Mercedes Tax, or AMG tax?
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2005 E55
Mercedes Tax, or AMG tax?
Back when I had my corvette, the forum guys/owners would joke about the "Corvette Tax". How just about any part was significantly more expensive just because it was attached to the name "corvette". A case in point was when I went to replace the cabin air filter. The local dealer told me $80-something. I was like.. holy cow, its a paper air filter. Went online, and was told to order one for a same model year Trailblazer. $18, and it turns out it was the same part number.
Fast forward to now: I'm happy with the car as is, but I'm sure eventually I might want more. Looking at aftermarket parts costs, however... WOW. About the only one that makes any cost sense to me comparatively is the tuning - which for me is something I will look into taking a crack at myself.
Is this just because it's a Mercedes? Or that it is a relatively rare car/engine (AMG)? A CAI package for $1700? Unheard of elsewhere. $2500 for a catback, used? Holy smokes! I don't want to come off as a total cheapwad, but these just seem out of this world.
Fast forward to now: I'm happy with the car as is, but I'm sure eventually I might want more. Looking at aftermarket parts costs, however... WOW. About the only one that makes any cost sense to me comparatively is the tuning - which for me is something I will look into taking a crack at myself.
Is this just because it's a Mercedes? Or that it is a relatively rare car/engine (AMG)? A CAI package for $1700? Unheard of elsewhere. $2500 for a catback, used? Holy smokes! I don't want to come off as a total cheapwad, but these just seem out of this world.
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From: Houston, TX
2006 E55
According to my local dealer parts rep, AMG stands for All Money Gone. That being said, if you are savy and have a good tool set you will save a but load doing it yourself. Also if you are patient, good parts go up for sale here used for a fraction of purchase price.
Keep in mind, not many people were buying near $100k sedans and modding them. Its a very narrow market and prices are what they are.
Keep in mind, not many people were buying near $100k sedans and modding them. Its a very narrow market and prices are what they are.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: chicago
2005 E55 AMG
There is definitely a mercedes tax, AMG is more of a grab a lube and spread them situation at any dealer. But you can find deals on here for some good parts ,just have to be patient and quick to react.
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2005 E55
Oh I do all work myself that I possibly can (which normally leaves refrigerant items only). In the case of this car, when I tune I will most likely go with someone else despite my experience, just because they have specific experience that I lack (although I will want to follow along). Other than that anything I get for this car will be labor $ free.
I did think to keep an eye on the classifieds, it has been a godsend in the past for the pocketbook.
All Money Gone. Love it! I do recognize that there are relatively few of our driveline combos out there, and as such any R&D must be spread that much thicker. Still. Wow.
I did think to keep an eye on the classifieds, it has been a godsend in the past for the pocketbook.
All Money Gone. Love it! I do recognize that there are relatively few of our driveline combos out there, and as such any R&D must be spread that much thicker. Still. Wow.
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E55
Oh I do all work myself that I possibly can (which normally leaves refrigerant items only). In the case of this car, when I tune I will most likely go with someone else despite my experience, just because they have specific experience that I lack (although I will want to follow along). Other than that anything I get for this car will be labor $ free.
I did think to keep an eye on the classifieds, it has been a godsend in the past for the pocketbook.
All Money Gone. Love it! I do recognize that there are relatively few of our driveline combos out there, and as such any R&D must be spread that much thicker. Still. Wow.
I did think to keep an eye on the classifieds, it has been a godsend in the past for the pocketbook.
All Money Gone. Love it! I do recognize that there are relatively few of our driveline combos out there, and as such any R&D must be spread that much thicker. Still. Wow.
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2005 E55
I've heard that for every car I've ever owned. I've been tuning since 2000 on multiple platforms. An EFI engine is an EFI engine, there is no magic algorithm that Mercedes/AMG uses. A boosted engine makes it slightly more complicated, but not by much. I have done 3 other boosted fuel injected motors, one of which was the similarly "ultra difficult/complicated" BMW. I'm talking getting into individual parameter tables, doing hand calculations, aligning air measuring meters, logging AFRs on widebands while driving, etc. I'm not knocking AMG or Mercedes at all - it just isn't wizardry.
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2005 E55
I will grant the possibly too expensive part - I'm not going to drop a couple grand just to do it myself (as I said - I'll probably have someone else do it). Hardware/software/access are usually the hardest things to overcome in tuning for yourself. My piecemeal tuning setup for all things GM cost me $1k, and I have to pay for every car that I do - but I couldn't afford $10k for the fully unlocked version...
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2005 E55
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2005 E55
I also recognize this is a different platform - I have tons of respect for the EC and other tuners who work on such a specific one (especially since they don't jack up the $$$ for their tunes). I know how hard pleasing people who are searching for every last horsepower can be! That being said, it's a fuel injected V8, DOHC, with electronic ignition timing, a belt driven supercharger with predictable boost (I've done turbo... YEESH), with its own narrow band O2 sensor feedback loop.
As you and I both alluded, the cost of tuning software might be prohibitive. Although, it appears that tuning is done via internet/email and a cord that is passed through - so hardware/software would be available to me in that respect. At the least I can see what they do and offer any suggestions or questions I have. (I could be missing this point entirely, that's just my impression so far).
Jon
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From: South Florida
Daily 06 E55, Fun 12 GSXR750, Racing John Deere D110
You just need to be a little more resourceful. I custom built my intake for under $200 using vibrant pipes and aem filters. I deleted my resonator ($75) and soon my cats ($75). I added cutouts for $140 installed. Custom tune from Bip $400. AEM wideband $150. PLM negotiates on their parts, I got their heat exchanger for $350 shipped and split cooling can be done for $35 to $80 depending how fancy you want to get. $1450 total for a decently modded car.
Or you can buy a catback that gives you 20whp for $2000 lol **** THAT ****
I already looked into the tuning software needed, I tune as well. Not worth it unless youre doing it everyday for a living. Find a tuner thats willing to listen to your input and thats the best youre going to get. BIP has been great and they have unlimited retunes via email and unlimited corrections for each map. Message Craig, aka Bi Performance, and pick his brain a little bit. You'll like what he has to say!
Or you can buy a catback that gives you 20whp for $2000 lol **** THAT ****
I already looked into the tuning software needed, I tune as well. Not worth it unless youre doing it everyday for a living. Find a tuner thats willing to listen to your input and thats the best youre going to get. BIP has been great and they have unlimited retunes via email and unlimited corrections for each map. Message Craig, aka Bi Performance, and pick his brain a little bit. You'll like what he has to say!
Last edited by S2K750; Oct 6, 2013 at 06:24 PM.
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From: South Florida
Daily 06 E55, Fun 12 GSXR750, Racing John Deere D110
My evo ix ran 11.4 @ 120 with under $1000 in parts. intake filter, cutout, gm 3port, 3bar map sensor, home built meth kit and I tuned it myself. My greatest accomplishment to date
I just wish I knew my 60'.. I ran that time on 19s lol Had to be low 1.6s
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From: Cypress, TX
'06 E55, '15 Jeep SRT8, '94 Mustang GT
Is it really worth taking the time to tune yourself, given any equipment you have to purchase in order to do it, if you can get tuning from a vendor during a sales time for a couple hundred? On Black Friday last year, EC gave away their tune for $300.
@ a catback giving 20whp
@ a catback giving 20whp
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From: South Florida
Daily 06 E55, Fun 12 GSXR750, Racing John Deere D110
Tuning makes or breaks a car. Look at the variance in trap speeds with cars that have the same parts. For the cost involved in purchasing the equipment for the e55, it's not worth it.
I use to tune evos in college for beer money and you'd be amazed how much more power you can squeeze out of a car by simply smoothing out the fuel and timing maps. Aggressive isn't the only way to make power. Unfortunately when you're charging a little amount for a tune, you get what you pay for.
An example. A Cobb accessport base tune on an Evo X makes about 45whp and 60trq, sounds impressive? A car I Custom tuned a month ago made an additional 32whp and 22lbs trq from only stabilizing the afr to 11.6 from a very jumpy 11.2-12.0. Once I had the afr nice the car accepted a little more timing. No increase in boost and the car now pulls through the gears much better. He picked up 2-3mph in the 1/4 mile.
I was rounding up after doubling on the catback lol
I use to tune evos in college for beer money and you'd be amazed how much more power you can squeeze out of a car by simply smoothing out the fuel and timing maps. Aggressive isn't the only way to make power. Unfortunately when you're charging a little amount for a tune, you get what you pay for.
An example. A Cobb accessport base tune on an Evo X makes about 45whp and 60trq, sounds impressive? A car I Custom tuned a month ago made an additional 32whp and 22lbs trq from only stabilizing the afr to 11.6 from a very jumpy 11.2-12.0. Once I had the afr nice the car accepted a little more timing. No increase in boost and the car now pulls through the gears much better. He picked up 2-3mph in the 1/4 mile.
I was rounding up after doubling on the catback lol
Last edited by S2K750; Oct 6, 2013 at 07:26 PM. Reason: Cause I'm a G
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From: South Florida
Daily 06 E55, Fun 12 GSXR750, Racing John Deere D110
