Is there a Kleeman Installer Close to ATL or Nashville?
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by Mad TKD
I am considering a K1 upgrade(pulley and ecu tune) Who is close to me. I am in Huntsville AL
Thanks
D
Thanks
D
Atlanta Classic Cars is now the official Kleemann installer in Atlanta - call Nash Solanki at 770-279-3686 and tell him I sent ya'.
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I have been looking for the same info. I was told by someone here in Birmingham that HESCO can do the install. I have heard of them and have seen some of their work. They have been in business in Alabama since the 70's. Here is their website I was told to ask for Jeff but I have not called yet. http://www.jeepers.biz/ Let me know if they can.
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From: Atlanta, GA
SLK32
Originally Posted by Beowulf
MBS Motors in Duluth GA used to have the Kleemann concession in Atlanta, but they've gotten out of the hi-po mod business with the departure of Donnie Drummonds, M-B tuner extraordinaire.
Atlanta Classic Cars is now the official Kleemann installer in Atlanta - call Nash Solanki at 770-279-3686 and tell him I sent ya'.
Atlanta Classic Cars is now the official Kleemann installer in Atlanta - call Nash Solanki at 770-279-3686 and tell him I sent ya'.
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Originally Posted by Beowulf
MBS Motors in Duluth GA used to have the Kleemann concession in Atlanta, but they've gotten out of the hi-po mod business with the departure of Donnie Drummonds, M-B tuner extraordinaire.
Atlanta Classic Cars is now the official Kleemann installer in Atlanta - call Nash Solanki at 770-279-3686 and tell him I sent ya'.
Atlanta Classic Cars is now the official Kleemann installer in Atlanta - call Nash Solanki at 770-279-3686 and tell him I sent ya'.
..........MBS motors still do Kleemann installs. They just no longer rely on it as a major souece of business. Call 770 623 8280 and ask for Jeff who has replaced Donnie as the master mechanic. I will seriously advise you toavoid Atlanta Classic cars for after market engine mods. Their CDi mods were actually not done by them rather it was out sourced to Donnie who did it ad MBS motors and sendt the car back to Atlanta classic cars where Atlanta Classic cars took the glory. 2 months ago, they blew up an SL55 engine while doing a boost kit. Atlanta Classic Cars is simply not a performance shop and don't have the experience. Go to MBS motors and ask for Jeff. Jeff did my Kleemann camshaft and throtle body upgrade on my G55.
Ted
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Axel told me less than a week ago that they were no longer doing any Kleemann work and that they had turned all of that over to ACC. That seems very contradictory to your comments. Axel had been holding some green filters for me - said they could no longer do that, either - green filters were also now handled by ACC. Hard to figure they would turn away high dollar business, even if low volume. Something doesn't add up here. 
Last edited by Beowulf; Jan 17, 2006 at 07:28 PM.
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by 430
Damn, where did Donnie go to? I was getting close to having him do some work on my car.
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Originally Posted by Beowulf
Axel told me less than a week ago that they were no longer doing any Kleemann work and that they had turned all of that over to ACC. That seems very contradictory to your comments. Axel had been holding some green filters for me - said they could no longer do that, either - green filters were also now handled by ACC. Hard to figure they would turn away high dollar business, even if low volume. Something doesn't add up here.
......contrary to what customers think, the MB performance business is not a high dollar business for most shops. The margins are much smaller percentage wise than say, doing an oil change or replacing a brake pad. Many performance shops have gone out of business including Bergwerks and Mbautowerks. It is the actual tuners like Kleemann and Renntech that make the big bucks. Many shops now don't highlight that part of their business. This is my understanding of what MBS motors is doing. But if Axell told you something different, well Axel is the boss at MBS motors. But stay way from Atlanta Classic cars for performance mods.
Ted
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by Ted Baldwin
......contrary to what customers think, the MB performance business is not a high dollar business for most shops. The margins are much smaller percentage wise than say, doing an oil change or replacing a brake pad. Many performance shops have gone out of business including Bergwerks and Mbautowerks. It is the actual tuners like Kleemann and Renntech that make the big bucks. Many shops now don't highlight that part of their business. This is my understanding of what MBS motors is doing. But if Axell told you something different, well Axel is the boss at MBS motors. But stay way from Atlanta Classic cars for performance mods.
Ted
Ted
FWIW, in neither case have the results disappointed.
Last edited by Beowulf; Jan 17, 2006 at 08:50 PM.
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Originally Posted by Beowulf
Agreed that high dollar cost does not necessarily equate to high margin. Nor do I have an Axe(l) to grind with either MBS or ACC - I've had work personally performed by Donnie at MBS vs. work personally supervised by Nash (distinction noted) at ACC.
FWIW, in neither case have the results disappointed.
FWIW, in neither case have the results disappointed.
Ted
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From: Gwinnett County, GA
2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by Ted Baldwin
At such a big place, no one mechanic has any significant experience in major engine modification as compared to a performance shop.
Ted
Ted
If Kleemann says ACC is an authorized dealer, does Kleemann hold them to a performance standard or are they just a paid franchisee? With that same Kleemann authorization, should the customer expect any different treatment from ACC than MBS?
That said, my *personal* preference would be to ship the car to Cory at Kleemann USA in Colorado and have the work done there. I have yet to hear of a customer who was disappointed with their work.
Last edited by Beowulf; Jan 17, 2006 at 10:45 PM.
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'10 E63
Originally Posted by Beowulf
Both shops have done light or cosmetic mods to my car, despite overtures from both Donnie (ever the salesman, lol) or Nash to go a step beyond. This thread was started by someone asking for a Kleemann dealer in the Nashville or Atlanta area. As the Kleemann website states, Atlanta Classic Cars is their authorized Georgia dealer - none in either Alabama or Tennesee.
That said, my personal preference would be to ship the car to Cory at Kleemann USA in Colorado and have the work done there. I have yet to hear of a customer who was disappointed with their work.
That said, my personal preference would be to ship the car to Cory at Kleemann USA in Colorado and have the work done there. I have yet to hear of a customer who was disappointed with their work.
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...........I don't even think that Atlanta Classic cars have a dyno. When you are having major engine mods done to your car, you and the performance mechanic need to be in sync and talk often and exchange ideas and work together. Your car needs to be dynoed so many times and adjusted and readjusted to suit you. This is simply not the way Atlanta Classic Cars is set up. You will be talking to a service adviser who if you are lucky will call you the next business day after you leave him a message. At a performance shop you can talk directly with the mechanic as many times a day as is required to get across your vision of what you want your car to be. At Atlanta Classic cars, you are shielded from the mechanic and not allowed on the shop floor. At a performance shop, you can stop by anytime and look at your car in progress and take pictures and participate. You cannot do this at Atlanta Classic cars. You are not allowed on the shop floor. When you need a dyno, I suppose ACC will drive your car to a dyno shop and charge you $90 an hour. That will be one hell of an expensive dyno. Atlanta Classic cars is just not right place for major engine mods even if Kleemann has listed them as an authorozed site. What they need is to create a performance division that is staffed and handled differently from the parent service division with direct contact between customer and mechanic, without a service adviser in the middle. I know they were in conversation with Donnie to do exactly this, but it must not have taken fruit. The culture of performance modification is not something ACC quite understands. At least not yet
Ted
Ted
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............here is an example of car modification experience complete with pics of the car's progress with owner and mechanic working together. This is not something that is currently possible at Atlanta Classic Cars. LINK
Ted
Ted
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Yes I agree with what most have said here. I like to talk to and see what is going on with my car. For a simple ECU pulley mod I would expect the car to be dynoed also. Tough decision but I just might drive to Renntech since they are closer to me.
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From: Columbia, SC
2007 Porsche 997 GT3
Originally Posted by Ted Baldwin
.......... At Atlanta Classic cars, you are shielded from the mechanic and not allowed on the shop floor. At a performance shop, you can stop by anytime and look at your car in progress and take pictures and participate. You cannot do this at Atlanta Classic cars. You are not allowed on the shop floor.
Ted
Ted
First off, let me state that I don't have a dog in this fight. That being said, I recently had some work (cosmetic....lowering of my car) performed at Atlanta Classic Cars.
Nash DID take myself and my wife out onto the work area. (BTW, it was brightly lit, spotless clean floors, etc...). I met the mechanic doing the work on my car, his name was Jeff. Very nice guy. He was wearing gloves while working on my car. He took off his gloves and shook my hand. He discussed with me how low I wanted my car to be lowered. Very polite, very professional and it was a perfect job.
Now, I'm not saying that you would still get the same access to the mechanic at ACC vs. a dedicated performance shop. I was just pointing out that indeed at times, you can go out on the floor and meet and discuss your car vision with the mechanic.
(Also.....FWIW, Nash may be the performance service advisor at ACC, but he told me his educational background was in Engineering, and after to speaking with him, I believe it. Although he's not a mechanic, he's far more knowledgeable than your average "salesman". )
.
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Ok I just talked to Jeff at HESCO, they do install Kleemann at their shop. He recommends purchasing the product at Evolution Motorsports http://www.evoms.com/ then they will install it here in Birmingham. They do have a dyno in the shop and have a great reputation here in Alabama for performance upgrades. There website is a little misleading because their main business is off road racing engines for Jeeps, and after market products for Jeeps. I know many Dr.'s in town who have had there Porsche's modded there and there is also a guy I know who has a 72 Ferrari Daytona spyder and HESCO is the only ones he lets touch it. Also they supercharged my friends H2. Just a thought if you would like to check into it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Originally Posted by docdan
First off, let me state that I don't have a dog in this fight. That being said, I recently had some work (cosmetic....lowering of my car) performed at Atlanta Classic Cars.
Nash DID take myself and my wife out onto the work area. (BTW, it was brightly lit, spotless clean floors, etc...). I met the mechanic doing the work on my car, his name was Jeff. Very nice guy. He was wearing gloves while working on my car. He took off his gloves and shook my hand. He discussed with me how low I wanted my car to be lowered. Very polite, very professional and it was a perfect job.
Now, I'm not saying that you would still get the same access to the mechanic at ACC vs. a dedicated performance shop. I was just pointing out that indeed at times, you can go out on the floor and meet and discuss your car vision with the mechanic.
(Also.....FWIW, Nash may be the performance service advisor at ACC, but he told me his educational background was in Engineering, and after to speaking with him, I believe it. Although he's not a mechanic, he's far more knowledgeable than your average "salesman". )
.
Nash DID take myself and my wife out onto the work area. (BTW, it was brightly lit, spotless clean floors, etc...). I met the mechanic doing the work on my car, his name was Jeff. Very nice guy. He was wearing gloves while working on my car. He took off his gloves and shook my hand. He discussed with me how low I wanted my car to be lowered. Very polite, very professional and it was a perfect job.
Now, I'm not saying that you would still get the same access to the mechanic at ACC vs. a dedicated performance shop. I was just pointing out that indeed at times, you can go out on the floor and meet and discuss your car vision with the mechanic.
(Also.....FWIW, Nash may be the performance service advisor at ACC, but he told me his educational background was in Engineering, and after to speaking with him, I believe it. Although he's not a mechanic, he's far more knowledgeable than your average "salesman". )
.
...........I don't doubt your experience with ACC. I have have had many positive dealings with Nash. my point is that major engine mods in a benz is whole different matter. You are talking about being shown the privilege of going to the shop floor.......At MBS, the mechanic and I took my car to the drag strip and ran 1/4 mile times so he the mechanic can see what further tunning needed to be done to the car. After that, he tuned the car some more and we came back several days later and he drove the car on the drag strip and got an 11.9 with him driving the car. This is not what will ever happen at ACC unless they have a separate performance division. I just don't know how to get across that once you start messing with major mods on your benz, you need to have a different kind of relationship with person messing with the engine, otherwise you are going to get very frustrated.
Ted
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From: Columbia, SC
2007 Porsche 997 GT3
Originally Posted by Ted Baldwin
...........I don't doubt your experience with ACC. I have have had many positive dealings with Nash. my point is that major engine mods in a benz is whole different matter. You are talking about being shown the privilege of going to the shop floor.......At MBS, the mechanic and I took my car to the drag strip and ran 1/4 mile times so he the mechanic can see what further tunning needed to be done to the car. After that, he tuned the car some more and we came back several days later and he drove the car on the drag strip and got an 11.9 with him driving the car. This is not what will ever happen at ACC unless they have a separate performance division. I just don't know how to get across that once you start messing with major mods on your benz, you need to have a different kind of relationship with person messing with the engine, otherwise you are going to get very frustrated.
Ted
Ted
Fair enough, your point is well taken.
I can see from your example that there is definitely a vast difference in mechanic-client interaction with the performance shop.
Thanks for relating your insight.
Dan
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From: Hotlanta
AMG
It's a crying shame that a city the size of ATL no longer has that level of "technical craftsmanship" available on an individualized basis.
Donnie built the fastest C55 that ran an 11.54 @ 120 on slicks. I was at Silver Dollar the day that car ran.
To my knowledge, he achieved the above time with:
No NOS
Stock tranny
Stock interior
The "Super High Performance/Custom" Mecedes-Benz world has lost an important asset, if it is indeed true that he has left to embark on a new career.
Donnie built the fastest C55 that ran an 11.54 @ 120 on slicks. I was at Silver Dollar the day that car ran.
To my knowledge, he achieved the above time with:
No NOS
Stock tranny
Stock interior
The "Super High Performance/Custom" Mecedes-Benz world has lost an important asset, if it is indeed true that he has left to embark on a new career.
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From: georgia
Clk Black Series
i'm glad i read this thread b/c i just talked to nash and was thinking about getting k1 mods done to my '03 s55. he stated that they did have a dyno and they were running a test on a sl this fri. and that i should stop by and check out the shop while they did the test. I know if i want it done right i should just have it shipped out, but i really dont feel like paying extra for shipping cost and having to wait longer. beowolf do you really think its worth it to get the job done at ACC
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Originally Posted by jenk12m
i'm glad i read this thread b/c i just talked to nash and was thinking about getting k1 mods done to my '03 s55. he stated that they did have a dyno and they were running a test on a sl this fri. and that i should stop by and check out the shop while they did the test. I know if i want it done right i should just have it shipped out, but i really dont feel like paying extra for shipping cost and having to wait longer. beowolf do you really think its worth it to get the job done at ACC
Ted
