SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG (R230) 2002 - 2011 (2003 US for SL55 and 2004 for the SL65)

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL55 chirps like a bird

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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 06:49 PM
  #1  
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SL55 chirps like a bird

I bought a 03 SL55. Runs great, but it "chirps" like a bird, during mild acceleration. Sometimes it will happen right from the stop, and other times during or right before an up-shift. The dealer tells me this is normal and expected. I think a $100K car should not sound like a bird. Any experience in this?? Thanks!
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 08:41 PM
  #2  
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'03 SL55
Originally Posted by dsuder
I bought a 03 SL55. Runs great, but it "chirps" like a bird, during mild acceleration. Sometimes it will happen right from the stop, and other times during or right before an up-shift. The dealer tells me this is normal and expected. I think a $100K car should not sound like a bird. Any experience in this?? Thanks!
It's the supercharger clutch. If you search for "chirp" you'll find quite a few postings about it.
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 10:02 PM
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It's a normal sound. At first I found it disturbing, but I got used to it. It kinda differentiates the SL55 from the slower SLs with quad exhaust and AMG bodykit (and fake SL 55 badges).
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 10:15 PM
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'06 CLS55 P030
I might add...its a small price to pay for almost 500 ponies
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 10:30 PM
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If it bothers you enough, you can ask the dealer about installing the '07 supercharger clutch pack. It solves the problem but will be on your nickel.
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Old Oct 11, 2006 | 10:35 PM
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All should fear the chirp. You should enjoy it.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 12:22 AM
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The chirp is fine...

*chirp*

"Huh? wtf wa..."


*VRRAWWRR*
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 01:23 AM
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The 'chirp' is just a little 'wake up call'.........before the boost gives you a swift kick!
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 02:35 AM
  #9  
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my moms car does that too (e55).
supposedly the older clutch grabs faster/harder than the newer (muffled) 1, thats what my service advisor told me (he has a 2500hp drag car, he knows his ****)
"We want it to do that"- Gary, Service Advisor (Best Ever)

it was annoying but i got used to it, it gives the car more character
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 11:06 AM
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I assume it's the chirp coming from the engine? That's normal, which is the supercharger boosting up, and I love that noise.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by 2MANYCARS
I assume it's the chirp coming from the engine? That's normal, which is the supercharger boosting up, and I love that noise.
The chirp is from the supercharger clutch engaging, you can search the forums for other threads about this issue.

I think the easiest simpliest fix was just to lube the clutch, but it'll come back after a while.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 12:00 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
SL55 Chirp

My 2005 does not make any Supercharger "bird" sounds.
At 1500 RPM it just kicks in. Woosh.

I think its a trait of 2003`s and maybe early 2004`s only ?
Different clutch by late 2004 ??

Any later model owners agree on this ?
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 12:25 PM
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I have a 2005 sl55 and had the same problem a couple of months back...took it to the dealer and they did repair the car under warranty...
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by bltserv
My 2005 does not make any Supercharger "bird" sounds.
At 1500 RPM it just kicks in. Woosh.

I think its a trait of 2003`s and maybe early 2004`s only ?
Different clutch by late 2004 ??

Any later model owners agree on this ?
The clutch assembly was changed in the 2006 model year 55 cars. Unless you chipped your car the SC cut in is higher than 1500 RPM's; it is more like 2600 to 3000 RPM's (my SL is chipped and the SC engages at 1500 RPM). I have 2003. 2004, 2005 and 2006 AMG cars. The only one that did not chirp was the 2006. The 2005 did and I took it to the dealer and they replaced it with the 2006 clutch pack and the chirp is gone. I really don't use the 2003 and 2004 that much so it is not worth the trouble to get them changed out.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 05:29 PM
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SL55, ML500, GT3 RS, 997C2S
Very late 05 build. No chirp at all.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 06:45 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
The Chirp and SC kick in

Mine is build Mar 2005.
To my knowledge no chip upgrade.
How can you tell anyway ??
But at 1500 RPM is when she kicks.
You really notice it at low speed, low gear.
Small hesitation then wammo-woosh

Anybody else out there have the same experience with 2005
and SC kick in ?
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 06:53 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by bltserv
Mine is build Mar 2005.
To my knowledge no chip upgrade.
How can you tell anyway ??
But at 1500 RPM is when she kicks.
You really notice it at low speed, low gear.
Small hesitation then wammo-woosh

Anybody else out there have the same experience with 2005
and SC kick in ?
If you have not had the ECU reflashed by a tuner such as Kleeman, RennTech, etc then your ECU is in all likelihood stock. I can tell because I have the reflashed ECU by RennTech which engages the SC at a lower RPM.
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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 08:47 PM
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Compare that "chirp" to the whine of the Eaton blower on the Ford Lightning and SVT Cobra. You should be able to get it resolved fairly easily.

If you can't get the pack replaced under warranty, send me a PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 12:35 AM
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I wish my S/C had a whine...
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Old Oct 16, 2006 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by lkirchner
If you have not had the ECU reflashed by a tuner such as Kleeman, RennTech, etc then your ECU is in all likelihood stock. I can tell because I have the reflashed ECU by RennTech which engages the SC at a lower RPM.
I'm on this thread looking for a chirp cure...

but I do have to agree on this.. the kompressor starts at 2600 rpms..

you might feel torque at 1500 but that is just the Natural torque of the 5.4L with the correct gearing ratio..

With the experience on my C32 for about 2 years, they (tuners) have not been able to crack the code to make the kompressor start sooner. That applies to the C32 and I don't know about the 55k motor.

Vadim might be able to provide more information, since he was part of that R&D for the C32 cars.
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Old Oct 16, 2006 | 10:50 PM
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05 E55, R33 GTR, R33 GTS-t
Isnt peak torque at 2600rpm? i would think then that the charger engages at least before that!

mines an 05, will have to check the month, but no chirp yet, but then its only done 3000miles...

I wouldn't mind some whine too!! can we get these things to whine?! haha. I had a 91 mazda miata with an eaton blower on it, i loved the whine as it revved up! Im sure MB went to lots of trouble to make sure we couldnt hear any SC whine, and now we want it, lol
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Old Oct 17, 2006 | 03:04 AM
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SL55
My 2003 does the chirp at around 1500 to 1800. It feels as though it happens when it shifts gears. Almost like bushings or a squeaky old wire frame bed when you sit on it.
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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CLS55
mrdred i love the pic of your sl!
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Old Oct 26, 2006 | 10:57 AM
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I just got rid of the chirp. I thought I love the sound, but this thread got me thinking again... so I discussed it with my MB dealer. They installed a new supercharger clutch under warranty... and now it's gone. I kinda miss it.
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Old Oct 27, 2006 | 06:53 PM
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E55 AMG
Originally Posted by dsuder
I bought a 03 SL55. Runs great, but it "chirps" like a bird, during mild acceleration. Sometimes it will happen right from the stop, and other times during or right before an up-shift. The dealer tells me this is normal and expected. I think a $100K car should not sound like a bird. Any experience in this?? Thanks!
The new clutch pack is one solution!....the other would be to get headers e.t.c. that way the sound will probably get drowned out!!.....and as an added bonus you get all that extra power!
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