adl320

Well, kinda new. I actually picked up an '05 C55 a few weeks ago but have been running like crazy and have forgotten to post up! The car is awesome and I have to thank the many informed posters on this forum for easing the transition to this ride.

I've been a BMW owner for the past 8 years and three cars - E90 328i, 335i, and current ride, E34 M5. I scored the M5 from a friend and now with nearly 150k on the body and 50k on a rebuild Dinan stroker motor, I just couldn't part so I kept it. It is by far the most visceral and rewarding car I've owned.

That said, I've always loved AMG and can't believe I now own one. All cars have a different personality and this will be a great DD. My car was driven by a fairly OCD owner who did all major and "B" services at his local dealer. All maintenance records kept and many nags already done - motor mounts, tranny mounts, front-end bushings and other. Really clean car with 74k miles and the power is addictive for sure!

Aaron

pointman

Welcome to the club. Love the E34 M5. Glad you kept it. Don't see too many of them running around anymore.

F1Bobby

Congrats and nice looking car! What part of the country?

adl320

Thanks! So true. I couldn't imagine getting rid of it at this point. It has served daily driver duty for the past 2 years after I turned in my 335i and never gave me any issues. Honestly, I had more fun driving it than the 335! I'll now finish off the little bits and pieces to make this a long-term keeper but the C will be my new daily steed. Kinda cool to have a rare M and AMG example in the garage. I have my wife's car in between to keep the two from fighting!

adl320

Thanks! I'm in Phoenix, AZ.

ghiaguy

Welcome! That is a clean C55 nice color too

adl320

In common indeed!

MBNiko

Welcome to the AMG clan my friend Plans on modding?

sinister55

Congrats you'll love this car

adl320

Thank you! As for modding, I have some education still ahead of me. Very much how it was for me diving into the unknown waters of the E34 M5. I think first off, I want to try resonator delete so I can hear more of what this beast has to offer. I am a huge F1 fan and the sound of the C63 medical car cracking around the track is downright intoxicating. I know the sound won't be the same but better than stock quiet for sure.

After that, I'd guess the kleemann headers/tune route if I can live with the sound day in day out. In the immediate future, flat AMG Badge, tint (gotta get ready for AZ summer!) and perhaps new head unit and amp as mine appears to have crapped out!

adl320

Does anybody have a place familiar with our cars to do resonator delete in Phoenix? I've heard Dynocomp in Scottsdale but not sure. Also, if I my "stage 1" mod was only deleting should I delete both resonator and secondary cats or will just deleting reso give enough throaty sound w/o drone?

I have searched around on this and it seems to come down to personal preference but I want to ensure I pass AZ emmissions with zero issues. Thoughts?

ghiaguy

I have to say, I went res delete first then secondaries a few months later. If I had it to do over, I would have done it all at once. It sounds really good without secondaries, much throatier on throttle and beastly on start up.
CA smog is probably more strict and I am going to risk it based on other members experiences.

ghiaguy

Do note that w/o secondaries - letting the compression slow the car in first gear while coming to a stop will produce sounds that drop panties. just a heads up

adl320

Niiice! I will look into emissions issues first then do both If no issues.

Saaboteur

My car came with the resonator and secondaries already deleted. Sounds excellent at start up, and if you play with the throttle as ghiaguy described, it does make some great V8 noises!

I was going to be similarly cautious about the resonator no secondaries delete on my old C43. Haven't done it yet, as I had reservations about the noise. No more after living with my C55 for a year. If there are no emissions testing issues where you live, I say just go for it.

adl320

Thanks for the feedback on deleting the secondaries. I spoke with another AZ C55 owner and he recommended just doing resonator due to potential issues with emissions. Ill go forward with resonator delete just to start getting a taste.

With the resonator only delete will the improvement in tone be heard not only at cold start but during normal driving as well?

ghiaguy

Nothing wrong with taking it slow. I noticed the start up is nowhere near as fierce with just the resonator out and idle is pretty stock sounding too (these will change if you pull the secondaries). It is definitely deeper than stock when on throttle, but is still kind of muffled and doesn't burble during compression braking. Its an improvement for sure over stock, but you may want more soon. (listen to sound clips on youtube for reference) Take care!

adl320

Thanks for the feedback. I was getting my transmission flushed at my local Indy today and asked about the secondaries here in AZ. He stated it could be problematic at registration renewal time. I renew in 17 months now so I may just go for both. I can always reverse the process if it dosen't pass.

ghiaguy

Honestly, that is my thoughts exactly. CA is REALLY strict, but I haven't heard of people failing for losing secondaries (only thing noticeable is the car takes a bit longer to warm up) If you find a shop that will take them out, you can trust them if it comes time to put them back in again.
It will be much louder that stock, obviously, but you will really enjoy it. It ends up sounding as it should/ as a proper V8 monster akin to the noises the C63 makes.

CerBErusM113

Congrats on the C55, welcome to the club.

I have done both the resonator and the secondaries each individually, have the secondaries removed now. Its loud but I do want it to have a little more of a savage tone, kind of want to remove the resonator now.

Either way why don't you have V bands welded in so you can bolt the secondaries in when you take it for emissions? Or do you think having any modifications will not let you pass?

Oh and sorry if this has already been mentioned, I skimmed the previous posts.

adl320

Thanks for the reply. I didn't know about v bands but that makes sense. I will probably just go resonator first to see if the sound to me personally is good enough. If not, off with the secondaries!

BTW, I may live in AZ now but I grew up in the Baltimore area so I'm digging your signature image. Go Ravens!

Regards,

SamIam43vr

hey CerBErus,

Are there any other C55's in the area? Just got an '06 but have yet to see any others around town.

CerBErusM113

Hey adl! I'm glad someone appreciates it I'll give it a few more weeks then take some pictures of the car for a sig when it warms up, once again you will love the resonator delete, and honestly you'll feel a difference with the secondary cats removed.

I did the secondaries this time around so I could see how much more power it makes, slightly less tq down low (barely noticeable) but a lot more power from 3k-5k rpms. It was hard for my car to even hook up from a dig at full throttle.

In my lifetime I've only seen about 6 C55's in the metal not counting mine. I'm not a very active poster on here; I do more reading and lurking so maybe we can all have a meet up somewhere in Northern VA and do a cruise.

adl320

Good info. Looks like It it time to move forward with the first mod!

AMGSC

Everything in my avatar is up for sale at half of retail. Please make offers.