CLK55 Engine Failure?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Clearwater, Florida
2002 CLK55 Kleemann
First of all there is no such thing as a bullet proof motor. AMG does their best to build as strong a motor as they can, but if a MAF goes your toast. If an injector clogs your done. There are lots of things that can kill a motor. Look at NASCAR, they have the best of everything and motors still blow.
Second, you can not just hone it out and slap it back together. The cylinders are coated with a special process. You can not just swap in any pistons either. This is going to take some time to diagnose what happened, then how to prevent it.
As far as what happened... The car just started idling rough, and the check engine light came on. I pulled the car back into my garage and had it towed to C2Design to trouble shoot it. No warning, no anything. I had just pulled the car out of my garage when it happened. It may have started earlier but the car only did it at idle, so its hard to say when it actually happened. I never drove the car with the engine light on, only as far as my driveway.
I will not change the pulley to reduce boost. If I do that I might as well pull the s/c all together, and that is not going to happen.
I am going to probably have some minor head work done and get the headers. I looked at going crazy and rebuilding the block with different internal to increase boost, but it just can't happen. I am not going to be the guinea pig for Kleemann or anybody else.
Second, you can not just hone it out and slap it back together. The cylinders are coated with a special process. You can not just swap in any pistons either. This is going to take some time to diagnose what happened, then how to prevent it.
As far as what happened... The car just started idling rough, and the check engine light came on. I pulled the car back into my garage and had it towed to C2Design to trouble shoot it. No warning, no anything. I had just pulled the car out of my garage when it happened. It may have started earlier but the car only did it at idle, so its hard to say when it actually happened. I never drove the car with the engine light on, only as far as my driveway.
I will not change the pulley to reduce boost. If I do that I might as well pull the s/c all together, and that is not going to happen.
I am going to probably have some minor head work done and get the headers. I looked at going crazy and rebuilding the block with different internal to increase boost, but it just can't happen. I am not going to be the guinea pig for Kleemann or anybody else.
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well I feel your pain.
i guess once you figure out how much its going to cost to repair you might want to look at replacing the engine all together. I have seen several 55k motors and trannys for sale lately. That my friend would be a awesome swap!!
Good luck
i guess once you figure out how much its going to cost to repair you might want to look at replacing the engine all together. I have seen several 55k motors and trannys for sale lately. That my friend would be a awesome swap!!
Good luck
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Clearwater, Florida
2002 CLK55 Kleemann
I am not sure what you mean? I already have a 55 motor, with only 33,000 miles. Engine swaps mean you are getting someone elses problems. I will try and fix mine before I look at any swap. AS long as the block is not damaged I will be fine.
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what i mean is a real 55kompressor engine from MB. The 469-493 hp version from the factory. Most engines i have seen are from cars that have been wrecked. Again it might not be cost effective to do this but its a thought.
I saw one in the classifieds not to long ago and have seen them on ebay too. Complete engine and tranny with low low miles.
But you are right, as long as the cylinder walls are ok it will be cheaper to fix.
I saw one in the classifieds not to long ago and have seen them on ebay too. Complete engine and tranny with low low miles.
But you are right, as long as the cylinder walls are ok it will be cheaper to fix.
Last edited by Mad TKD; Mar 31, 2007 at 10:22 PM.
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From: Clearwater, Florida
2002 CLK55 Kleemann
It has less compression, but more boost. I could throw E55 pistons and rods and turn up the boost in mine and I would just about have a Mercedes 55K motor, they are not that different. I think that the 500-550 hp I will have from my car is more then enough. Besides I only plan on keeping it another 2 years and I will be moving up to an SL55K.
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Its not quite that simple. If it was everyone would slap on a supercharger. Compression ratio is what kills high boost in a not FI 55 engine. A 55k Car is designed that way from factory. Not only different pistons but also things to help in cooling. I dont have all the tech differences but I would bet they are more different than you think.
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From: CA, NV, CO
I've had mine(custom S8+) for 3+yrs now and no problem. This doesn't sound like kleemann's work but then again i don't know the whole story so i' not the one to say anything.
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Has anybody ever seen a 55 motor go south after only 33K miles. Yes, I have the Kleemann supercharger. Kleemann is saying that I drove the car too hard with bad gas and a bad MAF all at the same time. BULL****!!!!! I do not drive this car any harded then my Supra Twin Turbo and thats just a ricer! Not a hand built, over engineered, German Autobahn cruiser???? Please tell me I am not the only person with a blown 55 that has gone BOOM!
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Has anybody ever seen a 55 motor go south after only 33K miles. Yes, I have the Kleemann supercharger. Kleemann is saying that I drove the car too hard with bad gas and a bad MAF all at the same time. BULL****!!!!! I do not drive this car any harded then my Supra Twin Turbo and thats just a ricer! Not a hand built, over engineered, German Autobahn cruiser???? Please tell me I am not the only person with a blown 55 that has gone BOOM!
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From: Clearwater, Florida
2002 CLK55 Kleemann
I will know more Tuesday or Wednesday, when the engine is torn down. The engine is out of the car and the supercharger has been removed, but that is as far as they got. It may be something serious or it could be something minor.
I do not believe that this is Kleemann related. Their system is still one of the best complete systems I have ever seen. I am disappointed at Kleemannfor instantly trying to blame me for driving the car too hard.
I do not believe that this is Kleemann related. Their system is still one of the best complete systems I have ever seen. I am disappointed at Kleemannfor instantly trying to blame me for driving the car too hard.
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From: Clearwater, Florida
2002 CLK55 Kleemann
I don't know if I will ever know what really caused it. I am going to see the parts and talk with the guys that will rebuilt it tomorrow. I will get their ideas and suggestions as to the cause. But, it will be impossible to determine the exact cause. I am going to have the injectors flow matched to be sure that it was not a faulty injector. I have already replace the MAF, #6 coil pack, plugs, and wires.
Hopefully that will cover as many bases as I can cover.
Hopefully that will cover as many bases as I can cover.
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From: Miami, FL
E55 AMG + Mustang GT
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From: Indiana
2003 AMG SL55, 2002 AMG CLK55, 2002 AMG ML55, 2005 ML350, 1995 S320 LWB - totaled
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w210 E55
The abrasive clay media that Extrude Hone uses is the best process in the world for port and polishing.
P.S glad to hear it isn't major.
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From: Texas
C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
##
Raising an old post..... but I'm looking into boost on my 04clk55 soon.....
Doesn't the CLK55 have a knock sensor which would have detected detonation and pulled timing to avoid this problem with hole #6?
Can you hear detonation on the CLK motors with a kleeman while driving? My old Vortech Centri blown motors I could hear deto while getting in to boost and could tune that way before creating any problems. Do the AMG55 motors have forged pistons? Forged are more durable when faced with deto.
Was this car run hard in HOT weather heat soaked prior to the incident?
Just curious about any follow up to this incident.
thx, MB WORLD>...
Doesn't the CLK55 have a knock sensor which would have detected detonation and pulled timing to avoid this problem with hole #6?
Can you hear detonation on the CLK motors with a kleeman while driving? My old Vortech Centri blown motors I could hear deto while getting in to boost and could tune that way before creating any problems. Do the AMG55 motors have forged pistons? Forged are more durable when faced with deto.
Was this car run hard in HOT weather heat soaked prior to the incident?
Just curious about any follow up to this incident.
thx, MB WORLD>...
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haters crazy
To answer some of your questions...
Yes the car has knock sensors and the ECU can pull up to 12 degrees of timing I think.
I can't hear much of anything on my car since the exhaust is so loud lol
They do not have forged pistons, that would have been nice. They are hyperutectic pistons with forged rods and crank. You get detonation with hyperutectic pistons and it's very easy to damage them.
Edit: just read post #25, funny how things turn out
Yes the car has knock sensors and the ECU can pull up to 12 degrees of timing I think.
I can't hear much of anything on my car since the exhaust is so loud lol
They do not have forged pistons, that would have been nice. They are hyperutectic pistons with forged rods and crank. You get detonation with hyperutectic pistons and it's very easy to damage them.
Edit: just read post #25, funny how things turn out
Last edited by blackbenzz; Jun 6, 2010 at 01:53 PM.
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From: Texas
C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
Pistons
I wonder what a ball park figure would be for a shop like Motorwerks to swap out my stock he pistons for a set of lower comp forged pistons so I'm setup right to run some boost?
Are there any other wear items I'd want to have changed out on a 23K miles AMGCLK55 while it's apart? oil pump, timing chains... etc/?? I'm thinking you all will say it's just not worth it with such low miles........
HE's and boost... is scary especially with 11:1 compression...... you have very little margin for error with AFR/Timing before you break something..... heck one tank of bad gas and it's a hg or piston. Am I being too much of a chicken?
Are there any other wear items I'd want to have changed out on a 23K miles AMGCLK55 while it's apart? oil pump, timing chains... etc/?? I'm thinking you all will say it's just not worth it with such low miles........
HE's and boost... is scary especially with 11:1 compression...... you have very little margin for error with AFR/Timing before you break something..... heck one tank of bad gas and it's a hg or piston. Am I being too much of a chicken?
