SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Lost to a Viper?
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
Lost to a Viper?
So saw a fancy green viper rolling down the road yesterday, was an older guy, (I'm 32), car wasn't the new weird looking viper..probably an 11 or so..... so i roll up on him, and we giver a go...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 32
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AMG SL55
So saw a fancy green viper rolling down the road yesterday, was an older guy, (I'm 32), car wasn't the new weird looking viper..probably an 11 or so..... so i roll up on him, and we giver a go...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
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2004 SL55
You're surprised by this?
Vipers, especially later models, are some seriously fast cars. They're built for ***** out performance. SL's are altogether different...a highway cruiser thats a fantastic blend of quality, comfort, ride, AND performance. Oh and the top goes down too. Be glad that you seem to have kept it respectable in a MUCH older vehicle against a such a machine. And take comfort in the fact after your beating you were at least able to ride home with the top down in comfort and without sweaty feet (Viper interiors are notoriously loud and hot).
Vipers, especially later models, are some seriously fast cars. They're built for ***** out performance. SL's are altogether different...a highway cruiser thats a fantastic blend of quality, comfort, ride, AND performance. Oh and the top goes down too. Be glad that you seem to have kept it respectable in a MUCH older vehicle against a such a machine. And take comfort in the fact after your beating you were at least able to ride home with the top down in comfort and without sweaty feet (Viper interiors are notoriously loud and hot).
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really?
you know a viper is one the best handling cars - right?
the 2009-2011 acr was for a while the stock car record holder for the ring.
to the op- a late model viper will trap 125-130 in the 1/4. only highly tuned r230 cars will trap 130.
you know a viper is one the best handling cars - right?
the 2009-2011 acr was for a while the stock car record holder for the ring.
to the op- a late model viper will trap 125-130 in the 1/4. only highly tuned r230 cars will trap 130.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Naples FL
2021 Porsche TTS
A tune with pulleys will work wonders. Go look in the E55 forum and plenty of data to make your SL faster.
Bob is right that a Viper is no joke. Even stock it is one of the fastest car out there.
Bob is right that a Viper is no joke. Even stock it is one of the fastest car out there.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
Ok, so was talking to some Co Workers today...Apparently this fellow had recently sold a trucking company for mid $50's million, and the car is some King Snake or some such "special edition" viper....Either way, I still want to go faster!~!
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From: Edmonton alberta, canada.
Porsche 991 GT3, 2012 cls63 Kleemann K3
So saw a fancy green viper rolling down the road yesterday, was an older guy, (I'm 32), car wasn't the new weird looking viper..probably an 11 or so..... so i roll up on him, and we giver a go...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
first i was interested thinking you had the new sl63. then you may have hoped to have a chance.
but then i saw your sig... sweet god man, youre lucky it was only a few cars he beat you by! you're down prob 130 hp and up what 7-800 lbs in weight??
id guess though, the new sl63 would give that viper a good go
?
and with a simple tune, it would leave the viper, me thinks.
but... thats not what you have.
Last edited by mainly; Aug 11, 2013 at 11:57 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
I'm in Northern Alberta, Canada.
Well, had a go with a different Viper today!! Was pretty new looking, had dealer plates, and was a dark wine red, convertible....was pretty close...he pulled at first, I pulled back in third, he pulled ahead again and we shut it down...better than the green one for sure!!!!!
Well, had a go with a different Viper today!! Was pretty new looking, had dealer plates, and was a dark wine red, convertible....was pretty close...he pulled at first, I pulled back in third, he pulled ahead again and we shut it down...better than the green one for sure!!!!!
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
It's a little oilfield city, about 65,000 people, full of lifted trucks, and 'high end middle class' rides.
I bought my Escalade EXT, thinking there wouldn't be many. I was wrong.
Decided that an SVT Raptor would be better, picked one of them up...I can't drive across town now without seeing 2 of them.
Corvettes outnumber the mustangs, and some guy bought his wife AND high school kid Maseratis.
There's a couple Ford GT's that make regular laps, and it seems every kid has a rice burning RHD Supra, or Skyline.
It seems the only 'rare' stuff up here, are Porsches (unless you count the ****ty boxster) Lambo's and ferarris.
I got lucky, there's only 2 R230 bodied cars in town, one is Silver, like mine, and a black one.
I think "Sound 8" you forget to realize the amount of money that basically pours forth from the ground up here, once you drill it and frac it, and the billions that is spent getting to it, disposing of waste, the equipment needed...A Viper, IS a common car around here, as well as any of the SRT branded vehicles, as any old rig hand can walk into one of the dodge dealers, show his six figure/year paychecks, and finance one.
found it. it's only an 08, and it's at a dealer.
http://grandeprairie.kijiji.ca/c-car...AdIdZ512223833
I bought my Escalade EXT, thinking there wouldn't be many. I was wrong.
Decided that an SVT Raptor would be better, picked one of them up...I can't drive across town now without seeing 2 of them.
Corvettes outnumber the mustangs, and some guy bought his wife AND high school kid Maseratis.
There's a couple Ford GT's that make regular laps, and it seems every kid has a rice burning RHD Supra, or Skyline.
It seems the only 'rare' stuff up here, are Porsches (unless you count the ****ty boxster) Lambo's and ferarris.
I got lucky, there's only 2 R230 bodied cars in town, one is Silver, like mine, and a black one.
I think "Sound 8" you forget to realize the amount of money that basically pours forth from the ground up here, once you drill it and frac it, and the billions that is spent getting to it, disposing of waste, the equipment needed...A Viper, IS a common car around here, as well as any of the SRT branded vehicles, as any old rig hand can walk into one of the dodge dealers, show his six figure/year paychecks, and finance one.
found it. it's only an 08, and it's at a dealer.
http://grandeprairie.kijiji.ca/c-car...AdIdZ512223833
Last edited by PS94; Aug 17, 2013 at 03:26 PM. Reason: Kijiji ad found for the viper #2
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From: San Diego
E55
I beat a 2010 viper, the one with 500hp from a dig to about 110-120. Pulled him by a fender in the top end.
Well if you just hit the throttle I can see why you lost that bad. Next time drop down to 2nd gear and just go WOT and the car do the shifting. I guarantee you will see much better results.
A roll race usually means the guy in the viper is down on his lowest gear already. So, if you have an automatic the kickdown time will cost you the race against a car like that.
GL and happy hunting.
Well if you just hit the throttle I can see why you lost that bad. Next time drop down to 2nd gear and just go WOT and the car do the shifting. I guarantee you will see much better results.
A roll race usually means the guy in the viper is down on his lowest gear already. So, if you have an automatic the kickdown time will cost you the race against a car like that.
GL and happy hunting.
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2004 SL55
I beat a 2010 viper, the one with 500hp from a dig to about 110-120. Pulled him by a fender in the top end.
Well if you just hit the throttle I can see why you lost that bad. Next time drop down to 2nd gear and just go WOT and the car do the shifting. I guarantee you will see much better results.
A roll race usually means the guy in the viper is down on his lowest gear already. So, if you have an automatic the kickdown time will cost you the race against a car like that.
GL and happy hunting.
Well if you just hit the throttle I can see why you lost that bad. Next time drop down to 2nd gear and just go WOT and the car do the shifting. I guarantee you will see much better results.
A roll race usually means the guy in the viper is down on his lowest gear already. So, if you have an automatic the kickdown time will cost you the race against a car like that.
GL and happy hunting.
Example:
Last year my wife is in the car and traveling between offices when she calls me. As she talking to me at a red light a Corvette pulls up next to her and is looking and revving his engine. As shes talking to me she's laughing and telling me that "this guy in a Corvette wants to race." I beg her not to because I know she's going to get dusted. She doesn't take my advice. Well long story short she says "He's kicking my ***." I was able to determine that it was a C5 by asking her the shape of the tail lights before he got too far away from her. Unless its a Z06 or heavily modified, an SL55 should make quick work of a C5...unless of course the driver is a 40 y/o blonde female who likes the car simply because the top goes down and has no clue how to race. Had that been me, more than likely the results would have been different. Very different. But as it stands right now there is probably a C5 owner from Pittsburgh posting in a Corvette "Kill Story" forum about how he blew away an AMG.
I also had a kid in an Evo in front of me stop about 50 yards after we both made a right onto a 4 lane highway. Didn't get exactly what he was doing and even so he didn't even allow me to get next to him before he took off with a puff of black smoke from his exhaust. Again, Im sure he's posting about his "kill" in a Mitsu forum somewhere.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
Yeah, The first viper; I was in full auto mode, and it's like a pre-flight checklist to get this car into 'race' mode....Lower the car, click the w/s switch 2x, hit ABC Sport...the second car I had some time to go into paddle shift (though the car kept trying to go into 3rd when I was waiting for the road to open up) and keep the rev's up and the screws spinning....
Boblib - What's done to your Car to get that low 12?
Boblib - What's done to your Car to get that low 12?
Last edited by PS94; Aug 23, 2013 at 07:05 PM. Reason: BobLib ET?
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2004 SL55
Yeah, The first viper; I was in full auto mode, and it's like a pre-flight checklist to get this car into 'race' mode....Lower the car, click the w/s switch 2x, hit ABC Sport...the second car I had some time to go into paddle shift (though the car kept trying to go into 3rd when I was waiting for the road to open up) and keep the rev's up and the screws spinning....
Boblib - What's done to your Car to get that low 12?
Boblib - What's done to your Car to get that low 12?
Thats it.
Heat tires a little, run in manual mode, fully lowered, launch at 1000 rpm, shift at 6K. Consistently get high 1.7 to low 1.8 60 ft times. Good track prep helps. Not a fan of that track, but Ive been told by people who know that its actually a pretty good track.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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2005 E55
Viper guy here with a SL55. The Viper you met up with is a 08-10 GenIV with 600 HP. Capable of low 11s and some even lower in the right conditions. Traps high 120s low 130s depending on Driver and conditions. A roll on race from 50 to 110 has the Viper ahead by a car length or two against a SL55.
Both cars are torque monsters but the Viper is in another league. Any yes the Viper can turn.... The Ring record is proof....
My car is make 613 to the wheels normally aspirated. Love the car...
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Both cars are torque monsters but the Viper is in another league. Any yes the Viper can turn.... The Ring record is proof....
My car is make 613 to the wheels normally aspirated. Love the car...
[IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
So saw a fancy green viper rolling down the road yesterday, was an older guy, (I'm 32), car wasn't the new weird looking viper..probably an 11 or so..... so i roll up on him, and we giver a go...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
He pulled HARD. we were doing 100km/h(60mph) and we went to about 140. he had a few cars on me in no time....is this normal?! anyone else race a viper?
What are some cheap (under $500) mods I can do to liven this poor thing up? Coolant split? something else cheap? Make it down shift quicker?
It's wakeboarding season so all my $$ is fuelling the Tow pig (SVT Raptor 6.2L) and the ski boat...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
Ingenerie,
what do you have in mind? I am looking at some upgrades, I was told it had an upgraded s/c pulley, but the lack luster performance has me wondering....
what do you have in mind? I am looking at some upgrades, I was told it had an upgraded s/c pulley, but the lack luster performance has me wondering....
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Viper = Polite Nod
A viper always gets the polite and respectful nod from me. They are just so over the top. Lightweight, ridiculous power, close ratio 6-speed, and torque anywhere on the tach.
I sold my 05 E55 to get into my 06 SL65. My 55 had KLEEMANN ECU Tune, Pulley, stainless headers with primary cat delete, and a Renntech 55 Kompressor CF airbox. Oh, and an EVO cooling kit - which was the single best mod on the car. Simply eliminated heat soak issues.
Anyway, that tuned 55 was an absolute beast! Acceleration was near instantaneous and it pulled like a freight train. My buddy who bought the 55 ran a C6 Z06 and 'lost' but made such a gallat showing that the Vette owner gave him huge props. He said he would never have guessed a sedan could hang so close with him at WOT. So, The moral of the story is don't worry when your Gibson Les Paul doesn't sound like a vintage Fender Strat. Very different machines for very different purposes.
I sold my 05 E55 to get into my 06 SL65. My 55 had KLEEMANN ECU Tune, Pulley, stainless headers with primary cat delete, and a Renntech 55 Kompressor CF airbox. Oh, and an EVO cooling kit - which was the single best mod on the car. Simply eliminated heat soak issues.
Anyway, that tuned 55 was an absolute beast! Acceleration was near instantaneous and it pulled like a freight train. My buddy who bought the 55 ran a C6 Z06 and 'lost' but made such a gallat showing that the Vette owner gave him huge props. He said he would never have guessed a sedan could hang so close with him at WOT. So, The moral of the story is don't worry when your Gibson Les Paul doesn't sound like a vintage Fender Strat. Very different machines for very different purposes.
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
P.S. - If your car seems really disappointingly slow with an oversize SC pulley, check you IC pump. That is a NOTORIOUS problem with boosted AMG cars. Have your dealership install the newest '010' Bosch pump and be SURE to bleed the IC circuit. I had an air bubble caught in the SL65 after the pump upgrade and it ran like a V6. Tech re-bled the system, found the air pocket, and re-filled it. Car runs like a beast.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 89
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From: Alberta, Canada
2004 SL55 AMG Kompressor
Wouldn't it be an undersized s/c pulley?
What is stock?
it's no slouch by any means, but certainly doesn't 'feel' like a 12 second car...
How does one bleed the intercooler? how do you check the effectiveness of the pump, and lastly, is there a write up for the SL to split the cooling?
What is stock?
it's no slouch by any means, but certainly doesn't 'feel' like a 12 second car...
How does one bleed the intercooler? how do you check the effectiveness of the pump, and lastly, is there a write up for the SL to split the cooling?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 14
2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Kompressor cars use a larger diameter pulley on the crank rather than a smaller one on the sc snout. MB certified tech can check your sc pump and bleed/fill the ic circuit. The EVO cooling kit has a larger heat exchanger, upgraded pump, and splits the ic from the main coolant circuit.
