06 S65 AMG - Big Turbo E85 Tuning available?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 23
From: U.K.
sl600
What upgraded turbos? The turbos and manifold are cast together so you can only use wheels that can fit the stock turbo housing.
The only other way is, custom shorty manifold and bigger turbos which Speedriven have tried but have not managed to tune successfully, this is how i understand it.
You can do a billet turbo upgrade but the manifolds become a choke point once a certain power level has been achieved.
At the moment I am just talking from what I have read, however in 2 weeks I will have some dyno numbers and hopefully 1/4 mile times for the billet route as my project is close to completion.
The only other way is, custom shorty manifold and bigger turbos which Speedriven have tried but have not managed to tune successfully, this is how i understand it.
You can do a billet turbo upgrade but the manifolds become a choke point once a certain power level has been achieved.
At the moment I am just talking from what I have read, however in 2 weeks I will have some dyno numbers and hopefully 1/4 mile times for the billet route as my project is close to completion.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 72
From: Palatine, IL
Speedriven
I'm not sure "haven't been able to tune one successfully" is entirely accurate, but I get where you're coming from- there are limitations to what's possible without a built trans. and there are other things holding it back. That said, the E85 option changes things quite a bit- more boost, more power possible there than you might think. Definitely give us a call, E85 guy. 
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
CL600 w216
turbos garrett gtx3076r,
injectors bosch 443 cc + additional fuel pump,
Precision water intercooler cores,
Tial bov's,
Quaife LSD,
tranny upgrade,
Schrick making camshafts.
Now we are looking for place to put the new turbos with custom manifold (making new engine mounts). Hope will finished in next 6-8 weeks
injectors bosch 443 cc + additional fuel pump,
Precision water intercooler cores,
Tial bov's,
Quaife LSD,
tranny upgrade,
Schrick making camshafts.
Now we are looking for place to put the new turbos with custom manifold (making new engine mounts). Hope will finished in next 6-8 weeks
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: New York
S55 amg v8 kompressor 5.4 liter // s65 amg 6.0 liter v12 biturbo // W210 e55 amg
Almost 10 years later … how’d this turn out for you guys - looking into upgraded turbo wheels but haven’t seen anything properly functional to persuade me
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Gl550 CL600 E55 C32
Turbo upgrade
There’s VRP with their billet wheel and then there’s a guy in Arizona that I’m looking into building the turbos with an 82 mm impeller
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: New York
S55 amg v8 kompressor 5.4 liter // s65 amg 6.0 liter v12 biturbo // W210 e55 amg
nick wright by any chance? Was thinking about going that route to - my only issue is I feel like no one gets it running right after going bigger turbo wheels - I’ve been searching and can’t seem to find proven results
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,214
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
Now if only I could sweet-talk our friends in Government into letting one find its way to the states.
Oh.... Car is only out of reach by six figures.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 537
Likes: 116
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
In his YouTube channel LegitStreetCars, Alex rebuilt the engine for his CL65 with bigger turbos and never got a successful dyno run before it went into limp mode. I have tried significantly tightening up the wastegates, but this resulted in limp mode due to misfire codes. Seems the ECU doesn't tolerate in moderate changes to the turbos. Perhaps those who figured out how to tune for bigger turbos aren't sharing/selling it.
I have started learning WinOLS for ECU tuning but have not yet found documentation on the location and purpose of the "tuning" tables within the binary code of the ME 2.7.1 ECU.
I have started learning WinOLS for ECU tuning but have not yet found documentation on the location and purpose of the "tuning" tables within the binary code of the ME 2.7.1 ECU.
Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 247
Likes: 57
From: Fort Worth
2005 CL55 AMG || 2005 CL65 AMG || 1989 560SEC
From the very little info I've seen and recall, it seems the stock ECU does not tolerate a higher-than-stock range of boost pressures. I've seen a couple mentions of placing a resistor in line on the boost reference sensor to prevent that from happening, which I then assume means you have to tune the ECU while it's tricked into thinking the boost is lower than it actually is. I'd really like to know what that one guy that runs a big rear-mounted turbo did for his CL600 to get his numbers.
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
Tasos Moschatos also has some videos rebuilding a Brabus m275 or 9, and the intake on it was interesting, it had four of the stock intercoolers and custom piping.
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
Tasos Moschatos also has some videos rebuilding a Brabus m275 or 9, and the intake on it was interesting, it had four of the stock intercoolers and custom piping.
Last edited by JustTXn; Jan 6, 2026 at 11:57 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 537
Likes: 116
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
From the very little info I've seen and recall, it seems the stock ECU does not tolerate a higher-than-stock range of boost pressures. I've seen a couple mentions of placing a resistor in line on the boost reference sensor to prevent that from happening, which I then assume means you have to tune the ECU while it's tricked into thinking the boost is lower than it actually is. I'd really like to know what that one guy that runs a big rear-mounted turbo did for his CL600 to get his numbers.
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
...
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
...
Yes the stock airboxes appear to be restrictive. I bought a spare set of airboxes to see if I can figure out how to modify them. Last year I tested a Speedriven CL65 and noted the very different intake system. The car was a bit beaten up and since Speedriven no longer exists for spare parts, I declined buying it.
There are about a dozen vendors selling M275 tunes; some may just be reselling some else's tune, but clearly some people have reverse-engineered the ECU software to make custom changes. I have compared tuning files with software and the differences are mostly in the same areas. The WinOLS tuning software indicates these are data tables, but I have no idea what kind of a table they are. So far I have not found anyone willing to share or even sell detailed info about the tuning tables in the ME 2.7.1 ECU.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,214
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
The tune loaded in my car is said to make 990lb/ft and 740hp. I know that with cool ambient temperatures I apply a toe of power and without a downshift it makes other traffic disappear in the rear view. Give it more stick and I have traction control keeping busy through the top of second and intermittently third. The car was no slouch before and is even more amusing. Yes; sooo much more to life than good gas mileage. The tire budget suffers for it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 1,208
From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
From the very little info I've seen and recall, it seems the stock ECU does not tolerate a higher-than-stock range of boost pressures. I've seen a couple mentions of placing a resistor in line on the boost reference sensor to prevent that from happening, which I then assume means you have to tune the ECU while it's tricked into thinking the boost is lower than it actually is. I'd really like to know what that one guy that runs a big rear-mounted turbo did for his CL600 to get his numbers.
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
Tasos Moschatos also has some videos rebuilding a Brabus m275 or 9, and the intake on it was interesting, it had four of the stock intercoolers and custom piping.
Also, Fluid Motor Union on youtube attempted the same thing on a client's m279 unsuccessfully. He ended up with numbers that indicated the stock airboxes are simply too restrictive to feed the larger turbos, which doesn't surprise me when looking at how small the airflow cross section is.
Tasos Moschatos also has some videos rebuilding a Brabus m275 or 9, and the intake on it was interesting, it had four of the stock intercoolers and custom piping.
The most important thing to learn from the Fluid Motor Union video is in the most recent post by them. OJ kind of admits the seller of the turbos were selling something untested and not built properly for the car...another VRP victim. Be very careful in who you buy from and who can support you. Those crap parts cost the customer MANY thousands of dollars to repair, before then tuning in the air flow. Then, go back to Alex from LSCs CL65 and the hole in the head provided by VRP... and that car still does not work either.
Main point, stick with a good reputable company and avoid VRP like you should avoid the plague.
Waiting for their intrepid owner to come and tell me why all of those issues are my fault....lol.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 537
Likes: 116
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Yes the Fluid Motor videos are very educational. I am currently trying to design a completely different intake system. I believe the top of the stock air filters could be raised by 3/4” to perhaps reduce restriction, but the feed into the turbos looks like the real restriction.
Another member here also told me to avoid larger turbos. He thinks that is why Legit Street Cars cannot get his CL65 running. I did have my turbos rebuilt with lighter weight billet impeller.
If only I could run this engine with a different ECU.
Another member here also told me to avoid larger turbos. He thinks that is why Legit Street Cars cannot get his CL65 running. I did have my turbos rebuilt with lighter weight billet impeller.
If only I could run this engine with a different ECU.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,214
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
Guys Brabus got all of it figured out for the V-12 900. The 'Displacement engine' is not required. They gave it bigger turbos (Not by much!). Each turbo need only make 450HP/500lb ft. They doubled up the charge coolers with another heat exchanger in front of the stack (I bet one could do better with stock charge coolers and water/methanol injection). They did something different with air filtration. Bigger cross section. A duct goes over the plastic over the radiator. Too often people think "I need bigger turbos" and reach for turbos that are sized so huge they won't wake up until 3500-4000 to blow the engine up the first time the turbo makes the airflow it is capable of.
