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

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL65 Build Parts coming together

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Old Jan 24, 2012 | 03:12 PM
  #1  
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2008 SL65, 2006 SLK55(sold)
SL65 Build Parts coming together

Just got the news my wheels are about to ship and the rest of my mod parts are beginning to show up. Chris at CBTune got the ECU and TCU back from Jeremy at OE Tuning and the Intercoolers and Heat Exchanger from Marcin at Speedriven should be arriving anyday. CF steering wheel and shifter have arrived from Ivan at DCT Motorsports and awaiting install as well. Hope to have everything ready to go for spring.

Wheels being packed for shipping
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Old Jan 24, 2012 | 10:06 PM
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18 Titan XD 13 Cayenne TT 13 BMW HP4
cool - will be looking to see some performance numbers on it
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 12:35 PM
  #3  
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sl500
Tell us more about the wheels.
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 05:59 PM
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2008 SL65, 2006 SLK55(sold)
Originally Posted by jobe
Tell us more about the wheels.
Wheels are 20 inch IForged Concave Equip V3's. I was originally thinking of getting the DPE Concave Split 7 spokes which are "basicly" the same wheel. But the price difference paid for the tires, TPMS, mounting, balancing, shipping and installation. I couldn't justify the over $2500 price difference for the DPE's. Centers are cut for OEM Mercedes caps.
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 09:41 AM
  #5  
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sl500
so, how much did you pay for wheels?
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 05:47 PM
  #6  
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2008 SL65, 2006 SLK55(sold)
Originally Posted by jobe
so, how much did you pay for wheels?
PM'ed
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 06:14 PM
  #7  
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2011 IS350C
I must say I like the looks of those rims! More pics please!!!
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 07:25 PM
  #8  
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2008 SL65, 2006 SLK55(sold)
Originally Posted by DigitalKnight
I must say I like the looks of those rims! More pics please!!!
I don't actually have them in my hands yet....the shop just sent me a few pics while packing them up. I hope the whole project starts to come together in the next month or so. My insurance kicks in again March 1st. A few more pics of the wheels and one of a fairly similar looking MB with a widebody kit so mine won't have as large of a lip.


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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:05 PM
  #9  
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2011 IS350C
Thumbs up Nice pics.. the last one with them on the car... WOW!

Is there any sidewall on those tires at all??? Very nice!!! How can you stand the wait?

Just put new rims on my SL55, but nothing like those!

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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 10:55 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by DigitalKnight
Is there any sidewall on those tires at all??? Very nice!!! How can you stand the wait?

Just put new rims on my SL55, but nothing like those!

Thanks for the kind words but I'm sort of a newbie here compared to most(and probably old enough to be their Dad). I have learned a lot from the veterans by coming to this site and listening closely so they deserve the credit if you like what I am doing to my SL. My front wheels are 20x9's and will sport 255/30/20's and the rears are 20x11's with 305/25/20/s. Again mine will not look as good as the ones in the reference picture because of the wide body kit and the rears are 20x13's.
I sort have begun a wheel collection since this will be 3rd set of wheels for my SL and have no plans to sell any at the moment

Original OEM Factory


Second set off a 2009 SL65 and chrome plated
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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 11:52 AM
  #11  
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I like those chrome rims! Very sharp.. I thought about doing chrome but to many said things like "getto looking" etc... I had chrome rims on my 3000GT Spyder but they started to peal and then leak air so I had to change them out. I think that is the only down side to chrome is the chance of them pealing, I for one like the look of chrome rims.

I am also a newbie to this whole MB thing.... but at 47 I decided I best get one and try it out before the world ends in December!

So far I like it and it is great to have these forums to help and try and figure all the in's and out's.
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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 11:59 AM
  #12  
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PM's

I've had a lot of PM's about the price of these wheels, and rather than answer all of them I cut/pasted a post by an IForged dealer on this site. This price is close to what I paid; I have no affiliation with this dealer and know nothing about them. I purchased mine through my local Tuning shop. Just using them as a price reference and I am sure there are other Sponsers that sell iForged Wheels; hopefully I am not breaking any forum rules since they are a Site Sponser.


01-17-2012, 02:32 PM #1 CampioniShop
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CampioniShop x iForged: Concave
Hey guys,

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About iForged Concave wheels

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  • 19" to 22" diameters
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  • Custom finishes available
  • Lead time: 4 to 8 weeks
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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 12:19 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by DigitalKnight
I like those chrome rims! Very sharp.. I thought about doing chrome but to many said things like "getto looking" etc... I had chrome rims on my 3000GT Spyder but they started to peal and then leak air so I had to change them out. I think that is the only down side to chrome is the chance of them pealing, I for one like the look of chrome rims.

I am also a newbie to this whole MB thing.... but at 47 I decided I best get one and try it out before the world ends in December!

So far I like it and it is great to have these forums to help and try and figure all the in's and out's.
Rims are a personal touch and everybody likes different things. I chuckled when you mentioned that some said the chrome wheels looked "Ghetto". I guess it's because I am old school and grew up with 60's muscle cars sporting "Chrome Cragers", when I see a MB with Black or painted rims, I think "Ghetto"!! They are not for me but to each his own!

At 52, I bought my SL65 (and traded my SLK55) last summer and figured, "what the hell, what am I saving it for" I work 6 to 7 days a week and need something to enjoy before I'm too old or dead. And YES, the help I have received from the forums has been tremendous!
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Old Jan 28, 2012 | 10:15 PM
  #14  
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by sl65amg2008
Rims are a personal touch and everybody likes different things. I chuckled when you mentioned that some said the chrome wheels looked "Ghetto". I guess it's because I am old school and grew up with 60's muscle cars sporting "Chrome Cragers", when I see a MB with Black or painted rims, I think "Ghetto"!! They are not for me but to each his own!

At 52, I bought my SL65 (and traded my SLK55) last summer and figured, "what the hell, what am I saving it for" I work 6 to 7 days a week and need something to enjoy before I'm too old or dead. And YES, the help I have received from the forums has been tremendous!
It is funny you mention the the SLK55, that was the first AMG I took for a test drive. It was fast but the ride was a bit stiff for my taste... and I just felt... cramped in the car??? The SL just seems to have that smoother, more spaciest feel, but still the muscle and handling I like.

Cragers! Have not heard that word in a long time! Had some on my 64 Chevelle Malibu SS convertible back in my early years. Now everything is matt-black... even on the bikes... I just don't like it... I will keep the tons of chrome on my HD.

Guess we are just getting old...er...!

Looking forward to the pics of your SL65 with the new rims!

Now tell me about the that V12..... hard to keep from grinning when you step on the peddle???
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 10:03 PM
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excited to see when everything put together!
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 05:33 PM
  #16  
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I just returned from CBTune and they installed my CF Steering Wheel and Shift Knob/Boot today. I think it really pulled the CF interior together. Ivan and DCT Motorsports deserve a big THANK YOU for all of their help.




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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 12:24 AM
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Latest Arrival from SpeeDriven

Got a phone call from Chris down at CBTune.net tonight to let me know the Parts we ordered from Marcin at SpeeDriven had arrived. I had to stop in to take a look and this is what I found. Let the build begin!


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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 01:09 AM
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Tell us more about the wheels.
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 02:41 PM
  #19  
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Progress

Latest Progress pictures sent by CBTune

Last night at Midnight




Later







2:30AM

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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 04:08 PM
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Goddam I love those fatass intercoolers... Feeding the V12 with a Huge load of Fresh Air...

"I feel so Fresh... Freeeeeeesh... like a fish in the sea like an icecream in the teeth"
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 10:35 PM
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Top Side Finished


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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 10:50 PM
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Coming along nicely! Look forward to pics when everything is all in!
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Old Feb 17, 2012 | 12:12 AM
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Are you going to dyno the car? Please post if you do. Would be nice if you could data-log the IATs while on the dyno. I still don't understand having airtakes inside the engine compartment. Seems like any gain from the larger intercoolors could be lost from the hotter air coming in.

Are going to leave the stock heat exchanger in the circuit? I've thought it would be better to remove it entirely. On the (2009) SL65 it is sandwiched between the AC condensor and the radiator. If you are sitting in traffic with the AC on on a hot day the air off of the condenser heat soaks the intercoolor in no time. Turn off the AC and the IATs drop significantly. But who wants to drive around on a hot day with the AC off.
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Old Feb 17, 2012 | 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by falconsprint
Are you going to dyno the car? Please post if you do. Would be nice if you could data-log the IATs while on the dyno. I still don't understand having airtakes inside the engine compartment. Seems like any gain from the larger intercoolors could be lost from the hotter air coming in.

Are going to leave the stock heat exchanger in the circuit? I've thought it would be better to remove it entirely. On the (2009) SL65 it is sandwiched between the AC condensor and the radiator. If you are sitting in traffic with the AC on on a hot day the air off of the condenser heat soaks the intercoolor in no time. Turn off the AC and the IATs drop significantly. But who wants to drive around on a hot day with the AC off.

Yes, as soon as all the mods are complete we will reDyno the car for a before and after comparison. We had 505 HP on the preliminary Dyno run but could not get a torque reading because we couldn't connect to the tac wire. We have hopefully remedied that for the ReDyno.

We are replacing the stock intercooler pump with the same one RennTech uses as their upgrade, although it can be purchased for much less through SpeeDriven(it is an upgrade from the CM30). This pumps output is nearly 3 times the rate of the stock pump. We are also replacing the stock heat exchanger with the SpeeDriven exchanger which will be located in the front stock location which should be getting the first dose of ambient air flow that enters the lower grill area. I don't have the exact dimensions but I would guess it is about 3 times the size of the stock exchanger. Then of course we have the much larger intercoolers to draw the heat off of the intake air.

To answer your concern about the air intakes inside the engine compartment and heat, I would say it is just the lesser of evils. I think the design of the air intakes is more to relieve any air flow restrictions as a first priority. With this new design this engine should be able to gulp air at will and throttle response will be improved. Although in a perfect world it would be better to get air directly from outside the vehicle, this would be at the expense of more plumbing, choke points and restictions in an already tight engine compartment; the air boxes and 90 degree plumbing are all removed. As for the extra heat in the air from the engine compartment, I think it will be insignificant when all the upgraded heat removing parts, ie heat exchanger, IC pump and intercoolers, are taken into account. If there is still an issue then I guess I could add the remote coolant reservoir/ice bath from SpeeDriven.

More pictures to follow as we install the IC Pump and Heat Exchanger.
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Old Mar 1, 2012 | 09:11 PM
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Moving forward: Muffler Delete complete, IForged Wheels and Window Tint complete. A few more tweaks and mods to go.

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