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Few months ago I came across a 03 S55 in rough shape and decided to take on this project of making a nice daily driver out of her. She hasn’t had regular maintenance in a long time and was in need of lots of tlc. White ABC light and check engine lights were on. Here is what I’ve currently done and how she sits. Let me know if I’ve missed anything. Thanks
Currently I’ve removed the supercharger and reinstalled with new gaskets.
replaces all the emissions hoses
new valve cover gaskets and resealed the covers
new plugs and wires
new fuel filter
new air filters
new water pump and thermostat
new belts and pulleys
new crank sensor
new radiator and electric fan assembly
all fluids were changed (supercharger oil, oil and filter, trans fluid, rear diff fluid)
trans filter, gasket, and electrical plug
new radiator hoses
new battery
new Bosch 010 coolant pump
new engine and trans mounts( black series)
new cabin and charcoal filters
I also did a few performance upgrades
MBH long tube headers
82mm tb
550cc inj
BWK
74mm fixed pully
Removed the second dairy air injection and rear 02s
Racing IQ ecu and tcu tune
Just got her all back together today. Just needs to flush the ABC system and finish the exhaust.
Going to try and fire her up tomorrow. The day I picked her up. How she currently sits.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
ABC fluid, both filters, all accumulators, brake fluid, not sure I saw coolant... then hope no ABC lines or struts go, or pneumatics, or anything in "the money corner". Good work. Enjoy.
If you are going to put money into the ABC system, maybe also consider converting to quality coilovers. Even when ABC is running as expected, it not be as tight as you want it based on your other performance mods (including lowering).
When you lower on to quality coilovers, you get a solid, firm, consistent, sporty ride.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by CQHall
If you are going to put money into the ABC system, maybe also consider converting to quality coilovers. Even when ABC is running as expected, it not be as tight as you want it based on your other performance mods (including lowering).
When you lower on to quality coilovers, you get a solid, firm, consistent, sporty ride.
Links to "quality coil overs"? I've actually never seen anyone do this and be happy with the outcome. I mean, a track rat S55 ain't it, unless I suppose you're Aufrecht and Melcher.
I have the coilovers and am trying to work out the noise in the front. I think they are great when you are at speed but not great while going slowly over rough road.
Links to "quality coil overs"? I've actually never seen anyone do this and be happy with the outcome. I mean, a track rat S55 ain't it, unless I suppose you're Aufrecht and Melcher.
Oh. I just realized that I'm not in the W211 forum.
I don't know anyone who has done this with a W220. I've only been here for a few months (just bought a W221 S63 a few months ago). But, my point still stands.
I have the coilovers and am trying to work out the noise in the front. I think they are great when you are at speed but not great while going slowly over rough road.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
And contrary to popular belief, an S55 is wildly different from an E55 in handling dynamics, which is why they had different suspensions from the factory in the first place.
I've done pretty much the same thing with my never ending battle to keep my S55 on the road. I've yet to install the pulley and tune that's sitting on my workbench, but my questions are how do you like the headers, how bad was the install and did they bolt up to the stock exhaust? I haven't found any pictures of the undercarriage with these installed.
I've been eyeballing the MBH headers and they're on sale now. It just seems like every time I want to buy them the car has plans of its' own.
ABC fluid, both filters, all accumulators, brake fluid, not sure I saw coolant... then hope no ABC lines or struts go, or pneumatics, or anything in "the money corner". Good work. Enjoy.
maw
Yep, the hydraulics make me feel like if there's any stone unturned, there's an imminent breakdown awaiting.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by S_Holford
Yep, the hydraulics make me feel like if there's any stone unturned, there's an imminent breakdown awaiting.
The reality is at this age the "consumerable" parts (fluid, filters, spheres) needs changing anyway. The good news is if you do that, the expensive parts (valves, pump, lines, struts) are actually pretty hearty.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by JohnLane
I never had an ABC hose fail in my 221 S65. Just saying… maw imagine if A&M had ABC in the Red Pig!
Like this one…😂🤣… then it might have kept 4 shoes on the track.
Of course, the other way to look at it is, they might not have finished a 24 Hour at Spa Francorchamps endurance race, and would have risked spewing hydraulic fluid all over the track. One can see how that risk might have led them away from it even if it was superior for road going applications.
What I think people get wrong today in their quest to be track guys is that comparing track cars to road going cars is like comparing PGA Tour Pros to your Sunday hacker -- literally not comparable. It's what makes homologation cars so special.
Re-iterating that with good accumulators in the ABC system, the lines will last forever. The lines only pop when the accumulators have failed to the point of having no pressure behind the diaphragm, and a suspension compression event overpressurizes the hydraulics. The accumulators' job is to absorb those pressure spikes as well as actually keep the system pressurized. The pump does not respond to those instantaneous pressure spikes and demands, the accumulators do. The pump simply compresses the nitrogen behind the diaphragms in the accumulators.
With healthy accumulators, you will never have a hydraulic line blow. If you do have a line blow, you have at least one failed accumulator. Simple as that.
Accumulators are not that costly, and replacing them every few years "just because" is worth doing.
Last edited by wfooshee; Jul 12, 2023 at 11:30 AM.
Re-iterating that with good accumulators in the ABC system, the lines will last forever. The lines only pop when the accumulators have failed to the point of having no pressure behind the diaphragm, and a suspension compression event overpressurizes the hydraulics. The accumulators' job is to absorb those pressure spikes as well as actually keep the system pressurized. The pump does not respond to those instantaneous pressure spikes and demands, the accumulators do. The pump simply compresses the nitrogen behind the diaphragms in the accumulators.
With healthy accumulators, you will never have a hydraulic line blow. If you do have a line blow, you have at least one failed accumulator. Simple as that.
Accumulators are not that costly, and replacing them every few years "just because" is worth doing.
I finally had the opportunity to change all of mine this morning (bought them in March!). I was shocked how smoothly it went. I need to do a flush now, maybe tomorrow morning before it gets hot outside.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
I’d do fluid every few years. Accumulators tend to be a once in your ownership type of service (every 10-15 years, 100k miles). That’s been true for this car and my 30+ year old 500E.
Pulsation dampener at ABC pump + all the nitrogen bombs for 221 and 222 cars.
Pulsation dampener is the same part number for 221 and 222. 222 no longer has the ‘Duo-Pump’ arrangement as power steering is now electric with expected lack of steering feel. Ahhhh “progress.” Save some fuel to forever wonder what is happening at the contact patch. The 221 car had Porsche levels of feedback through the wheel compared with the 222 car. That said... there is much that is improved in the 222 cars.
I've done pretty much the same thing with my never ending battle to keep my S55 on the road. I've yet to install the pulley and tune that's sitting on my workbench, but my questions are how do you like the headers, how bad was the install and did they bolt up to the stock exhaust? I haven't found any pictures of the undercarriage with these installed.
I've been eyeballing the MBH headers and they're on sale now. It just seems like every time I want to buy them the car has plans of its' own.
Headers don’t just jump in there.... also they are not just a bolt together thing. In Jay’s K-8 (211 E-55 Based) O2 sensors got to be moved, wiring for O2 sensors made longer due to needed repositioning of sensors. Exhaust plumbing got to be reshaped. Seat of the pants improvement in power output with noticeable increase in decibels out the pipes.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by JohnLane
Save some fuel to forever wonder what is happening at the contact patch.
Hilarious!! Did they even save fuel or just move weight from steering to convenience components, LOL?
Yeah, headers is not a mod I favor on this car. Expensive, louder and more obnoxious for no real reason. That said, if I did them I’d have to dynamat the doors and floors to keep that sound out of the cabin. Worked for my E46M, which was just loud and high strung from the factory. I actually don’t favor shouting over my engine while driving and having a conversation.
Now watch the “cool kids” tell me cars are for driving not conversation as it ruins the driving “experience”. I guess when you grow up with your face in a computing device, something as simple as driving is “for the experience” while conversations with real people somehow aren’t.
Hilarious!! Did they even save fuel or just move weight from steering to convenience components, LOL?
Yeah, headers is not a mod I favor on this car. Expensive, louder and more obnoxious for no real reason. That said, if I did them I’d have to dynamat the doors and floors to keep that sound out of the cabin. Worked for my E46M, which was just loud and high strung from the factory. I actually don’t favor shouting over my engine while driving and having a conversation.
Now watch the “cool kids” tell me cars are for driving not conversation as it ruins the driving “experience”. I guess when you grow up with your face in a computing device, something as simple as driving is “for the experience” while conversations with real people somehow aren’t.
maw
This is partly why I haven't done it yet. I enjoy how relatively quiet the cabin is. Also, the older I get the more I favor reliability over self induced headaches. I don't enjoy laying underneath cars so much these days!
Headers don’t just jump in there.... also they are not just a bolt together thing. In Jay’s K-8 (211 E-55 Based) O2 sensors got to be moved, wiring for O2 sensors made longer due to needed repositioning of sensors. Exhaust plumbing got to be reshaped. Seat of the pants improvement in power output with noticeable increase in decibels out the pipes.
I pretty much figured it wasn't a bolt in deal, have just been wanting to see the change at the intermediate pipe.
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