ND-Photo.nl's 2005 CLS55 Build thread
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
@CDC55AMG the gold foil tape, it will probably do something, but I don't have before/after measurements to be honest.
@bbirdwell we are good right now, but in the summer we can see 30-35 degrees here as well, although it usually doesn't last long. The spring is still very wet over here at the moment...The cooling works on pressure difference off course, so maybe check what can be done on improving underbody airflow? Maybe a cooler thermostat? I believe Mishimoto has one
@bbirdwell we are good right now, but in the summer we can see 30-35 degrees here as well, although it usually doesn't last long. The spring is still very wet over here at the moment...The cooling works on pressure difference off course, so maybe check what can be done on improving underbody airflow? Maybe a cooler thermostat? I believe Mishimoto has one
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
I was already planning for a brake upgrade last year. And this year I went for it!
-EBC Redstuff Ceramic pads for reduced brake dust (I hate cleaning wheels). I cant get something like Akebono here in the Netherlands
-Epytec Brackets for the 8 piston calipers > https://epytec.de/en/bremssatteladap...en-bremssattel
-GLS63 AMG 390mm 2 piece Brembo Brake discs > Partnr: A2304211212
EBC Redstuff. Imported from UK, which added about 80 euros, but was still more than 70 euros cheaper than buying them locally
The Brembo 2 piece discs. Having 2 piece discs on my car was also a bucket list thing, so I was pretty excited to say at the least
Banana for scale
-EBC Redstuff Ceramic pads for reduced brake dust (I hate cleaning wheels). I cant get something like Akebono here in the Netherlands
-Epytec Brackets for the 8 piston calipers > https://epytec.de/en/bremssatteladap...en-bremssattel
-GLS63 AMG 390mm 2 piece Brembo Brake discs > Partnr: A2304211212
EBC Redstuff. Imported from UK, which added about 80 euros, but was still more than 70 euros cheaper than buying them locally
The Brembo 2 piece discs. Having 2 piece discs on my car was also a bucket list thing, so I was pretty excited to say at the least
Banana for scale
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
I will make a separate thread in W211 AMG section, as this is interesting for other members who are contemplating this upgrade. I worked on one side for 2 evenings, there were some setbacks...
The stock setup with 360mm 1 piece brake discs, weighing 15.5kg. The 2 piece discs are 30mm bigger and weigh 2kg less per disc, so 4kg unsprung weight advantage in total!
What the hell...I was expecting thread locker, not copper grease
Caliper loose
Disc removed, luckily the small T30 bolt came loose without issue
OE Brembo bracket vs Epytec 1140 bracket
Ended the 1st evening with the new bracket in place so I could park my car on ground level instead of leaving it suspended on the bridge. It shows the extra space for the caliper
The stock setup with 360mm 1 piece brake discs, weighing 15.5kg. The 2 piece discs are 30mm bigger and weigh 2kg less per disc, so 4kg unsprung weight advantage in total!
What the hell...I was expecting thread locker, not copper grease
Caliper loose
Disc removed, luckily the small T30 bolt came loose without issue
OE Brembo bracket vs Epytec 1140 bracket
Ended the 1st evening with the new bracket in place so I could park my car on ground level instead of leaving it suspended on the bridge. It shows the extra space for the caliper
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
One problem was that I almost could not remove the bottom brake pads? In the end I found 1 thread with similar issue and it seems I had the same problem. Corrosion below the lower guiding plate. You can clearly see the deformation...
Relevant thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...corrosion.html
I gently removed the corrosion as much as possible and gently tapped the guiding plate into its original form.
Work in progress
Work in progress, notice the shiny bracket
Relevant thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...corrosion.html
I gently removed the corrosion as much as possible and gently tapped the guiding plate into its original form.
Work in progress
Work in progress, notice the shiny bracket
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Next problem, the EBC Redstuff pads were sticking out above the caliper? I just kept going forward and mounting everything, but in the back of my mind I was not 100% at ease...
Looks fookin awesome though
Finished look
Looks fookin awesome though
Finished look
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
I escalated to Epytec, but in the meantime I was still investigating if I did anything wrong. I doublechecked almost everything and decided to swap the brackets, as I found out that the Brembo brackets have 2 separate partnrs. This improved the situation a little bit, but still sticking out.
Caliper was sitting right on the bracket, I thought I made a mistake
Brake pads all the way down...
Still sticking out a little bit
Other side
Caliper was sitting right on the bracket, I thought I made a mistake
Brake pads all the way down...
Still sticking out a little bit
Other side
Last edited by nd-photo.nl; Jun 11, 2024 at 05:42 AM.
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Then I got the tip to check and compare with the original pads. The pads I removed were Jurid brand pads with the Mercedes logo stamped on. I didn't compare them sooner as the pads looked identical to me, aka I didn't feel the need
Hmm they fit a lot better
Looks identical to me?
Hmm they fit a lot better
Looks identical to me?
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
I felt confident enough to just drive it gently. Everything felt great, and they look great within the 20" Japan Racing SL-01 wheel 
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
This is how it looked after a short drive. As the blocks dont cover the entire surface area, a part will remain untouched (I'm ok with that)
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Then I received a tip to check the pads again and just grind away the bottom part, so they will move down. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't think of this sooner haha. Went to work with my Dremel and a tungsten carbide file bits. They worked great for this job and that solved 99.8% of the issue. The blocks sit lower and cover a little bit more of the brake disc surface area.
Last comparison with the Jurid pads. Still looks identical to me haha
Work in progress with filing away the excess material
This looks wayyyyyy better. The retaining springs pushes them a little bit more down
Last comparison with the Jurid pads. Still looks identical to me haha
Work in progress with filing away the excess material
This looks wayyyyyy better. The retaining springs pushes them a little bit more down
Last edited by nd-photo.nl; Jun 11, 2024 at 05:56 AM.
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Made some pictures with the AMG Styling 3 wheels. Tight fit! I forgot to check if the balancing weights pose a problem, will double check that in the near future
I think a filled up wheel is a great look
I think a filled up wheel is a great look
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
And yesterday another mini meet with some VAG people
Seat Leon Cupra MK3. I was able to drive in the blue one, estate with AWD. I was happily surprised by the performance, that thing rockets out of the corners
They are very popular here as they give a lot of value for money, are pretty well built and have good power gains from that little 4 cilinder turbo engine.
Seat Leon Cupra MK3. I was able to drive in the blue one, estate with AWD. I was happily surprised by the performance, that thing rockets out of the corners
They are very popular here as they give a lot of value for money, are pretty well built and have good power gains from that little 4 cilinder turbo engine.
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Woops, too much camber! I tuned the stance earlier this year but didnt do an alignment after.
Aligment booked for tonight and new tyres have been ordered.
Aligment booked for tonight and new tyres have been ordered.
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Someone also asked me about the clearance with the bigger brake discs with the original 19" AMG Styling 3 wheel. Its a tight fit, but there is enough room for the balancing weights
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2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Well the alignment shop was a bust...When I got there, I informed him about too much camber and when looking at it he agreed. He put on the thingies on the wheels and we see too much camber (-1.5 & -2.2). He chooses the car and it says -1.3 stock. I went out to get the cash and 10 mins later he wraps up. I ask him about the camber and he only corrected toe. He mentions that you cannot change much, I explain that I have the camber bolts on both the camber arms & thrust arms. He then mentions that hes reluctant to work on these cars due to airmatic and that they are hard to adjust.
Thats the last time I will be going there...
Thats the last time I will be going there...
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Well the alignment shop was a bust...When I got there, I informed him about too much camber and when looking at it he agreed. He put on the thingies on the wheels and we see too much camber (-1.5 & -2.2). He chooses the car and it says -1.3 stock. I went out to get the cash and 10 mins later he wraps up. I ask him about the camber and he only corrected toe. He mentions that you cannot change much, I explain that I have the camber bolts on both the camber arms & thrust arms. He then mentions that hes reluctant to work on these cars due to airmatic and that they are hard to adjust.
Thats the last time I will be going there...
Thats the last time I will be going there...
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
The bushings are ok, its just that the camber was never set correctly by the alignment shop after I did the front suspension work. I thought they did it, but they didnt (it was the same shop as last time...). I'm currently looking into some options, one being @UncleBenz55 fixing my alignment (at his work).
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
Shot some new pics with my Nikon D810 & Nikkor 24-70mm. What a sharp combination, a better setup than the small Panasonic mirrorless cam I had for a little while
