Hey everybody... I just wanted to get a feel for how many other forum members own E55's or E63's here in the Kansas City area.... I don't see a lot of 'em here, but I know they MUST be here someplace

Or...if you are in the area and love AMGs of any model, I'd love to hear from you!

Post pics if you can. Thanks!

 

No enthusiasts in the Kansas City area?

C'mon now.... I know better than that!

 

Greetings! I inquired about your Kleemann install last week. Clinton Wong is also my service rep! I have always known that Aristocrat was an authorized Renntech distributor and installer, but I didn't know they were also a Kleemann distributor. I happen to have a Kleemann pulley that I bought from a fellow board member. Clinton's crew put it on and did the turn-around shipping on my ECU. I had previously contacted Cory and pre-paid the Stage I flash. Since then, I had Clinton's team install an EvoSport cooling kit along with a PTE 180 degree thermostat. I just bought a VRP CF airbox and I'm in the proceess of figuring out how to mate the 180mm box to my factory TB. Next up will probably be a pair of VRP headers. I found a pair on the board for 1250 and they do not require any cutting, so it should be a pretty easy install. I may call Cory to see if he thinks I need a Stage II ECU tune to go along with the CF intake and headers.

 

Clinton is a great guy to work with, as is Cory at Kleemann. I am trying to determine if I'm going for the larger throttle body next....

Man, that's a clean ride you have there....

 

I am in the KC area and looking to make a future e55amg buy. I was curious to know about the service level at aristocrat. I did not know that they were certified renntech and kleeman - that is a nice positive.

How are they with the rest of the servicing / problems?

I have been living here for about 8 months and have only seen 1!!!! e55 amg...whats the deal!

Also, i have been wondering how this car does in the winters here?

 

dlav - thanks for the kind words. Your 'Silverback' looks pretty clean too!! I am also VERY tempted to step up to the larger TB. It looks like a very simple swap. I would be half tempted to give it a whirl myself, but I know I would definitely need an updated ECU flash to accommodate the increased intake flow, so I may as well let Clinton's team handle it and send the ECU off at the same time. I used to do ALOT of wrenching on my own car back in the day, but it was a simple Pontiac V8 with a 4-barrell and no AC. Darn near "self-explanatory" I am a bit more hesitant horsing around under the hood of my 55 just because the stakes are so high if I "F" something up!! For now, I think I will just try to get my CF airbox on and maybe make a move on those VRP shorty headers listed in the classifieds.

Malnico - Aristocrat's service department is absolutely first rate. No problems whatsoever. Clinton Wong is the greatest SA you could ever hope for! As far as winter si concernd, I am running Pirelli P-Zero-Nero M/S all seasons on my beast and they seem to do O.K. in light snow. But the wifey has an ML that gets most of the miles in really bad winter weather

 

You pull the trigger on an E55 yet? I recently saw a black one in my neighborhood with dealer tags...is that yours?

 

no, it is not mine...

unfortunately i am still a couple months away from having enough $$ to make this purchuse with warranty and still live comfortable!

i will be sure to let you know when the trigger has been pulled

 

Mine has been in Overland Park, once.

 

I don't mean to be rude or nosy - and feel free to tell me so - but may I ask what kind of price Cory shot you on your Kleemann Headers? Also, how much labor was it for install? As I recall, the Kleemann headers required some cutting or welding to affix to the stock exhaust. I have a line on some VRP shortys - which are a glorified and enlarged 'log' style manifold - for around $1200. I'm just trying to see what prices look like for other options before I pull the trigger - which will be tomorrow!!!!!

BTW - The VRP CF airbox is on a the 'home made' reducer worked like a charm. I don't know how much HP the thing is worth, but it shore do look purty!!!!

 

I know the normal price for the Kleemann headers is $2900 and the install is about $1k. If I were you, I'd email Cory at Kleemann (Cory@Kleemannusa.com) to see if they are running any specials on the headers. From time to time, they run special pricing options on their performance packages. I hope this helps.

 

Well, I'm in St. Louis; is that close enough?

I just took delivery about a month ago of a new black on black E63 & am loving it.

Previous rides include two 'Vette Z06's; a, '02 & an '07, and an '06 M5.

 

St. Louis, huh? It's all good!
Hey, how does your E63 feel/compare to your two Vettes and your M5? I would imagine that your E63 would've probably walked your '02 Z06, huh? How about the other two?

 

My bet is even the 02 Z06 with 405hp and 405tq would have given the E63 a pretty good run for the dough. Those cars had really 'good' gearing - well mated to the power band of the motor - and they only weighed around 3300 lbs. God knows the 07 Z06 would have put a hurtin' on a stock E63 0-60. But then again, I think the E63 offers a WHOLE lotta' comfort and style while still putting down very respectable 0-60 and 1/4 mile numbers. I have heard and tend to believe that the latest generation M5s and M6s will pull pretty steadily on an E63 at speeds above 90 mph. Those M series V-10s wind up to the moon and make most of their power at the top. All very beautiful cars and equally fun in their own right!

 

Well, dlav06, the E63 is a totally different experience than either vette. The magazines tested the '02 z06 track times about equally with the E63; because the vette had a 6 sp.manual, it felt a bit quicker due to the direct connection (no tq. converter).

However, the '07 z06 could smoke most anything on the road including the M5 & E63. All you had to do is think about stabbing the throttle in 1st & you would break traction. I once turned off the nanny & hit 2nd too hard & just about bought it. This car is not for the inexperienced!

Now the M5 was fabulous (I still miss the wonderful seats!) but I sold it for the '07 z06 because I didn't care for the SMG trans. I have since somewhat regretted selling the M5. Not that the z06 isn't a great car, I just missed the unparalleled luxury & feel of the german machines.

I had always admired the E63 (& E55 too), so I thought I'd try one 'cause I got addicted to big torque with the 'vettes. The E63 serves up lots of seat in the pants accelleration from a standstill that the M5 didn't produce until the engine spun up past 6K. So far, I am very satisfied with the AMG.

PDC, you are correct that the '02 z06 vs. the E63 would be a drivers race. However, the Merc has the balance between comfort & performance that at my age (50) is becoming more important by the day! It may be true that the M5 would pull on the E63 above 90, but if so, it couldn't be by much. All the cars I have been fortunate enough to own in the last few years are awesome in their own right. They are just different from one another.

 

Does anyone know if there are ever any Benz/AMG get-togethers or events here in the Kansas City area?

 

I'm here too. Nothing exciting, a bone stock '06. I'm trying to decide about a first upgrade - Kleeman or Renntech, Stage 1 or 2.

 

Well, I'm probably going to be a lil biased but I say go with Kleemann!
What color is your ride? You have any pics? Check mine out.... I'm thinking about the CF front lip and rear diffuser. I will probably take off the Kleemann badges on the side, too....

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...s-my-ride.html

What part of the city are you in? I think it would be cool to get all of the KC-area AMG lovers together at some point.

 

Black over black. The car has all options except full size spare and factory phone (which I would kind of like to have).

I live KCMO north of the river and my office is downtown. A little get together would be a great idea, count me in.

Here is a picture.

 

Nice ride... hopefully, we can get a bunch of us together in KC and we can make it happen...

 

A new forum member recently introduced me to the KC chapter of the Mercedes Benz Club of America...

www.kcmbca.org

For those of you in the KC area, check it out... perhaps we can get together and see each others' cars....

 

Bump....

Just checking to see if any of the KC area AMG owners are interested in getting together sometime this spring/summer?

 

Hey guys, there is a lot of MB activity in KC. I agree with your comments about Aristocrat and Clinton - he is great. The Kansas City Section of MBCA meets every first Saturday for breakfast at 9AM at First Watch, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Neiman in Shawnee - speakers on car subjects most meetings. We have a get together every third Monday at various locations, next is karting at Sadlers in Olathe this coming Monday at 6 (eat at Buffalo Wild Wings) then to Sadlers. Road Rallye scheduled this Sunday at noon starting at US Bank, 119th & Roe. In August we have a regional defensive driving/autocross event at the track at Metropolitan Community College east of Independence. We also have various dinners, sponsor the German car show in Sept or Oct, etc, etc. We have a first Sunday drive on the first Sun. of each month, travel no more than an hour, have lunch. I have an E63 which I plan to run at Heartland Park in Topeka in May at the Audi DE. Will be interesting since will be the first time I ran that car on a road course. Have run my former C32 and C55 many times there and other tracks: BeaveRun, Summit Point, VIR, Spring Mountain Motorsports, Hallett, IRP, Roebling Road, Thunderhill, MAM, etc. Not many in the KC section drive on road courses. We also do the dragstrip at Heartland Park several times each summer. Contact me for more information. My info is on the section website: kcmbca.org. I'm the secretary this year. Call or email me or the president for info. The club is the best way to get together for information, friendship and driving.

 

Also, some of the club members are planning to show their cars at the Art of the Machine event at River Market, on July 11.

 

I live in lenexa and have a cls55, sad to say the cls is the only car in my garage thats stock (for now). I have a 98 single turbo supra, and a procharged srt8 as well. I've order wheels for the cls (my brother owns kc trends) and soon to do the k1 & 2.