AMG virginity/ E55 wagon build thread
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 180
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
AMG virginity/ E55 wagon build thread (updated with pictures...lots of pictures)
Hey guys...long time AMG lover, first time AMG buyer. Coming over from a CTS-V (2009+ version) and a highly modded STS-V before that, but glad to be part of the group!
Just purchased a black 2005 E55 wagon from across the country in California (I'm in Orlando), and Benz-Works helped me facilitate with a really difficult seller, so thanks to Serge on that. I figured since I was already using them as a middleman, might as well have some work done to it before it comes home! They are doing some maintenance work to it (engine and trans mounts, water pump, spark plugs and wires, etc etc) that you'd expect for a high-mileage girl, and then will be doing long-tube headers, a fuel rail, injectors, heat exchanger and pump, 82mm TB, and a tune (along with a set of Vossen's, E63 conversion, and lowering). I guess you can say that I am looking forward to the finished product being pretttty significant.
I'll edit this a little later with some pictures and info, but wanted to get my introduction out there! Glad to be a part of the group!
Just purchased a black 2005 E55 wagon from across the country in California (I'm in Orlando), and Benz-Works helped me facilitate with a really difficult seller, so thanks to Serge on that. I figured since I was already using them as a middleman, might as well have some work done to it before it comes home! They are doing some maintenance work to it (engine and trans mounts, water pump, spark plugs and wires, etc etc) that you'd expect for a high-mileage girl, and then will be doing long-tube headers, a fuel rail, injectors, heat exchanger and pump, 82mm TB, and a tune (along with a set of Vossen's, E63 conversion, and lowering). I guess you can say that I am looking forward to the finished product being pretttty significant.
I'll edit this a little later with some pictures and info, but wanted to get my introduction out there! Glad to be a part of the group!
Last edited by uberwag; Jan 19, 2013 at 06:01 PM.
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CTSV/6sp Grocery Getter
Congrats on the wagon purchase, it sounds like you are going to receive a fun car when it finally arrives in FL.
Let me know you VIN, interior/exterior colors, mileage so I can add it to the W211 estate registry...
Looking forward to seeing some pictures..
Let me know you VIN, interior/exterior colors, mileage so I can add it to the W211 estate registry...
Looking forward to seeing some pictures..
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W221
Welcome to the boards! Your car is going to be a beast! I remember seeing your car when I was down there a little while ago! Cant' wait to see how it turns out! It's going to be a MONSTER! 
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Next...was a lil work to bring her up-to-speed.
And by a little, I mean a lot. A whole lot.
Benz Works in LA/Huntington Beach took her in first, and started with some maintenance items that hadn't been done. Motor mounts, trans mounts, water pump, spark plugs & wires, valve cover gaskets, brakes, etc. Boring stuff, but necessary for a 100k mile car (also...expensive stuff, but that is why I'm glad I got the car cheap!)
Then was the fun stuff.
And by a little, I mean a lot. A whole lot.
Benz Works in LA/Huntington Beach took her in first, and started with some maintenance items that hadn't been done. Motor mounts, trans mounts, water pump, spark plugs & wires, valve cover gaskets, brakes, etc. Boring stuff, but necessary for a 100k mile car (also...expensive stuff, but that is why I'm glad I got the car cheap!)
Then was the fun stuff.
- 180mm crank pulley
- Bosch EV14 Injectors
- 82mm throttle body
- long-tube headers
- looped fuel rail
- NGK plugs (colder than stock)
- STAR lowering
- Painted brake calipers
- E63 front end conversion
- Front-mount heat exchanger
- New intercooler pump (I believe it is a CM30, but somehow I don't have that recorded)
- Vossen CV3 in Mate Graphite (20x9 and 20x10.5)
- Hankook Ventus V12 (255/35r20 front and 295/30r20 rear)
Last edited by uberwag; Jan 19, 2013 at 05:28 PM.
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Then we drove. Started in LA, final destination Orlando, FL (with a few stops along the way, of course).
Went to go see Jerry at Eurocharged in Houston, TX on the way for some troubleshooting of a rough idle, check engine lights (P0505, P2096, P2098, P0106), and some rubbing noise on right turns under load. However...since we were there anyway, might as well do a ECU/TCU/Smaller supercharger pulley. Jerry was great, and while we didn't get everything figured out (TBD, look for a follow-up post on that), glad that I made the stop. Final numbers were 523rwhp and ~625rwtq. Crazy heat on the IAT's, making them bounce up to 170f.
Went to go see Jerry at Eurocharged in Houston, TX on the way for some troubleshooting of a rough idle, check engine lights (P0505, P2096, P2098, P0106), and some rubbing noise on right turns under load. However...since we were there anyway, might as well do a ECU/TCU/Smaller supercharger pulley. Jerry was great, and while we didn't get everything figured out (TBD, look for a follow-up post on that), glad that I made the stop. Final numbers were 523rwhp and ~625rwtq. Crazy heat on the IAT's, making them bounce up to 170f.
Last edited by uberwag; Jan 19, 2013 at 05:30 PM.
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Made it back to Orlando, FL, and finally got the damn this detailed. Amazing part of the trip? MPG was around 21.5 on the highway. Great numbers, all this considered!
Once back, to the shop again in Orlando (FS Tuning) for continuing issues with check engine lights, rough idle, and noise on turn in. However, again...might as well get something else done! FS Tuning installed the Wavetrac diff in the car, along with the split cooling mod (using a Cobra reservoir, distilled water and water wetter) to try to get the IAT's down, and an x-pipe to replace the cats since they had to mess with the exhaust anyway. Why, you ask?
The noise ended up being the driver's side headers rubbing up against the driver's side frame when the car was turning to the right. The headers weren't made/bent properly to start with, so they have to be heated up and bent to create some space between the headers and the frame. Currently trying to see if that will eliminate the noise completely, but if not, might need new driver's side headers from Benz Works. It also looked like the O2 sensor on that side of the car might have gone bad from all the extra vibration, and it was replaced too. As of now, Benz Works and I are still work together to make this right, but I'll give everyone an update in a different post if that doesn't work out.
Once back, to the shop again in Orlando (FS Tuning) for continuing issues with check engine lights, rough idle, and noise on turn in. However, again...might as well get something else done! FS Tuning installed the Wavetrac diff in the car, along with the split cooling mod (using a Cobra reservoir, distilled water and water wetter) to try to get the IAT's down, and an x-pipe to replace the cats since they had to mess with the exhaust anyway. Why, you ask?
The noise ended up being the driver's side headers rubbing up against the driver's side frame when the car was turning to the right. The headers weren't made/bent properly to start with, so they have to be heated up and bent to create some space between the headers and the frame. Currently trying to see if that will eliminate the noise completely, but if not, might need new driver's side headers from Benz Works. It also looked like the O2 sensor on that side of the car might have gone bad from all the extra vibration, and it was replaced too. As of now, Benz Works and I are still work together to make this right, but I'll give everyone an update in a different post if that doesn't work out.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 180
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Next steps are to get the car right for the remaining issues, then re-dyno'd with Jerry remote tuning, and then...drive it.
Remaining issues/joy's of ownership:
Oh! And one last step that I almost forgot about: replacing that old "CTS WEEE" license plate with something more fitting:
"UBERWAG"
Remaining issues/joy's of ownership:
- Driver's side headers rubbing on frame
- Rough idle (stumbling with headlights and interior lights dimming/bouncing with the RPM's), and check engine codes (P0505 and P2096). May be a voltage regulator (FS Tuning theory), or throttle value stop (Eurocharged theory), or bad MAP sensor?
- Vossen rims-the matte graphite finish looks AWESOME. However, it is either very soft, or I got a bad batch. Have chips all over my rims from 3000 miles of driving (see below for a picture of just one wheel from a couple weeks ago). Working with Vossen now to figure out how we will deal with that.
Oh! And one last step that I almost forgot about: replacing that old "CTS WEEE" license plate with something more fitting:
"UBERWAG"
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From: Clearwater Beach, Florida
2016 Cls63s AMG
you def went all out on it and congrats on the new purchase... second of all that issue that your having i had the same exact issue and it ended up being a bad voltage regulator... got that new oem replaced 50 or so bucks and boom perfect no dimming no more or idle issues... 
ohh and did you powder coat the calipers or just paint and did you also remove them off the car... they look as good as factory paint
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Berti_00: Next step for me is voltage regulator...would love for that to fix it all.
Novae500: The LTH came from Benz Works, and they said they are their product, but not sure to be honest.
Also, figured I would include a few pictures of the Cobra resv for the split cooling. Fits well, still seeing how well it is going to work-jury is still out
Novae500: The LTH came from Benz Works, and they said they are their product, but not sure to be honest.
Also, figured I would include a few pictures of the Cobra resv for the split cooling. Fits well, still seeing how well it is going to work-jury is still out
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Orlando, FL
2017 SQ5 / 2012 Ferrari FF
Thanks guys. Yea, she does alright.
I will say that, with the Gen 2 CTS-V that I had before this, everyone with a basic understanding of cars knew what it was and lots of stares and thumbs up. With this, I don't get nearly as many double takes, but when I do, I know it is a more enlightened connoisseur of das auto. I can deal with that!
I will say that, with the Gen 2 CTS-V that I had before this, everyone with a basic understanding of cars knew what it was and lots of stares and thumbs up. With this, I don't get nearly as many double takes, but when I do, I know it is a more enlightened connoisseur of das auto. I can deal with that!
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From: NY
'99 ML320, '06 E55
That car looks sick prerrty quick lol. Dude u really did a lot of modding in such a short time, u had a plan and went thru w/ it with and a lot more to come. Where did you search for ur estsate and how much did u pay if u dont mind me asking? I am looking to get myself in a sedan in a few months. Thanx bro and good luck
