My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 aka The Benz

[LithiumCobalt]

I spend $29 a month on an unlimited pass to the local automatic car wash. I used to be adverse to automatics as I liked to handwash my cars, but I have found the automatic I go to does a fairly good job. There's been days where I will run it through twice.

[Mainemantom]

I spend $29 a month on an unlimited pass to the local automatic car wash. I used to be adverse to automatics as I liked to handwash my cars, but I have found the automatic I go to does a fairly good job. There's been days where I will run it through twice.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]42002[/ATTACH]

$29 for unlimited a month. What a deal! Its $10-12 for one good wash here. Oh but the vacuum is free anytime.

[Georges86]

This thing is stupid clean, 3.2L 6 Cylinder right?

[87gtVIC]

Thanks.

To be honest I do not know the model of the engine other than it being a 6 cylinder. Something I am happy about not knowing as that means everything has been well so far under my ownership.

[88Vic]

Mercedes and BMW tend to name their models by engine size. The E320 is a 3.2 V6 and the BMW 530i is a 3.0 I6 (Mercedes uses V6 while BMW only use I6).

Yours I noticed has dual exhaust. I think it was optional, if you ever look under the car, there should be a ball and flange on the passenger side after the center resonator. I think they would cap that side when it was single exhaust and just add the passenger tailpipe for duals. Not sure if there's a power difference or not, probably minimal, but I imagine the duals are a hair louder, and it gives the back end a balanced look.

[jaywish]

correct about the names including engine displacement. The wagon and the SL500 are both 5.O's

[87gtVIC]

A quick few after my trek home today.

BTW this car does not do well in the least in this type of weather. I could only imagine how much worse it would be without snow tires...





There is a bridge back there.....somewhere..

[Djtb78]

After looking at your cars for a few years now it is shocking to see one of them in such a state!

[88Vic]

Is the traction the issue? I would assume with winter tires it stops fine and doesn't slide sideways extremely easy like with all seasons. If it just has trouble getting going, throw a couple sandbags or concrete bags in the back. By that, I mean in the middle of the floor in front of the back seats, that way it'll evenly distribute weight throughout the car go aid all around traction, and putting them in the center will improve center of gravity, obviously.

[87gtVIC]

I believe the computer controlled stuff is the issue. Traction ma be a slight issue as well.

Ordered my summer tires! Dunlop Direzza DZ102's. Ultra High Performance Summer Tires.....Super Excited!

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+DZ102&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=255VR6DZ102

Good deal as well.

[LithiumCobalt]

Not to brag, but I live about 80 miles from Tire Rack. Bought tires from them and actually took a tour of the place while I had my new tires installed at their in-house shop. Tires for as long as the eye could see. They had some type of Corvette race event going on that day at their on-site track. Place is pretty cool if you like the smell of rubber n stuff.

[87gtVIC]

Nice.

My tires arrived today

[jaywish]

You could consider installing those on the Ford.

[Bobcat]

You could consider installing those on the Ford.

Yep. Don't know why you're buying summer tires for your winter beater!

You've already got a summer car, utilize it; boy.

[88Vic]

Do you have another set of wheels for them? I'd hate to mount and remount tires every 6 months, plus I don't know if taking them off and then on so much will damage the bead or sidewall.

If not get some lightweight wheels, like my friend has TSW Nurburgring wheels on his V6 Performance Pack Mustang, they're rotary forged so they're really lightweight to improve the handling. He has Hankook Ventus V12 Evo tires now, feels pretty glued to the road.