lookin4ac55

Hookay, so.

I'm 22, and don't want to go crazy with modifications. I know I want exhaust, but don't want anything obnoxious. I come from a 440 hp camaro with true duals, no cats, and dumps.

I just want nice subtle mods. Nothing crazy.

Let's see what's out there

jturkel

resonator and secondary cat delete. start with that. cheap and pick up like 10whp

when you save up, you could get a tune, a nice set of MBH headers, and airbox

AMS Performance

If you want a decent increase in power with simply bolt on modifications check out the AMS C55 Stage 2 performance package (headers & pulley). In conjunction with high flow 2nd cats it will give you a substantial performance increase without breaking the bank all for under $2k shipped including the cats. Keep your stock AMG resonator & muffler, and with the mods mentioned above it will give you a improvement in sound quality without losing that OEM refinement (it definitely won't be obnoxious).

Hope that helps,
~AMS~

lookin4ac55

That's not a bad deal. Now with the ECU is it swapping ECU's???? Can you get external chips for these cars?

AMS Performance

Software reprogram... but honestly, it is one of the last mods you should do. The Naturally aspirated 5.5L AMG engines are all about hardware upgrades, that's where the bulk of the power is to be found. Once you've done all the hardware... then software makes sense.

Hope that helps,
~AMS~

lookin4ac55

Yes it makes great sense. I don't see a possibility for huge hp gains with staying N/A with this car IMO, but that's perfect for me as I do not want to go crazy. I think I will start with looking to delete the resonator first, then go from there.

I'm purchasing an extended service contract soon as well so don't want to jeopordize anything with that.

Also what kind of interior/exterior lighting upgrades are there??

AMS Performance

That is a misconception, Hooley and many others have proven you can make excellent power on these NA 55 AMGs you just have to know which mods do the most (the ones mentioned).

jturkel

fact. i think hooley put down 350 on a dynodynamics before throwing a s/c on there.....may have been on 100 octane though.....but he did have a crappy set of headers at the time too, so....

JonMBZ

I removed my resonator first and it wasnt loud enough. After the 2nd cats gone it sounds exactly where I want it. Very cheap easy HP too.

mkonei

if you just want to pick up a nice tone from the exhaust, delete the resonator. its a cheap (75) mod that adds a nice tone to the car. i live on the delran/moorestown border if youd like to hear what it sounds like

lookin4ac55

Hey, yeah that sounds great. I would love to hear what it sounds like prior to performing the mod. Also maybe shoot the crap for awhile about the cars . I've really fallen in love with the car.

Newzchspy

Actually the ONLY way Mike was able to break into the 12s and subsequently the 11s (which is amazing) was to go with the SC that he has. Problem with the NA 55 engine is that there's NOT a lot that you can do outside of supercharging that gives you the HP & torque bump you really need. A tune doesn't work as well compared to the C32, pulley's dont work (lightweight crank ones) to give you that much and the only thing I have seen is intakes and exhaust work that give a decent amount of power? Outside of a Kleemann, Eaton or other SC for the 55 engine, what else is there??

Owning all three engines myself, I can tell you this, the C32, SLK and SRT-6 (and E55 SC'd V-8 ) are easily the most modifiable engines that AMG has made the past 8 years. The 63 engine in the 204 C classes and also E Classes are in a similar position as the 55 NA engine. Outside of tune and exhaust, there's not a lot you can do.

AMGMIZ

TRUE ^^^^

jturkel

true......though there is some play here. mike hit a 13.0 at 110, granted it was on 100 octane, BUT i think had the conditions been better than a 2800 DA and like 80 degrees, he could have broken into the 12s. again though, he was fully fully modded, except his headers (evo shorties) sucked

bottom line, the M112k and M113k are easier motors to mod for more power.

Newzchspy

Amen!!!!

mkonei

headers, air intake (E55/SL55 or Renntech), tune, and chopping out the second cats are about youre really gonna find out there for the NA engines until you bolt on a blower or nitrous. be prepared though, the parts arent the same price point as your camaro was. i ended up just cutting out the resonator and leaving my car alone. the only things that i really intend on doing is losing the second set of cats, and switching over to the CLK55 rear brakes. other than that, im leaving it stock. large sums of money, for relatively small gains seem to be the theme for the NA engines unfortunately. you said youre 22? how about wings and beer at Hooters? PM me your info, and we'll catch up.

RLx02

...i hit 13.16@107.7 with less mods than mike. I also had more than 1/2 a tank of gas of 92 octane and had 19" wheels with bald tires on with zero grip (Feathering first gear all the way).

I'm expecting 12.8-12.9 when my new tires/wheels come in so I can actually launch in 1st. All I have is k&n's and res/secondary deletes.

You can break into the 12's naturally aspirated as long as you don't live up in the mountains or are racing in the desert heat.

My 2 cents.

Viper98912

Not sure what the "I'm 22" meant?

I've also thought about doing mods, but beware they are very expensive for this car (I've dropped a lot of $ on mods on other cars in the past, and this by far is the most expensive for improvement/$ ratio).

I've also thought about doing the resonator delete, but after listening to videos of the deletes on youtube (which isn't accurate, but anyway) I've decided to leave it alone. I actually like the stock V8 quiet rumble - when you get on it with the windows down, that's enough for me. To me, it gives it that real nice "factory performance" sound. I think you benefit from this more on a C32 than a C55, unless you like a loud exhaust, which is perfectly fine.

I've also debated the CLK rear brakes, but that's also very $$ just for a little more looks. I might just paint the stock caliper silver and put a black AMG logo on it or something to make it look just a little better.

RLx02

The resonator delete isn't that loud unless you stomp on it. Our sound deadening is awesome and from the inside, even with the secondaries taken off is pretty quiet with no drone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1uxDOef3vY

Here's a clip of a certain c55 with res deletes and secondaries removed.

You could always take out your secondaries to free up some power and leave the resonator still on or even switch resonators to a glass-pack style.

Newzchspy

from Turkel:

true......though there is some play here. mike hit a 13.0 at 110, granted it was on 100 octane, BUT i think had the conditions been better than a 2800 DA and like 80 degrees, he could have broken into the 12s. again though, he was fully fully modded, except his headers (evo shorties) sucked


*** OK guys, you all know how I'm a fanatic for numbers. On Dragtimes, NOT a single (not one) C55 has ever broken from the 13s into the 12s stock. Not one. Thus, my point is, the C55 is simply much harder than the C32 to break into the 12s with a minimum of mods. **** You have to Kleemanize that car you just bought to get into the low 12s and even the 11s, which is entirely plausible.

AMS Performance

For anyone who has never owned a car in AZ, you have no idea how impressive Hooleys times were. Take off at least a half second (if not more). AZ has the worst weather for power, its absolutely terrible. Bringing a car down from AZ to sea level literally feels like it has 25-30 more HP. Many of the NA 55s can get into the mid to low 12s with NA bolt on parts so they can be very quick. I would actually argue that its quite easy to make power out of the NA 55s b/c their exhaust most all makes significant gains were as the 112ks nothing does anything except headers. But again its all relative.

lookin4ac55

What are average STOCK times for the c55 AMG. I live right next to Atco Raceway, which I'm sure on an amazing DA night, and cool November December air it may be possible. My old camaro just the weather change was enough for 2/10 difference. We'll see. I don't intend to beat the **** out of the car, or go crazy with mods. I don't think I will do headers and pullies because the $1,500 tag for 15-20hp does not sit well with my stomach.

I drove the e55 AMG 469 hp I believe. I didn't like the feel to the car as much as the c55.

The "I'm 22" comment was, I'm 22 years old .

In all likelihood I will be deleting the resonator real soon on the car. We'll see about the secondary cats, not 100% sure on that. I just want a more show type car. I had the loud obnoxious car, I had the lifted diesel truck with stacks. Now just looking for the enjoyable ride quality, nice tone, and quick nature of the beast.

Quicktwinturbo

If you are not willing to spend $1500 for headers / pully... Your options are very limited..
Since you are 22, I'm guessing money is probably an issue (don't we all)...

Best thing to do is jst remove resonator, maybe cats and enjoy the car. Switch to some stickier tires (PS2, Dunlop Z1 star or whatever). If you are willing to spend more money, i'd go with the ECU but its not going to effect that much ($ to HP wise)..

Our car is rated 13.2 sec in 1/4 but i've seen faster / slower numbers..


Enjoy your car and welcome to the forum

c55asleep?

Interesting thread......

Newzchspy

You be quiet down there in FLA, you sold yours!!!!