TBMpilot

I spent the afternoon at the LA Auto Show. Brabus is out in full force with a HUGE display next to Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, etc. I think they have 5 or 6 cars and their entire staff.

I was disapointed not to see Kleemann anywhere as I think this is the direction I am headed. I can't imagine spending 36K on a new Brabus engine for my E430.

The Mercedes exibit was SWAMPED with people and their kids with lolipops. The only AMG they had was a CLK55. They have a VIP lounge that you can access with an invitation from your dealer, but it's just an open bar, some pupus and a place to sit away from the crowd.

Overall not a bad show.

MTI

I thought we were the only ones that said "pupus"!

Lucas

Kleemann just had a big show in Essen Germany 1 st. week of December 2002 and from the 10 th. - 12 th of January 2003
( This Friday ) Kleemann is exhibiting at the Tokyo Auto Saloon.

In Tokyo KLEEMANN big, BRABUS small

I guess it's not possible to be everywhere in such a short time.

xyzpl

umm... what is a "pupus"?

Paul Le Corre

It's normal to see an huge display, it's the best tuner for Mercedes. No one can give so much power with MB factory Guarantee, no one can give you engine tuning for all the MB line up, from the A class to the Cl class. They're the best.
I live in France and brabus is the only tuner ( for all the car brand) that had a stand in the Paris motor show, it's the best proof of the quality of their work. 36K is expensive for an engine tuning tuning on a E430 but think that it's just like if you buy an MB official 6.1 V8 engine producing 426 HP (I think it's the 6.1 conversion you speak about) with all the guarantee it gives you.

Lucas

So Paul, BRABUS is the best because they exhibit in Paris and other tuners don't ?????.

I know most of the other tuners for MB and BMW, and France is a small, very small market for tuning and nobody want's to waist their money. KLEEMANN use the muscle in other markets which are much more important.

Driller

Pupus are the Hawaiian word for appetizers/snacks.

livetodrive

So what do you get from Brabus for $36k for an E-430?

slk320

Lucas, you are completely right!

Both BRABUS and Kleeman are high end, high class tuners. BRABUS offers more of a "complete" cosmetic tunning and had been around slightly longer so naturaly it is more popular in some places.

In Japan, Kleeman is king! although BRABUS does quite well (as well as Lorinser and Carlsson), France is a very small target market, considering no one tunes Pugeout, Citroen or Renault

It all depends on how you want your car tunned, Natural Asp. or S/C!

Buellwinkle

Kleemann knows were to exhibit their cars, at the Consumer Electronics show in Vegas 2 weeks ago. It's the premier event for gadget geeks. Not some silly car show where people actually show cars!

Mach430

Carl,

It is much easier to donate your car to another company to use in a show, than to plan and execute an impressive display at a show on your own. Do you have any idea how much it costs for a booth at the LA Car Show? We had a booth a couple years ago, the cost for a big booth is astronomical.

Lucas

I can tell you it cost approx. US$ 200.000,00 in Essen and Tokyo for 250 square meters incl. display excl. hotels, food for personel ( 15 persons ) transport of cars, brochures ect.ect.

So the sale of 20 ring pulleys won't cover it, I will bet the L.A.
show is in the same ball game, if you want to show some muscle.

Buellwinkle

Do you know what it costs to get in with parking and everything? I won't ever go there either. I like the small hometown feel of the Anaheim car show better, less crowds, same cars. I never really understood these big car shows, not since many dealers have bunched themselves up within walking distance. I think it would be much more fun if they had a SEMA like show for consumers, then it would be worth it. Besides, I'm not the one that compained about you not being at the L.A. Auto Show. I just mentioned that Kleemann or someone pretending to be Kleeemann was at the much bigger and nicer CES show. Didn't see Brabus at that show!

Lucas

I don't know what parking fee is, I have an exhibitors free pas.

vraa

hook a brother up!

j/k lol