Kleeman K1 to K2 Experience
09-22-2009, 06:31 PM
#1
Kleeman K1 to K2 Experience
Here are my impressions upgrading from Stock > K1 > K2.
Stock:
Plenty fast but frustrating that the engine is detuned and capable of more
K1 (ECU Flash):
Significant and very obvious increase in power - especially above 4k RPM. At $1,500 it is arguably the best single C63 modification you can do for power. For me, the engine and transmission after K1 was as smooth as stock - with an increase of 42WHP and 19WTQ. (While I did not do a baseline stock dyno, I understand that this car pulls about 370WHP and 360WTQ stock. I got 412WHP and 379WTQ after the K1.
K2 (Shorty headers, high-flow primary cats and ECU flash):
Total install was done in one day. The most obvious change is the exhaust sound:
Cold Start: Approx 50% louder and will certainly make heads turn
Idle: About the same as K1/Stock
Half Throttle: Noticeably louder than K1/Stock especially above 4k RPM
WOT: Significantly louder than K1/Stock
Overall, the K2 sound is more aggressive. I thought about replacing the resonator and secondary cats during the K2 install - I am glad I did not. For me, WOT is almost too loud
Going from K1 to K2 realized an increase of 19WHP and 11WTQ. Other than the change in sound, I can’t notice much difference from K1 to K2. Needless to say the car has over 520+HP at the crank and pulls like a train
FYI, the car is not obnoxiously loud in any way when shifting below 4k RPM so the choice is yours to let your neighbors sleep (or not)
Assuming average baseline numbers, the total gain from Stock to K2 is approximately 61WHP and 30WTQ (SAE and 91 octane)
Overall, I am a happy Kleeman customer - thanks Cory. Next up, getting wider tires (265/30/18) when my stock rears wear out. I am interested to see some user experience when the K3 and K4 packages come out
Key to Attachment
Run 7 = K1
Run 10 = K2
Stock:
Plenty fast but frustrating that the engine is detuned and capable of more
K1 (ECU Flash):
Significant and very obvious increase in power - especially above 4k RPM. At $1,500 it is arguably the best single C63 modification you can do for power. For me, the engine and transmission after K1 was as smooth as stock - with an increase of 42WHP and 19WTQ. (While I did not do a baseline stock dyno, I understand that this car pulls about 370WHP and 360WTQ stock. I got 412WHP and 379WTQ after the K1.
K2 (Shorty headers, high-flow primary cats and ECU flash):
Total install was done in one day. The most obvious change is the exhaust sound:
Cold Start: Approx 50% louder and will certainly make heads turn
Idle: About the same as K1/Stock
Half Throttle: Noticeably louder than K1/Stock especially above 4k RPM
WOT: Significantly louder than K1/Stock
Overall, the K2 sound is more aggressive. I thought about replacing the resonator and secondary cats during the K2 install - I am glad I did not. For me, WOT is almost too loud
Going from K1 to K2 realized an increase of 19WHP and 11WTQ. Other than the change in sound, I can’t notice much difference from K1 to K2. Needless to say the car has over 520+HP at the crank and pulls like a train
FYI, the car is not obnoxiously loud in any way when shifting below 4k RPM so the choice is yours to let your neighbors sleep (or not)
Assuming average baseline numbers, the total gain from Stock to K2 is approximately 61WHP and 30WTQ (SAE and 91 octane)
Overall, I am a happy Kleeman customer - thanks Cory. Next up, getting wider tires (265/30/18) when my stock rears wear out. I am interested to see some user experience when the K3 and K4 packages come out
Key to Attachment
Run 7 = K1
Run 10 = K2
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smsunder (12-11-2022)
09-22-2009, 07:05 PM
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2013 Chevy 427 Torch Red
Glad things worked out as they did, you can't go wrong with Kleemann. If there was an option from the factory to spend $5,000 more and get 520 hp most everyone would jump on it.
09-22-2009, 07:11 PM
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This is tough...James from ACGSD is coming up and will be doing flashes in Vegas.
09-22-2009, 08:32 PM
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Congrats on your upgrade. Nice review. In a few hundred miles or so, it will run just better, smoother. It's only after the upgrade that you can really appreciate that this engine was meant to be run at 500+hp, not below.
09-22-2009, 08:39 PM
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Here are my impressions upgrading from Stock > K1 > K2.
Stock:
Plenty fast but frustrating that the engine is detuned and capable of more
K1 (ECU Flash):
Significant and very obvious increase in power - especially above 4k RPM. At $1,500 it is arguably the best single C63 modification you can do for power. For me, the engine and transmission after K1 was as smooth as stock - with an increase of 42WHP and 19WTQ. (While I did not do a baseline stock dyno, I understand that this car pulls about 370WHP and 360WTQ stock. I got 412WHP and 379WTQ after the K1.
K2 (Shorty headers, high-flow primary cats and ECU flash):
Total install was done in one day. The most obvious change is the exhaust sound:
Cold Start: Approx 50% louder and will certainly make heads turn
Idle: About the same as K1/Stock
Half Throttle: Noticeably louder than K1/Stock especially above 4k RPM
WOT: Significantly louder than K1/Stock
Overall, the K2 sound is more aggressive. I thought about replacing the resonator and secondary cats during the K2 install - I am glad I did not. For me, WOT is almost too loud
Going from K1 to K2 realized an increase of 19WHP and 11WTQ. Other than the change in sound, I can’t notice much difference from K1 to K2. Needless to say the car has over 520+HP at the crank and pulls like a train
FYI, the car is not obnoxiously loud in any way when shifting below 4k RPM so the choice is yours to let your neighbors sleep (or not)
Assuming average baseline numbers, the total gain from Stock to K2 is approximately 61WHP and 30WTQ (SAE and 91 octane)
Overall, I am a happy Kleeman customer - thanks Cory. Next up, getting wider tires (265/30/18) when my stock rears wear out. I am interested to see some user experience when the K3 and K4 packages come out
Key to Attachment
Run 7 = K1
Run 10 = K2
Stock:
Plenty fast but frustrating that the engine is detuned and capable of more
K1 (ECU Flash):
Significant and very obvious increase in power - especially above 4k RPM. At $1,500 it is arguably the best single C63 modification you can do for power. For me, the engine and transmission after K1 was as smooth as stock - with an increase of 42WHP and 19WTQ. (While I did not do a baseline stock dyno, I understand that this car pulls about 370WHP and 360WTQ stock. I got 412WHP and 379WTQ after the K1.
K2 (Shorty headers, high-flow primary cats and ECU flash):
Total install was done in one day. The most obvious change is the exhaust sound:
Cold Start: Approx 50% louder and will certainly make heads turn
Idle: About the same as K1/Stock
Half Throttle: Noticeably louder than K1/Stock especially above 4k RPM
WOT: Significantly louder than K1/Stock
Overall, the K2 sound is more aggressive. I thought about replacing the resonator and secondary cats during the K2 install - I am glad I did not. For me, WOT is almost too loud
Going from K1 to K2 realized an increase of 19WHP and 11WTQ. Other than the change in sound, I can’t notice much difference from K1 to K2. Needless to say the car has over 520+HP at the crank and pulls like a train
FYI, the car is not obnoxiously loud in any way when shifting below 4k RPM so the choice is yours to let your neighbors sleep (or not)
Assuming average baseline numbers, the total gain from Stock to K2 is approximately 61WHP and 30WTQ (SAE and 91 octane)
Overall, I am a happy Kleeman customer - thanks Cory. Next up, getting wider tires (265/30/18) when my stock rears wear out. I am interested to see some user experience when the K3 and K4 packages come out
Key to Attachment
Run 7 = K1
Run 10 = K2
09-22-2009, 08:58 PM
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LS430
Great writeup, anyway you can take videos of the startup and driveby at WOT or so. I've always heard C63s without cats and resonators and thought they lost a bit of refinement to the sound. I wonder if that is kept as you kept your cats and resonators after getting your headers. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
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09-22-2009, 09:43 PM
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11' R8 - 11' RR Sport
Thanks for the write up. My car is also undergoing this current transformation..with a couple extra goodies. I will hopefully be able to add to the goodness!!
09-22-2009, 10:11 PM
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09-22-2009, 11:10 PM
#10
I live in RSF and work in Sorrento Valley - Perhaps there are a few C63'ers in the SD area who would like to meet up ( I am thinking a long 2 lane road with no traffic).
On that note, there is a guy with glasses who drives a black C63 near my work - you flew past me on the onramp to I5 North right before the 52 bypass ....... you know who you are
09-22-2009, 11:21 PM
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I have put a couple of hundred miles after the K2 (including a trip to LA on I5 when there was little traffic - I made good time....)
I live in RSF and work in Sorrento Valley - Perhaps there are a few C63'ers in the SD area who would like to meet up ( I am thinking a long 2 lane road with no traffic).
On that note, there is a guy with glasses who drives a black C63 near my work - you flew past me on the onramp to I5 North right before the 52 bypass ....... you know who you are
I live in RSF and work in Sorrento Valley - Perhaps there are a few C63'ers in the SD area who would like to meet up ( I am thinking a long 2 lane road with no traffic).
On that note, there is a guy with glasses who drives a black C63 near my work - you flew past me on the onramp to I5 North right before the 52 bypass ....... you know who you are
I would like to say me but mine isn't black
09-23-2009, 09:34 AM
#13
I am more confident with the increase going from K1 to K2 as the measurements were done on the same dyno with the same operator in similar conditions.
I am not sure about gas mileage - other than the fact that it is very low
Great writeup, anyway you can take videos of the startup and driveby at WOT or so. I've always heard C63s without cats and resonators and thought they lost a bit of refinement to the sound. I wonder if that is kept as you kept your cats and resonators after getting your headers. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Last edited by kuta01; 09-23-2009 at 09:44 AM.
09-23-2009, 10:02 AM
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LS430
I can't say exactly what increases were achieved going from stock to K1 as I did not do a baseline (stock) dyno. I have no idea if this particular Dynojet measures low/average/high.
I am more confident with the increase going from K1 to K2 as the measurements were done on the same dyno with the same operator in similar conditions.
I am not sure about gas mileage - other than the fact that it is very low
Personally, I wanted to avoid the loud and raspy sound that some have created by modifying the exhaust (if that is what you mean by losing refinement). Now that the K2 mod is done, I would not want it any louder or "raspier" - It makes you apreciate what a great job the AMG team did with the stock exhaust. The major difference in sound from the K2 mod was making my car sound significantly more aggressive at high revs / WOT. Refined is not a word that I would use to describe this sound
I am more confident with the increase going from K1 to K2 as the measurements were done on the same dyno with the same operator in similar conditions.
I am not sure about gas mileage - other than the fact that it is very low
Personally, I wanted to avoid the loud and raspy sound that some have created by modifying the exhaust (if that is what you mean by losing refinement). Now that the K2 mod is done, I would not want it any louder or "raspier" - It makes you apreciate what a great job the AMG team did with the stock exhaust. The major difference in sound from the K2 mod was making my car sound significantly more aggressive at high revs / WOT. Refined is not a word that I would use to describe this sound
BTW, is there a chance you pick up more power once the ECU adapts more? Also, what kind of conditions you dynoed in as I've seen other K2s hit 440+rwhp and was wondering if it was quite hot and humid when you dynoed.
Also, how would you compare the acceleration and pulling power vs. what you felt when the car was stock?
Enjoy the car!
09-23-2009, 10:16 AM
#15
BTW, is there a chance you pick up more power once the ECU adapts more? Also, what kind of conditions you dynoed in as I've seen other K2s hit 440+rwhp and was wondering if it was quite hot and humid when you dynoed.
Also, how would you compare the acceleration and pulling power vs. what you felt when the car was stock?
Enjoy the car!
Stock to K1 was the biggest change for me. You immediatly notice the increased pull and HP. I did not notice much in this regard going from K1 to K2.
My Dyno's were done in Santee near San Diego. Run 7 was done under the following conditions: 91.70 °F 29.76 in-Hg Humidity: 29 %
09-23-2009, 11:46 AM
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07 RS4 sold, R53 Cooper S, 2008 Cayman S, 2012 GTR
Glad to see you enjoying the k2 upgrade, We would be willing to host a little SD gtg next month if you guys want to roll by the new shop.
Let me know
Let me know
09-23-2009, 11:58 AM
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Lets do this, I would like to hear kuta01's car in person.
What day are you thinking?
Last edited by 2K6E55; 09-23-2009 at 12:03 PM.
09-23-2009, 12:19 PM
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09-23-2009, 06:38 PM
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09-23-2009, 10:34 PM
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I may have to postpone my trip because of my vendors are lagging. Can we shoot for next Monday or Wednesday James & kuta01 and Jae Duk? Thanks guys.
Last edited by 2K6E55; 09-24-2009 at 01:51 AM.
09-23-2009, 11:01 PM
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09-24-2009, 09:49 AM
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Monday and Wed work for me depending on the time. Are we thinking morning/afternoon or evening?
