Unfortunately it does not come with LSD in the US.

 

the CLS55 and SL55 with the 030 AMG performace package do come with an AMG locking differential

 

Well what's an AMG locking differential?Is that supposed to be limited slip? Nope! They are two different kinds of differentials. READ:


WHY DO LIMITED-SLIP/POSI DIFFERENTIALS FALL SHORT?
As the name implies, limited-slip/posi differentials limit or reduce wheel slippage, but do not eliminate it. By applying friction with clutches or cones to the side gears inside the differential, unwanted wheel slippage is reduced. The degree of reduced wheel slippage is determined by the amount of friction, or "breakaway torque," applied to the side gears. While performance varies from one design to another, as little as 15% to 25% of engine torque will be delivered to the higher traction wheel when new and will decline with use. Although better than open differentials, limited-slip/posi differentials do not provide the maximum traction capabilities of locking differentials.

WHAT IS A LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL?
Unlike limited-slip/posi differentials, locking differentials deliver 100% of engine torque to both wheels, even if one has zero traction. Locking differentials, commonly referred to as "lockers," are available in either manual or automatic configurations: Manual lockers operate like open differentials when deactivated. When manually activated, they deliver maximum traction by essentially joining together both wheels. Because manual lockers do not differentiate when activated, care must be used to insure they are manually disengaged when making turns on hard surfaces to avoid potential damage.

Automatic lockers deliver maximum traction without requiring manual activation and deactivation. The wheels are mechanically "locked" together when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead. As the vehicle begins to turn, it automatically; unlocks to allow required wheel differentiation throughout the turn, and then automatically re-locks. Although not as smooth and as quiet as limited-slip/posi differentials, vehicles equipped with automatic locking differentials provide differentiation and the highest level of traction output.






The only 2005 AMG in the US that comes with the term and diff,limited slip differential(LSD) is the SL65.

 

Hi All,

Just bought a LSD direct from AMG Germany for my new CLK55 AMG which also just arrived this week. The LSD arrived late this afternoon. Amg Germany sold it to me via the MB dealer who supplied them the car Vin number. But I paid & spoke to AMG Germany direct once that was done.

As quoted by AMG Germany to me directly:-

"An LSD has never been part of the product concept of the CLK55 AMG and
that is the reason why it is not mentioned in the sales brochures and the
technical data of the car. That is also the reason why it is not installed in
the factory at all.

We are offering an LSD for retrofit in all Mercedes-Benz workshops and
the price for this is $*****ex Affalterbach."

The above is the line taken for Australia, there marketing and sales for the USA maybe a little different. But you have to supply the Vin number of an actual CLK55 AMG and the LSD must be MB workshop installed, otherwise they will not sell it to you. Also there is no refund or exchange for the diff that you already have in your car, so it can get expensive.

I was also told by the MB forum in Germany that the factory in Affalterbach could only do the install, as you can see that was wrong.

Brabus will do you a LSD if you send them your old diff, they convert it, the trouble is the freight and the long wait. Or if you are buying a new CLK55 they will pick it up from the MB factory in Germany, do the LSD and then return it to MB Germany. It's about a 3 day turn around they said.

Your option for Brabus in the USA would probably be ok but in Australia there is no actual Brabus only a small dealer.

Anyway I went AMG LSD as my car is only being delievered to me next week and thats if they get everything installed in time.

Robertus

 

Okay Gents....

Wish me luck! I'll be heading to the track this Sunday (with DerekFSU) down in South Georgia.

I want to hit that 13.2!!!

 

Good Luck, hope you hit it...

 

Thanks I'm trying a new facility this time...perhaps I'll be able to hook better.

 

Good luck Chappy!

 

Thanks....high will be 72 degrees and sunny. Hoping for the best!

 

Chap Chap Chappy!!!! 13.0 I see it coming!good Luck!

 

The 030 package (known as the nurburgring package in Germany) is offered on the SL55, CLS55, E55 and SLK55. All of these cars get the AMG limited slip, except the SLK55. Also included are better brakes, better suspension and the speed limiter raised to 186 MPH. The AMG locking differntial IS a limited slip- a salisbury type to be precise- exactly the same (except the housing of course) as the SL65 LSD- 30% torque bias, with fairly slow lock-up. SO, to answer your question "what's an AMG locking differential"- it's a Salisbury type LSD.

 

HI,

Below is a photo of the LSD for the CLK55 AMG, the 2 smaller boxes hold the new universal joints and the 2 longer boxes hold the new drive shafts. I was told that the current drive shafts on the CLK55 are deemed not strong enough to be used with LSD, plus the overall diameter of the LSD looks bigger so they may not be able to be used anyway. When the standard diff is pulled I will check to see what differences there are.

Will post more photos closer to installation
Robertus

 

Chappy, how did you do??

 

Yesterday was a very long day, my friends. Up at 5 to be out the door and meet up with Saaz and his SLK55 for the drive down to http://www.sgmpracing.com/ Didn't get home till nearly 11pm.

We drove the 210 miles from Atlanta and ended up getting to the track around 11am. DerekFSU was coming over from Savannah and the three of us got to the track about the same time. What's that he's driving? A new motorhome towing a stacker trailer with the Noble and E55, plus his wife is driving the new M5!

We knew it was going to be a fun day!

Uncharacteristically, the place was PACKED with cars, as the general public was allowed in at 1pm. Racing didn't begin until after 2pm. The line for tech must have been over 100 cars long

I only got two runs. The first was 13.599 @ 107.22. Ambient temp was 72 degrees.

At about 5:30, I made my way back to the car to do one last "what the hell" run before driving home. The ambient temp had dropped to 68 degrees:

13.349 @ 109.00 !!!

My personal best! I realize I have another tenth to shave before claiming the MBWorld record, but needless to say I was very happy on the drive home!

Keep in mind, my W208 CLK55 has about 23K miles, and still has the stock/original air filters that came from the factory. I didn't take out the spare or any other items, did not adjust tire pressure and ran on pump 93 with 1/4 tank of fuel. That's it...no tricks...nothing.

The full slip reads:

R/T: .265
60': 2.148
330: 5.744
1/8: 8.704
MPH: 83.08
1000: 11.229
1/4: 13.349
MPH: 109.00

I can scan it in the next day or two and have lots of pics from the racing action as well between the stock E55 or AmenMercedesGo and Derek's new M5.

Bottom line...I am encouraged by the results, but realize I need some really cold temps (50s, etc.) if I want to get 13.2.

 

Congratulations, Chappy.

Good info....

If you decide to go with another air intake setup, what would it be?

 

Thanks

As in swapping out air filters? Or a complete new intake system like a Renntech airbox?

 

A complete system.

Just wanted to see what you would look to...

Seems an easy way to squeeze another 10-15 HP out.

 

Though pricey (at $3295), the RENNtech carbon fiber airbox / ECU combo has a claimed yield of 20hp and 24 Torque increase. I assume that's at the flywheel. From what I've seen, the stock NA AMG cars can't be improved much without going to a forced-induction setup (supercharger). The package is well-engineered from the factory.

The same applies for the stock AMG exhaust. Can't really be improved upon much, so the market isn't there for extensive R & D.

I'm avoiding drop in filters like K & N as there are several reports here of members having premature MAF failures as a result. I don't think a 5hp is worth compromising a $400-$500 MAF....I suspect that the RENNtech airbox doesn't use stock filters....not sure though.

There may be other performance/engine mods that would yield gains as well, but cost a fair amount given the small increases.

Other performance mods I'd consider when my warranty runs out:

Headers - not even sure they're made for this car.
Supercharger
6.1 kit from Brabus

 

Well, as a newbie, this is good info for me.

I agree with you about the MAF.

I also plan to look into some perf mods aftert warranty. I'd love to go the kompressor route, but there may be some less $ mods that will provide some gains as well...

Looks like Kleemann has a performance kit that includes a flywheel, a larger pulley, and some belts that can crank some additional hp, but it doesn't look like they have them for W208...

 

Great time Chappy! Congrats! Sounds like a interesting day to say the least!

 

I once saw the RENNtech box & filter that was taken off a car that got an HPS Gen I kit ... the filter was a very thick but pourous foam that got thicker towards the intake side. ...I think it was oiled too.

Phenolic [Tufnol] spacers are something to consider. Jeff (speedybenz) has measured the difference with and without, and the temperature difference of moving the manifold off the heads is not insignificant. I also read a few Autospeed articles on it. Here's an excerpt of one:

Considering the cost of phenolic spacers isn't too steep, I keep saying to myself... what am I waiting for?!

 

This means WAR! Damn Chappy ,your car has some serious mph in the 1/4.Damn Good run! Was this a much better track and what gear did you have the car in?

 

Damn man! 109 mph is incredible.Congrats dude!

 

lol....North vs. South

The track we went to was here...

http://www.sgmpracing.com/

Very nice facility and is near sea level at only 242 feet above. I think once the air temps got down (that run was at 68 degrees), the improvement was really noticeable. For now, the reassuring thing is that I know this car is capable of doing 13.2X stock, given the right conditions.

The car finished the 1/4 in 3rd gear.

Ball is in your court. 15-Love :v

 

LOL! I've been down here in Louisiana now for three weeks helping with the recovery.5 more weeks to go till I get back to NYC and then it will be my serve! Good Run Chappy!ILL BE BACK! PS is that the track where they have the NOPI events?