alroumi

I just got the price of the cf airbox from renntech that adds an estimated 10hp it costs 1995 dollars, is it worth it because I just want some beginner mods on my SLK55, It already has green filters installed

dinko

Cheap(er) Mods:

Evosport Underdrive Pulleys - $400 (est) - about $700 after installation. Good for 10 hp.

Kleemann ECU - $900 - $1000. 10hp/tq, better throttle response, 186mph limit.

Do these two mods and you will love that car even more. Same mods that were done on my SLK.

Dinko

FishtailnZ

2000 bucks for 10 hp!!! Think I'd pass on that one. Now if you want the piece for looks that's one thing, but it's hardly a justifiable performance modification. Just MHO

FishtailnZ

Dinko, did you have those two mods done before or after you ran your 12.7?

dinko

The 12.7 was run completely stock.

FishtailnZ

Cool! Thanks!

SLK55R

these items are all different. None of the ones mentioned can not be done all together.

ECU (renntech vs. Kleemann) Obviously you know who I would pick.
Underdrive Pulley
Carbon Fiber Airbox

My suggestion is to think out carefully how you would like to approach modifying your vehicle. Short term as well as long term. Try to also stick with one tuner for performance ... interms of looks its a lot easier to mix them.

AdamG@NorCal

Renntech S/C the only way to go! And then headers! Right Jesse?

RawAMGpower

The Renntech airbox although pricey is a good upgrade along with the ECU. The headers are another great upgrade they will add probably the most power. The one thing to beware of is the Renntech airbox comes with stock AMG filters, so you will need to buy a set of green filters for it. Check out the pics of the stuff they look pretty cool.

alroumi

Thanks for the pictures

AMG_55

not worth it.

take your airbox apart, grind down all the ribs and you have a renntech box w/o the CF

dsb

I've thought about doing the same. Although, I'm not sure if that makes a difference. I assume you did it. Did you ever do any before/after dynos?

I wonder if 'grinding down all the ribs' actually improves airflow. What is the purpose of the ribs anyways? Is it just to strengthen the unit?

What are your thoughts?

RawAMGpower

Sorry you won't. The renntech box is almost a inch higher then the stock airbox meaning it can hold more air volume which will produce more power.

dsb

I'd like to see some actual data from both the grinded-down OE airbox and the Renntech one... especially the Renntech unit. How much performance do you get from a $1k+ airbox besides the fact that it looks cool?

No slam, just want some real data.

RawAMGpower

I believe all the gains renntech puts on there website are dyno tested. 10hp & 10lb-ft from this airbox and that's without green filters.

SLK55R

I don't believe anyone has actually ground down the ribs. Its just conjecture.
Also the increased air capacity is a real point and the reason for the additional HP.

Shinigami

Just some numbers, not accurate but what I remember seeing them for:

Kleemann SC - about $14-15k, adds roughly 140hp.
Roughly $100 per hp prior to installation (labor may be as high as $5000)

Headers (Kleemann, Renntech etc) - up to $3000 and up to 30hp.
Roughly $100 per hp prior to installation (which may cost anywhere from $200-500 if you shop around)

Greenfilters/K&N's - $150-200, 2-3hp (debatable).
Roughly $100 per hp, installation can be done by yourself (thus free).

Renntech airbox - about $1000-2000 an up to 10hp.
Roughly $100-200 per hp (installation can be done free of charge by yourself I believe).

Kleemann exhaust - I think just under $10k (without headers), but gets you from about 560 to nearly 600hp (and finishes off the biggest Kleemann hp mod possible). It's recommended since it helps the engine breathe more freely. If you don't have the SC, it's not as recommended as the gain is only a few hp (it's the headers that give off most gain in this line).

Other Kleemann bits like valve springs and camshaft - A few thousand bucks, not big gaisn unless you have the SC. Will give you 20-40hp depending on configuration.

I know there's a lot more, but I'm trying to put down some numbers from the back of my head. Do correct me if I got any pricing/HP gains wrong, I know there's some mistakes in here. Also, you really should negotiate a price when calling companies like Kleemann, you'd be surprised, but you can usually get up to 30% off no problem.

Of course, whilst many companies like to publish numbers, take them with a grain of salt. The gains are rarely higher then the numbers published, and more likely lower.

dsb

I recall seeing someone post pictures of this, so it has been done. I probably wouldn't do it, just pointing it out.

At this point, I think the SC is the way to go. Great value.

RawAMGpower

Here is a RENNtech SC SLK55 on ebay right now. Notice how the airbox sits higher with the SC under it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...spagenameZWDVW

RawAMGpower

The thing I can point out is you got the headers wrong. Kleemann are like $3500 and add 20hp and 25lb-ft on a SC car. The RENNtech are $4995 and add 25hp and 25lb-ft on a NA car and 35-40hp and 35-40lb-ft on a SC car.

Shinigami

Actually, Kleemann just published their updated price list, and almost everything is now 20-40% cheaper! You can see these changes on the Kleemann website: http://www.kleemann.dk/site/Main/pricelist

The headers are actually 2560 euros now, and I believe Kleemann had two kinds of headers back then. The older ones were quite wide, with very easy air flow. These were rated for up to 30hp or more, but they required lots of time to install due to space constraints. The new ones are a little smaller, less hp, but doesn't require lifting the entire engine out or something like that (so cheaper to install).

The exhaust price without headers is also only 3900 euros, not over twice as much as I first thought.

AMG_55

unless the the ducts are bigger i dont see how it makes a difference. renntech also painted the stock amg sway bars and sold them as renntech to non amg car owners.



i did grind down the ribs but i put in some k&ns at the same time, it was more responsive and sounds much better (you can hear the intake, especially entering a tunnel at wot), so idunno if it was the kn or the box or both, as for real hp gains


i can tell you that with exhaust and box the car is faster than stock (especially at higher speeds) from the cars ive raced

Shinigami

Actually, on Renntech's price PDF file, it's mentioned 20hp and 25lbf of torque, no mention of it being different on an NA versus an SC version of the car...

But honestly, what difference can one feel between just 5hp here or there...

It's quite obvious that the SC'd version of the car will need better headers to keep exhaust flow out of the engine, as the standard AMG headers are VERY restrictive...

RawAMGpower

Renntech use to say somewhere that there header produce between 35-40hp with their SC. Here is a link to there site that says their headers produce 25hp and 25lb-ft and cost $4595

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/Show_Exh_Head_V8.html

Shinigami

I'm quite sure the benefits are higher when coupled with the SC It's all about the original headers being too darn restrictive...

Makes me want to get some headers and an ecu upgrade so that I can reach 400hp. Just not sure I should do it now, since there's rumors of an SLK 63...

*sigh*

p.s. for sure, if an SLK 63 is announced with over 460hp, I'll get one. If however it's less then 460hp, I'll just keep my current one and upgrade it via headers, ecu, camshafts and springs (maybe also with the full exhaust and lsd). Since legally in Switzerland we can upgrade power by 20% without us having to pay an exorbitant price to "legalize" our cars, I could get up to 72 extra ponies on my car, pumping it up to 432hp, and that's good enough for me.

Maybe later on, I'd do the SC if I just wanted to reach the magic 600hp number, although I'd have to pay $10k for it to be accepted by this darn country...