CaptainR

I purchased this s55 about 2 months ago and couldn't be happier. 1 owner with 56k miles and well taken care of. The original owner was an Aussie who was a pro PGA player. I never heard of him, then again I don't follow golf. Anyway I digress, this is my first AMG but my fourth Mercedes and I'm an avid DIY'er. I've already replaced all fluids, filters, plugs, ect. Valve cover gaskets and transmission mount I have replacedas well. She is very clean and a blast to drive. I only bring her out on nice days as she isn't my daily driver.

maw1124

Congrats and welcome. You should also consider ABC fluids, filters AND ACCUMULATORS if they haven't been done yet. At 15years, I suppose you can wait for them to fail and replace them one by one, hoping you don't blow a line while you wait. But if it was my car, knowing what I know from over 12 years of ownership, I'd do them all now. GL.

Cheers,

maw

CaptainR

I have replaced the ABC fluid and filters, however I have yet to replace the accumulators. I keep the car in the garage and I haven't put but maybe 200 miles on her since I brought her home, so I'll get the accumulators ordered and replaced. Thanks maw.
Chris

maw1124

After that, enjoy the peace of mind. Also consider supercharger fluid change when you order, if you haven't done it already. Then you're ready for more power from pulleys and tunes. But I wouldn't start spinning the supercharger faster with 15 year old fluid in there. When I had mine done a few years ago, my guy told me "well, more went in than came out" just to give you some color. Evaporative loss is a real thing.

I'm just pointing out the things that go neglected. Everything else (pulleys, tunes, cooling mods, lowering mods, wheels, fixes when they break) gets beaten to near death on these boards. But the stuff you should do before even thinking about those things, you know to stop the car from breaking, not so much. GL

maw

CaptainR

Changing the supercharger oil is one thing I need to do. I replaced all the pulleys and belts but not with the ones people use when they tune. I really don't think I will tune the car or change exhaust or anything really boosting power. I want the car to stay as original as possible as its more special to me in its stock form. I've never been much of a tuner per say. I could buy a second s55 to fool around with though 😁
Chris

maw1124

Yeah, I was like that for the longest, but talked myself into some minimalist, reversible "enhancements". They worked out well. Car is just a bit snappier but nothing ruinous or worth more concern. Still feels stock but I call it "stock+". No exhaust mods though.

maw

CaptainR

Stock+, I like it! Maybe a bug will bite me and I will do a little here and there. Only the future will tell.
Chris

CDC55AMG

Congratulations on your S55! I have an CLS55 but have been looking hard at a Sonderklasse series since they have bigger back seats for my 3 kids.

I would highly recommend thisTCU TUNE by forum member Zerocat101. They drastically improve the 722.6 Trans. It really brings the kompressor cars to life! I have one in my CLS55 amg and love it!

Enjoy!

CaptainR

CDC55AMG, thank you! Those cls's are beautiful cars! The S-class has always been my favorite over any other automobile and the w220 was the one I really lusted after.

My friends would all dream of the Italian exotics and I was the "old man" in the group because I would dream of owning an S. Driving any speed in total comfort on the autobahn. Well I have the car but no autobahn lol.

Do you have more information on the 722.6 tune? Doesit shift faster/ more firm? Is it a program or valve body upgrade/ both?

Chris

CDC55AMG

Hi Chris you are welcome. My CLS55 is a Designo with porcelain leather and piano black accents and graphite gray metallic paint. Still looks like a new car styling wise.

There is a hyperlink in my post above under " TCU TUNE " to the website that explains more about the tune and features. It unlocks the factory Agility mode and takes that a step further with further torque remodeling. For instance the throttle body will not close any more during a shift. The shifts are much quicker and firmer. You can still pick S and C modes too along with full Manual mode. Even the S and C modes have quicker shifts but not as firm. The price is for a whole TCU brain box so totally plug and play. These have also been sealed to prevent fluid contamination.

I love my CLS55 but hated the slush box shifts in this supercharged beast. Made my yearn for my cars with Manual transmissions in the past. Now it shifts like a proper German sports car should.
Bar none best price abs product out there there.
Website is here too:
https://mkultra-electronics.company.site/

I told myself if I ever get an S class (really want an S65) I sounds get this TCU but right now available only for the M113K cars.

CaptainR

CDC55AMG wow, your car sounds like a beautiful setup and like a rare unicorn! Would love to see pics!
I'll check the link out for sure as it seems like something I would be interested in.
I thought about an s65 but the more I thought about it the less I wanted to do any work on it. There's no room it seems to turn a wrench lol. Plus I love the song a v8 sings. Although you can't beat the smoothness of a MB v12. Thank you again for the kind words and the link! Maybe you can direct me where to find some pictures of your CLS?
Chris

CDC55AMG

Hi Chris thank you very much! I really am after a W221 and I so wish they still had the M113K engines in them vs the vulnerable M156 6.3L. I love the response and sound of the thunderous V8. That's the only thing pushing me to the M275 V12TT is that the 6.3 is so prone to problems with broken head bolts, cam wear, cam actuators problems etc which is a shame since this engine was a total in house ground up AMG build. Honestly though I will have to check out a W220 S55 before I make a decision.

CaptainR

Wow I'm speechless for how amazing your car looks CDC55AMG!! I don't think I've ever seen one like that! You're very lucky to have such a beauty. I could be wrong, but in the later years of the M156 didn't they fix many of the issues with the engine? I thought it was an issue with the first few years of production. Again, I could be wrong as im not to familiar with that engine.
The m113k is an amazing engine, not without its own faults but its almost like Fords/Lincoln's sohc 4.6l. Fairly old school tech that is very durable, dependable and simple. Its easy to work on and parts really aren't that expensive.
I would love to have an s65 but I don't think I would have the patience to work on it lol. If I could afford to have the dealer fix it then I would own one, but the wife would say otherwise when she checks the accounts lol.
The w220 I find to be put together well even though the w221 are said to be even better. With it being newer than the w220 there's more technology to go bonkers and I don't think I will ever go newer than my s55. Then again who knows, the w222 is sleek looking. Anyway, keep care of your CLS 55 and get yourself an S to keep her company at night 😉.
Chris

CDC55AMG

Thank you very much Chris for the kind words! I would love to keep the CLS55 and have an S class but wife will never go for that. I already have an R500 that is my daily driver (biased to the M113 engine). The kids love the CLS55 AMG of course but I can only fit 2 of them in it and I have 3 kids. To my knowledge the last year of the M156 was when they fixed all the problems but it was only offered in a few classes like the C class. I hear the M157 turbo engine is pretty good but also getting a pretty new car and expensive. Do you know if the S55 ever came with the interior combo I have? I am quite partial to it.
Many thanks!
Charles

CDC55AMG

Chris do you have any interior pictures of yours? BTW I love the black painted AMG on the surge tanks atop the engine. What year is your S55?

CaptainR

CDC55AMG, your very welcome good sir and thank you! I removed the black lettering atop the engine after it dried. It looked fine when I painted it but when it dried I just wasn't happy with the results.
I will have to take some pictures of my interior for you tomorrow when I get a chance. As far as an interior like your car, I'm not sure. I do know that there were Designo S-classes but I don't know exactly what the color choices were for interior and exterior.
My interior is just the charcoal Napa leather with burl wood. Oddly enough, I really wanted a 2006 desert silver with tan interior. However when I seen this s55, I went to look at it and bought it the same day. Its a 2005 but I couldn't pass it up with being low mileage and 1 owner. I even have the window sticker at $120,000 new, yikes! She isn't showroom quality but close enough as she has a few little nicks and dings but nothing bad.
I have seen the w221 with designo Ivory interior and a greyish exterior, but it was an s550. I had the opportunity to drive an s550 and will say that it was quick enough for being "stock".
P.S. make sure the kids keep their shoes of the leather! lol
Chris

maw1124

Shifts are firmer and faster, + you get Agility mode (A), so a 4th shift program (C, S, M and A)... comes with the whole TCU... I went with a version without Agility mode (RaceIQ) just because I'm that way... I did the RaceIQ ECU tune as well with 83mm pulley... you'll read plenty about all of that.

I figured MB AMG programmed torque management into the shifts for a reason + I've seen far too many AMG transmissions ruined by messing with those torque parameters... mainly on 65 cars where the transmission is already closer to the limit... in addition to the tunes, using more stout fluid (RedLine Racing) will also firm things up a bit... I like baby steps with these cars since they're close to perfect in stock form.

Remember S and SL classes had more power and better cooling to begin with than E or CLS classes with the same M113k engine. I've watched people mod these cars to death over the years and then disappear. I'm not seeing a lot of modded cars with 150k or 250k on the clock. I'm not sure if that says something or not.

maw

CaptainR

Good day maw, hoping all is well. Im very interested in a TCU tune and its nice to know that members have great input to read through for it.
I'm not quite sure what agility mode is and I'm not even sure if I would want it. I don't race the car around, just my weekend, nice weather only car. I get on her every now and then but I don't whip her to death either. Im having what I think is an issue right now, when I floor it and let off there's a hard jerking motion it feels like.
Its my first AMG so I have nothing to base it off of. My past mercedes were smooth as silk. This thundercat is a different demon than what I am used too lol.
Another issue seems like my blower motor on high doesn't seem to force as much air like other vehicles. Not sure if its an S-Class thing or an issue. I keep it out of auto mode because I like have the control to direct airflow where I want. I have never used auto mode in any car as a matter of fact. Im guessing with the auto knobs protruding out means its not in auto, and pushed in is auto? I'm still trying to figure this car out, which is how I know I probably will not buy a newer one with more technology.
Chris

CaptainR

CDC55AMG, here are some interior pictures per your request. Chris

maw1124

@CaptainR, yes pushed in is Auto, out is where you can control the air DIRECTION but not the VOLUME. Air volume is the horizontal button under the readout. The circles dial from feet to vent to defrost, to any combination of those.

As for the "jerking" when you let off the throttle, as you've seen this is an angry bird. Normal I'd say, unless (and this is far fetched) it needs motor and engine mounts. Do those at the same time as they've supported the weight even though the odometer hasn't moved. But aside from that I'd say normal AMG stuff. That jerk will be more pronounced with a tune and pulley (more power).

The CLS and E guys are all over Agility mode. I decided it wasn't for me either. But I wholly recommend RaceIQ for both. I bought a spare TCU to house the TCU tune, which makes the @zerocat101 tune a viable option as well, since he just ships you a TCU. Others you have to send yours in.

Cheers,

maw

CaptainR

Thanks for the information maw! Maybe I will just go with a zerocat101 tune as i really don't want to send my TCU out just incase I find the shifting to firm and not for me. I will have to look up what agility mode is... makes me think the car's going to turn into an Olympic Gymnast. Yes, the jerking motion is only when abruptly letting off after full throttle. I always drive in s mode as I hate having a transmission start in second gear for no reason. So maybe its because I run in S and not C, as I have not tried anything other than S.
Chris

maw1124

@CaptainR drive the car in M... everything else is noise... with that, the only thing the TCU tune does is increase the firmness and quickness of the shifts... less than 20% in all honesty... maybe less than 10%... I almost never use C or S... I see no need... the car won't let you go from 2 to 3 unless you're going at least 30mph... and you can't go to 4th until some preset speed, like 42 or 43... so even M mode has safety built in... it's probably why people think it doesn't work half the time... because they don't know how to work it... trying to go from 2 to 3 at 25mph will NEVER work... and for good reason that MB AMB knows better than we ever will... as far as I can tell, those M shift points aren't written in any manual, which complicates things... I just learned them along the way.

maw

CaptainR

Maw, I'll try that and see how it does. I'm more the type to just put it in drive and let the computer do its thing. Unless I take it through the mountains, I will probably rarely use manual mode. I guess I just need to relax and just enjoy the car and what it has to offer. Thank you.
Chris

maw1124

If that’s what you like, you should definitely reset your TCU adaptations. Once into the car, turn the key to ACC (no starter engagement); hold accelerator to floor for 7 seconds; turn car off and remove key; then release accelerator. Drive car after 5 minutes or so. Then it should learn your driving style in Standard mode as opposed to the prior owner’s. Enjoy.

maw

CaptainR

Thank you maw, I will give that a try and see how she does.
Chris