Where to start with engine upgrades for an E55
#26
Awesome!! Now there are 2 of us! Our numbers are growing.. Soon we will overpower them.
Thanks for the kind words!!
I was going to type up a nice response, but, Jrocket summarized it nicely for me.
The car pushes enough boost as it is.. Its just very restrictive and generates way too much heat in stock form.. Why compound the problem by raising the boost another 3psi???
Adding headers first opens up the exhaust path (gained 30rwhp for me on my stock car) and removes some restriction. This drops effective boost by 1 - 1.5psi with evosport headers. Right off the bat less heat (coated headers, plus increased efficiency).
Next, 80mm TB.. more air going out, now we can feed more air.. The whole car responds much better with this mod.
Pulley & ECU last because you only want to program once so get everything you want installed on your car and then have the ECU tuned to take advantage of ALL the mods.
Headers: $3000
80mm: $2400
Phenolics: $289
Cooling kit: only 2 retail packages available RIGHT NOW (more coming SOON) $3,000
ECU + Pulley: approx $2,500
That's a basic overview... Rflow's car is at 531rwhp with a mix of these mods..11.3 in the 1/4.
Thanks for the kind words!!
I was going to type up a nice response, but, Jrocket summarized it nicely for me.
The car pushes enough boost as it is.. Its just very restrictive and generates way too much heat in stock form.. Why compound the problem by raising the boost another 3psi???
Adding headers first opens up the exhaust path (gained 30rwhp for me on my stock car) and removes some restriction. This drops effective boost by 1 - 1.5psi with evosport headers. Right off the bat less heat (coated headers, plus increased efficiency).
Next, 80mm TB.. more air going out, now we can feed more air.. The whole car responds much better with this mod.
Pulley & ECU last because you only want to program once so get everything you want installed on your car and then have the ECU tuned to take advantage of ALL the mods.
Originally Posted by AMGcrazy
VRUS,
Interesting that you think pulley/ecu last. What is your reasoning? Not questioning, just wondering.
PS - All your products look fantastic! I may start the mod bug late this year! I've got to keep up with all of you.
Interesting that you think pulley/ecu last. What is your reasoning? Not questioning, just wondering.
PS - All your products look fantastic! I may start the mod bug late this year! I've got to keep up with all of you.
80mm: $2400
Phenolics: $289
Cooling kit: only 2 retail packages available RIGHT NOW (more coming SOON) $3,000
ECU + Pulley: approx $2,500
That's a basic overview... Rflow's car is at 531rwhp with a mix of these mods..11.3 in the 1/4.
Originally Posted by sack5000
If one goes in this order and goes to the bitter end, what is the total estimated cost and the resulting rwhp and rwtq, and estimated 1/4 mile time?
#28
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 11
From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, LRD4 HSE, R107 280SL
I would say ....
1. 80mm TB is a must, what ever you do, and almost undetectable as all parts are AMG.
2. Pulley is a sweet and easy mod .... There is some evidence that the 175mm pulley is too parasitic and while it adds decent boost adds loads of heat. Only go 175mm if you going to add a coolling package. But either way this is best bang for the buck. If I would do it again I might go 170mm.
3. The biggest baddest cooling package you can fit - regardess what you do above. If you going 175mm pulley fit this at the same time, and remember too much cooling is just enough here.
4. Headers - here I am a bit stuck. The Evosport is a great shorty, but has stock diam primaries. I would have liked slightly larger primaries - but maybe I am just annoyed 'coz they wont fit my right hand drive . There are a few log style manifolds masquerading around as headers but mostly all they have going for them is larger diam primaries.. so not all together a bad option with reasonable pricing and some fairly incredible power increase claims. Any other headers involves some chop-chop and unless you going to delete the CATs I would not bother.
5. Airbox ... good power claims - but even if it did nada it looks gr8 and it complements 80mm TB, headers, Pulley VERY nicely. I think a must on a Pully/header/TB car. You also get some decent flow air filters with it.
6. ECU tune ... tricky - custom would be ideal but not many do this ...
7. If you going to track (real track) the car at all then change diff ratio to 2.82 + add Quaife ATB (LSD). The 2.65 gearing is way too long.
8. Brembo GT brake upgrade kit. Again for any track work these will be a must. You will need 19" wheels for the brakes to clear. 245/30 & 275/30 rubber goes well here with no clearance issues - you can go slightly larger but then rim offset gets a little specific and makes gearing a tad longer and lowering a little restricted.
9. Lower car by min. 30mm. either via STAR or after market module. Better handling and more agressive look. With no. 8 above lowering is easy and clearance again is not an issue.
10. Some interior detailing, Alu door pins and chrome seat adjustment buttons, but I digress....
11. Finally , a spare pair of underpants in glove compartment in case your SBC brakes fail...
Think that covers it! Enjoy!
1. 80mm TB is a must, what ever you do, and almost undetectable as all parts are AMG.
2. Pulley is a sweet and easy mod .... There is some evidence that the 175mm pulley is too parasitic and while it adds decent boost adds loads of heat. Only go 175mm if you going to add a coolling package. But either way this is best bang for the buck. If I would do it again I might go 170mm.
3. The biggest baddest cooling package you can fit - regardess what you do above. If you going 175mm pulley fit this at the same time, and remember too much cooling is just enough here.
4. Headers - here I am a bit stuck. The Evosport is a great shorty, but has stock diam primaries. I would have liked slightly larger primaries - but maybe I am just annoyed 'coz they wont fit my right hand drive . There are a few log style manifolds masquerading around as headers but mostly all they have going for them is larger diam primaries.. so not all together a bad option with reasonable pricing and some fairly incredible power increase claims. Any other headers involves some chop-chop and unless you going to delete the CATs I would not bother.
5. Airbox ... good power claims - but even if it did nada it looks gr8 and it complements 80mm TB, headers, Pulley VERY nicely. I think a must on a Pully/header/TB car. You also get some decent flow air filters with it.
6. ECU tune ... tricky - custom would be ideal but not many do this ...
7. If you going to track (real track) the car at all then change diff ratio to 2.82 + add Quaife ATB (LSD). The 2.65 gearing is way too long.
8. Brembo GT brake upgrade kit. Again for any track work these will be a must. You will need 19" wheels for the brakes to clear. 245/30 & 275/30 rubber goes well here with no clearance issues - you can go slightly larger but then rim offset gets a little specific and makes gearing a tad longer and lowering a little restricted.
9. Lower car by min. 30mm. either via STAR or after market module. Better handling and more agressive look. With no. 8 above lowering is easy and clearance again is not an issue.
10. Some interior detailing, Alu door pins and chrome seat adjustment buttons, but I digress....
11. Finally , a spare pair of underpants in glove compartment in case your SBC brakes fail...
Think that covers it! Enjoy!
Last edited by stevebez; 07-10-2007 at 04:15 AM.
#29
I can attest to this one.. It's not fun!!! And I hope no one has to go through it... Good recommendation Steve.. You dont want to wreck that expensive leather...
#30
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
2004 E55 AMG and 2003 C320 4Matic Miss my 993 Turbo above!!
Thanks VRUS for the updates..........So if I understand correctly, The headers and the 80mm TB/Phenolocs could be installed without the cooling kit?
Just want to verify when the NEW IC has to be installed.........
What are the install hours for the Headers? Install hours for the 80MM TB and Phenolics......
I will add roughly $5,700 (cost of headers and TB) to the labor cost of $95/hour to install both mods......
Roland
Just want to verify when the NEW IC has to be installed.........
What are the install hours for the Headers? Install hours for the 80MM TB and Phenolics......
I will add roughly $5,700 (cost of headers and TB) to the labor cost of $95/hour to install both mods......
Roland
#31
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 701
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
04 E55, 12 GL 450(wife)
it seems 50/50 split with ecu/pulley or tb/headers... Has there been a recall on the tb? I was told that there was in the past.
I am proabbly going to start with pulley, cooling, headers, tb and then have the ecu programed to work everything correctly. should I have the exhaust replaced and have straight pipes installed?
I am proabbly going to start with pulley, cooling, headers, tb and then have the ecu programed to work everything correctly. should I have the exhaust replaced and have straight pipes installed?
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
06 E55 SOLD, 89 300 SE 375,000 miles
it seems 50/50 split with ecu/pulley or tb/headers... Has there been a recall on the tb? I was told that there was in the past.
I am proabbly going to start with pulley, cooling, headers, tb and then have the ecu programed to work everything correctly. should I have the exhaust replaced and have straight pipes installed?
I am proabbly going to start with pulley, cooling, headers, tb and then have the ecu programed to work everything correctly. should I have the exhaust replaced and have straight pipes installed?
Hey buddy,
Talk to some of your fellow crew members from SD and they'll point you in the right direction.
D
#35
As usual, most people miss the obvious, which is better tires. All you're doing with the power upgrades is working your ESP overtime unless you get it to the ground. The cheapest, least intrusive and most reliable mod there is. The cost margin for R compound is modest and perhaps even negative.
#36
#38
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 701
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
04 E55, 12 GL 450(wife)
I will try and check out creative and group 5 in SD. I received some good feedback from everyone on this forum. It is obvious that cooling is a big factor in the process of mods for an E55
#39
As usual, most people miss the obvious, which is better tires. All you're doing with the power upgrades is working your ESP overtime unless you get it to the ground. The cheapest, least intrusive and most reliable mod there is. The cost margin for R compound is modest and perhaps even negative.
#40
Toyo RA1's I had on and no problems. Also, found it very difficult to smoke the tires with these, unlike the Nittos I have now. I would have put RA1s back on but I may be turning the car back in at lease-end and didn't want to have to buy new tires then as well...
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, VA
06 E55 current, M5 Sold, C32 Sold, 330xi Sold
did you stick with the same size tires or can you go wider? maybe 275s?
#44
just for the sake of keeping everything in one thred .
Which out of these two headers would you guys think to be better
evosport or kleeman?
i understand that the kleeman ones need you to do some chop chop.
but whaich of the two is better ?
Thanks
Which out of these two headers would you guys think to be better
evosport or kleeman?
i understand that the kleeman ones need you to do some chop chop.
but whaich of the two is better ?
Thanks