Fivehunnit

So I'm thinking of either selling my 500 and putting it towards a C63, or keeping and modding the 500 with things such as headers, cams and maybe even the supercharger, all from kleeman.
The sound is quite important to me, I doubt the 500 will ever sound close to the 63, but has anyone got a seriously aggressive sounding setup? Will the headers give it a deeper tone? I'm running with the primary and secondary cats in place only, no resonator or mufflers and it sounds pretty good, I was going to have the secondary cats replaced by an X-pipe, even go fully straight pipes, but I think that would sound ridiculous? Anyone got sound clips of headers installed on their 500? Before and after would be good.
Read a few posts where people had the Kleemann supercharger installed and said it transformed it into a monster but needed an LSD, anyone else any thoughts? Thanks

irokdastar

Is depreciation important to you ? If you mod out the 500 it is still a 500 and you will barley get a quarter of the amount you spend on parts . Not counting labor and whatever headaches comes up while modding . If you take the money for the mods and add the sale price of the car you now have an actual c63 not just a very loud 500. I don't think it makes sense to mod out the car . Your profile is showing a 2002 clk500 which goes from 4 to 10K . The supercharger alone is 10K . Why don't you sell it and get a clk63 convertible . There in the mid 20's . This way you have the power , sound and its still a clk if you don't want the 4 doors.

Fivehunnit

Totally agree really, it's the way I'm heading with it, it's only the fact the 500 has a black series body kit that I'm a little more attached to it, but totally different league to an AMG

irokdastar

I actually was looking to add that kit to my car lol. Was the body work expensive ?

tw2

Buying the faster newer car is always better than modding. Sometimes you get lucky but often these projects take many weeks at best and cost much more than anticipated. Get the C63.

Fatz

It depends on where your head (and perhaps your heart) is. Financially, it makes more sense to just get another car (C63). If you're concerned about ROI, get another car (C63).

Then there is the enthusiast and tinkerer thing. If you yourself have automotive skills, track your car, or just have this enthusiasts characteristic to "build it your way" then going the mod route can be fun and fulfilling and leave you with something that is a bit unique.

Fivehunnit

It wasn't too bad actually and it's a proper job, my local body shop changed all the panels and bumpers, crafted the rear arches on and resprayed it for £1600

Thanks for the replies.

irokdastar

thats not a bad price . Did you get the prior design body kit or did you purchase the ones from ebay ? Also any issue with the fiberglass cracking etc ? Thanks for the info..

Fivehunnit

Not the prior design one, someone from Poland called exclusive black series, but they've changed their name to ground effects or something I think, was something like £1,600 including shipping, it arrived with slight damage but I repaired it, other than that no problems, the fitment is spot on too I was amazed.

kb24forlife24

I have a video of just primary cats. Check it out in my exhaust thread (in my signature).

I'd save for C63. I had the same thoughts up until recently. That M156 6.2L AMG engine is pure sex.

Fivehunnit

Well, that was a quick decision, I went with CLS63 AMG

kb24forlife24

Congrats man, love the murdered out look. How do the two compare?

gixxerboy

nice car, good luck with it. Im thinking of a newer cls550 for the wife

tw2

Congratulations awesome choice. Looking forward to your thoughts once you put a few miles on it.

Fivehunnit

Thanks this feels more smooth and, sort of tight and errr much, much more poke!

Fivehunnit

Thanks yes will certainly report on that, loving it so far.

Fivehunnit

Put a few miles on today, thoughts so far, the ride is smoother, the steering seems more precise but less feedback, the interior is clearly better, the leather is more plush, the smell of the inside is like overpowering new leather, there's a slight "bump bump" when changing down into first when coming to a stop, which I've read other posts, people mentioning theirs also does it? It reminds me of when the MAF went out in the 500 but only very slight.
It has a bit of road noise which I'm thinking is tyres, Michelin pilot sport, which I've been reading up on today and found a few posts reporting the same when running these and some others on their CLS, Other than the two slight niggles, loving it, super warp speed quick when pushed but feels elegant while it's happening.
I do have worries about the head bolt issue though, I may have to get the weistec ones put in eventually.

tw2

I would just replace them with revised ones unless you plan to supercharge. The bolts are $10 each (20 bolts in total), you need two diamond coated washers and the tool kit for timing ($190) if you replace one bolt at a time.

Fivehunnit

Thanks, how much would an Indy charge for the job, you reckon?

tw2

I am not familiar with north American pricing but I would say 5-6 hours. That is assuming you can find one who would be willing to replace one bolt at a time. They will probably insist on taking the heads off which is another $3-400 in parts I would guess and at least twice as long to complete.

Fivehunnit

Thanks, I'm in the UK, I know a really good independent, I may ask them what they would propose.

tw2

While you are there it might be worth upgrading to the SLS lifters which I am guessing is just the newest revision of the M156 part. They are US$20 each and of course you need 32. The early designs wear too easily and the lifters bleed down too much when the car is off causing the excessive cam to bucket clearance and tapping noise. I am researching these things for myself hoping to one day get a C/E/CLS63.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w219/6292...-part-2-a.html
https://www.mbca.org/star-article/ma...ne-refinements
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...swap-m156.html

and of course the monster thread
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...oblems-23.html

kb24forlife24

The Weistec head bolts are $1000 and not worth it if you aren't supercharging the car. The revised bolts will do just fine.