KLR CLS

Hey folks,

Finally got around to installing the PLM Headers a few other have already posted about installing (been sitting in a box in my trunk for 3 months!). I had intended to do a DIY and post about it, but after never having the time to set about doing it, I finally caved and Had my friends at Magnus Motorsports do the install for me. Even though I gave away the climax in the thread title, I thought I would share my details with you all..

Fit and Finish:
-Headers look great and were well finished. Flanges were double welded inside and out, and ports were hand ported clean of welding flash. Kit came with new metal gaskets so that was a bonus.

Installation:
- Dispite the overall job being a pain in the *** due to little room to work in, the fit was spot on. They bolted in perfectly and aligned with the stock exhaust bang on. I bought all new exhaust studs and pinch nuts from MB and they were needed since all but one od the studs backed out. I would recommend that to anyone putting a set of headers on. Total install time about 4 hours

Sound:
-Sound hasn't really changed much at idle or cruise. It's alittle throatier tone under load, and deeper and angrier when thrashed, but not really much louder that I can tell. Once i do the midpipe with no secondaries or resonator it should sound frightening!

Driving Impressions:
-The car pull with much more haste from 2k rpm on. Most noticable increase is in the upper RPMs where it used to feel as if it was running out of breath. Pulls hard till redline now. It's undoubtably quicker than before. ( almost 40+whp will do that). Super happy with these headers and I recommend them based on my experiences.

Dyno:
-Car is a 06 CLS55 with about 50K on it. Only performance mods so far are New K&N filters and PLM heat exchanger with CM30. Dyno runs were about 6 hours apart on the same dyno with the day getting much warmer for the post install run. I was expecting maybe 20-25whp, and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. These are with no tuning or any other mods. 185mm pulley and 82mm TB have not been installed yet, but hoping those and the tunning will net me another 100whp( a guy can dream..) Anyhow, on to the goods:

pearlpower

Very impressive!

Karlson

did you install PLM shorty headers?

930chas

x2? If so, that gain is super impressive!

KLR CLS

Yes indeed these are the shorty headers from PLM that are on ebay. This was through the stock midpide with both cats in place. I almost choked on my coffee when saw the first run at 443whp. It made 443 first run after the headers, and 448 on the 2nd run. AF leaned itself out some from about 11.6 before to 12.5 after so that accounts for some of the gains but the fact remains it went from 406 to almost 450 simply bolting these on. Wow

soundeffects

How much were they?

M-bENZ

Please direct us to the link you bought it . That number is pretty impressive and congrats.

Andy

pearlpower

$4000 with a best offer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PLM-M...Q5fAccessories

If I say please, someone buy me a set??????? This cost more than breast implants.

M-bENZ

holy sh**t lol.

Andy

Jakpro1

Everyone does pulley for first mod but this just confirms it. Headers make GREAT power on our 55 motors and should be one the first mods done.

Thanks for the info!!!

TTMotorsports

Nice numbers but you need to set the CF to SAE and not STD on your dyno graph. Those are your REAL numbers. Either way they do show a nice increase!

If anyone is interested in the PLM manifolds shoot me a PM and I can crush the price on Ebay!

SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY or !

Possible group buy!

Worth the wait

Nice gains! Love the headers as a first mod. I don't know about another 100whp from pulley and tune, but if you have Jeremy tune it you might get close.

BTW I contacted them directly and was told about $2K.

slownrusty

KLR - What did you pay for these PLM headers? Also you are still running all 4 cats?

KLR CLS

Forget the Buy it now price on ebay. Real street pricing should be around 2k. I would contact the seller to see what the best pricing for you would be.

KLR CLS

It' s only 2.6% difference between SAE and STD and conditions at the time were almost at the standard. Either way doesn't change the gains that were realized pre and post. Might as well feel better about the higher numbers!

Was out driving today and car feels fantastic! Made a huge difference all over the rev range. Car gets to speed so much more eagerly and pulls like mad when you get on it. Never would have thought these would have made such a difference. Hook some people up with that GB!

I8NM5

TRUE BUT YOU HAVE MORE FUN WITH THE IMPLANTS WAIT, SORRY THE WIFE JUST SAID SOMETHING....

KLR CLS

Hi Folks,

I got some great pricing from the vendor for the MBworld folks. ( Basically 50% off list price). PM me for details. Still loving it by the way. The growl under load, and power increase is addicting!

Pete

Exotic-metal55

You are absolutely right in your expectations of 20-25 RWHP gains from shorty headers , using stock mid pipe and the flow design of these shorties. There is no Magic here and this style header has been dynoed over and over for several years on this forum. You get 1 5/8 or smaller primary inlets and a 2" to 2 3/8" ID outlet= 20-25 HP gains.

Your stock dyno is pretty low. Looks like a bad pull and timing may have been pulled hard up top (5000K to 5900K.. Notice how the power curve gets wavy up top , dips and then spikes up after peak hp (could be 15hp there alone).. Usually takes 3-4 good baselines to get a stock average before the MOD and same afterwards.. When cars make over 400 RHP, a small % delta of power loss can still be large numerically speaking.. These cars can easilly fluctuate 20 hp between pulls. So , one bad baseline and one good MOd pull can show a non average situation.

At the end of the day, shorties are worth 20-25 RWHP. Important for us all to know, as there is no Magic!

Good luck with the mods and looks like you will be well over 500 hp soon!

KLR CLS

Thanks for the info. I should note that the base dyno I posted was the median of 3. I had one pull at 411whp, next at 404, then this one at 407. Since it was the third pull and split the difference I used it for comparison. The after pulls were 443, 445, and 448. Just kept making more power each pass. After Passes were 10 mins cool downs between.

mekantor

I'm not debating the positive bump from the headers, but with all those mods, where is the power? Are there tune issues, or is it just that specific dyno?

KLR CLS

Only mods actually installed so far are HE/pump and Headers. Pulley, TB and tune go on next thursday. Should be well over 500 whp then..

bmontalban

not bad, but arent these still overpriced for what they are?

pearlpower

Very impressive and without the hassles of long tubes. Just bolts right in, correct?

KLR CLS

The buy it now price is not the real price. These can be had for 2K shipped. Pm me for details.

Correct, these just bolt right in and mate to stock midpipe with all 4 cat converters in place, so you are 100% emissions compliant if you want. I am going to remove secondary cats and resonator and see what kind of a difference that makes too.


Also for anybody interested they also offer headers for the 63 AMG's as well.

skratch77

so this is with everything else stock right?Your sig says 82mm tb,was the tb on before the dyno?