SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: All engines have their limits, what is mine?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 SL55 AMG, 2001 S430
All engines have their limits, what is mine?
I recently got a quote on doing the Kleemann stage 3 upgrade and the tech said that it would push the limits of the engine and tranny (600 h.p. and 608 torque). This did not include the complete exhaust system, only the headers. He said with the complete exhaust system I would only get about 10 more H.P. and 10 more ft./lbs. of torque for an additional $5,500.00. The math just doesnt work. He did suggest installing a limited slip differential. Was the 030 package available in 2003? I did not think it was.
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Carefree az usa
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
Received 23 Likes
on
19 Posts
2020 S560,14 ml350, 03 sl55, silver, pano, slr cams, evo headers, lsd, 2019 s63 cab.
do a search for asp pulley package and the vruss throttle body on the e55 forum . then get ecu tune from speedtuningusa.com. this will save you money and impress you with HP.
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#5
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
If AMG installs it you get warranty. If you get your dealer to install the parts, I guess you get warranty. However not everything can be installed outside AMG.
#7
Trending Topics
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
I recently got a quote on doing the Kleemann stage 3 upgrade and the tech said that it would push the limits of the engine and tranny (600 h.p. and 608 torque). This did not include the complete exhaust system, only the headers. He said with the complete exhaust system I would only get about 10 more H.P. and 10 more ft./lbs. of torque for an additional $5,500.00. The math just doesnt work. He did suggest installing a limited slip differential. Was the 030 package available in 2003? I did not think it was.
Do a search on the board, there's options besides Kleemann.
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Before you go pushing the limits of your car's engine, see if you can fully handle the 500hp that AMG gave you. Find a track day and see if you can hang with the Z06s and run down the Porsches (you should be able to, because I have). I think that you will that it may take a while for you to fully exploit what you already have....and when it gets boring PM me.
#10
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: West Los Angeles
Posts: 988
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cobra/E55
Before you go pushing the limits of your car's engine, see if you can fully handle the 500hp that AMG gave you. Find a track day and see if you can hang with the Z06s and run down the Porsches (you should be able to, because I have). I think that you will that it may take a while for you to fully exploit what you already have....and when it gets boring PM me.
Then, if you still want to mod the car, I suggest going with Evosport's power packages. They will safely provide you with dyno-proven gains and will retain your vehicle's drivability.
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Contact me if you have any questions.
-Aaron
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2005 SL55
This topic is interesting/entertaining to me as well, but we seem to have as many opinions as we have options/members/cars...
The question is does the premium price of a Kleeman, never mind a Carlson, RennTech or Brabus package add any value? Driveability, reliability, longevity... Do we really have enough empirical evidence to make the best possible decision. How much should we try for this? After all, these cars are emotional, impulsive and not really rational purchases...
That being said, I guess I would try to assemble a matrix of modifications, likely/advertised horse power gains, and try to group them at price points in 2500 dollar increments. The nice thing is that some of the most significant changes are available in increments that represent much smaller financial commitments.
The simple inventory of power/performance mods for 55s looks like this to me...(please add/amend to this as you see fit)
I am trying to order these indecreasing value in terms of horsepower for dollars. Finally, the numbers at the end show my rough guess at costs for Kleeman versus lower profile solutions. Again, correct or edit as appropriate.
1. ECU/TCU reprogramming (2000, 600)
2. Supercharger pulley (1000, 300)
3. Headers (3500,??? not sure I would buy headers of unknown quality)
4. Intake/throttle body (3000, 1000?)
5. Downstream exhaust (6000, 1000? Again, unknown quality could be a tragic mistake)
6. Camshaft (4000, ??? not sure this is a good value)
7. Limited slip diff. slightly different category, but important (4000, ???)
8. Cooling upgrades (higher or lower in priority depending on how hard the car wil be driven)
9. Other???
I would note that retailers and sponsor comments are interesting, but I have to regard these as biased towards the solutions that they represent. More objective opinions from consumers are somewhat handicapped by the fact that most of us do not do these modifications regularly, and are hampered in our individual ability to do comparisons based on limited direct experience.
A quick nod to Dino and others: No doubt that learning to drive, is as they say "priceless", but that is off topic...![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Cheers, and please do a little rain dance to help clear the salt from my roads by April.
The question is does the premium price of a Kleeman, never mind a Carlson, RennTech or Brabus package add any value? Driveability, reliability, longevity... Do we really have enough empirical evidence to make the best possible decision. How much should we try for this? After all, these cars are emotional, impulsive and not really rational purchases...
That being said, I guess I would try to assemble a matrix of modifications, likely/advertised horse power gains, and try to group them at price points in 2500 dollar increments. The nice thing is that some of the most significant changes are available in increments that represent much smaller financial commitments.
The simple inventory of power/performance mods for 55s looks like this to me...(please add/amend to this as you see fit)
I am trying to order these indecreasing value in terms of horsepower for dollars. Finally, the numbers at the end show my rough guess at costs for Kleeman versus lower profile solutions. Again, correct or edit as appropriate.
1. ECU/TCU reprogramming (2000, 600)
2. Supercharger pulley (1000, 300)
3. Headers (3500,??? not sure I would buy headers of unknown quality)
4. Intake/throttle body (3000, 1000?)
5. Downstream exhaust (6000, 1000? Again, unknown quality could be a tragic mistake)
6. Camshaft (4000, ??? not sure this is a good value)
7. Limited slip diff. slightly different category, but important (4000, ???)
8. Cooling upgrades (higher or lower in priority depending on how hard the car wil be driven)
9. Other???
I would note that retailers and sponsor comments are interesting, but I have to regard these as biased towards the solutions that they represent. More objective opinions from consumers are somewhat handicapped by the fact that most of us do not do these modifications regularly, and are hampered in our individual ability to do comparisons based on limited direct experience.
A quick nod to Dino and others: No doubt that learning to drive, is as they say "priceless", but that is off topic...
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Cheers, and please do a little rain dance to help clear the salt from my roads by April.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SL55, ML500, GT3 RS, 997C2S
The HP gains going beyond K2 are very small and very expensive per HP gain. K2 is a very good value with about $8k for an additional 85-100 hp and the resulting sound at WOT is truly shock and awe. K4 will cost at least that much and the additional gain is only 30-40 hp. Not worth it IMO.