SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL65 Heat Exchanger Recommendations?
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Joined: Jul 2003
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
SL65 Heat Exchanger Recommendations?
Anyone have any recommendations for an upgraded Heat Exchanger for the SL65? I really love my car, but the 15* difference in ambient temps between 75* and 90* equals about a 150 hp loss with this car. Currently running the '010' Bosch pump (which was WAAYYY better than the Johnson CM30) and the factory HE.
Back when I was running my E55, I had the EVOSPORT cooling kit and the quality and fitment was absolutely top notch. My SA said the install was damn near factory, everything fit so well.
I have seen the Eurocharged HE and it looks really nice. BUT - last year sometime I inquired about this piece and they told me that it would fit the 65 series 'with some fabrication.' In other words, the HE fit the space in the bumper just fine, but they had not finished cobbling up the specific brackets and fittings for a seamless 'all in one box' kind of install. I have sent a couple of e-mails inquiring as to whether or not they have fleshed out this kit yet, but no response.
Has anyone installed a Eurocharged HE of these in their SL65? Any thoughts or ideas to facilitate installation?
I know Renntech offers a full cooling kit with every nut and bolt, but holy smokes, $3-4K seems like a ton of dough for a heat exchanger ($500?) a pump ($300?) and a few fittings. If the Eurocharged HE will install without undue headache, that is the route I am going.
Oh, and I am going with the Dedenbear WP3, too.
Back when I was running my E55, I had the EVOSPORT cooling kit and the quality and fitment was absolutely top notch. My SA said the install was damn near factory, everything fit so well.
I have seen the Eurocharged HE and it looks really nice. BUT - last year sometime I inquired about this piece and they told me that it would fit the 65 series 'with some fabrication.' In other words, the HE fit the space in the bumper just fine, but they had not finished cobbling up the specific brackets and fittings for a seamless 'all in one box' kind of install. I have sent a couple of e-mails inquiring as to whether or not they have fleshed out this kit yet, but no response.
Has anyone installed a Eurocharged HE of these in their SL65? Any thoughts or ideas to facilitate installation?
I know Renntech offers a full cooling kit with every nut and bolt, but holy smokes, $3-4K seems like a ton of dough for a heat exchanger ($500?) a pump ($300?) and a few fittings. If the Eurocharged HE will install without undue headache, that is the route I am going.
Oh, and I am going with the Dedenbear WP3, too.
Thread Starter
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
Wow. 132 views. Not one reply. You mean to tell me that NOBODY has any first hand experience fitting a larger HE into their SL65?
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Hi, fitting a larger cooler would be my next job, Thericker might know
about this. I don't think you need them only in hot conditions, then it's
cruise with the top down time, not blowing away the opposition.
about this. I don't think you need them only in hot conditions, then it's
cruise with the top down time, not blowing away the opposition.
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06 SL65AMG, 13 Tesla Model S 60kwh, 02 Jaguar S-Type 3.0, 12 S550 4 Matic, 07 E320 Bluetec, 06 LX470
So here's my experience I went through 4 heat exchangers in about a year, First I had 2 SL65 HE from Eurocharged, first one held up about 4 months then there was a crack in the welds. Then I got a replacement from EC about same size, that one held up for 2 1/2 months same deal crack in the welds, Then I had an E55 Heat Exchanger put on and in a month that one cracked too. All three that had cracks were using the Johnson CM30 pump so I'm thinking maybe they pressure cracked and the welds were good enough?
So finally I got my 4th one with a Bosch 010 pump, I got this HE from another vendor I forgot who since djrabbi ordered it for me, but the welds looked much thicker and higher quality job only thing was the tabs were kinda small. So far 5 months no issues, idk if its because of the different HE or the different pump or both but I'm glad I'm not seeing puddles of coolant when I park and keep gallons of coolant/water with me. That was getting old real fast.
So finally I got my 4th one with a Bosch 010 pump, I got this HE from another vendor I forgot who since djrabbi ordered it for me, but the welds looked much thicker and higher quality job only thing was the tabs were kinda small. So far 5 months no issues, idk if its because of the different HE or the different pump or both but I'm glad I'm not seeing puddles of coolant when I park and keep gallons of coolant/water with me. That was getting old real fast.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Malibu, Ca
SL65, 427 COBRA (CSX-3127)73 911S, 246GTS (DINO SPYDER), CORNICHE,1962 PORSCHE TWIN GRILLE ROADSTER+
I installed the larger Condenser from a S65. Works great.
Do your research.
I first tried the Renntech second condenser design. Which is just adding an identical SL65 (20x4x3 inch) condenser using their custom brackets, hoses that they sell for $4,400. The original SL65 system is nothing more then a heater core from an earlier model MB. I bought the condenser from MB for $165 and the brackets and hoses from Renntech for $260. Saved $4,000
But a condenser is a condenser and AMG used that design so adding a second one should give you twice the cooling? Was not impressed worked better but still Heat soaked very quickly...
Then I tried using the AC condenser from an S Class. They are about 24x18x1 inch giving much more surface area and better air flow. It was a very simple bolt on and it sits out front of the radiators and only required grinding off one small bracket.
After I tried this several others also discovered that this works.
Getting the all of air out of the system was a total Pain in the *** though.
This works much better then the other system, but still heat soaks but it recovers much faster.
I first tried the Renntech second condenser design. Which is just adding an identical SL65 (20x4x3 inch) condenser using their custom brackets, hoses that they sell for $4,400. The original SL65 system is nothing more then a heater core from an earlier model MB. I bought the condenser from MB for $165 and the brackets and hoses from Renntech for $260. Saved $4,000
But a condenser is a condenser and AMG used that design so adding a second one should give you twice the cooling? Was not impressed worked better but still Heat soaked very quickly...
Then I tried using the AC condenser from an S Class. They are about 24x18x1 inch giving much more surface area and better air flow. It was a very simple bolt on and it sits out front of the radiators and only required grinding off one small bracket.
After I tried this several others also discovered that this works.
Getting the all of air out of the system was a total Pain in the *** though.
This works much better then the other system, but still heat soaks but it recovers much faster.
Last edited by EXECMALIBU; Jul 17, 2014 at 12:34 AM.
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
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Wow - after the horror story of leaking aftermarket HEs, I decided to start simple. I already have the Bosch '010' pump and we already discovered one air pocket immediately after installation. I don't think it has any air pockets. But I did have my tech drop the triggering temp for the fan back 10* AND we wired the IC pump to run any time the car is running - we essentially bypassed the ECU temp relay. That way, the car doesn't get God's hot before the ECU starts running the IC pump and tells the fans to step it up.
The car is such a beast at any ambient temp below 80* (even 85*) that I probably need to just accept that she isn't at full jimmy for the 60 hottest days of the year here in the mid-west.
The car is such a beast at any ambient temp below 80* (even 85*) that I probably need to just accept that she isn't at full jimmy for the 60 hottest days of the year here in the mid-west.
