BMW M5 compared to Mercedes CLS55 AMG - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

guffit · 16th January 2005, 13:24

Hi!

In the latest sport auto magazine there are some numbers posted for the Mercedes CLS55 AMG and the Mercedes SLK55 AMG:

0 - 40 km/h: CLS55: 1.5 sec / SLK55: 1.5 sec / M5: 1.5 sec
0 - 60 km/h: CLS55: 2.3 sec / SLK55: 2.4 sec / M5: 2.3 sec
0 - 80 km/h: CLS55: 3.2 sec / SLK55: 3.4 sec / M5: 3.5 sec
0 - 100 km/h: CLS55: 4.7 sec / SLK55: 4.8 sec / M5: 4.5 sec
0 - 120 km/h: CLS55: 6.0 sec / SLK55: 6.3 sec / M5: 5.9 sec
0 - 140 km/h: CLS55: 7.9 sec / SLK55: 8.3 sec / M5: 7.4 sec
0 - 160 km/h: CLS55: 10.2 sec / SLK55: 10.8 sec / M5: 9.2 sec
0 - 180 km/h: CLS55: 12.3 sec / SLK55: 13.3 sec / M5: 11.6 sec
0 - 200 km/h: CLS55: 15.4 sec / SLK55: 16.8 sec / M5: 13.8 sec

Acceleration in 4th/5th gear (CLS55):
80 - 100 km/h: 3.1 / 4.6 sec
80 - 120 km/h: 5.9 / 8.7 sec
80 - 140 km/h: 9.0 / 12.8 sec
80 - 160 km/h: 12.0 / 16.8 sec
80 - 180 km/h: 15.8 / - sec

Acceleration in 4th/5th/6th gear (SLK55):
80 - 100 km/h: 2.1 / 3.0 / 4.1 sec
80 - 120 km/h: 4.1 / 5.7 / 8.0 sec
80 - 140 km/h: 6.1 / 8.8 / 12.0 sec
80 - 160 km/h: 8.4 / 11.7 / 16.3 sec
80 - 180 km/h: 11.2 / 15.3 / 20.1 sec

Acceleration in 4th/5th/6th/7th gear (M5):
80 - 100 km/h: 2.2 / 3.2 / 3.6 / 4.7 sec
80 - 120 km/h: 4.5 / 5.9 / 6.9 / 9.9 sec
80 - 140 km/h: 6.9 / 8.7 / 10.2 / 14.6 sec
80 - 160 km/h: 8.8 / 11.7 / 13.5 / 19.0 sec
80 - 180 km/h: 10.8 / 14.4 / 17.3 / 23.9 sec

More numbers (CLS55):
Racing course Hockenheim: 1.17,8 min
Slalom (18m): 63.1 km/h
Braking from 100 km/h (cold brake): 36.4 m (deceleration: 10.6 m/s^2)
Braking from 100 km/h (warm brake): 36.9 m (deceleration: 10.5 m/s^2)
Braking from 200 km/h (warm brake): 147.1 m (deceleration: 10.5 m/s^2)
Air temperature during testing: 19 degrees Celsius
Track temperature during testing: 22 degrees Celsius
Air pressure: 1013 hPa
Overall score (maximum 60 points): 40 points

More numbers (SLK55):
Racing course Hockenheim: 1.17,1 min
Slalom (18m): 65.8 km/h
Braking from 100 km/h (cold brake): 36.4 m (deceleration: 10.6 m/s^2)
Braking from 100 km/h (warm brake): 35.6 m (deceleration: 10.8 m/s^2)
Braking from 200 km/h (warm brake): 143.6 m (deceleration: 10.7 m/s^2)
Air temperature during testing: 13 degrees Celsius
Track temperature during testing: 16 degrees Celsius
Air pressure: 1010 hPa
Overall score (maximum 60 points): 44 points

More numbers (M5):
Racing course Hockenheim: 1.16,5 min
Slalom (18m): 64.9 km/h
Braking from 100 km/h (cold brake): 35.6 m (deceleration: 10.8 m/s^2)
Braking from 100 km/h (warm brake): 36.1 m (deceleration: 10.7 m/s^2)
Braking from 200 km/h (warm brake): 149.4 m (deceleration: 10.3 m/s^2)
Air temperature during testing: 13 degrees Celsius
Track temperature during testing: 16 degrees Celsius
Air pressure: 1010 hPa
Overall score (maximum 60 points): 50 points

All these numbers again suggest that the BMW M5 engine delivers a very smooth and constant acceleration regardless of the current speed or gear which makes it a formidable engine (especially for racing and track days) in my opinion. Especially the acceleration numbers in 4th/5th gear from 80 km/h are phenomenal

BMW did it again, I think, building the ultimate driving engine

MIB · 16th January 2005, 13:29

Hey Guffit

Welcome to the Board. And that's too many numbers.

Bulletprof · 16th January 2005, 20:23

M5 : 0-200 km/h in 13,8 s.

clee19821013 · 16th January 2005, 22:13

why only 4th, 5th and 6th for SLK55 on the 80kph acceleration, how about its 7th gear. It also looks like CLS55 has to drop to 3rd gear for 80kph and on acceleration, otherwise it would get beaten by even just SLK55.

Gustav · 16th January 2005, 22:20

Thanks guffit!

Yes, looks like we are now getting 0-200 km/h numbers constantly under 14 s, VERY GOOD!

Imagine if you thought that the 2001 to 2003 M5 were a bit stronger than the 1999 M5, just imagine what a few years of production experience fron making M5 V-10 engines will give the M5 E60!

HomerUK · 16th January 2005, 22:23

Looking at those figures you can see where the CLS changes gear and looses its momentum. I think this is where the SMG3 shines through and gives the M5 such an advantage on the 0-200 times. Also this highlights how the small power advantaged but much less torque producing engine of the M5 can out accelerate the AMG55 engined MB's.

clee19821013 · 16th January 2005, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerUK

Looking at those figures you can see where the CLS changes gear and looses its momentum. I think this is where the SMG3 shines through and gives the M5 such an advantage on the 0-200 times. Also this highlights how the small power advantaged but much less torque producing engine of the M5 can out accelerate the AMG55 engined MB's.

but you should also take into consideration that CLS55 only got 5 gear to play with while M5 got 7 gear. Things might get closer once AMG is be able to make its 7 speed auto work on these super charge engines with huge torques.

HomerUK · 17th January 2005, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by clee19821013

but you should also take into consideration that CLS55 only got 5 gear to play with while M5 got 7 gear. Things might get closer once AMG is be able to make its 7 speed auto work on these super charge engines with huge torques.

But the auto changes are the thing that slows the car down so changing more might increase the difference, and remove any advantage of closer ratio gears.

This is the issue with the smoothness of the torque converter auto's. yes it gives you a smooth change but at a cost to the acceleration. so changing more might be worse for these cars then the 5spd they currently have.

As you can see from the timies, the CLS55 is ahead by .3s then the first change happens and its behind by .2s
0 - 80 km/h: CLS55: 3.2 sec / SLK55: 3.4 sec / M5: 3.5 sec
0 - 100 km/h: CLS55: 4.7 sec / SLK55: 4.8 sec / M5: 4.5 sec
so its lost about .5 a second due to the auto's slow but smooth change.

I hope this clears the point I was trying to make. It's not a dig at the auto as smooth changes are wnated in refined crusing cars. I was trying to highlight how a slightly more powerfull but hugley less torquey engine could produce better acceleration times. Its down to the gearbox, and I was trying to show why the hyper fast changing SMG3 is a key part to the cars performance ability.

Sacha...

clee19821013 · 17th January 2005, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerUK

But the auto changes are the thing that slows the car down so changing more might increase the difference, and remove any advantage of closer ratio gears.

This is the issue with the smoothness of the torque converter auto's. yes it gives you a smooth change but at a cost to the acceleration. so changing more might be worse for these cars then the 5spd they currently have.

As you can see from the timies, the CLS55 is ahead by .3s then the first change happens and its behind by .2s
0 - 80 km/h: CLS55: 3.2 sec / SLK55: 3.4 sec / M5: 3.5 sec
0 - 100 km/h: CLS55: 4.7 sec / SLK55: 4.8 sec / M5: 4.5 sec
so its lost about .5 a second due to the auto's slow but smooth change.

I hope this clears the point I was trying to make. It's not a dig at the auto as smooth changes are wnated in refined crusing cars. I was trying to highlight how a slightly more powerfull but hugley less torquey engine could produce better acceleration times. Its down to the gearbox, and I was trying to show why the hyper fast changing SMG3 is a key part to the cars performance ability.

Sacha...

I wouldn't really say that, auto is slower, but I don't think the difference is due to the fact its an auto, I think it is due to the fact that you got more gear ratio to play with. Look at SLK55, its 5th gear acceleration time is **** impressive when compare to M5 (and surprisingly, also faster than the 4th gear acceleration time of CLS55). The difference in shifting speed should be within the range of couple hundred ms, so I don't think its the reason CLS55 showed a slower time.

SUPRA · 17th January 2005, 11:24

The acceleration figures are amazing!

But I find the Hockenheim round time a bit disappointing since that is the same time as a 645Ci...