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Marcus's SL65 Build Thread...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Chicago, IL
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Marcus's SL65 Build Thread...
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is with great pleasure I'd like to welcome you to my SL65 build thread. Now I know that this isn't an E55 build thread, but I'd like to make two points: 1st - I also happen to have an E55 and the knowledge I hope to show here will in multiple ways be applicable to other AMGs - 2nd even though this is an E55/E63 forum the enthusiasm here for all things AMG I think is pretty universal and I hope to speak to that enthusiasm with this thread.
Now - over the years I've seen many build threads on various forums I've been a part of, and even a few on here (kudos to Finny, Jakpro1, and AMGFan). AMG has been building a reputation with it's forced induction cars - a reputation for power and luxury, unlike any other marque. Now, with the help of MarkoCL65, DSMed, and VRP, AMGs will now be able to stake their claim at a pretty high point on the street machine food chain. This build thread will take you through the long-awaited transformation of my stock 2005 SL65 to an all out MONSTER. I want you all to know that this thread will take some time, but I think it will serve to educate as well as entertain this community.
Now my goal with this build is to end up with a truly world class GT supercar. I'm not looking for a spectacular track car, drag car, whatever. I drove my SL65 over 10k miles last summer alone, so it's STREET prowess is what is important to me (and I think that is really a defining characteristic of all things AMG). Ridiculous speed and power, good looks, top down, and still an everyday capable AMG. It is my true conviction that there are few platforms out there that can do ALL the things this V12 biturbo AMG R230 can do.
So here is how my car arrived from California, beautiful and very stock...
Almost immediately - as is typical for me - tint and euro bumper strips were added (orange/clear/painted side markers are the work of the devil himself!!!).
Then I blacked out the grill...
Wanted to get some baseline numbers... car made decent power but we saw IATs getting high, and soon after replaced the failing water pump.
First thing to address after this was the STEERING WHEEL. The damn AMGs have some of the worst factory steering wheels I've ever had to deal with. First thing I wanted was OEM paddles, second thing MORE THICKNESS, and thirdly ALCANTARA. I was able to work with a very talented local individual (PM me for his contact info) who was able to take this:
to THIS:
It came out extremely well. I am probably going to put this wheel up for sale soon, as we are going to try something else because I have ADD when it comes to modding and instead of cutting the material off the wheel we are just going to start with a new wheel. The paddles are fully functional for 2005 cars, and are totally OEM! Feel great, look great, a no brainer. PM me if you are interested in the wheel.
Next on the list - WHEELS. I opted to go with the 20" Carlsson 1/16 Ultralights. A little bling, but I wanted to go with a tuner look instead of the 3-piece look - and these wheels are relatively rare, lightweight, and I think flow well with the R230's lines. Here are some pics, without lowering...
Next up was lowering the car via SDS. Now understandably this is limited, so we went as low as we could. I'm still debating whether or not to go further with a module or not.
Next up - straight pipes, and SL63 lip spoiler, and updated ('07+) smoked 3rd brake light.
Stay tuned.
-m
It is with great pleasure I'd like to welcome you to my SL65 build thread. Now I know that this isn't an E55 build thread, but I'd like to make two points: 1st - I also happen to have an E55 and the knowledge I hope to show here will in multiple ways be applicable to other AMGs - 2nd even though this is an E55/E63 forum the enthusiasm here for all things AMG I think is pretty universal and I hope to speak to that enthusiasm with this thread.
Now - over the years I've seen many build threads on various forums I've been a part of, and even a few on here (kudos to Finny, Jakpro1, and AMGFan). AMG has been building a reputation with it's forced induction cars - a reputation for power and luxury, unlike any other marque. Now, with the help of MarkoCL65, DSMed, and VRP, AMGs will now be able to stake their claim at a pretty high point on the street machine food chain. This build thread will take you through the long-awaited transformation of my stock 2005 SL65 to an all out MONSTER. I want you all to know that this thread will take some time, but I think it will serve to educate as well as entertain this community.
Now my goal with this build is to end up with a truly world class GT supercar. I'm not looking for a spectacular track car, drag car, whatever. I drove my SL65 over 10k miles last summer alone, so it's STREET prowess is what is important to me (and I think that is really a defining characteristic of all things AMG). Ridiculous speed and power, good looks, top down, and still an everyday capable AMG. It is my true conviction that there are few platforms out there that can do ALL the things this V12 biturbo AMG R230 can do.
So here is how my car arrived from California, beautiful and very stock...
Almost immediately - as is typical for me - tint and euro bumper strips were added (orange/clear/painted side markers are the work of the devil himself!!!).
Then I blacked out the grill...
Wanted to get some baseline numbers... car made decent power but we saw IATs getting high, and soon after replaced the failing water pump.
First thing to address after this was the STEERING WHEEL. The damn AMGs have some of the worst factory steering wheels I've ever had to deal with. First thing I wanted was OEM paddles, second thing MORE THICKNESS, and thirdly ALCANTARA. I was able to work with a very talented local individual (PM me for his contact info) who was able to take this:
to THIS:
It came out extremely well. I am probably going to put this wheel up for sale soon, as we are going to try something else because I have ADD when it comes to modding and instead of cutting the material off the wheel we are just going to start with a new wheel. The paddles are fully functional for 2005 cars, and are totally OEM! Feel great, look great, a no brainer. PM me if you are interested in the wheel.
Next on the list - WHEELS. I opted to go with the 20" Carlsson 1/16 Ultralights. A little bling, but I wanted to go with a tuner look instead of the 3-piece look - and these wheels are relatively rare, lightweight, and I think flow well with the R230's lines. Here are some pics, without lowering...
Next up was lowering the car via SDS. Now understandably this is limited, so we went as low as we could. I'm still debating whether or not to go further with a module or not.
Next up - straight pipes, and SL63 lip spoiler, and updated ('07+) smoked 3rd brake light.
Stay tuned.
-m
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,704
Likes: 28
From: 20854
new balance
Great looking car Marcus, I have always been a big fan of the Carlsson 1 piece forged and they look perfect on your car. Question, ive had a hunch that the dyno dynamics uses the obd port to read rpm, can you confirm this. Getting a tach lead on our cars is damn near impossible, but every v12tt i see dynoed on a DD has the tq data.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Real Cars
Great looking car Marcus, I have always been a big fan of the Carlsson 1 piece forged and they look perfect on your car. Question, ive had a hunch that the dyno dynamics uses the obd port to read rpm, can you confirm this. Getting a tach lead on our cars is damn near impossible, but every v12tt i see dynoed on a DD has the tq data.
CPT has probably the performed the most Mercedes dynos of any Dyno Dynamics operator in the country. They actually have a Bosch pigtail they use to tie directly into an injector. RPM signal always comes out nice and clean.
One of the benefits of using a shop that has experience with MBs...
-m
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Real Cars
I bought it from Penske. It was a "good deal" because I got EXACTLY the car I wanted options (including the $4k MB Black Leather 571 option)/color wise, and I was able to get MB's extended care 4yr/100k extended warranty with the car (which is only possible when buying the car from MB). The car was also originally sold at Penske.
I absolutely paid a premium for it, and now with plummeting values it's made it more painful, but thankfully it was exactly the car I wanted and thus far I've enjoyed it a lot.
-m
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Vic,
I bought it from Penske. It was a "good deal" because I got EXACTLY the car I wanted options (including the $4k MB Black Leather 571 option)/color wise, and I was able to get MB's extended care 4yr/100k extended warranty with the car (which is only possible when buying the car from MB). The car was also originally sold at Penske.
I absolutely paid a premium for it, and now with plummeting values it's made it more painful, but thankfully it was exactly the car I wanted and thus far I've enjoyed it a lot.
-m
I bought it from Penske. It was a "good deal" because I got EXACTLY the car I wanted options (including the $4k MB Black Leather 571 option)/color wise, and I was able to get MB's extended care 4yr/100k extended warranty with the car (which is only possible when buying the car from MB). The car was also originally sold at Penske.
I absolutely paid a premium for it, and now with plummeting values it's made it more painful, but thankfully it was exactly the car I wanted and thus far I've enjoyed it a lot.
-m
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,155
Likes: 20
From: Southern, CA.
V12-Biturbo
Looks great Marcus! I'm quite interested in your Alacantra wheel, pm me if you still have it & your asking price please
ps your jaw will drop when you hear the car w/straight pipes esp when in manual mode dragging around in 1st-2nd then down shifting to 1st friggin head turning wicked yet civil when left in D....
Best comparo would be to the 63 motor, after service I was waiting on my SL, heard what I thought was 100% my car nope E63, then they brought mine around sounded very similar tech's loved it...(I don't know if that's a good thing
) get 3" from cat's on down...
ps your jaw will drop when you hear the car w/straight pipes esp when in manual mode dragging around in 1st-2nd then down shifting to 1st friggin head turning wicked yet civil when left in D....Best comparo would be to the 63 motor, after service I was waiting on my SL, heard what I thought was 100% my car nope E63, then they brought mine around sounded very similar tech's loved it...(I don't know if that's a good thing
) get 3" from cat's on down...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Real Cars
Looks great Marcus! I'm quite interested in your Alacantra wheel, pm me if you still have it & your asking price please ps your jaw will drop when you hear the car w/straight pipes esp when in manual mode dragging around in 1st-2nd then down shifting to 1st friggin head turning wicked yet civil when left in D....
Best comparo would be to the 63 motor, after service I was waiting on my SL, heard what I thought was 100% my car nope E63, then they brought mine around sounded very similar tech's loved it...(I don't know if that's a good thing) get 3" from cat's on down...
ps your jaw will drop when you hear the car w/straight pipes esp when in manual mode dragging around in 1st-2nd then down shifting to 1st friggin head turning wicked yet civil when left in D....Best comparo would be to the 63 motor, after service I was waiting on my SL, heard what I thought was 100% my car nope E63, then they brought mine around sounded very similar tech's loved it...(I don't know if that's a good thing
) get 3" from cat's on down...PM me on the steering wheel.
-m
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,155
Likes: 20
From: Southern, CA.
V12-Biturbo
last time I did a guy in a loud diesel truck yells over to me @ the next light "What kind of exhaust do you have?" I answer "None, straight piped!" he answers w/out the window "I like the way you think!"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
2018 E63S Wagon
Looking trick! Really enjoy the build threads...gives me some great ideas on mods & upgrades for the future.
BIG FAN of the upgraded steering wheel w/paddle shifters too...had no idea that was even an option. Makes sense that it is though.
Kudos!
BIG FAN of the upgraded steering wheel w/paddle shifters too...had no idea that was even an option. Makes sense that it is though.
Kudos!
