E500 Header Install (VRP Shorty)
03-05-2009, 10:16 PM
#1
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
E500 Header Install (VRP Shorty)
So I got these (VRP shorty headers)
But, we've also got this:
So, the guy who owns this:
Hasn't been able to help do this:
But now, we have this:
So, we're gonna try again on Saturday.
Wish us luck!
But, we've also got this:
So, the guy who owns this:
Hasn't been able to help do this:
But now, we have this:
So, we're gonna try again on Saturday.
Wish us luck!
03-05-2009, 10:56 PM
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2007 A8L 4.2
C, go get a job or something, you got way too much time on your hands.... funny s**t...
What kind of HP gains are you expecting with these, and with all the rest of the stuff you already got? Did you run a baseline dyno?
What kind of HP gains are you expecting with these, and with all the rest of the stuff you already got? Did you run a baseline dyno?
03-05-2009, 11:22 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Man, I wish the E55 market was how it is now, when I bought my E500. There's just no reasonable explanation as to why I dump so much money into modding this thing. 
I did do a baseline dyno with my current mods. I don't have it in front of me, but if memory serves, I was getting 325hp/350tq at the crank. I actually expected more tq but maybe I lost a bit with the removal of the cats and resonator. But that gets made up on the top end.
Anyway, the VRP shorties are supposed to add another 15-20 hp/tq, without any other mods. So hopefully, I'll see a little bit more than that.
We'll see....
I did do a baseline dyno with my current mods. I don't have it in front of me, but if memory serves, I was getting 325hp/350tq at the crank. I actually expected more tq but maybe I lost a bit with the removal of the cats and resonator. But that gets made up on the top end.
Anyway, the VRP shorties are supposed to add another 15-20 hp/tq, without any other mods. So hopefully, I'll see a little bit more than that.
We'll see....
03-06-2009, 05:54 AM
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Mercedes,Porsche etc
the Kleeman longer tube with racing cats will give around 30-35
both decent gains,, and the shorties are simple plug and play which is nice if you dont want to redo the midpipe and cats
I am leaning toward the KLEEMANS as I need to replace the MIDPIPE anyway, as already did the CATBACK, and racing high flow cats will make a difference in HP about 8 hp
I figure if you going to remove the headers, you may as well, go for it and get the 30-35hp, with a clean downpipe and cat designed all together.. otherwise you just move the bottleneck to the downpipe and cats and midpipe,,
but I also understand when people just want a simple fast bolt on solution
Last edited by storm; 03-07-2009 at 06:51 PM.
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03-07-2009, 08:56 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Ok boys....
The headers are in. I know this thread is pointless without pics or sound, but I forgot my camera when I went to get it installed. However, the guy who helped me install it, took a little video with a point and shoot. I'll try to get that ASAP.
Anyway, a few notes:
1. This is not a 1 man job. It took 2 of us about 4 hours to get mine in. And the guy helping me is an MB technician!
2. If it's time, use this opportunity to change your spark plugs. As you'll need to remove all coil packs and plug wires to get your manifolds out.
3. I highly recommend professional installation. Unless you have a complete set of wobble sockets, various socket extensions and swivel head ratchets. Fortunately, they guy helping me had all of this stuff at his house, since he's a mechanic.
4. You will scratch some of the coating off your VRP headers during installation. Just no way around it.
5. You will spend 1/2 the time underneath the car. A few of the bottom header bolts are a huge pain to get off and on.
6. Over 1/2 of the header bolts backed out of the block during the removal process.
7. Use the supplied down pipe bolts that come with the VRPs. They don't look long enough but if you use the OEM bolts, they bump up against a weld on the VRPs, fooling you into thinking they're tight. I started the car up and it sounded like open headers!
8. Expect a bunch of smoke from the engine compartment when you start it up for the first time. Don't know if it was some of the coating burning up, or grease and oil from our hands that was all over them, but it smoked for a while until it all burned up.
The sound seemed to have deepened a little bit. I haven't heard the video yet, but the guys said it sounded a bit raspy a wide open throttle. The transmission had a weird 1-2 shift too. Hopefully we can hear it on the video. The video was the first time it was driven after the install, so maybe the ECU/TCU was still adapting to the change. I don't know. But it never did that before the header install.
Anyway, it fells perkier, that's for sure. Not sure how much I gained, but VRP claims 15-20hp/tq, so only a dyno will tell the truth.
Good luck with your install boys.
I'll post the video when it's available.
The headers are in. I know this thread is pointless without pics or sound, but I forgot my camera when I went to get it installed. However, the guy who helped me install it, took a little video with a point and shoot. I'll try to get that ASAP.
Anyway, a few notes:
1. This is not a 1 man job. It took 2 of us about 4 hours to get mine in. And the guy helping me is an MB technician!
2. If it's time, use this opportunity to change your spark plugs. As you'll need to remove all coil packs and plug wires to get your manifolds out.
3. I highly recommend professional installation. Unless you have a complete set of wobble sockets, various socket extensions and swivel head ratchets. Fortunately, they guy helping me had all of this stuff at his house, since he's a mechanic.
4. You will scratch some of the coating off your VRP headers during installation. Just no way around it.
5. You will spend 1/2 the time underneath the car. A few of the bottom header bolts are a huge pain to get off and on.
6. Over 1/2 of the header bolts backed out of the block during the removal process.
7. Use the supplied down pipe bolts that come with the VRPs. They don't look long enough but if you use the OEM bolts, they bump up against a weld on the VRPs, fooling you into thinking they're tight. I started the car up and it sounded like open headers!
8. Expect a bunch of smoke from the engine compartment when you start it up for the first time. Don't know if it was some of the coating burning up, or grease and oil from our hands that was all over them, but it smoked for a while until it all burned up.
The sound seemed to have deepened a little bit. I haven't heard the video yet, but the guys said it sounded a bit raspy a wide open throttle. The transmission had a weird 1-2 shift too. Hopefully we can hear it on the video. The video was the first time it was driven after the install, so maybe the ECU/TCU was still adapting to the change. I don't know. But it never did that before the header install.
Anyway, it fells perkier, that's for sure. Not sure how much I gained, but VRP claims 15-20hp/tq, so only a dyno will tell the truth.
Good luck with your install boys.
I'll post the video when it's available.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; 03-07-2009 at 09:00 PM.
03-07-2009, 09:11 PM
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Lorinser 5.5
your gonna only get max 5-8hp if your lucky from those headers and maybe 10hp after tune
I have the Evsport shorty headers which are much better design/quality then the vrp headers and got 15hp18tq. Those VRP are not even real shorty headers. THERE log headers just alittle larger.
that coating is crap also its not even really cermaic coated. you should of spent the extra $400-500 and got evosport ones. I got mine on discount from simon for 1850
I have the Evsport shorty headers which are much better design/quality then the vrp headers and got 15hp18tq. Those VRP are not even real shorty headers. THERE log headers just alittle larger.
that coating is crap also its not even really cermaic coated. you should of spent the extra $400-500 and got evosport ones. I got mine on discount from simon for 1850
Last edited by Lorinser55; 03-07-2009 at 09:13 PM.
03-07-2009, 09:17 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
your gonna only get max 5-8hp if your lucky from those headers and maybe 10hp after tune
I have the Evsport shorty headers which are much better design/quality then the vrp headers and got 15hp18tq. Those VRP are not even real shorty headers. THERE log headers just alittle larger.
that coating is crap also its not even really cermaic coated. you should of spent the extra $400-500 and got evosport ones. I got mine on discount from simon for 1850
I have the Evsport shorty headers which are much better design/quality then the vrp headers and got 15hp18tq. Those VRP are not even real shorty headers. THERE log headers just alittle larger.
that coating is crap also its not even really cermaic coated. you should of spent the extra $400-500 and got evosport ones. I got mine on discount from simon for 1850
You do realize that Vadim Federovsky, of VRP Tuning, designed and developed the Evosport shorty headers for Simon when he was at Evosport, right? His new log style HEM (HiFlow Exhaust Manifold) is dyno proven to add 15-20 hp/tq on stock cars. My car is not stock.
My point is, if HIS Evosport design was so great, why didn't he use a similar design for his own nameplate? The HEMs have been dyno proven to have the same gains at a lower price point.
Call Simon and ask him who designed his shorty headers, then come back to us.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; 03-07-2009 at 09:27 PM.
03-08-2009, 12:18 AM
#15
Member
Okay, for my fellow toolbelts, I found the supercool wrenches here:
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/sh...ALDWRE_pg1.htm
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/sh...ALDWRE_pg1.htm
03-08-2009, 05:39 AM
#17
Super Member
I'm really curious about the sound. Can't wait to hear a clip! I probably should've done a chip or renntech intake before going straight to headers... not exactly the best bang-for-the-buck upgrade.
Dude I can't wait to get mine next week!!
Dude I can't wait to get mine next week!!
03-08-2009, 03:47 PM
#21
Out Of Control!!
hmmm I hope there was a diesel engine running in the driveway... cause your car sounds a bit like a diesel
03-08-2009, 06:17 PM
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yep, there were like 4 of em. And yes, one of them was sitting at idle in his driveway. He has 7 MB's at his house, I think. 5 of them are diesels.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; 03-09-2009 at 10:51 AM.
03-09-2009, 04:21 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Yeah man. She definitely woke up a bit. After hearing the video, I think it sounds great. Too bad it was super windy and done with a point and shoot. I'll take some better vids/sound clips when I get a chance.
Good luck with yours, I think you're gonna be happy with it.
Good luck with yours, I think you're gonna be happy with it.
