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I am interested in adding an additional heat exchanger to my SL55 since I will be running a 77mm clutched pulley.
I thought it would be nice to put together a complete list of all the upgraded heat exchanger options. Also, the modifications that are necessary to get them to fit since no one offers a 100% plug/play or direct fit for the SL.
If you have one of these heat exchangers installed on your SL55, please chime in. Include your over satisfaction level and any fitment adjustments that were necessary. (relocating hoses, cutting/welding new tabs, moving oil cooler, trim inside of bumper cover, etc)
Is it best to add one of these in-line with the OEM unit or replace the THE OEM unit? If I'm not mistaken, the original unit is sandwiched in between the A/C radiator and engine radiator.
If I have missed any additional heat exchangers, let me know and I'll add it to the list.
here is a very long thread that while not SL55 specific, has a lot of good info on heat exchangers (including core sizes for a multitude of available options). https://mbworld.org/forums/m275-v12-...ion-pumps.html
My only contribution is that after looking around (a little more than a year ago) I could not find anything Ideal for the sl55 application so I installed an e55 PLM HE which IMO is as big as you can fit in the space we have (while properly remounting the oil-cooler)
Nice install!
Where did you relocate the oil cooler, just further back and up?
Did you fab up your own oil cooler lines from the cooler to the existing inline connections? If so do you remember the connection sizes?
I need to do the same on my sl, I replaced my oil cooler over the summer but should have thought ahead and measured the fittings on the old one before tossing it
I came across this heat exchanger from ZZP Performance.
It looks like this could just be bolted onto the crash bar with the two supplied tabs that are already in place at the end of the HE? Very similar to the C&R that JohnH has pictured above? May be possible to leave the other stock coolers in their original locations?
Would love to hear some thoughts on this one.
Overall measurements of 32.5x6.5x2.25
Core measurements of 28x6.5x2.25
2 row, dual pass
Maximum cooling, minimum weight, fully tig welded and pressure tested
2 stainless bolts and nuts
Includes 2 fittings and 4 hose clamps
49" of 3/4" hose
6.4 pounds
1.8 liters of capacity
4000 sq. in. of fin area
Last edited by B Feelgood; Feb 11, 2016 at 09:22 PM.
IIRC I lowered mine a little to center the opening in the front bumper cover for max airflow ,and in doing so I had to relocate oil cooler to max that airflow coming through the HE ,I'll have to look it's been awhile but I believe that's why I moved oil cooler,
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
Originally Posted by B Feelgood
I came across this heat exchanger from ZZP Performance.
It looks like this could just be bolted onto the crash bar with the two supplied tabs that are already in place at the end of the HE? Very similar to the C&R that JohnH has pictured above? May be possible to leave the other stock coolers in their original locations?
Would love to hear some thoughts on this one.
Overall measurements of 32.5x6.5x2.25
Core measurements of 28x6.5x2.25
2 row, dual pass
Maximum cooling, minimum weight, fully tig welded and pressure tested
2 stainless bolts and nuts
Includes 2 fittings and 4 hose clamps
49" of 3/4" hose
6.4 pounds
1.8 liters of capacity
4000 sq. in. of fin area
I bought this for my SL55, but haven't had time to try and install it yet. If (when?) I do, I'll let you know how it goes.
'05 SL 55 Black/Black w/mods from Eurocharged/Kleemann/BuckheadImports
Mine is from Eurocharged
My upgraded HE is from Eurocharged, bought it from Jerry....its in line with the stock one...the shop that installed it said its better to have both instead of just a replacement...works great...even in very high summer heat with high humidity the temp needle doesn't get high...even in bumper to bumper 5 o'clock traffic....I also have the Johnson CM30 intercooler pump with water wetter added and phenolic spacers.....
My upgraded HE is from Eurocharged, bought it from Jerry....its in line with the stock one...the shop that installed it said its better to have both instead of just a replacement...works great...even in very high summer heat with high humidity the temp needle doesn't get high...even in bumper to bumper 5 o'clock traffic....I also have the Johnson CM30 intercooler pump with water wetter added and phenolic spacers.....
Did you also do split cooling? If so, your temp guage isnt telling you much about air temps, just block coolant temps...
Phenolic spacers sound great, does anyone have data demonstrating measured results?
As far as the list of available HE, i think it should also specify which are single vs dual pass, and what level of effort is expected to install in an sl55 (most info available seems related to e55, thanks for your writeup chris!)
Last edited by m-svt-amg; Feb 14, 2016 at 03:46 PM.
Any update on sl55 specific fitment? Really interested in comparing ftp with zzp.
Do they have an option not to paint the letters on the exchanger? I would prefer not to have the officer pulling me over think im saying "f the police" on the front of my car...
Edit: does the PLM have the same specs as zzp, with specific mountings for the oil cooler?
Last edited by m-svt-amg; Feb 28, 2016 at 12:23 AM.
IIRC I lowered mine a little to center the opening in the front bumper cover for max airflow ,and in doing so I had to relocate oil cooler to max that airflow coming through the HE ,I'll have to look it's been awhile but I believe that's why I moved oil cooler,
Did you run new lines to the cooler (to the inline connections I would assume) or just modify/bend the stock ones?
I received the HE on Saturday but didn't get to install it this weekend due to the holiday. It will be done before the end of this week, hopefully Wednesday or Thursday.
First impression is pretty good considering the price!
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Mine is from Eurocharged
