Headers - E-Bay - Top Speed Auto, TX 2013-08
08-28-2013, 10:41 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Headers - E-Bay - Top Speed Auto, TX 2013-08
I purchased these stainless steel headers for my 2002 E55 from E-Bay August 23, 2013. The seller was: Top Speed Auto from Addison, TX (E-Bay seller: topspeed-pro1-performance) $449.99 with free shipping. They arrived via FedEx today August 28, 2013.
I thought that I would provide this write up for others to see the quality of this product, and to see what the actual performance gains that can be measured with this modification.
My Car is unmodified with 98,000 miles. Earlier this year, I did some maintenance which included new spark plugs and a new MAF. It still has the stock exhaust system.
I will be examining my car on a chassis dyno in it's stock, unmodified form before I remove the exhaust manifolds. After I install the headers, I will allow the ECU to adapt, and then re-examine my car on the same dyno and hopefully the same atmospheric conditions.
I thought that I would provide this write up for others to see the quality of this product, and to see what the actual performance gains that can be measured with this modification.
My Car is unmodified with 98,000 miles. Earlier this year, I did some maintenance which included new spark plugs and a new MAF. It still has the stock exhaust system.
I will be examining my car on a chassis dyno in it's stock, unmodified form before I remove the exhaust manifolds. After I install the headers, I will allow the ECU to adapt, and then re-examine my car on the same dyno and hopefully the same atmospheric conditions.
08-28-2013, 10:44 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Driver's side
1
The tubes were stainless steel (must be 300 series because the magnet did not attach) and the flange and collector were steel. You can see the flange thickness. Here are pictures of the thinnest and thickest sections. Yes, I already suspect that the flange will need milling, or sanding to be level.
1
The tubes were stainless steel (must be 300 series because the magnet did not attach) and the flange and collector were steel. You can see the flange thickness. Here are pictures of the thinnest and thickest sections. Yes, I already suspect that the flange will need milling, or sanding to be level.
Last edited by cudaized; 08-28-2013 at 11:07 PM.
08-28-2013, 10:47 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Driver's side
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Collector came with studs and nuts. The welds look nice.
3
Collector came with studs and nuts. The welds look nice.
Last edited by cudaized; 08-28-2013 at 11:51 PM.
08-28-2013, 10:49 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Driver's side
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As I suspected early on, the flange is not level. Probably due to the welding process. It is not that bad, but I will either mill them on a CNC machine, or sand them flat on a belt sander.
4
As I suspected early on, the flange is not level. Probably due to the welding process. It is not that bad, but I will either mill them on a CNC machine, or sand them flat on a belt sander.
Last edited by cudaized; 08-28-2013 at 11:11 PM.
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08-28-2013, 10:57 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Passenger's side
2
It looks like the tubes are 0.040 thousands thickness.
2
It looks like the tubes are 0.040 thousands thickness.
Last edited by cudaized; 08-28-2013 at 11:12 PM.
08-28-2013, 11:17 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
I will try to find an available dyno tomorrow or Friday.
I made an appointment for one next Thursday, but I don't want to wait a week.
I made an appointment for one next Thursday, but I don't want to wait a week.
08-29-2013, 06:20 AM
#12
Nice start, cudaized! You're either an engineer or have engineering tendencies.
So are you going to machine the flanges?
Looking forward to the before and after dyno runs. In that AMS thread they mention it is difficult (or maybe impossible) to get a truly representative picture on the dyno due to the W210 E55 transmission.
Thanks for posting the details.
ddb
So are you going to machine the flanges?
Looking forward to the before and after dyno runs. In that AMS thread they mention it is difficult (or maybe impossible) to get a truly representative picture on the dyno due to the W210 E55 transmission.
Thanks for posting the details.
ddb
08-29-2013, 10:10 AM
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Good stuff
From the pictures, I don't think you need to mill the flange. A nice belt sanding would do the job. The flanges between opening do not look too far off.
I'm afraid the milling might cut into the tubes attached to the flanges....just my two cents.
The welds look great and the insides look pretty clean.
From the pictures, I don't think you need to mill the flange. A nice belt sanding would do the job. The flanges between opening do not look too far off.
I'm afraid the milling might cut into the tubes attached to the flanges....just my two cents.
The welds look great and the insides look pretty clean.
Last edited by snooozie; 08-29-2013 at 10:14 AM.
08-29-2013, 05:28 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Just leaving from the dyno place now. 
I will post my findings tonight.
I will post my findings tonight.
Last edited by cudaized; 08-29-2013 at 05:30 PM.
08-29-2013, 10:24 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Dyno results
I found a dyno at short notice this afternoon. $80 for two base runs. The guy did 6 runs, but only recorded 4 of them because he forgot about the kick down switch under the accelerator pedal. (At least that is what he said.)
ESP de-selected, manual gear selected in 4th. The picture below has the atmospheric conditions for today. The shops printer wasn't able to print the 4 runs, but I took a picture of the best hp results. I'll get these print outs on the next dyno session.
My car is a 2002 E55 that is completely stock with 98,671 miles. I gave it a tune-up in March 2013 which included new spark plugs and a new MAF and stock MANN air filters.
The owners manual states 355 hp/5500 RPM and 390 ft. lb/3150 RPM.That is measured at the flywheel and most likely without any accessories on the engine.
I measured on a chassis dynamometer and I know that there is a percentage lost through the drive train. The question is, how much loss? I have thought that 15-20% is a normal loss. I hoped for less.
On a hot Miami summer day, my best run was 296.85 hp/5700 RPM and 306.28 ft. lb/3600 RPM. I will confirm when I get the actual paper print out. I'm just guessing from the picture.
Net differences:
296.85/355 = 16.4% hp loss
306.28/390 = 21.5% ft. lb loss
Is it the car? Is it the atmospheric conditions? Is it the dyno? Is it the dyno operator? Or perhaps a combination of all?
Would you be satisfied with these results?
ESP de-selected, manual gear selected in 4th. The picture below has the atmospheric conditions for today. The shops printer wasn't able to print the 4 runs, but I took a picture of the best hp results. I'll get these print outs on the next dyno session.
My car is a 2002 E55 that is completely stock with 98,671 miles. I gave it a tune-up in March 2013 which included new spark plugs and a new MAF and stock MANN air filters.
The owners manual states 355 hp/5500 RPM and 390 ft. lb/3150 RPM.That is measured at the flywheel and most likely without any accessories on the engine.
I measured on a chassis dynamometer and I know that there is a percentage lost through the drive train. The question is, how much loss? I have thought that 15-20% is a normal loss. I hoped for less.
On a hot Miami summer day, my best run was 296.85 hp/5700 RPM and 306.28 ft. lb/3600 RPM. I will confirm when I get the actual paper print out. I'm just guessing from the picture.
Net differences:
296.85/355 = 16.4% hp loss
306.28/390 = 21.5% ft. lb loss
Is it the car? Is it the atmospheric conditions? Is it the dyno? Is it the dyno operator? Or perhaps a combination of all?
Would you be satisfied with these results?
Last edited by cudaized; 08-29-2013 at 10:55 PM.
08-29-2013, 10:29 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Dyno base
2
I'm thinking of going to a different shop and get a second opinion.
Then again, it is just a base line to compare the headers, then exhaust work. I guess I'll decide by Wednesday of next week before I'll install the headers.
*** note *** I will re-run the base dyno test with the ESP completely disabled by unplugging it. (Yeah, I know....)
2
I'm thinking of going to a different shop and get a second opinion.
Then again, it is just a base line to compare the headers, then exhaust work. I guess I'll decide by Wednesday of next week before I'll install the headers.
*** note *** I will re-run the base dyno test with the ESP completely disabled by unplugging it. (Yeah, I know....)
Last edited by cudaized; 08-30-2013 at 12:10 AM.
08-29-2013, 10:47 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
So are you going to machine the flanges?
Looking forward to the before and after dyno runs. In that AMS thread they mention it is difficult (or maybe impossible) to get a truly representative picture on the dyno due to the W210 E55 transmission.
Thanks for posting the details.
ddb
Looking forward to the before and after dyno runs. In that AMS thread they mention it is difficult (or maybe impossible) to get a truly representative picture on the dyno due to the W210 E55 transmission.
Thanks for posting the details.
ddb
I thought the guy was having trouble with the dyno runs. I guess there is some merit to the info in the AMS thread.
From the pictures, I don't think you need to mill the flange. A nice belt sanding would do the job. The flanges between opening do not look too far off.
I'm afraid the milling might cut into the tubes attached to the flanges....just my two cents.
The welds look great and the insides look pretty clean.
I'm afraid the milling might cut into the tubes attached to the flanges....just my two cents.
The welds look great and the insides look pretty clean.
I think they are a great value. I actually think that they look very, very similar to the AMS ones.
Here are some pictures of what was labeled "AMS headers".
Last edited by cudaized; 08-29-2013 at 11:06 PM.
08-29-2013, 11:08 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
Original exhaust manifolds
Here are some reference pictures of the stock exhaust manifolds. I found these on the net.
I will post my findings after I remove my originals.
I will post my findings after I remove my originals.
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08-29-2013, 11:26 PM
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2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
I believe you're supposed to disconnect the ESP stuff under the hood. Just hitting the button doesn't fully disable it. That could cause some problems.
08-29-2013, 11:31 PM
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2002 E55 AMG Obsidian Black with Charcoal
I will have to research that. Do you have any furtherinfo? Perhaps a link?
**Edit** I found the info. ESPfull disabled - link
Silly me....and shame on the tech that ran the dyno. I am going to make him re-run the dyno pulls. He said he knew MB and had done E55 before.....
Last edited by cudaized; 08-30-2013 at 12:13 AM.
08-29-2013, 11:37 PM
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And as far as the the Dyno mode. 210's don't have it. Here you go boss
https://mbworld.org/forums/w210-amg/154818-how-put-e55-amg-w210-dynomode.html
Last edited by 6spd; 08-29-2013 at 11:42 PM.
