This project is going on 3 yrs from what I understand 
SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Havoc's SL55 AMG Build Thread
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 91
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
SL65 VRP1000 and 20" Monolites
The guys gotta have passion, that's for sure..
Imagine.. the car is worth less than $40k.. more like $30k..
He hasn't been able to drive it for almost 2 years..
He's put at least $50k into it..
And it's still not done..
Imagine.. the car is worth less than $40k.. more like $30k..
He hasn't been able to drive it for almost 2 years..
He's put at least $50k into it..
And it's still not done..
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 631
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From: Paris.
E320
yep. I really start to hate those build threads. pages and pages , teaser and teasers, and at the end nothing.
I don't remember seing a project thread comming to a perfect end, with a nasty photoshoot and a perfect running car.
I don't remember seing a project thread comming to a perfect end, with a nasty photoshoot and a perfect running car.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Thanks for all the interest guys! 
I agree these uncompleted, time consuming, high hp builds are starting to get old.
We don't have much left, but it is taking forever. Poor project management is/was my problem.
The headers and exhaust system are half way completed. Here's some pics of the unfinished header. I have to say, when completed, it will be just what Havoc ordered.. One Hell of an exhaust system!
The air intake system for the top mounted coolers has not been fabricated yet, but here's some pics of them taking measurements.
Unfortunately, when I was home a few days ago, I dogged the Hell out of the 5.7L! I mean I ran it Hard, sadly, to the point that it lost compression in 1cylinder. We removed the valve cover and all looked good, but we found that the compression was escaping through the exhaust valve. I had to deploy in a few days so I didn't have time to remove the head to find out what the real issue was nor what caused it. So for the next 3 months while I’m deployed the only progress will be of me thinking how to move forward. Here is a pic of my SL55 in storage with my baby AMG in front. I have to say, I love my little SLK55!
Oh, and I ran my SLK55 so hard that the valve covers started to leak!
Everything has stopped so I can go to a war zone, relieve some stress, and then continue on.
But on a serious note, this build is awesome and I’m having fun!!
I agree these uncompleted, time consuming, high hp builds are starting to get old.
We don't have much left, but it is taking forever. Poor project management is/was my problem.
The headers and exhaust system are half way completed. Here's some pics of the unfinished header. I have to say, when completed, it will be just what Havoc ordered.. One Hell of an exhaust system!
The air intake system for the top mounted coolers has not been fabricated yet, but here's some pics of them taking measurements.
Unfortunately, when I was home a few days ago, I dogged the Hell out of the 5.7L! I mean I ran it Hard, sadly, to the point that it lost compression in 1cylinder. We removed the valve cover and all looked good, but we found that the compression was escaping through the exhaust valve. I had to deploy in a few days so I didn't have time to remove the head to find out what the real issue was nor what caused it. So for the next 3 months while I’m deployed the only progress will be of me thinking how to move forward. Here is a pic of my SL55 in storage with my baby AMG in front. I have to say, I love my little SLK55!
Oh, and I ran my SLK55 so hard that the valve covers started to leak!
Everything has stopped so I can go to a war zone, relieve some stress, and then continue on.
But on a serious note, this build is awesome and I’m having fun!!
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
Did you bend the exh valve or was it burnt?
Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff.
Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Southern, CA.
V12-Biturbo
Word!!! This makes me ill hearing this...
Did you bend the exh valve or was it burnt? Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff.
Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff. Havoc you deserve better treatment this is 
nearing 2 years 
Vadim/VRP is really making a name for themselves
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,862
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Did you bend the exh valve or was it burnt? Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff.
Hope the car was not running lean. That's crazee that the head has to come off again. For 50k I'd want my machine to run flawless. Well hopefully this gets fixed and we can see how your car runs on the track as well as longevity. You waited long enuff.I'm just not sure who to move on with at this point...
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
50k is alot of $ for having to deal with these motor issues you've been having and all the talk I remember you layed out LOL. Humbling experience,Ive been there..
For you I'm hoping the best and that these guys will finally get this done. Like I said ,work with them on making a time limit because its ridiculous now.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Mar 14, 2010 at 09:57 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Regardless you may have to stay the course for alot of reasons. Let them finish what they started especially for legal reasons. Once u get other sources involved with touching your car,you have basically bailed them out. If they cannot get her running properly after this fix,then you need to have a sit down and discuss how u both move on. You need to give them a time limit at this point. Keep ALL your receipts.
50k is alot of $ for having to deal with these motor issues you've been having and all the talk I remember you layed out LOL. Humbling experience,Ive been there.. For you I'm hoping the best and that these guys will finally get this done. Like I said ,work with them on making a time limit because its ridiculous now.
50k is alot of $ for having to deal with these motor issues you've been having and all the talk I remember you layed out LOL. Humbling experience,Ive been there..
For you I'm hoping the best and that these guys will finally get this done. Like I said ,work with them on making a time limit because its ridiculous now.I'm just tired of empty promises. I mean, enough is enough as I gave them all the support a customer could ever give them. I'll just wait until I return home to see where they stand.
And as for as the talk I layed out "years" back LOL, well my goal is still to have the strongest 55K ever so the Havoc will return one day to trash talk.
Good thing he doesn't give up that easy!
Last edited by Havoc; Mar 15, 2010 at 11:37 AM.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
Havoc bro you deserve to have your car back and enjoying it. The entie Pentagon reconstruction after Sept 11th took less time than your build ... and for $50K you've spent more than what the car's value is already with most of that depreciation happening over the last 2 years without having the pleasure of enjoying your vehicle, let alone the strongest 55K engine, which is a chase that you can't realize unless the car/motor is operational, regardless of the mods put into it. With the project going on 3 years now I don't know how you do it...I would not be able to have that kind of patience at all
... and for $50K you've spent more than what the car's value is already with most of that depreciation happening over the last 2 years without having the pleasure of enjoying your vehicle, let alone the strongest 55K engine, which is a chase that you can't realize unless the car/motor is operational, regardless of the mods put into it. With the project going on 3 years now I don't know how you do it...I would not be able to have that kind of patience at all
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Havoc bro you deserve to have your car back and enjoying it. The entie Pentagon reconstruction after Sept 11th took less time than your build ... and for $50K you've spent more than what the car's value is already with most of that depreciation happening over the last 2 years without having the pleasure of enjoying your vehicle, let alone the strongest 55K engine, which is a chase that you can't realize unless the car/motor is operational, regardless of the mods put into it. With the project going on 3 years now I don't know how you do it...I would not be able to have that kind of patience at all
... and for $50K you've spent more than what the car's value is already with most of that depreciation happening over the last 2 years without having the pleasure of enjoying your vehicle, let alone the strongest 55K engine, which is a chase that you can't realize unless the car/motor is operational, regardless of the mods put into it. With the project going on 3 years now I don't know how you do it...I would not be able to have that kind of patience at allI guess what it comes down to was that I was OK with the little progress they gave me and the fact that I was never in a rush to get her done didn't help either.
But now, all that has changed.
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
3 yrs,50k and no time limit is being way to gracious.
You need to be more assertive about the situation. Set a time limit with them and find out what options you have or what they r willing to do with a TIME LIMIT!
You need to be more assertive about the situation. Set a time limit with them and find out what options you have or what they r willing to do with a TIME LIMIT!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,862
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Mercedes
Really glad to see some good progress! I hope that you can get that beast up and running! It would really be an amazing car!!! How does it drive now with the 5.7 compared to stock?
I hope that you can get that beast up and running! It would really be an amazing car!!! How does it drive now with the 5.7 compared to stock?
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City Utah
SL65 VRP1000 and 20" Monolites
Havoc, bro, dude..
You don't even want to get me started on thier "stories"..
I heard 'em all..
I paid over 50k for basically a tune and an intake.. and over 2 years lost..
In my business, we have a phrase for 'the other guys stories'.. We call it a 72 hr story..
Why??
Because, whatever it is you are waiting for, they will have, or will get, or will talk to the guy, or the guy will get back, or it should be completed, yada, yada, yada.. IN 72 HOURS...
So, now, whenever I hear anyone try to slide on any timeline, I school them on the 72hr story line, and then tell them, that they will get paid.... in 72 hours.. and amazingly, the stories become 24 hr stories.. :-)
Good luck, bro..
You don't even want to get me started on thier "stories"..
I heard 'em all..
I paid over 50k for basically a tune and an intake.. and over 2 years lost..
In my business, we have a phrase for 'the other guys stories'.. We call it a 72 hr story..
Why??
Because, whatever it is you are waiting for, they will have, or will get, or will talk to the guy, or the guy will get back, or it should be completed, yada, yada, yada.. IN 72 HOURS...
So, now, whenever I hear anyone try to slide on any timeline, I school them on the 72hr story line, and then tell them, that they will get paid.... in 72 hours.. and amazingly, the stories become 24 hr stories.. :-)
Good luck, bro..
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,862
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Havoc, bro, dude..
You don't even want to get me started on thier "stories"..
I heard 'em all..
I paid over 50k for basically a tune and an intake.. and over 2 years lost..
In my business, we have a phrase for 'the other guys stories'.. We call it a 72 hr story..
Why??
Because, whatever it is you are waiting for, they will have, or will get, or will talk to the guy, or the guy will get back, or it should be completed, yada, yada, yada.. IN 72 HOURS...
So, now, whenever I hear anyone try to slide on any timeline, I school them on the 72hr story line, and then tell them, that they will get paid.... in 72 hours.. and amazingly, the stories become 24 hr stories.. :-)
Good luck, bro..
You don't even want to get me started on thier "stories"..
I heard 'em all..
I paid over 50k for basically a tune and an intake.. and over 2 years lost..
In my business, we have a phrase for 'the other guys stories'.. We call it a 72 hr story..
Why??
Because, whatever it is you are waiting for, they will have, or will get, or will talk to the guy, or the guy will get back, or it should be completed, yada, yada, yada.. IN 72 HOURS...
So, now, whenever I hear anyone try to slide on any timeline, I school them on the 72hr story line, and then tell them, that they will get paid.... in 72 hours.. and amazingly, the stories become 24 hr stories.. :-)
Good luck, bro..
Unfortunately, I'll always remember the 72 hr story!
On a brighter note, I have a new game plan and can't wait for it to begin.
Stay tuned guys!
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
[QUOTE=New2this;3991227]So, now, whenever I hear anyone try to slide on any timeline, I school them on the 72hr story line, and then tell them, that they will get paid.... in 72 hours.. and amazingly, the stories become 24 hr stories.. :-)[QUOTE]
but what if you've already paid them in full? Does the 24 hr story become the 24 month story? j/k.
I got my car semi-completed back in under 24 months so I'm happy.
but what if you've already paid them in full? Does the 24 hr story become the 24 month story? j/k.
I got my car semi-completed back in under 24 months so I'm happy.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Southern, CA.
V12-Biturbo
If you haven't sent it to a new shop just yet, I'd have to recommend Marcin in Chicago, he's doing fantastic things Vadim couldn't even dream of to Soulsearchers SL600 in 1/8th the time
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Feb 2003
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haters crazy
Havoc and New2this- I'm really sorry you guys had to go through this ordeal. I wish you both the best of luck in the future
You let that shop take advantage of you over and over and keep sticking up for him. When will you learn? What happened to the 9s you've talked about so many times?
You let that shop take advantage of you over and over and keep sticking up for him. When will you learn?
What happened to the 9s you've talked about so many times?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,155
Likes: 20
From: Southern, CA.
V12-Biturbo
Doooood cut him some slack....
Havoc and New2this- I'm really sorry you guys had to go through this ordeal. I wish you both the best of luck in the future
You let that shop take advantage of you over and over and keep sticking up for him. When will you learn? What happened to the 9s you've talked about so many times?
You let that shop take advantage of you over and over and keep sticking up for him. When will you learn?
What happened to the 9s you've talked about so many times?
