First Post As An Owner
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 8
First Post As An Owner
Hi guys! Well, I finally joined you. In the last 45 days I have gone from a 2008 BMW 650i to a 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo to now (to be delivered in a week or so) 2008 CLK63 BS.
I had the BMW for 3 years, had the Lambo for about a month. I LOVED the 650 and loved the Lambo, but it just isnt for me. Im pushing 6'4 and I cant get comfortable in it (nevermind the stares and constant questions at lights and gas stations).
Anyway, I have always liked the looks of the BS and finally drove one this past week. That was all it took... one drive. Wow.
I pulled the trigger on a 5700 mile Silver BS. I want to get right to modding. First up is cosmetic work (painting OEM wheels, grill, smoked tailights, Pioneer Nav, and a few other things) but will quickly move to performance.
So how should I start performance modding? Im thinking Kleemann headers and ECU to start but want to get your take before I spend any $. If you had it to do all over again, what would you do?
Thanks!
I had the BMW for 3 years, had the Lambo for about a month. I LOVED the 650 and loved the Lambo, but it just isnt for me. Im pushing 6'4 and I cant get comfortable in it (nevermind the stares and constant questions at lights and gas stations).
Anyway, I have always liked the looks of the BS and finally drove one this past week. That was all it took... one drive. Wow.
I pulled the trigger on a 5700 mile Silver BS. I want to get right to modding. First up is cosmetic work (painting OEM wheels, grill, smoked tailights, Pioneer Nav, and a few other things) but will quickly move to performance.
So how should I start performance modding? Im thinking Kleemann headers and ECU to start but want to get your take before I spend any $. If you had it to do all over again, what would you do?
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Central New Jersey
CLK63 Black, E350 Wagon, Supercharged Denali, Lotus Elise, Tesla Model 3 Dual-Motor.
Welcome on board.
If you're talking engine performance, I'd just buy a Supercharger as that will make your really fast car, a too fast car.
Jim
If you're talking engine performance, I'd just buy a Supercharger as that will make your really fast car, a too fast car.
Jim
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 86
From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
Welcome to the board. A tune, pulley and long tube headers will get you close to a 90 whp. Cosmetics is a personal thing, but wheel spacers on the stock wheels is a must.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Central New Jersey
CLK63 Black, E350 Wagon, Supercharged Denali, Lotus Elise, Tesla Model 3 Dual-Motor.
12 months of good weather to drive her.
Being in FL, you could call Renntech and ask them to look at enhancing the car.
Jim
Being in FL, you could call Renntech and ask them to look at enhancing the car.
Jim
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Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 149
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From: W Coast & E Europe
08 E63, 07 RS4, 04 GT3, 10 LR4, 02 Pajero
Welcome, I'm sure you'll love the CLK BS. It's a better daily than a Gallardo and gets a round a track in a way that belies its weight. Impressive vehicle.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 917
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA
10 Cayenne GTS, 07 Porsche 911 Turbo
Wheel spacers on a stock car? First time I've heard of this. Why and what size? Just curious as I'm approaching my VIR track days in June and would like to know if this helps.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 86
From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
By moving the track of the car farther out will help handling as it will increase the front camber and most of all it looks better.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 730
Likes: 3
If you track the car, and/or drive hard, keep in mind spacers put additional stress on the hubs.
Make sure you get high quality ones (H&R, etc), and ideally keep them under 10mm......5mm is better, but more than 10mm and tracking the car is asking for trouble in my humble opinion.
Bruce
Make sure you get high quality ones (H&R, etc), and ideally keep them under 10mm......5mm is better, but more than 10mm and tracking the car is asking for trouble in my humble opinion.
Bruce
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,922
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From: Huntington Beach, CA
None fast enough!
I will add another perspective on spacers.
First, all H&R spacers (of ANY size) are TUV approved and tested. This is the German equivalent of DOT, but far more stringent and in fact all aftermarket parts have to pass to be on the road in Germany.
Second, Any high quality spacer (like the H&R ones) are hub-centric (above 5mm/side) and will correctly carry the load of the wheel as per the engineering of the auto-maker. There is NO difference between adding a wheel spacer vs adding a new wheel with a large rear pad.
Third, reality is the use of spacers does NOT have any negative impact. I have used them on EVERY road and street car I have had for 10+ years. We race 500+ WHP BMW's with them. Porsche used them as factory on the wide-body rear 911's dozens of years ago.
There is a large "anti-spacer" movement on the net (not sure why or where it came from), but in theory and in real experience it does not bear fruit.
Feel safe to use spacers! Not only are they safe, they WILL improve handling by adding track to the car.
The one caveat to this is actually very different then one poster above. I would recommend against 5mm in most cases as they are not hub-centric and in many cases do not allow for enough of the wheel to be supported on the hub. I prefer to use a 10mm+. On some MB's the factory hub carrier is very long and 5mm is great. On some, especially if you have a short hub carrier and an aftermarket brake kit (with a thicker hat than on the stock rotor), 5mm is just not going to work at all.
Thanks
Brad
First, all H&R spacers (of ANY size) are TUV approved and tested. This is the German equivalent of DOT, but far more stringent and in fact all aftermarket parts have to pass to be on the road in Germany.
Second, Any high quality spacer (like the H&R ones) are hub-centric (above 5mm/side) and will correctly carry the load of the wheel as per the engineering of the auto-maker. There is NO difference between adding a wheel spacer vs adding a new wheel with a large rear pad.
Third, reality is the use of spacers does NOT have any negative impact. I have used them on EVERY road and street car I have had for 10+ years. We race 500+ WHP BMW's with them. Porsche used them as factory on the wide-body rear 911's dozens of years ago.
There is a large "anti-spacer" movement on the net (not sure why or where it came from), but in theory and in real experience it does not bear fruit.
Feel safe to use spacers! Not only are they safe, they WILL improve handling by adding track to the car.
The one caveat to this is actually very different then one poster above. I would recommend against 5mm in most cases as they are not hub-centric and in many cases do not allow for enough of the wheel to be supported on the hub. I prefer to use a 10mm+. On some MB's the factory hub carrier is very long and 5mm is great. On some, especially if you have a short hub carrier and an aftermarket brake kit (with a thicker hat than on the stock rotor), 5mm is just not going to work at all.
Thanks
Brad
Last edited by brad @ evosport; May 16, 2011 at 07:22 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 3
From: Mid Atlantic
CLK BS
I do agree with Brad on this one...5mm is not useful and I heard from multiple sources that it could give you problems due to not being hubcentric.
If the car is only street-driven and something of a garage queen, no need for spacers (or anything really). For track it would help a bit. If you do get spacers, consider changing over to a stud-and-nut combo as it'll be safer than running wheel bolts.
I'm one of the few who thinks 500hp is plenty and would focus more on tire/suspension. At the minimum you'll benefit from a good alignment, even on a stock car. Significant help.
On a completely different note, this board's gone a lot quieter without LZH and Jcart...it's like for every useful thread there's an ad for lubricants.
If the car is only street-driven and something of a garage queen, no need for spacers (or anything really). For track it would help a bit. If you do get spacers, consider changing over to a stud-and-nut combo as it'll be safer than running wheel bolts.
I'm one of the few who thinks 500hp is plenty and would focus more on tire/suspension. At the minimum you'll benefit from a good alignment, even on a stock car. Significant help.
On a completely different note, this board's gone a lot quieter without LZH and Jcart...it's like for every useful thread there's an ad for lubricants.
PREMIER SPONSOR
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, CA
None fast enough!
You want to use H&R. they are the only TUV approved spacers that I am aware of. It is all we use or sell.
You will NOT have issues with H&R spacers if installed and used correctly - EVER.
Thanks
Brad
You will NOT have issues with H&R spacers if installed and used correctly - EVER.
Thanks
Brad
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: Vegas-Baby
a Black
