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Hey everyone, so I'm new to the site I had restored a 98 SL500 AMG had it for a while and loved it. It was totaled in an accident. I now recently acquired an s55 AMG V8 compressor and I'm just wondering if there's any DIY mods or simple things I can do that would be impactful without going crazy deep spending money? I'm looking to ensure it's solid before I go with the heavy mods car has 200k on it and is extremely clean ! It does have a strange vibration that comes and goes in certain RPM bands. It feels like it's coming from the rear of the car. Could be a drive shaft or a wheel bearing. The previous owner was a friend and the vibration was there when he bought it at 130,000, mi. I've read things about vibrations that come and go with the torque converter and stuff like that. I do plan to service the transmission fluid and all the other fluids on the car but really just looking for some insight as to the DIY modding aspects of this particular car. Everything I've read about it has been very positive and I love the way the car drives!
Last edited by Apjcustoms; Feb 23, 2025 at 07:55 AM.
Well, the transmission mount is in fact, cheap and simple. It’s one of the easiest jobs on these cars, and also the most common reason for a vibration.
Well, the transmission mount is in fact, cheap and simple. It’s one of the easiest jobs on these cars, and also the most common reason for a vibration.
Thanks the vibration only occurs in one specific area I've yet to drive the car enough to identify it past noticing it happening ! I planned to do trans fluid and filter for start also all change fluids!; I'm currently working out the no heat after flushing coolant . Aside from that it's basic maintenance and figuring out how to wire some real audio system components like a real amp with subs . Car does have the Bose system but I've got no use for a 6 disc changer or a display that doesn't have rear cam or phone connection capabilities. This is easy enough I just don't want to screw myself when installing new head unit display and addit8nal.box and amp.seeing as the speakers are all good and clear
Yeah, there was nothing cheap about my SL500 AMG either. But I come from a performance background as a mechanic so it's hard for me to leave things alone. This is really good information with that Mount. Thank you! I'm definitely going to do it when I service the transmission since I'll be there anyway
There’s no such thing as a 1998 sl500 “amg”
but a fake AMG badge stuck on the car
the real amg r129 cars were badged sl60 and not sold in USA
🙄 Since I have to be extra specific so you can unknot your panties since that triggered you - sl500 roadster sport with AMG package that's the car was an additional cost and I know this because my deceased ex father in law bought it new and waited 2 years for it and to go even further the reason I don't have the car today is because of the hassle to obtain the parts in network and the refuse to do any work that didn't completely revert the car the looking like the base model which had a significantly lower resale value so I took the payout but ✌️
I am not a Mercedes expert nor do I claim to be but just Incase do I need to go back to my original post and change the C in compressor to a K or is that ok with you ?
Last edited by Apjcustoms; Feb 24, 2025 at 05:39 AM.
Does this car have ABC suspension. If so, you are in for a lot of fun.
All w220 AMG S-Classes have ABC.
ABC is kind of awesome.
To OP: there are four high pressure hoses/lines after the pressure-regulating valve block in the system that it is imperative you replace. It's like a 6/10 job, but you can take the old hoses to a local hydraulic shop and they will make you new better ones than original. Cost should be quite reasonable. There are four accumulators in the system. If you don't have receipts indicating their replacement, do all four of them at the same time.
For the ABC fluid I recommend exclusively Pentosin (now Fuchs) CHF11S or Febi Bilstein CHF11S.
To OP: there are four high pressure hoses/lines after the pressure-regulating valve block in the system that it is imperative you replace. It's like a 6/10 job, but you can take the old hoses to a local hydraulic shop and they will make you new better ones than original. Cost should be quite reasonable. There are four accumulators in the system. If you don't have receipts indicating their replacement, do all four of them at the same time.
For the ABC fluid I recommend exclusively Pentosin (now Fuchs) CHF11S or Febi Bilstein CHF11S.
Nop, not all. Mine came from Japan and it's Airmatic one. Need to mention that year production year is 2002.
You really can't say that "all models have..." for anything on the W220. The "standard option packages" appear to vary greatly from market to market. Japanese cars differ from American, from European, from Middle East, and each of those vary from the others, etc., etc. In addition, if you were willing to pay and to wait, MB would build you pretty much whatever you wanted.
For the vibration which I feel is torque converter shutter, I'm going to replace the torque converter solenoids and I'm looking at the valve kit from sonnax and the trans mount when I service the fluid and filters but yes eventually hood struts will be handled
If it’s not the transmission mount, it’s the engine mounts, or flex, disc and center support bearing, or ABC pulsation dampener. But it’s not the torque converter.
If it’s not the transmission mount, it’s the engine mounts, or flex, disc and center support bearing, or ABC pulsation dampener. But it’s not the torque converter.
At 55+ when heavy on the gas ? The TC is notorious for the exact issue I'm experiencing what makes you so.sure ?
So I service the transmission change the mount cleaned up the transmission ground wire that looked terrible. I can't believe they don't put insulation on it from the factory and the shaking did in fact go away. However, I noticed my flex disc is dry rotted and needs replacing as well as a couple of the odds and ends. Currently waiting on a valve cover gasket and bleeder hose kit and I'm thinking I might have to do the lifters because I've got some lifter tick on the number 7 cylinder
Last edited by Apjcustoms; Mar 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM.
To OP: there are four high pressure hoses/lines after the pressure-regulating valve block in the system that it is imperative you replace. It's like a 6/10 job, but you can take the old hoses to a local hydraulic shop and they will make you new better ones than original. Cost should be quite reasonable. There are four accumulators in the system. If you don't have receipts indicating their replacement, do all four of them at the same time.
For the ABC fluid I recommend exclusively Pentosin (now Fuchs) CHF11S or Febi Bilstein CHF11S.
Originally Posted by Apjcustoms
So I service the transmission change the mount cleaned up the transmission ground wire that looked terrible. I can't believe they don't put insulation on it from the factory and the shaking did in fact go away. However, I noticed my flex disc is dry rotted and needs replacing as well as a couple of the odds and ends. Currently waiting on a valve cover gasket and bleeder hose kit and I'm thinking I might have to do the lifters because I've got some lifter tick on the number 7 cylinder
Would suggest to replace:
Both flex disc's
Center bearing
What I do, and I do not way you should do this.
Start at a point and replace all the stuff that has worn out over all the years.
Of course you don't have to do it all at once. Just work on it.
* Brake rotors / calipers / hoses / pads
* Rear control arms and bushings
* Front control arms and bushings
* Fuel pump / Filter / Hoses
* Flex disks / Bearings....etc.. You get the idea.
Any rubber stuff that you can get to. It is old and it will start failing.
Also, soon you won't be able to find some parts at any price for these cars. Replace what you can, where you can.
If you don't, then you will constantly be chasing repairs.
Last edited by waterzap99; Mar 3, 2025 at 01:23 PM.
I now recently acquired an s55 AMG V8 compressor and I'm just wondering if there's any DIY mods or simple things I can do that would be impactful without going crazy deep spending money?
I do plan to service the transmission fluid and all the other fluids on the car but really just looking for some insight as to the DIY modding aspects of this particular car.
Don't forget about the supercharger oil. It's pretty nasty stuff so best done outside / with good ventilation.
The M113K is plenty powerful from the factory but you can really wake it up with a few simple bolt-ons like an upgraded heat exchanger pump, a (moderately) smaller supercharger pulley and a good tune.
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