Hey guys, I've been searching for a deal on an S55 for the last year or so, and I finally ran across one (I hope). It's a 2004 S55 AMG with 169k and and I got a decent deal on it because the ABC system has been replaced with a strutmasters kit. I have to say, the ride seems good, although handling is definitely gone with no sway bars.
Ok so first question....the front sits low, and makes some sqeaking noises, so I'm thinking maybe bad and/or the wrong struts? I think the guy got the kit used and it's for a S550 or model other than an S55.
I'm a hot rodder (I have a 11 second diesel truck and an 8 second Nova) so I also had to take it to the track, but didn't get the best results and couldn't hook at all. Ran a 13.08 at 107.5 mph with a 2.10 60 ft and 108.5 mph on another pass. Is that about in line with what people are seeing stock, and tractionless? Shifting seemed good although definitely designed for full throttle comfort rather than E.T.....it was a street car night and no VHT was put down (and DA was about 2,000 ft) so on a prepped track I'm sure it would run 12s (which is what I was hoping for).
Ok so next issue, who should I look for tune-wise to run on CA's 91 octane? How about a blower pulley and TCM tuning? Yea or nay? Finally, I switched to larger tires to fill out the rear fender more, and it seems the cruise stopped working now because the fronts and rears are different past the allowable limits (thanks forum!) So, any way around this? Or try and wheel and deal with the tire shop to get a matching set.
Anyways, thanks for reading or skimming (those who did) any advice is appreciated! Also have a couple sets of wheels and tires and ABC struts and pump if anyone is interested. Guy was working on converting it back before he sold it.

 

The hot rodders are on the e55 forum. (same engine) It's the diameter that's screwing up the computer, go to tire rack's website and check the charts for a lower profile wider tire that matches the diameter, or circomfrence of the fronts.

 

 

 

Put some Nitto NT01's on it and at least got into the 12's! 12.99 at 108. It hooked up, but could still only get a 1.99 60ft....my only guess is the 2.82 rear gear and low stall converter kept me from getting out of the hole harder. So, tune time! Who to go with? Thinking of a pulley and ECU tune. My buddy recommended Eurocharged, just seeing what else is out there. Also, estimated HP gains?

 

How do you know your I/C pump isn't shot?

 

I guess it could be. I figured by the weight and trap it was around 370rwhp, which is about what I thought it should be. Is there a quick way to tell? I tried hooking a normal scanner up but it gave me an error code.

 

 

Yeaaa! 12.50 at 112 mph! I can see why you guys harp on I/C pumps so much. Car was ice cold, it was 55 deg out instead of 85, I got a great launch, shifted exactly at 6500rpm, and ran it in "Sport" instead of "Comfort". The Nittos were also still doin' their thing. Not exactly sure where all the ET was gained (I have a G-force data logger), but it looks like a little bit everywhere. I also weighed the piggy, and it came in at 4540 lb no driver, so 4770 with me in it! I'm sure the 20s are doing me no favors there. Feeling like mid 12s is a little more like it.

 

Quote on parts and labor for new control arms, struts, and wiring in the little ding-a-ling delete box for the front end was $1200, so not too bad there either.

 

 

Ok so I've been having fun stock, but I think it's tune time. Anybody out there with a tune, pulley and tire in the 11s? A friend told me go with Eurocharged, but it seems like people have had mixed results. A TCM tune is a must too after seeing the data logs, the shifts are soooooo soft. So plan is 77mm clutched pulley, ecm tune, tcm tune.....advice? Also anybody running like a 50-100 shot of nitrous? Wet or dry kit? Thanks all.

 

Looking forward to an update if you decide to throw juice at it!

 

You are in the stock ET range now and these cars consistently dynoed 415 to 420 rwhp over the years. You can try and run in dyno mode as well. Some cars it worked well on (e55) but on my CL55, it did not help. UPD converter did wonders for these big heavy cars. 3000 stall! Drives like the car should have came with it and a beast when you hammer it. Colder air will help and you should be able to see 1.8x sixty times at least. Gains of 20 plus RWHP can be easily had with UPD air intake kit. I gained 26 rwhp but on a tuned car.