K&N Drop-In Filters
Sounds like the underdrive pulleys are the safest way to get,or excuse me free up HP!!! I am thinking more about this upgrade and it's not that expensive, about $500.
Last edited by GBD; Nov 12, 2002 at 06:21 PM.
5 hp estra on a 500 hp engine miht be woth 0.050 on the quarter mile, so they are with it! Every little bit helps.
I followed what you did regarding insulating the airbox on the E55 (on the thread regarding clk and E55 performance). I also modified the tabs on the bottom side of top of the airbox (I hope that makes sense). I also wrapped the intake hoses to the airbox with the thermo tec heat barrier. I then removed the flimsy plastic grill cover that was obstructing the flow of air into the intake tubes. I replaced the stock air filter with K&N. I can truly feel a difference in the car after these modification. I have an old Vericom that I tested 0-60 before and after the above modifications.
Before the modifications, the 0-60 (at night, temp 59 degrees) was:
run 1 5.33 (traction problems)
run 2 5.67 (traction problems)
run 3 5.10 (some tire spin)
run 4 4.95 (some tire spin)
Average of all 4 runs is 5.26. If you delete the worst (#2) and best run (#4) , then the average of run #1 and #3 is 5.22
After the modifications, the 0-60 (at night, temp 61 degrees)
run 1 5.12 (some tire spin)
run 2 4.99 (some tire spin)
run 3 5.30 (some tire spin)
run 4 4.66 (some tire spin)
Average of all 4 runs 5.02. If you delete the worst (#3) and best runs (#4), then the average of run #1 and #2 is 5.06.
I have not yet done a 1/4 run, b/c I can not find anyplace flat enough or safe enough to do 1/4 test runs. All I do is turn off the ESP, hold the brakes with the left, and press the gas with the right. If I do feel the need to brake torque, then I lightly, very lightly, brake torque the car to around 700-800 rpms (otherwise, I spin like crazy).
I do not know how accurate my old Vericom is. However, I can certainly feel a difference in the car. For less than $200 (K&N and Thermotec Adhesive backed heat barriers) and a couple of hours of my time, I gained an average of .20 in the 0-60 of my car. If that is accurate, then I assume that I gained around 15 hp. I think I can go faster, but traction is the problem. Next project is to change the spark plugs and then dyno the car.
Very good numbers even if you spun tires. Once I get my car back from the shop i'm going to redo de airbox, cut those tabs inside the box, and re-wrap the pipes.
Oh, one more thing, a guy from HPS is coming to Las Vegas, Adam, with their company car - a supercharged E430. I am thinking about supercharging my E55 (subject to approval from the wife). Adam and I are suppose to meet when he is in Las Vegas. I hope to test drive the supercharged car.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
ok, I'll try to post pics here. Having a hard time downloading pic from the camera. In the meantime, I am trying to find other "cheap" ways to improve the car. Do you have any ideas?
Oh, one more thing, a guy from HPS is coming to Las Vegas, Adam, with their company car - a supercharged E430. I am thinking about supercharging my E55 (subject to approval from the wife). Adam and I are suppose to meet when he is in Las Vegas. I hope to test drive the supercharged car.
Make sure to ask him about if intercooler is needed (in his opinion), warranty, and performance gains, how much and why so much? LOL
Thanks
Ben
Why not just sell your 55 (or the engine) and buy a 430? You can put a Kleemann supercharger on it for the same price (after trading motors) and have about 10HP less on the 430 than the 55 would with the HPS supercharger. So you end up spending the same, getting the same power, and having an intercooler and aftercooler when you're done, and everyone loves an intercooler
I'll talk to Santa for both of us. I'm going to tell him you have been GOOD!!



