Ok, guys: it is time for this humble correspondent to start looking into upgrade/tuning options.

1. Anyone have good experience with AMG tuner in Virginia? As much as I love this car, I can only let someone who comes well recommended cut her open.

2. Which upgrades/mods should come first, second, etc.?


Thanks for thoughts/recommendations

 

Kris,

I dont know anyone specifically in Virginia, but I deal with a shop in Florida and one in Chicago that know MB vehicles really well.

If you can say what your approx budget is for the mods you are looking for, I am sure you will get some recommendations.

 

No idea PM me if you find out, I will check back here.

 

Would love to know this also..

 

I had all of my work done at Altered Atmosphere in Gaithersburg Md. Give Mike a call over there. He's done a several E55's and owns one (at least did) that he modded.

 

Just stay away from a guy named MALCOLM!!!

Think he's in Maryland though.

What was the name of his shop again guys?

He hacked the crap outta TedBaldwin's 55.

 

I think the shop that screwed over Ted was Hitech Boyz?

 

I have had great experience with Funktion Auto near Dulles airport with both my Porsche 993 and my E55. They installed Kleemann pulley, ECU and LSD on my 55 and will be doing the Kleemann headers this spring. Check out their website at www.funktionauto.com. They have a great facility and very knowledgeable people. I recommend them most highly.

 

Thanks guys. Great info !

 

Buyer beware of Altered Atmosphere. I came from the 3000GT/Stealth community where they got started. Too many horror stories to count, and in the past years they moved on to other platforms. History has repeated itself many times on many platforms.

While on the Infiniti FX forums, I read the progression from "hey this shop makes stuff for us" to "hey i'm having problems" to "i absolutely hate those guys, they screwed me over". Wish I could have arrived there earlier to warn people.

For those that have gotten successful work done, that's good news. I think the simpler stuff goes off without a hitch. Back in the day, I actually had a clutch job and 2 timing belt jobs done with no problems. The horror stories are typically related to big projects gone bad.

My $.03.

 

I have to agree with Rocketman...Funktion Auto has proven itself to be a great tuner shop. My upgrades have been minimal but they are very reasonably priced and the guys are knowledgable. If you are unsure about what you can/should do to your car...they're the guys. Rocketman, Walid has said great things about your 55.

 

This is great news for me. I'm located in Ashburn, so these guys are close.

 

There shop is like a high end boutique with designer coffee, and an elevated waiting area for customers. Did I say cleannn...

 

Outstanding...Broadlands for me. Funktion is right off 267, 606 exit west, Mercurie Circle on the right. Go check them out.

 

Nice. I'm over in Brambleton. I'm sure we'll pass each other sometime...probably while getting raped at the greedway toll booth.

 

So, not to hijack the thread, but any good shops around where I live in the SouthEast close than southern Florida?

Thanks.

 

I've also heard alot of bad things about Altered and I wasnt happy with my experiences there (just dyno pulls).

I recommend Funktion auto (Dont get it confused with function tuned, they suck!) and everyone I know that has dealt with them has been happy. It also depends on what you need done becaus ethere are plenty of people around that love to turn wrenches themsleves

 

thanks guys; great feeback

 

My friend has sl55 and had all of his motor work done at porsche pitstop in alexandria. they used to be called autothority and Mihn is the owner there. I am going to use his shop to do all the work as well. Anyway, all the work is top notch, i am very picky and i felt comfortable leaving my car there over the weekend. He did my maserati gransport and it turned out perfect. I had ecu flash and full coilover suspension work same time. My friend's SL55 got full pulley, ecu, headers, exhaust, extra heat exchanger... done and it was perfect as well. I drove this sl55 and 10scond 04cobra couldn't not keep up on highway. actually it pulled about 5 cars or more on 10.80 mustang. ask for Mihn and tell him that chris with gransport sent you there. check website for autothority and you'll find his number.

 

Just FYI, there is a dyno day today 1/26/08 at The Auto Shop near Dulles:

http://www.theautoshop.us/

They are charging $60 for 3 pulls with A/F plotted which is a good deal (normally $100 ish).

It's an audi event, but their schedule ends at 3PM. I think I'm going to head over there (will need to bring my 5 y/o, but he loves cars!) and see if I can slip in for some discounted pulls.

They have a Dyno Dynamics, which is a low reading, but very consistent dyno (no settings for the operator to 'tweak'). They are only a few blocks away from Funktion Auto, so I'm going to use them for my baseline and subsequent post-mod dynos.

 

FunKtion. They are awesome and really know what they are doing.

 

I've dyno'd there before. Definitely good to go on a dyno day vs a standalone appointment. They charged me a ton and slapped on a $100 strap down fee--which meant I got double charged since they were charging me for that time as well.

 

Really Good Info guys thanks!! Don't Forget PF Supercars in Frederick MD they do really good work too. Their not big on the MB market but they have Knowledge on Force Induction cars period.

 

Funktion Auto is definitely the best Mercedes-BMW-Porsche tuner in northern Virginia. I will be getting my CLS55 AMG Renntech'd up there. Great guys to work with. Clean boutique style shop. Owner is extremely knowledgable and friendly.

+1 Thumbs up.

 

Funktion is a great shop but you definitely pay for it.