mbmaxx

I was reading from a website yesterday that the difference in HP from a SL55 (496) and an E55 (469) was mostly the air intake and air filters. Any comments on whether there is more detuning on the E55 than that and if not, how do I remove the pesky $5 plastic restrictor?

Here is the text from the website:

My only modifications, which boosted the power from 469hp to approx 505hp, was to swap in the SL55 air intake snorkel and add K&N air filters. The far more expensive SL55 (using the same engine) was rated at 493hp and Mercedes claimed that a more restrictive exhaust system cut the power in the E55 but the true story was that the decrease in power was due to a $5 plastic restrictor in the intake system which took less than 10 minutes to swap out. The K&N filters provided about 12hp too.

http://www.derekspratt.com/HTML/Auto...cedes_E55.html

Thanks,

mbmaxx

04' E55
01' Harley Deuce

Jakpro1

Just my humble, but I think Benz published the numbers lower on purpose.

We have lots of dynos with the stock guys pulling a tick over 400whp average. Even with 19% loss which is a bit high that is close to 500hp.

https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1960189&postcount=9

MJ50

right... E55 has same #s as SL55...

mbmaxx

Thanks for the responses..... it makes sense. Most likely MB lowered the #'s to help lower insurance rates.

mbmaxx

deshelto

And help to sell the "more expenseive" SLs

Wryfox

The fact is, the intake of the E55 IS more restrictive than the SL 55. I estimate by about 50% in the driver's side snorkel. The SL55 does not have this. Get the driver's side SL 55 snorkel for the E and it could do nothing but help.

myntk12

Passenger side is ok? Any nice CF intakes available?

jangy

The snorkel itself is fatter, but the hole up front is the hole up front.

Hammer Down

The $5 piece that they are talking about is that the flaps up front behind the grill?

myntk12

Do you guys just remove that plastic flap to gain the missing ponies?

Ohbev

But does the SL55 snorkel fit straight on the e55 ?

guysandiego

I am also confused about this -- I just broke off those stupid plasitc flaps just behind the grill. I saw no point in having them there, did not look very helpful in collectig cool air.

2003 S600

They are there to prevent water from going straight into intake when driving thru rain or washing car, I think.

guysandiego

yeah that makes sense --- living in S.Cali -- that is a huge concern for me.

jangy

Plus the intake slopes up and has the filters suspended so getting water up into them is almost a challenge. On a side note, those flaps make little difference.

jangy

Yes or the S one as well. Heck, you can use your own passenger side one.

Mrbig

any pictures of the sl55 intakes >???

MB_Forever

They also do a good job of keeping a lot of bugs from being sucked in and clogging up the filters

dkallencat1

Ok the sl-55 driver side air hose is larger than the e-55, I am thinking about changing air hoses too, but like jangy said the hole up front by the grill remains the same, so what would you gain from the change?

komp55

The driver side air tube from the S55 is preferred over the SL55 airtubes, which are actually longer than is needed. The primary advantage of the S55 tube is the elimination of the severe constriction in the E55 driver side air tube, but as Jangy mentioned, and as has been posted and discussed ad nauseum in prior posts on this topic, there still the issue of the smaller air pass-through opening at the driver's side of the radiator.

Since no one as ever been able to post any proof that the engine becomes starved for air or produces less power as a result of this slightly smaller opening, I view both the hole size and protective flaps as a non-issue. Just do the S55 driver side tube, and you're good to go.

E55Bullet