonman
Mine was the first uprated engine SL55 in europe. The "uprated" was more to do with the fuel economy, rather than outright power though.....but i'd be very surprised if the E55 were faster.

I personally think that the SL55 will be the first and last of it's type. It really is too loud, fast and mental for the "average SL/MB" driver. You sit in traffic and the car vibrates around you. It's a rock hard ride round town, but good on the open road. We'll see......

Are any of you East coast boys around on the 23-24 April for when the car arrives?....I need to do a few fast miles!!

I am around - I live in Manhattan, but I'd be happy to meet you someplace reasonably close ( wife and weather permitting...) What's your port of call ??

fais2000 · 12th April 2002, 15:34

here here lonman. Do not worry, if you are coming to NY, you will have the NJ/nyc/LI guys coming for sure. Trust me, you will not be lonely

. PM me if you need to make some sort of arrangments, i will be glad to assist, again wife permitting

.

fas

young-nyc · 12th April 2002, 17:17

YOu guys are all whipped!!..
what's this i hear "Wife permitting?"

Shoot i can't stand to even look at you guys anymore..haha j/k
Phew it's a good thing my mom isn't going to be around at that time..hehe

but Lonman you can defintely count on the NY-NJ guys for support.

NYC_M5 · 12th April 2002, 18:23

Quote:

Originally posted by young-nyc
YOu guys are all whipped!!..
what's this i hear "Wife permitting?"
Shoot i can't stand to even look at you guys anymore..haha j/k
Phew it's a good thing my mom isn't going to be around at that time..hehe

but Lonman you can defintely count on the NY-NJ guys for support.

It is a bit pathetic, I agree, but it kind of goes with the territory. I will make it out for such a monumental event though even at the risk of marital tension !!

Let's pick a good NYC meeting place...

young-nyc · 12th April 2002, 19:00

I'm with you NYC_M5
are you going to the LI meet this sunday?
i will see you at 9am for 7:30am is a bit too early for me..

A_Train · 12th April 2002, 20:12

Quote:

Originally posted by young-nyc
YOu guys are all whipped!!.. what's this i hear "Wife permitting?"

Let me go out on a limb and guess... you're not married.

As much as guys do not want to admit it, "wife permitting" eventually becomes a part of virtually every married guy's lexicon.

- A-Train

NYC_M5 · 12th April 2002, 21:03

Quote:

Originally posted by young-nyc
I'm with you NYC_M5
are you going to the LI meet this sunday?
i will see you at 9am for 7:30am is a bit too early for me..

I will be there at 7:30 - see you Sunday

11th April 2002, 23:37	#1 (permalink)
mmunson Member, Sport: On DSC: On (>100 posts) Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Windsor, UK Age: 28 View my CL65 AMG and Range Rover Sport + others Sales Feedback: (0)	OT - SL55 delayed six weeks This seems interesting... before reading this, I noticed that at the NJ motor show, the official MB stand quoted the SL55 having 498 US bhp... and then this in Autoexpress in the UK... It's red faces all round at Mercedes – engineers are going back to the drawing board after they realised the SL55 AMG wasn't as fast as the new hot E-Class. Not yet launched in Britain, the 476bhp supercharged convertible went on sale in Germany in February. Around 100 had been delivered when production was halted for six weeks to uprate engines to 500bhp. This move ensured the SL55, the flagship of the AMG range, wasn't overshadowed by the next performance E-Class. The E will use the same engine, but as it's lighter and more aerodynamic than the SL, it had proved quicker in testing. __________________ CL65 AMG Range Rover Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage

11th April 2002, 23:51	#2 (permalink)
tfung Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Hong Kong Age: 28 View my 1999 Carbon Black M5, 2001 Jet Black M5 Sales Feedback: (0)	hmm.. very interesting.. I wonder if this has anything to do with the driveshafts breaking? maybe they're going to update the entire drivetrain as well? I always thought that the new SL was a bit on the heavy side... __________________ US Spec 2001 E39 M5 - LHD AC Schnitzer DFC suspension, anti-sway bars, pedals front splitters, rear wing w/ carbon fiber Dinan CAI, MAFS, Throttle bodies, Velocity Stacks, Stage 2 aluminum flywheel, front + rear strut bars, 3.45 differential Others Custom G-power Exhaust, Autosolutions short shifter Supersprint Headers, Racing Cats, X-pipe SPEC stage 3 clutch, Powerchip ECU, Schrick Cams OZ Racing Superleggera III f19x8.5 r19x10.5, Brembo brakes Evosport Power Pullies, Rouge transmission mounts, Plasma ignition coils Euro interior conversion, M-technic grill with brake ducts, turbo timer CA Automative custom carbon fiber hood Euro Spec 1999 E39 M5 - RHD ACS Sports Suspension, anti-sway bars, Type III Racing f19x8.5 r19x9.5 2007 Mercedes E63 2007 Corvette Z06 2008 Nissan GTR

12th April 2002, 10:33	#5 (permalink)
Lonman Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Age: 35 View my 2005 SL55 AMG Sales Feedback: (0)	SL55 AMG Mine was the first uprated engine SL55 in europe. The "uprated" was more to do with the fuel economy, rather than outright power though.....but i'd be very surprised if the E55 were faster. I personally think that the SL55 will be the first and last of it's type. It really is too loud, fast and mental for the "average SL/MB" driver. You sit in traffic and the car vibrates around you. It's a rock hard ride round town, but good on the open road. We'll see...... Are any of you East coast boys around on the 23-24 April for when the car arrives?....I need to do a few fast miles!!

12th April 2002, 17:17	#9 (permalink)
young-nyc M5 Guru (>2000 posts) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bayside,NY,USA View my '01 540i Orient Blue/Grey Sales Feedback: (1)	YOu guys are all whipped!!.. what's this i hear "Wife permitting?" Shoot i can't stand to even look at you guys anymore..haha j/k Phew it's a good thing my mom isn't going to be around at that time..hehe but Lonman you can defintely count on the NY-NJ guys for support. __________________ -Young 2001 540ia Orient blue/Grey interior -AC Schnitzer-poster boy Previous Cars: why bother? I don't have them anymore

12th April 2002, 00:24	#3 (permalink)
A_Train Senior Member (>500) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Massachusetts View my Sales Feedback: (0)	Doesn't seem like U.S. cars will have their late Sept / early Oct launch date delayed. Stinks for UK and other European folks now waiting for their 55's which would otherwise have been arriving much sooner. - A-Train

12th April 2002, 11:07	#6 (permalink)
alpywhite m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts) Join Date: May 2000 Location: Vancouver, Canada View my 2006 BMW M5, Silverstone Sales Feedback: (0)	Ha - how about that. Makes perfect sense, too.

12th April 2002, 15:34	#8 (permalink)
fais2000 m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts) Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Paramus, NJ, USA Age: 35 View my LeMans Blue M5 Sales Feedback: (0)	here here lonman. Do not worry, if you are coming to NY, you will have the NJ/nyc/LI guys coming for sure. Trust me, you will not be lonely . PM me if you need to make some sort of arrangments, i will be glad to assist, again wife permitting . fas

12th April 2002, 19:00	#11 (permalink)
young-nyc M5 Guru (>2000 posts) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bayside,NY,USA View my '01 540i Orient Blue/Grey Sales Feedback: (1)	I'm with you NYC_M5 are you going to the LI meet this sunday? i will see you at 9am for 7:30am is a bit too early for me..