SLK/R171: Turbo or Supercharger?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: MIAMI
SLK55 AMG, HYABUSA 1300R
Turbo or Supercharger?
I just got my SLK350 4 months ago and my friend who works at a Car shop told me about putting a turbo but whats better supercharge or turbo?
THANkS
THANkS
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005 SLK350
It's really a matter of opinion and of personal preference. A supercharger will give you a smoother power rolloff throughout the power band, while a turbocharger will give you a bigger top end boost at the expense of slower starts. In other words, a turbo would be sluggish off the line, or more sluggish than it is now anyway, but the turbo booster will kick in around 3500 RPM (give or take) to accellerate away.
Kompressor models are supercharged, while the SL65 and SL55 are turbocharged.
Keep in mind that the seals and cylinder walls of the 350 engine are not designed to handle the extra load, and either charger will reduce engine life, void engine warranty (but they can't take away the other parts of the warranty in the US because of it), and will give you a great deal of additional wear and tear on the car.
I supercharged my VW Jetta VR6, just because it's kind of a track toy and I wouldn't be heartbroken if something happened to it. I've been pleased with the increased output to cost ratio. I wouldn't touch the SLK350, at least until it gets older or gets replaced with something better, but that's just my opinion.
Kompressor models are supercharged, while the SL65 and SL55 are turbocharged.
Keep in mind that the seals and cylinder walls of the 350 engine are not designed to handle the extra load, and either charger will reduce engine life, void engine warranty (but they can't take away the other parts of the warranty in the US because of it), and will give you a great deal of additional wear and tear on the car.
I supercharged my VW Jetta VR6, just because it's kind of a track toy and I wouldn't be heartbroken if something happened to it. I've been pleased with the increased output to cost ratio. I wouldn't touch the SLK350, at least until it gets older or gets replaced with something better, but that's just my opinion.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Hawaii/Conneticut
2005 SLK350
Originally Posted by wil_sutton
It's really a matter of opinion and of personal preference.
Kompressor models are supercharged, while the SL65 and SL55 are turbocharged.
Kompressor models are supercharged, while the SL65 and SL55 are turbocharged.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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SLK55
Originally Posted by SLKAMG17
I just got my SLK350 4 months ago and my friend who works at a Car shop told me about putting a turbo but whats better supercharge or turbo?
THANkS
THANkS
The supercharger uses the power of the engine itself to densify the intake air to provide more power. This taxes the internals of the engine. Lag is present but not as much.
There may not be enough room for all the plumbing and intercooler associated with the turbo. Not to mention the turbo itself.
The supercharger is more self contained.
Since the 350 is a new engine it may be a while for a supercharger kit to come out.
Good luck
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 192
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From: Hawaii/Conneticut
2005 SLK350
for the slk 350
brabus offers:
BRABUS B7 performance kit.. 15 hp / 11 kW extra power.
BRABUS 4.0 increased-capacity engine. 332 hp / 244 kW, 420 Nm.
dont know the details of the brabus tuning, but brabus is not the cheapest solution i would think
kleemann doesnt have a kompressor for the r171 yet
this site:
http://www.r171.info/index-4.html
claims...
"SLK 350 kompressor, to be available soon. Beat all AMG 55 easily with a 0-62 mp/h time of less than 4.2 secs, a top speed beyond 190 mp/h, perfect handling and performance brakes, about 40% more effective than the ones use on the SLK AMG 55! How does that sound?
Experience driving pleasure in a whole new dimension - where accelerating and braking will set standards for the new SLK R171!"
but their "store" only offers chip upgrades so far
brabus offers:
BRABUS B7 performance kit.. 15 hp / 11 kW extra power.
BRABUS 4.0 increased-capacity engine. 332 hp / 244 kW, 420 Nm.
dont know the details of the brabus tuning, but brabus is not the cheapest solution i would think
kleemann doesnt have a kompressor for the r171 yet
this site:
http://www.r171.info/index-4.html
claims...
"SLK 350 kompressor, to be available soon. Beat all AMG 55 easily with a 0-62 mp/h time of less than 4.2 secs, a top speed beyond 190 mp/h, perfect handling and performance brakes, about 40% more effective than the ones use on the SLK AMG 55! How does that sound?
Experience driving pleasure in a whole new dimension - where accelerating and braking will set standards for the new SLK R171!"
but their "store" only offers chip upgrades so far
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 173
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From: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005 SLK350
my mistake on the SL55... I knew that didn't sound right...
and yeah, I'm really looking forward to the Kleeman upgrade... just hate the fact that there's no one within 500 miles who can touch it...
and yeah, I'm really looking forward to the Kleeman upgrade... just hate the fact that there's no one within 500 miles who can touch it...
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Don't forget to factor in the costs of other items. YOu can't just slap on a turbo to that stock motor and expect things will be A-ok. If you really want reliability w/ a turbo upgrade, you might as well rebuild the motor w/ forged parts (connecting rods, lower compression pistons, more aggressive set of camshafts, upgraded valve springs, etc....). Also, don't forget to add the costs for tuning. A properly tuned turbo motor will run as long as you want.
Just make sure you do your homework first before you decide to add any Forced Induction. The SLK55, on the other hand, already has a major upgrade courtesy of Kleemann.
Just make sure you do your homework first before you decide to add any Forced Induction. The SLK55, on the other hand, already has a major upgrade courtesy of Kleemann
.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 192
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From: Hawaii/Conneticut
2005 SLK350
at least you are in the continental US 
i got the SLK to be a car i could fool around with, so i want to put a lot of upgrades on there, but i have no clue how i could get a brabus or kleemann kit in hawaii...
i got the SLK to be a car i could fool around with, so i want to put a lot of upgrades on there, but i have no clue how i could get a brabus or kleemann kit in hawaii...
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BMW Z3 S/C & 99 Mroadster
you DO NOT need to rebuild a motor to run a blower( turbo/Sc) You can actually run low boost about 5 PSI MAX 7 PSI without any software mods. You do this with an RRFPR, its a auxilary fuel pressure regulator. If you are gonna run 9-12 psi you need tuning and software. Now 14+ you need to beef up the car, but your tranny and rearend will ripeout because at 15psi you are going to be easily in the 400+RWHP zone
The 350 has prolly about 230RWHP now depending on the DT loss and thats a high estimate. With 5psi you are looking at 300ish.
The 350 has prolly about 230RWHP now depending on the DT loss and thats a high estimate. With 5psi you are looking at 300ish.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Originally Posted by J10B
you DO NOT need to rebuild a motor to run a blower( turbo/Sc) You can actually run low boost about 5 PSI MAX 7 PSI without any software mods. You do this with an RRFPR, its a auxilary fuel pressure regulator. If you are gonna run 9-12 psi you need tuning and software. Now 14+ you need to beef up the car, but your tranny and rearend will ripeout because at 15psi you are going to be easily in the 400+RWHP zone
The 350 has prolly about 230RWHP now depending on the DT loss and thats a high estimate. With 5psi you are looking at 300ish.
The 350 has prolly about 230RWHP now depending on the DT loss and thats a high estimate. With 5psi you are looking at 300ish.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2002
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BMW Z3 S/C & 99 Mroadster
I disagree but thats a good point you make. However, OBDII is such a ***** that you will have such painful tuning problems anything double digit psi will be such a royal PIA that you will decrease the boost to a more normal setting.
As long as you can keep yourself from getting caught up in the RWHP # war... which you will be fighting alone...
As long as you can keep yourself from getting caught up in the RWHP # war... which you will be fighting alone...
