dirtbagit

it has a rebuilt title so it was very cheap has some miles don't really care what happens in the end.
Putting second e55 on a diet, only rules are that it looks normal from the outside and maintains safety equipment.
starting with seats, will use jegs if they will fit, just 2 up front rears gone. Removing all the hood and trunk lift gear will pin if I can, shelling out the rear doors window will be in up position also might seal the rear doors and remove hinge equipment, don't have a plan for this part yet. Doing lighter battery and wheels, Think the sound system in this thing is heavy probably will remove that too. Don't think I'll pull the sound absorbing material.
Might switch to coilovers, pulling the air compressors too.
so the question is what else can I pull following my simple rules.
if I could save 500lbs that would be awesome, might need to stay away from the beer for awhile.
Not to concerned if I don't get there just messing around.

buffyclk500

Can't wait to see the out come

eFifty5AMG

Sounds like a cool project

FunkTron

pull the center consoles
clear out the trunk of everything carpet and padding related, and since you are removing the stereo you can pull the amps and such
rear seats
seatbelts
carpeting
headliner
strip the dash

JoeJErnst

Switching to BC coilovers will save you 5lbs per side in the rear, plus the weight of the compressor (maybe another 10 lb?). The fronts weigh exactly the same as the air struts.

I bet you could save close to 50 lb if you completely eliminate the air conditioning.

2000UZJ

First order of business should be removing that sunroof. I had to remove mine to fix something and it was insanely heavy. I drove the car around for the day and it felt great!

Dublinoh

It would be very helpful if you would weigh each bit you remove, (ie. Rear seats 60lbs etc.), if it doesn't make it faster take it off.

dirtbagit

Bet you could save close to 50 lb if you completely eliminate the air conditioning

Going to have to think about pulling the AC, I do like some creature comforts!

dirtbagit

Figured I could go to a place that sells parts for these things and get the shipping weight to figure out what weights what.

dirtbagit

Hmm interesting.

justinwrock

I'm kicking around swapping the roof skin on my $3k E55 with one from an E280 that doesn't have the hole.

They can be had on euro ebay fairly inexpensively, and I've got the tools/experience to do it.

E42AMG???

Replace the windows with Lexen, it's cheap if you buy a sheet and cut it yourself. If you are in certain racing classes they do not allow this. Just a heads up.

If you go to coilovers you can also take out the compressor. Lighter wheels make a big difference.

Also do the quarter tank method.

E42AMG???

Slicktop e55 would be awesome

dirtbagit

lexen would save a ton not to sure how it would look overall but its on the list of things to consider, also I wonder if non oem glass would be lighter too.

dirtbagit

Can't find the weight on the rear door, trunk and hood hinges, Really would like to know before I start stripping things, it doesn't seem likely that I'll be able to save 500lbs I knew that it wouldn't be easy. Pretty sure that pulling the sun roof and changing glass and a complete gut of the interior would be required., Going to go find my sawsall... jk. Going to start working on this over this coming weekend.

Dublinoh

E63 front rotors, two piece, save a significant amount of weight in this context. A smaller battery can save a bunch, too.

dirtbagit

Yes I'd seen some two piece units, will consider that, I'm doing the battery trick too.

dirtbagit

Didn't really get a chance to do anything on this this weekend which sucks. Still haven't found the weights on the door hinges.

Overall if I can shave 500lbs of that's the equivalent of adding about 80hp, does that sound right. I still think that's a win since lower weight means less stress on things.

dirtbagit

Also would be nice to find some pre-cut lexan but I know that's not going to happen.

slownrusty

To give you an idea, the weight saving on the main battery:

Stock:


Lightweight AGM:


Plus you can save an additional 3lbs with a lighter aux. battery but requires the car to sit on a tender.

So there is 40lbs or close to 10% of your weight saving goal.

dirtbagit

haven't yanked the seats no replacements yet, any ideas as to how much they weight?
thanks

drothgeb

I haven't seen it myself but I have run across other threads before and seen 60-70lbs each thrown out on more than one occasion.

dirtbagit

hey thanks, I can get jegs racing seats they weight 15lbs/each mounting gear add lbs/each.

dirtbagit

Also I'm draining the wiper fluid doesn't work worth squat anyway! Never use the horn its going, that might be considered a safety device but I think it causes road rage more often than not. I'll come up with the complete list this weekend. I was mostly trying to decrease weight to decrease the 0-100 100-0 times (think I may need to change the final drive ratio, don't want motor to spin hard to early) without adding costs but I find the seats and battery as acceptable costs but the wheels, they are not cheap any ideas. Don't have to look super cool just not ugly, they are currently stock heard someone mention the clk wheels being lighter is that a good path to go down, and if so how much weight am I saving? If I see that I'm getting close to my goal then I'll kick in for the 2 piece rotors etc.

thanks guys

drothgeb

My drag wheels (CLK 16s with Hoosier 255/50/16s) is probably 50 lbs lighter each haha. I haven't actually weighed the difference but I would bet at least 50 each. The CLK rim is 14 lbs, I bought mine for best offer $90 each from here but I don't see any that cheap any more at the moment: http://www.ebay.com/itm/391871157217?rmvSB=true

Other style CLK rims and most other 16" rims will not fit, has to be the style you see in the link above.

You might be able to call the shop in the ebay link above and see if they can still sell them.