AMS Performance

Hello E55 owners,

Here is a dyno of the AMS 5.5L V8 headers. Only difference between before & after are the headers (no software changes or etc) and the gains were achieved on stock ECU as well (which easily adapted to the headers). These results are with stock primary cats and high flow secondary cats (both cats still in place, no deleted cats). In addition, Stock Resonator & stock muffler are still in place as well. The other baseline modification is K&N filters (not that it matters, they don't really do anything). As you can see the stock manifolds are extremely restrictive and choke off the engines ability to really breathe well (especially at low rpms). The gains below 3800 are more but unfortunately due to these older 00-02 55AMG transmissions and no true dyno mode its difficult to measure below these levels.

The maximum gains were 23.3HP & 25TQ @ the rear wheels (roughly 30HP & 32TQ at crank).



(Before & after done in identical weather conditions, at the same time of the day, same humidity, and same exact DD dyno for highest level of accuracy).

Thanks
~AMS~

saintz

Wow. Are these in 4th gear? W210 E55 or W208 CLK?

AMS Performance

all dynos are done in 3rd gear, 208. Results will be the same (if not more) with w210 E55 since it has more power.

suicidal4life

Nice gains Looks like a gain of almost 9%. Kleemann has stated 7-10% on NA with their headers. I'm still amazed that such a simple looking log style header design can pick up these same gains. Shows how bad the stock MB design really is.

Aren't the stock 208 exhaust manifolds a worse design then the 210? Would the 210's really gain as much HP?

Edit:

Quick question. It appears the grid on your chart is set in increments of 8. Why 8?

armaniE55

Very Nice, Indeed.... Good ? I just noticed that myself why increments of 8

AMS Performance

Hello Suicidal,

There is a reason we chose our specific design for a reason. The key to making good power on these motors is creating a free flowing header that has high gas velocity while still maintaining relatively high back pressure to maximize low end torque. Also, by keeping the primary cat in place you ensure that back pressure will never drop too low to the point where you start killing off low end torque. Most of the gains believe it or not are below 3000 rpm and aren't even on the chart but you just can't dyno it on these cars.

Furthermore, the real restriction on these cars is not the downtube its the primaries themselves. The stock primaries on the stock headers are 1.4" which are smaller than the stock head ports which are 1.5". Ours are 1.75" OD (1.675" ID, like most of the other headers out there). In addition, our primaries merge smoothly to the down tube with a special grafting design which no other manuf uses. It is much better than the 90 degree perpendicular joint that other headers on the market have (a big no no). That is where most of the power is lost directly at the ports themselves, Short vs. long tube they are almost the same, especially when you consider that a large portion of the gains from long tubes aren't from the individual runners, but are from the deletion of one of the set of cats. By doing shorties + high flow 2nd cats, you are essentially doing the same thing, except in a street legal manner that won't cause CEL to go off, there by saving a lot of headaches & hassles. Shorties are reversible too should you ever sell the car, long tubes are not b/c you have to weld them in place.

Most of the M113 manifolds are identical except for the angle of the exit flange, that is where they differ. The 208s wrap around the steering box too but are essentially of the same design.

As a result, you can run shorty headers, with high flow 2nd cats and get almost the same numbers for a fraction of the cost/headache/hassle. It really is the best of both worlds, plus our headers have a very unique refined sound to them.

That is just the way the graph was scaled given the mix/max range that was set, honestly I didn't even notice until you mentioned it. Next time I will set to a different amount if desired.

Hope that helps.

armaniE55

Hmmm Very impressive......

suicidal4life

I'll keep my Kleemann headers with metal'cat 200 cell secondaries However I'll admit your dyno #'s look like a pretty good option for anyone considering headers. As you mentioned its certainly less hassle then going the Kleemann "long" tube route.

I just thought a good round # like 5 or 10 makes it easier to see what is going on.

AMS Performance

If you already have long tubes then obviously keep them. Now, if you start getting into extreme HP levels (highly modded supercharged car) then yes it makes sense to go the long tube route, but for the 5.5L Naturally aspirated engines, the shorties offer really convenient potent gains for a relatively low cost.

In addition, you get $100 off the header if you buy our Stage 2 Performance Package (Headers & Pulley), so it becomes an even better deal.

For the longest time, it was a false cliche in the Mercedes community to assume that the only way to make power on these cars was to go with a aftermarket supercharger. At AMS we strive to prove all those people wrong, you CAN make big power NA, you just have to know how to unleash the engines natural potential. With headers, pulley, cats, software, and a few other minor mods you can pickup 50+ crank HP (which is no small amount of power) for a total cost of around roughly $2500 in parts.

Well noted on 5-10HP, that adjustment will be made in the future.

~AMS~

LeeRod80

GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

AMS Performance

Sorry Lee, I know you hate me

Temptation is a B****

LeeRod80

BRO! You know how bad I want them! I'll be moving to a new place with my lady in a month, and need to NOT touch my funds. She'll kill me, if I don't have money for the move! lmao!!

I'll get them soon enough! I want to be the first AMS W210 Shorty headers Dyno on here!

Great gains!

wawy

That is impressive. What would account for the SLK55 with the AMS headers not fairing as well?

AMS Performance

A'La F1 even awknowledge it wasn't a fair test because the before dyno was done in low humidity 72F weather and the after dyno was done in a heat spell in LA at 92F with high humidity so that took out a lot of the gains, which is understandable.

What is important about his test was the confirmation of the significant torque gains below 3000rpm, which can only be performed on newer AMGs with a true "Dyno Mode" feature. Even in part throttle driving the torque is significantly improved and it makes the car much more fun to drive in higher gears at lower rpms between 2000-3000rpm. The transmission shift points are also changed and it is also less likely to downshift because it senses there is enough torque even at such low rpms, so the power is much more usable. The throttle is a lot less like an on/off switch and it really allows you to use the rpms much like a manual transmission car.

Again, I must admit you do give up some high rpm gains with the shorties (you can see 5500rpm+ it does start to taper off some, albeit with still good gains), but in return you get much better low end torque & engine response. In my opinion, it is that more usable low end torque that matters for daily use and makes the car a blast to drive even as low rpms. IMHO, It is a sacrifice worth making for a better overall usable powerband.

~AMS~

wawy

I have to agree that for day to day driving better low end torque & engine response are very desirable...

AMS Performance

Hehe,

No worries Lee, I'll put a set aside specifically for you. Whenever you are ready.

work464646

I would like to get the heasers. Does anyone know of a shop in brooklyn, NY that can install them.

I do not trust my regular mechanic to do this job.

Thanky you.

AMS Performance

Any certified Mercedes specialist mechanic should be able to do the install. It is a 100% bolt on header so there is nothing special about it (no different than installing a stock manifold). Just find a Mercedes specialist shop and go there (or the dealership as well). Hope that helps.

~AMS~

nsupra

What is the reason that at 5500 + Rpm's the power tapers off compared to the stock headers?

AMS Performance

It tapers off compared to long tubes, not necessarily compared to stock headers. There are three factors. First, The stock 208 software is purposely detuned to flatten out exactly at peak HP & TQ where as on the W210 where AMG let the engine follow its natural power curve so it only appears as if its doing that but in reality its not. Once you get upgraded software it won't do that anymore.

Also, shorties eventually start to max out on flow in the mid 400s compared to long tubes so you do start to run out of air alittle bit but at that point its honestly irrelevant.

Lastly, once you start getting into the much higher NA HP levels, the throttle body becomes more and more of a bottle neck. At stock power levels its not a bottle neck at all, but eventually as you start getting higher and higher the throttle body (and the intake system in general) do start to hinder performance 5000rpm+. Again this is why I always recommend to do big bore throttle bodies absolutely last (if at all), its usually the very last bottle neck that needs to be addressed and very few people even get to the level of modifications where it becomes necessary.

Next up Stage 3+ software dyno, results should be interesting. 400HP 430TQ+ should be relatively easy on an NA 5.5L AMG motor, after all that's "only" 72HP/L. 420hp/450tq+ would be a great target goal for any NA motor and honestly its not nearly as hard to achieve as people make it out to be.

Also, there is one more "secret" modification that will be dyno tested soon which I think you guys will like particularly and it will help free up some more high end HP. Dyno comparison for that upgrade will be done to finally quantify just how much power it makes. Consider it a gift to the AMG community.

Always in the quest for more power
~AMS~

AMS Performance

Hello E55 owners,

AMS would like to get show of hands as to how many W210 E55 owners may be interested in a Header group buy. Depending on how many are interested the price savings will be greater. If interested simply respond in this thread "interested" and you will be added to the list. Thanks, have a nice day.

~AMS~

LeeRod80

MOTHER EFFIN INTERESTED!! In case you were wondering...

LOL!

bnzuovr

i can back omeys headers and pulley i only got to drive my car for a bout a week before i totalled her but i will say over the week i did drive it and took it on the highway and off the light driving even before the ecu adapted to the headers and pully the car was pulling really good i could feel the power low end and top end if ur looking for good quality,good performance and a good person to buy them from omey would be a good place to start i thought it wold be the route to go with kleemen or rentech but this is a much cheaper solution and just as good for our N.A cars good luck and enjoy who ever is SMART enough to purrchase this deal.

LeeRod80

Nice! About how much did it cost you to install?

CTE55AMG

I may be interested in the pully..