The Mercedes B55 V8 388 hp | Dro4Cars
What is the 2005 Mercedes B-Class?
 |
| The Mercedes B 55 V8. The front tires are inclined toward inside the car. Why? The front tires are inclined toward inside the car. Why? The answer is below. | Image: Daimler AG |
In 2005 Mercedes-Benz get into a new segment called subcompact Multi-Purpose Vehicle or MPV. Because it’s a Mercedes it has to be premium or executive so it’s subcompact executive MPV. This is the Mercedes B-Class. It has to be something like a hatchback and something like a small van.
In this article:
- What are the model versions of the 2005 Mercedes B-Class, standard engines?
- How the Idea of B55 was Born?
- The Team and The Plan of Converting the Mercedes B-Class into Mercedes B 55 V8
- The Modification of the Mercedes B55
- The Mercedes B 55 V8 - Exterior
- The Mercedes B 55 V8 - Interior
- The 2005 Mercedes B55 V8 Sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)?
What are the model versions of the 2005 Mercedes B-Class, standard engines?
 |
| The standard 2005 Mercedes B-Class. It's shown the Mercedes B 200 CDI. | Image: Daimler AG |
The Mercedes B-Class looks great and it’s a good car for mostly urban driving. All engine variants both gas and diesel are also chosen for city driving starting from the petrol versions: B160 with 1.5L I4 engine that produces 94 hp through the B170 and B180 (1.7L I4 114 hp); B200 (2.0L I4 134 hp); the most powerful version B200 Turbo (2.0L I4 Turbo 190 hp). There was a Natural Gas version B170 also with the 2.0L I4 engine and 114 hp. The diesel versions of the 2005 Mercedes B-Class are B180 and B200 as both models are using a 2.0L I4 engine with a respective power of 108 hp and 138 hp. All model variants have front-wheel drive.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 lettering on the trunk | Image Daimler AG |
Having the structure of the 2005 Mercedes B-Class and taking all model versions in count that model is a very good choice for a city car. Only the 2005 Mercedes B200 variants could be something to get out of the city but the question would be is the B-Class so comfortable?!
The 2005 Mercedes B55 V8
The 2005 Mercedes B-Class has another version,
a very special one produced in a single unit. It’s called the Mercedes B55 V8
with a 388 hp. That sounds like a beast. Let's see.
How the Idea of B55 was Born?
Peter Wesp, the Rastatt plant manager, has
given the task to his staff of creating something very special based on the
B-Class. The team had the freedom to decide what and how to do with the
first-gen Mercedes B-Class.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 side view 1 |
Andreas Würz, who at that time is a foreman in the technical vocational training department, had said:
Actually it should be possible to fit a V8 into the engine compartment.
The idea of a V8 engine for the Mercedes B-Class received approval and everybody from Peter Wesp, the Rastatt plant manager, Würzs’ colleagues, and even the trainees took the enthusiasm of creating the B55.
The Team and The Plan of Converting the Mercedes B-Class into Mercedes B 55 V8
The team which worked on the project is created by Andreas Würz together
with Matthias Reger, from the electronics/electronics installation section, and
twelve second-year and third-year trainees specializing in production mechanics
and automotive mechatronics. Then what is going to happen with the special
model of the Mercedes B-Class is shorted to several lines as follow:
- The overall outlook
of the Mercedes B-Class has to be unchanged;
- Outside, only minor
indications would be allowed for the conversion work;
- Inside, the interior
could be changed to correspond to the new vehicle class;
- That B-Class has to
be suitable for day-to-day driving.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 side view, 2. It's nice that the Team decided to keep minor exterior and interior changes of the special B55 one-off model. | Image: Daimler AG |
The Modifications of the Mercedes B55
The project of converting the Mercedes B-Class into the B55 V8 received financial support from the HR manager Martin Spicale. The team used a deligated for the training workshop Mercedes B 200 CDI for the project. The trainees had to disassemble the car completely. At the same time, Würz searched for an engine and found out that the 5.5-liter V8 engine with a power of 388 hp and 530 Nm of torque could do the job. The engine altogether with the 7-speed automatic transmission, and the engine control unit are placed onto the already empty drivetrain compartment of the B 200 CDI. The team had faced an issue of preprogramming the engine control unit to process signals from the driven rear axle. That was another change of the B55 getting a rear-wheel-drive instead of the standard front-wheel drive and it couldn’t be another way with a V8 engine.
Würz: The V8 power unit fitted amazingly well, and we were even able to use the original engine mounts.
During converting the B-Class into B55 V8, the team has another problem
with the steering. The solution is made after several modifications. The
exhaust system for the B55 is a combination of various replacement part items.
As a result, the B55 has a twin-pipe exhaust system emerging at the center of
the rear end. The V8 engine with that exhaust system provides an unmistakable
burbling sound – that’s for sure.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 - dual exhaust pipes emerged at the center of the rear end. | Image: Daimler AG |
The drive axle at the rear comes from an older W210 Mercedes E-Class. So that drive axle to get fit on the place Würz and his colleagues had to design a subframe that allows the new rear axle to be integrated into the B-Class. The sandwich floor of the Mercedes B-Class allowed the prop shaft of the E-Class to be nicely hidden under the body without further modifications.
When the Mercedes B-Class is going to be a very powerful B55 it must stop as fast as it’s possible. The solution came from the replacement parts catalog. Both front and rear disc brakes are perforated and internally ventilated taken from the Mercedes C32 AMG listing. The brake disc size is 345 x 34 mm for the front brakes and 300 x 30 mm at the rear. For the suspension, the team installed a coil-over by K&W.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 has installed a coil-over by K&W. | Image: Daimler AG |
The Mercedes B 55 V8 - exterior
The exterior of the Mercedes B55 V8 is in white paint. The radiator louvers are in a dark finish. The B55 has smoked-like headlamp lenses. These few modifications could suggest some modifications but still, the main body structure is kept. If you have a sharp eye, for sure you will see how the front tires are tilted toward inside the car.
Moreover, the minor exterior
changes include 8.5 x 18 AMG sports wheels in a five-spoke design. The front tires are 235/40 ZR 18 Y and the 9 x 18 rear wheels are on 255/35 ZR 18 Y
tires.
 |
| The Mercedes B 55 V8 with minor exterior changes - white paint finish that's nothing special but very trendy at the time in 2011. The radiator louvers are in black; smoked-like headlights; rims from C32 AMG and the lowered suspension by K&W show that this Mercedes B-Class has something special. | Image: Daimler AG |
The Mercedes B 55 V8 - Interior
Inside the Mercedes B55, the A, B, and C-pillars and the roof are in
Alcantara provided by the training workshop in Sindelfingen. The seats are in a
combination of leather and Alcantara provided by Johnson Control, located
on-site in Rastatt.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 front seats in leather and Alcantara |
The 2005 Mercedes B55 V8 Sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)?
The most powerful B-Class, Mercedes B55 V8 with 388 hp and 530 Nm weights
1620 kg. That is around 180 kg heavier than the standard 2011 Mercedes B-Class.
At that time the expectations of a sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) to be under 6
sec.
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 steering wheel with some Alcantara elements on it. Behind the steering wheel are placed the shifting paddles. It's interesting that only the front windows are powered. | Image: Daimler AG |
 |
| The Mercedes B55 V8 central console remains the same as on the standard version 2011 Mercedes B-Class | Image: Daimler AG |
 |
| The 2011 Mercedes B55 V8 instrument cluster has some changes like the speedometer goes up to 300 km/h (186 mph). | Image: Daimler AG |
