SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: New SL65 Owner!
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
New SL65 Owner!
Hey guys, I have been a regular at the W211 E55 board for a long time now, but recently sold my Kleemann Stage II sedan for a low mileage "previously enjoyed" 2006 SL65 in Iridium Silver. First thing I did was spend about 16 hrs with the Dawn, clay bar, FLEX polisher, and 3 grits of 3M down to 'ultrafina' and the clear coat looked literally WET. What a gorgeous color - all my previous AMGs have been black. I then put the car on my lift and scrubbed all of the black plastic pans on the underbody with Dawn and a firm sponge before dousing them all with Griot's underbody spray and armor-all. (Yeah, I'm a little nuts that way) The interior was literally show-room perfect and needed only a light wipe-down. Then I added an SL63 style trunk spoiler. Installed easily and looks great. Now she is in the shop getting all new fluids, new plugs, a new CM30 intercooler pump, and KLEEMANN ECU/TCU tuning. I can't wait to drive this baby! Like a kid on Christmas morning.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Outstanding! Welcome to the V12TT dark side!
Once you get her back with the Kleemann tune, your old E55 is gonna feel slow.
Once you get her back with the Kleemann tune, your old E55 is gonna feel slow.
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From: Chicago
W215 V12TT Build by Speedriven, W221 S550 4Matic
Man that is a sweet car, I think when I get a new car it will be the SL65 as well. For now I'm still lovin my 55. Welcome to the SL side and congrats on the awesome purchase.
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Thank You!!
Thanks for the warm welcome. I sure enjoyed my time at the W211 E55 board. Those guys are equal parts resourceful and CRAZY when it comes to tuning the 5.5 Kompressed motors. My "E" had the Kleemann Stage II package consisting of pulley, ECU tune, headers, and primary cat removal. I also did the center resonator delete and added an EVOsport cooling kit. It was a rocket. But even if I had stepped up to the 80mm throttle body, I would still be noticably shy of the BONE STOCK numbers for the 65 cars - especially torque! What is the addage 'horsepower moves cars off the showroom floor, torque moves cars down the track'??? I gather the Kleemann ECU/TCU tune is a real hot ticket for these cars. Cory stipulates that the TCU tune doesn't do as much for an AMG car already equipped with 'speedshift' but I'm all for quicker, firmer shifts and holding gears longer at neutral throttle. That and the TCU lifts the torque limiter on the tranny
which shouldn't hurt since I am sticking with the 91 octane tune. Maybe only 40-50 ponies and pound feet at the top, but I can't wait to feel the additional 120 hp/tq BELOW the curve where we do the vast majority of our real world driving. I will report my thoughts when I get the car picked up and I will also post some pics, although I sure don't think it could possibly look any better than kamilclk's silver 55. Perfect stance, nice rims, great ride!
which shouldn't hurt since I am sticking with the 91 octane tune. Maybe only 40-50 ponies and pound feet at the top, but I can't wait to feel the additional 120 hp/tq BELOW the curve where we do the vast majority of our real world driving. I will report my thoughts when I get the car picked up and I will also post some pics, although I sure don't think it could possibly look any better than kamilclk's silver 55. Perfect stance, nice rims, great ride!
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Thread Starter
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Delayed Gratification
Well, My SA called today after receiving the ECU/TCU from Cory and getting the beast fired up. He said she is absolutely unreal! The nose was re-sprayed and looks like brand new. Tomorrow the Paintless Dent tech is going to go to work on a lone but nasty ding on the drivers fender. He says it wil be a bear to get to, but is sure he can make it all but disappear. Problem is, I am leaving town for the weekend and won't be back til Tuesday!!! I will be dreaming of this car every night. I will post pics when I get back, but in the meantime, here is a link to my 'other' baby - a 1973 Brewster Green 455 Trans Am. Kind of old school, but really validates the 'no replacement for displacement' theory. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbZ1cicw1o
Yes, the buccaneer red one is mine, too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbZ1cicw1o
Yes, the buccaneer red one is mine, too!
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 444
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From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
Realistic as few too, I'd say!
It's not easy to find anymore, without exchanging hardware.
Companys can promise you both 700 and 720 HP from a chip like there's no tomorrow. Sometimes even RWHP!
But if you,like me, dyno it before and then after, then placebo is out of the question..!
And IMHO, most company's feed on placebo and know that most customers seldon dyno...
Certainly, that car doesn't have that giant leap in price compared to the 55's and 63's for nothing!
It's pretty much taken out of as it is.
For instance, a compleeeete exhaust overhaul with everything out (cats, mufflors, silencors), gives you NADA horsepower gain..!
I dynoed before and after only that mod (with the car already chiptuned), and all I got was sound.
But what a sound...
I wish you Good Luck, Welcome, and CONGRATS on a GREAT CAR CHOICE!
It's not easy to find anymore, without exchanging hardware.
Companys can promise you both 700 and 720 HP from a chip like there's no tomorrow. Sometimes even RWHP!
But if you,like me, dyno it before and then after, then placebo is out of the question..!
And IMHO, most company's feed on placebo and know that most customers seldon dyno...
Certainly, that car doesn't have that giant leap in price compared to the 55's and 63's for nothing!
It's pretty much taken out of as it is.
For instance, a compleeeete exhaust overhaul with everything out (cats, mufflors, silencors), gives you NADA horsepower gain..!
I dynoed before and after only that mod (with the car already chiptuned), and all I got was sound.
But what a sound...
I wish you Good Luck, Welcome, and CONGRATS on a GREAT CAR CHOICE!
Thread Starter
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
GOT HER!
Back from our vacation at noon today, FINALLY got to pick up the car - 24 spark plugs, one coil pack, and a KLEEMANN ECU/TCU flash later (plus oil, coolant, rear end fluid, and a new Johnson CM30) Don't even ask ... it was a king's ransom, but BOY do you ever feel like a king driving one of these babies! Also, the re-spray on the nose and PDR of the lone dent on the car turned out perfect. The car just looks brand-spankin' new. Now, about the power. I never did give her WOT, but I did nudge her a bit. WAYYYYY more power 'under the curve' between 2500-4000 than pre-Kleemann. I am sure fresh plugs didn't hurt, but my SA said virtually all of the plugs came out relatively clean and dry for 5 years and 27k miles - no obvious fouled or misfiring plugs. So there might not have been much to gain there. Of course one of the coil packs was siezed and damaged during removal. My SA treated me right on that one and we decided not to worry about the other one until after the Easycare warranty kicked in. Anyway, probably (definitely) the strongest car I have ever driven. But the power is so much more 'linear' than in the Kompressed 55. The power builds so evenly and smoothly that it really is deceptive. You think to yourself, 'gee, shouldn't there be more going on here??? I'm damn near flooring it???' Then you look down and see that you have swept from 40 to 90 and you're still in 3rd. Once I get comfortable with how this car feels and floor it, I know I'm gona just die. Hope to post pics soon - Labor Day weekend is just around the corner!
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: SF Bay Area
2001 Lamborghini Diablo, 2009 SL65 (sold), 1998 CL600 (sold), 1989 560SEL (sold)
The power builds so evenly and smoothly that it really is deceptive. You think to yourself, 'gee, shouldn't there be more going on here??? I'm damn near flooring it???' Then you look down and see that you have swept from 40 to 90 and you're still in 3rd. Once I get comfortable with how this car feels and floor it
The problem I'm having with my SL65 is I still haven't figured out how to launch it from a stop. The end result is that I'm too tentative in fear of spinning the wheels. I’m a bit jealous of my coworker’s Panamera Turbo with its four wheel drive and launch control. Ugly car, but top notch performance in a 4 door.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Raleigh NC
2007 E63, 2006 C55
RE: SL65
Congrats, and welcome aboard.
Sounds like you did pretty much everything I did to mine when I got it, fluids, IC pump, belt, tensioner, plugs, etc. I also did a Quaife as the 600 open diff was a bit ridiculous at anything less than 65 degrees outside.
I always appeciate (again) just how fast the V12 is after driving my E63; while the E63 is no slouch, the V12 torque is always adrenaline inducing, and the performance is just plain awesome.
Do be sure you have that warranty, (warranty) repair costs have proven to be about as amazing as the torque.
Sounds like you did pretty much everything I did to mine when I got it, fluids, IC pump, belt, tensioner, plugs, etc. I also did a Quaife as the 600 open diff was a bit ridiculous at anything less than 65 degrees outside.
I always appeciate (again) just how fast the V12 is after driving my E63; while the E63 is no slouch, the V12 torque is always adrenaline inducing, and the performance is just plain awesome.
Do be sure you have that warranty, (warranty) repair costs have proven to be about as amazing as the torque.
Last edited by NCE500; Aug 30, 2011 at 08:40 PM.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
The only thing I have to add is that you should be at the top of second at 90mph, not third gear.
I take third gear all the way to 125.
Enjoy in good health. There's nothing quite like a tuned V12TT, huh?
I take third gear all the way to 125.
Enjoy in good health. There's nothing quite like a tuned V12TT, huh?
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From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
But that, sadly, doesn't add 1 HP to the stock 604!
And sometimes that confuses people, thinking that mid-range boost has to be added to the "high rev maximum HP-figure"...
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
No doubt - but remember - I was too tentative to open the throttle past 50%!!! My little 40-90 sweep was partial throttle at best. I now know that because this morning while joining a.m. traffic, I made the underside of the loud pedal touch the floor mat. Vicious. Positively vicious!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2003
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
"BEFORE" PICS
Date of delivery - no clean up, polish, detailing, spoiler, tint, nothing. Just home!
Senior Member
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From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I'm gonna need you to go ahead and relocate those garden tools. I get the heebie jeebies, just looking at those things hang there, next to that AMG work of art.
Thread Starter
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
You are too funny. Do you doubt my double anchored wall mounted GLADIATOR tool rack??? Actually already moved the tools back by the beer fridge!
Thread Starter
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Posts: 460
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Lowered and Tinted!
Just picked up the car following tinting and Star Diagnostics lowering. Ride height is perfect for me. My index finger will barely fit between the top of the tire and the front fender at its top point. In the back, I have a little more than an index finger, but not quite 2 fingers, so the car has a subtle 'rake' to the stance which I really like.
It is amazing what a huge difference in appearance lowering and tint make to these cars. The car looks somehow longer and flatter than a typical SL. Love it!
"After" pics to come this weekend. She has now been treated to all new fluids from snoot to toot, all new plugs, Kleemann ECU/TCU, Star lowering, tint, SL63 style rear spoiler and 16 hrs of clay/polish/wax spa treatment. Just about the only thing left is to find an exhaust shop that I trust to delete the center resonators (and maybe the secondary cats???)
Simply the strongest car I have ever driven - period. I know she will always have trouble against significantly lighter "sports" cars like Z06s, Vipers, and tuned 911s, but for the looks, style, and comfort along with all that brute force, I think it simply the best car on the road. I couldn't be happier, though I will always have a soft spot in my heart for my Kleemanized E55.
It is amazing what a huge difference in appearance lowering and tint make to these cars. The car looks somehow longer and flatter than a typical SL. Love it!
"After" pics to come this weekend. She has now been treated to all new fluids from snoot to toot, all new plugs, Kleemann ECU/TCU, Star lowering, tint, SL63 style rear spoiler and 16 hrs of clay/polish/wax spa treatment. Just about the only thing left is to find an exhaust shop that I trust to delete the center resonators (and maybe the secondary cats???)
Simply the strongest car I have ever driven - period. I know she will always have trouble against significantly lighter "sports" cars like Z06s, Vipers, and tuned 911s, but for the looks, style, and comfort along with all that brute force, I think it simply the best car on the road. I couldn't be happier, though I will always have a soft spot in my heart for my Kleemanized E55.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
The only exhaust work you have to do the the V12TTs, is a muffler delete. Trust me, it'll be perfect. Click on the youtube link in my signature for a sound clip of what it will sound like.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2003
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
WOW! I never clicked your youtube link, but now I have it bookmarked as a favorite. Your car sounds absolutely unbelievable. And 11.19? That's insane!!!!!
