My US spec S550 upgraded with Euro spec S600 Brakes
03-30-2010, 01:39 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
My US spec S550 upgraded with Euro spec S600 Brakes
My yearly Service B was in January and with 25,000 miles on the clock, the dealer suggested I change my pads as they were below the recommended thickness.
I opted to forgo the dealers recommendation, and look for alternatives, as I have never liked the stock ("girly" in WSH terminology) S550 brakes. I always felt there was a dead spot with the stock brakes, requiring more travel to brake harder.
After doing much research, and even considering a Brembo BBK kit , I finally contacted MBenzNL and he turned me on to the European Spec S600 brakes which he conveniently happened to have in stock.
These are the same Calipers Shape wise and Size wise that come on the SL63/E63/CLS63 (Note *Not* the 030 version) instead of AMG stamped on the calipers, they have Mercedes Benz stenciled on them. The Front consists of 6 Piston Calipers, the rear 4 Piston calipers.
The rotors however are a different story as they are not of the floating kind, and in fact rather heavy and very sturdy. The rear rotor is about the size of the stock S550 front rotor, and is vented.
I was a little disappointed the rear rotors were not cross drilled, but since this was a major mod, and I was going to an independent shop, I didn't want to risk anything.
That said, I did not run into any issues with the installation, everything bolted on without any mods.
Now for the real part.. How does it feel? In a word awesome, the dead spot is completely eliminated, I have not gotten it up to speed, but the response is very linear, and the feel is what I expected for a $100K car. The combo rotor/calipers look like what they should within my 20" wheels, it's like this is how the car was meant to be... Enough with the talk here are the photos, all 154 lbs of brake parts!!
One side affect of this upgrade? The squeaking is finally gone!! I had Mercedes change the original pads under warranty/service bulletin, but while that improved the squeaking to an acceptable level, it never truly went away.
I opted to forgo the dealers recommendation, and look for alternatives, as I have never liked the stock ("girly" in WSH terminology) S550 brakes. I always felt there was a dead spot with the stock brakes, requiring more travel to brake harder.
After doing much research, and even considering a Brembo BBK kit , I finally contacted MBenzNL and he turned me on to the European Spec S600 brakes which he conveniently happened to have in stock.
These are the same Calipers Shape wise and Size wise that come on the SL63/E63/CLS63 (Note *Not* the 030 version) instead of AMG stamped on the calipers, they have Mercedes Benz stenciled on them. The Front consists of 6 Piston Calipers, the rear 4 Piston calipers.
The rotors however are a different story as they are not of the floating kind, and in fact rather heavy and very sturdy. The rear rotor is about the size of the stock S550 front rotor, and is vented.
I was a little disappointed the rear rotors were not cross drilled, but since this was a major mod, and I was going to an independent shop, I didn't want to risk anything.
That said, I did not run into any issues with the installation, everything bolted on without any mods.
Now for the real part.. How does it feel? In a word awesome, the dead spot is completely eliminated, I have not gotten it up to speed, but the response is very linear, and the feel is what I expected for a $100K car. The combo rotor/calipers look like what they should within my 20" wheels, it's like this is how the car was meant to be... Enough with the talk here are the photos, all 154 lbs of brake parts!!
One side affect of this upgrade? The squeaking is finally gone!! I had Mercedes change the original pads under warranty/service bulletin, but while that improved the squeaking to an acceptable level, it never truly went away.
Last edited by irieblue; 03-30-2010 at 02:18 AM.
03-30-2010, 01:49 AM
#2
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Very nice. 
Excellent choice in a mod.
Personally, I was satisfied with how the brakes performed, however, I was very unsatisfied in their appearance and feel that they're very aesthetically unpleasing for even 19" rims and a $100k car. Very "girly."
Excellent choice in a mod.Personally, I was satisfied with how the brakes performed, however, I was very unsatisfied in their appearance and feel that they're very aesthetically unpleasing for even 19" rims and a $100k car. Very "girly."
03-30-2010, 05:41 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cost for everything, i.e (Calipers, Rotors, pads, Break wear indicators), (Including Shipping via Fedex of 150 lbs of stuff from the Netherlands to California) and Installation - $2800.
Regarding the SL55 brakes I have no idea if they would work on the W221, those are 8 piston calipers , I pretty much decided early on that I didn't want to go that route since Mercedes seems to have standardized on 6 piston Brembos, and have moved away from those 8 piston Calipers. Also some of the 8 piston Calipers were used on cars with SBC (Sensotronic brake control), which just seemed like it was more complicated that I wanted to be involved with. Check the e-class boards of someone who got the SL55 brakes to work on his W211 . I'm sure an experienced shop could get it to work on a W221, but I don't think it is going to be a direct bolt on like this setup.
Regarding the SL55 brakes I have no idea if they would work on the W221, those are 8 piston calipers , I pretty much decided early on that I didn't want to go that route since Mercedes seems to have standardized on 6 piston Brembos, and have moved away from those 8 piston Calipers. Also some of the 8 piston Calipers were used on cars with SBC (Sensotronic brake control), which just seemed like it was more complicated that I wanted to be involved with. Check the e-class boards of someone who got the SL55 brakes to work on his W211 . I'm sure an experienced shop could get it to work on a W221, but I don't think it is going to be a direct bolt on like this setup.
Last edited by irieblue; 03-30-2010 at 07:57 PM.
03-30-2010, 07:56 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Spy shots of the 2011 S-Class Coupe feature the same brakes...
http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/m...s-classcoupe5/
Hopefully Mercedes won't dumb them down for the US market.
http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/m...s-classcoupe5/
Hopefully Mercedes won't dumb them down for the US market.
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04-02-2010, 01:46 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
Send an email to Steve @ MbenzNL <mbenznl@gmail.com> I just gave Steve my VIN and he dropped shipped a box with all the Parts ready to be installed. Sorry I don't have a parts list I can cut and Paste, no need to really as MBenzNL has everything packaged and ready to go, and I don't think you will find this kit cheaper anywhere else on the Planet. MBenzNL's parts list which works for me is "4 Calipers, 2 sets of Pads, 4 Rotors, Wear Indicators, 8 bolts).
04-03-2010, 12:16 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
$2300 for the parts only. Here's more eye candy of what you are getting for your money, Note the Rotors while missing from the picture are included in the price..
04-03-2010, 03:47 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It's easy to justify when it's time to replace your current pads/rotors. The S-Class seems to need Pads at 25K Miles, and rotors soon after depending on how you drive. My Pads were recommended to be replaced in Jan, the Rotors when I took them off did not have much life left. They were visible grooves on the surface. A dealer Rotor/Pad job is about $1200.
I went to an indy shop because the dealer would not even consider doing this type of upgrade (I asked they said no). So on the surface I spent a little bit more and got a huge return for the Money. The Brakes transform the driving experience in a way I could never have imagined. The initial bite and how it scrubs off speed at 70 Mph just makes driving the car so much more enjoyable.
I went to an indy shop because the dealer would not even consider doing this type of upgrade (I asked they said no). So on the surface I spent a little bit more and got a huge return for the Money. The Brakes transform the driving experience in a way I could never have imagined. The initial bite and how it scrubs off speed at 70 Mph just makes driving the car so much more enjoyable.
04-28-2010, 01:37 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My car was only clean for one day before the Northern CA rains started, so i don't have a good feel for if the new pads are less dusty. Check back in a month or so....
The brake feel is fantastic, not hard at all, just very precise . I bought my S550 in November 2007 so after putting up with the soft feel of the stock brakes for 2.5 years, the precise nature and improved stopping distance still puts a smile on my face 4 weeks later (after the install). Coupled with the Active Body Control which eliminates the dip under heavy braking it has just transformed the car.
Here are some full on shots of the car with the brakes.
The brake feel is fantastic, not hard at all, just very precise . I bought my S550 in November 2007 so after putting up with the soft feel of the stock brakes for 2.5 years, the precise nature and improved stopping distance still puts a smile on my face 4 weeks later (after the install). Coupled with the Active Body Control which eliminates the dip under heavy braking it has just transformed the car.
Here are some full on shots of the car with the brakes.
04-28-2010, 04:41 AM
#19
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Alright guys I think I need this upgrade too and also, my girly brakes developed squeaking recently .. is it something I can have the dealer fixed under extended warranty?
04-28-2010, 09:46 AM
#21
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Thread Starter
Yes, that's really what you get when you order from MBenzNL, AKA Steve, AKA mbenznl@gmail.com , all the necessary parts to completely do the front and rear brakes end of story -4 sets of brakes as you refer to it. $2300 for a box of parts weighing 154 lbs shipped to your front door. I totally agree the other Brake kits are just way over priced.
To be fair though the stock front rotor on the S550 is 330 mm in diameter, this upgrade uses 360mm rotors, the Brembos and many BBK kits start at 380 mm and go as high as 405 mm in diameter. I can still run 19" wheels if I ever wanted to, and I think at 380 mm you are probably stuck with 20" wheels as a minimum.
To be fair though the stock front rotor on the S550 is 330 mm in diameter, this upgrade uses 360mm rotors, the Brembos and many BBK kits start at 380 mm and go as high as 405 mm in diameter. I can still run 19" wheels if I ever wanted to, and I think at 380 mm you are probably stuck with 20" wheels as a minimum.
04-28-2010, 11:16 AM
#22
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Thread Starter
DTB - P-B-42.10/68a APR06 - Brake Squeal
Revised brake pads will be installed along with brake paste applied to backing plates and corresponding mating surfaces within the brake caliper.
If repair is done in conjunction with other brake service, the parts can be claimed to warranty: Brake pads front, part # A004 420 80 20 (entered production as of 12/9/05), Brake pads rear, part # A000 423 02 30.
I had this Bulletin done within the 1st year I had my car, and it was covered under warranty, not sure if they will still do this past 1 year. I think it depends on your Service Advisor.
04-28-2010, 11:18 AM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ahmedito, I just realised what you were talking about in photo 12. That's MBENZNL's inventory of S600 euro spec brakes, i.e he's got a bunch for sale. No you don't get them all.
