Ported and Thermal Barrier coated C55 Manifold
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
I am too and I'm the one who promised numbers and purchased the pp intake manifold. Unfortuneately, my lifters have gone south -- huge mechanical noise under mild to heavy rev's -- will have them replaced next week and will post numbers soon after that. Apparently this is a common problem with slk32 lifters and, because the same supplier made the C55 lifters from essentially the same parts with one extra lifter on each cylinder, this happens to the 55 as well. I'm told by a dealer tech that this is more common if you change the oil in the 55 frequently, like me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Western Canada
2013 C63 AMG P31, 2014 GMC Sierra (6.2)
I am too and I'm the one who promised numbers and purchased the pp intake manifold. Unfortuneately, my lifters have gone south -- huge mechanical noise under mild to heavy rev's -- will have them replaced next week and will post numbers soon after that. Apparently this is a common problem with slk32 lifters and, because the same supplier made the C55 lifters from essentially the same parts with one extra lifter on each cylinder, this happens to the 55 as well. I'm told by a dealer tech that this is more common if you change the oil in the 55 frequently, like me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,375
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From: Seattle, WA
C55
Has me all scared now 
I know it sounds rough but I change my oil ever 10k as per master tech certified benz technicians who is a close friend of mine. I do add oil though when it needs. Seems like a quart ever 3k or so since I drive it pretty hard.
I know it sounds rough but I change my oil ever 10k as per master tech certified benz technicians who is a close friend of mine. I do add oil though when it needs. Seems like a quart ever 3k or so since I drive it pretty hard.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,001
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
A little over $3.8k without the new cams that my mechanic concluded were necessary. I will see over the next week or so if the engine is ok with the old cams, if not, its back to the shop -- insurance!!!???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,687
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From: Western Canada
2013 C63 AMG P31, 2014 GMC Sierra (6.2)
Thanks for remembering Marc! Pretty steep repair bill -- especially if you have to include new cams! So, I hope that dealer tech is wrong as I also change my oil more frequently than I probably have...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
Anyone know which is the best performance cam to get for a N/A 55: Kleemann, Shrick or PTE? and what their prices are? I think Kleemann only builds a FI 55 cam, but I could be wrong.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,589
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From: Texas
C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
I was going to say..... as long as you're car is torn down to the cams.... it's cam swap time 
I've got a spare intake for $200 shipped if someone needs a core to exchange for a ported one, or if you'd like to p/p this one. LMK.
I went the kompressor route..... so I don't need the intake.
I've got a spare intake for $200 shipped if someone needs a core to exchange for a ported one, or if you'd like to p/p this one. LMK.
I went the kompressor route..... so I don't need the intake.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
On a side note, anyone have experience with PTE cams for the n/a 55?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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PLAID
I questioned my mechanic further on this issue and he in turn told me that the dealer/tech meant to say, not changing your oil frequently, using the wrong oil or running without enough oil is what contributes to this problem. I'm still puzzeled though, I change every 5k religiously with Mobile1 0w40 and a Benz fleece filter -- must be a weakness in the OE lifters.
On a side note, anyone have experience with PTE cams for the n/a 55?
On a side note, anyone have experience with PTE cams for the n/a 55?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,001
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
My engine didn't just tick; I downright sounded like an old diesel. While it did seem to run just fine, hp/acceleration was down and the consensus of my mechanics and knowlegable friends was that leaving that by leaving this problem unaddressed, it would only get worse and produce a catastrophic failure in the future -- ingested pieces of lifter or bent valves resulting in a toasted engine. Apparently, on 55 engines both the cams and the lifters have to be changed at the same time -- my car is back in the shop for new cams and I'll let you know if this fixes the problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,001
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
Well I've had the lifters, rocker arms and cams replaced. The total bill (paid by insurance) was $3.8(rockers & lifters -- parts and replacement)+$1.2k(labor to replace cams)+$2k(approximate cost of the correct new MB/AMG cams supplied by the ins. co.) for a grand total of about $7k. But don't worry, if you do the cams, arms and lifters at the same time, the total price should be about $5.5k.
Funny thing is, the engine runs fine, seems to pull a little harder, but makes as much top end, passenger side, (lifter) noise as it did before all the work was done. My mechanic, after extensive discussions with the head mechanic at the local stealer's, and after that mechanic checked out my car in person, concluded that the engine is fine and just makes noise. However, I don't believe the engine made that much noise a year ago and earlier. To make matters even stranger, an E500 was in the shop for the exact same job at the exact same time and made no noise after the cams and lifters were replaced.
I know the work was done to my car because I was there when they did it and I have a set of used C55 cams for sale if anyone is interested.
What are your thoughts on this puzzle? I have yet to dyno the car.
Funny thing is, the engine runs fine, seems to pull a little harder, but makes as much top end, passenger side, (lifter) noise as it did before all the work was done. My mechanic, after extensive discussions with the head mechanic at the local stealer's, and after that mechanic checked out my car in person, concluded that the engine is fine and just makes noise. However, I don't believe the engine made that much noise a year ago and earlier. To make matters even stranger, an E500 was in the shop for the exact same job at the exact same time and made no noise after the cams and lifters were replaced.
I know the work was done to my car because I was there when they did it and I have a set of used C55 cams for sale if anyone is interested.
What are your thoughts on this puzzle? I have yet to dyno the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,001
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
The lifter noise is still present.
Anyone have any idea as to the cause? Perhaps excessive timing chain stretch, 0W40 is now too thin an oil for my engine, low oil pressure, bad oil pump?
Anyone have any idea as to the cause? Perhaps excessive timing chain stretch, 0W40 is now too thin an oil for my engine, low oil pressure, bad oil pump?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 695
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From: Delran, NJ
05 C55
Its a shame you dont live closer, it might help to compare to another C55. I had another guy live near me with a C55, and we met up a few months back. The pass side on his was a bit noisier than mine, but nothing that sounded like it was coming apart. My car has never been quiet, but Ive never had any mechanical problems. I complained once around 50k miles, and the MB tech put Techron in the tank....can you believe it quieted down? He told me they were prone to carbon deposits, and it sometimes made them noisy. No way in hell I would have believed him if I didnt hear it for myself. So now I run 0W40, fleece filter at 5k, and Lucas fuel additive every few tankfuls...runs great at 69,xxx miles.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 380
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From: Seattle, Warshington
2005 C55, 2006 Ram 2500 MegaCab diesel, sold 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins, sold 87 190e-16v, sold 97 e420
Don't wait that long. Oil absorbs water and dirt and eventual causes sludge. It starts to restrict oil passages and you end up with lifters that don't inflate. Merc was sued for their oil change algorithms. I run 5-40 Mobil 1 and change every 5K with track use. At about 4K I start to burn a little oil.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,833
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From: Atlanta
Current: AMG GT-C. Sold: 01 CLK55, 00 ML55, 01 ML55, 06 E55
Hate to steal TVT_DESIGN's thunder, but I purchased one of these manifolds they made for my w208, and it had an intake leak where the silicone wasn't sealed properly.
Also, the runners in the middle of the manifold were simply removed, which seemingly would eliminate any directional (laminar) flow benefits.
I couldn't get my car running with their manifold after a few weeks of trying.
And they never responded to my requests for help/replacement/refunds. So I out around $600 and the labor it took to install, troubleshoot, and remove.
Also, the runners in the middle of the manifold were simply removed, which seemingly would eliminate any directional (laminar) flow benefits.
I couldn't get my car running with their manifold after a few weeks of trying.
And they never responded to my requests for help/replacement/refunds. So I out around $600 and the labor it took to install, troubleshoot, and remove.
