W210 AMG Upgrades_Help - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kieran1 · #1 01-09-2009, 06:56 PM

Hi,

I have a 2001 E55 AMG. I want to start looking at seriously improving the suspension.

Who is the best source for perf. packages for this car? I was looking at RennTech, but their website is not too informative.

* Also, what major difference would a Carbon Fiber Air Box make in my car?

Can any other W210 E55 owners direct me to good sources for great performance Mods?

Thank you very much,

Kieran-

whipplem104 · #2 01-09-2009, 07:03 PM

There are not a lot of things out there for this. The main thing in the rear is you can put fully adjustable control arms by using heim joints. This stiffens the rear end up and provides adjustability. The front you could also replace the control arm bushings with custom solid urethane or delrin bushings depending on what you are looking for. Then springs and shocks are about it. Almost everything needs to be custom made. I did this for my w124 coupe. I have solid rear subframe mounts and some of the rear suspension bushings and sway bar bushings are solid delrin. Got rid of a lot of play.
Are you looking for track use?

Bill Wood · #3 01-09-2009, 09:55 PM

Here's my $0.02

I used to own a 2001 CLK55 AMG. Basically the same engine you have but the W208 chassis instead of the W210.

There are some pics of the car in my gallery

I installed the Kleemann supercharger, chip, suspension and wheels. The suspension included springs, shocks and swaybar.

The car was an absolute rocket on the drag strip and road course.
550 HP of big bad beast!

Once you go down this road be aware there are hidden costs!
- the differential was destroyed from too much fun at the drag strip. (I replaced the diff and life was good again)
- the left side motor mount broke from excessive torque and allowed the engine to rotate within the engine bay enough to dent the hood. (I replaced the motor mount and installed a steel cable safety line to limit travel. Paintless dent repair fixed the hood)
- the Kleemann suspension has so much negative camber that I was always buying tires. The negative camber helps give you extra speed on the road course but, it eats tires on the street. Too many burnouts are tough on tires, too! (I installed K-Mac camber kits and that gave me more adjustment so I could run street or race settings).

My advice?
Unless you have serious money to spend ($25k - $50k), leave the car as is and enjoy it. A carbon fiber airbox is not going to do much of anything other than look nice. You CAN get serious performance from that E55 but, you'll have to put up with downsides that may be a pain. The stock E55 is a GREAT CAR as is.

Kieran1 · #4 01-09-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whipplem104

There are not a lot of things out there for this. The main thing in the rear is you can put fully adjustable control arms by using heim joints. This stiffens the rear end up and provides adjustability. The front you could also replace the control arm bushings with custom solid urethane or delrin bushings depending on what you are looking for. Then springs and shocks are about it. Almost everything needs to be custom made. I did this for my w124 coupe. I have solid rear subframe mounts and some of the rear suspension bushings and sway bar bushings are solid delrin. Got rid of a lot of play.
Are you looking for track use?

Thanks for the great info; I am looking to keep it "Street," but I want to seriously upgrade & tighten the steering & suspension.
- Firm in handling / cornering

Kieran1 · #5 01-10-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webmaster

Here's my $0.02

I used to own a 2001 CLK55 AMG. Basically the same engine you have but the W208 chassis instead of the W210.

There are some pics of the car in my gallery

I installed the Kleemann supercharger, chip, suspension and wheels. The suspension included springs, shocks and swaybar.

The car was an absolute rocket on the drag strip and road course.
550 HP of big bad beast!

Once you go down this road be aware there are hidden costs!
- the differential was destroyed from too much fun at the drag strip. (I replaced the diff and life was good again)
- the left side motor mount broke from excessive torque and allowed the engine to rotate within the engine bay enough to dent the hood. (I replaced the motor mount and installed a steel cable safety line to limit travel. Paintless dent repair fixed the hood)
- the Kleemann suspension has so much negative camber that I was always buying tires. The negative camber helps give you extra speed on the road course but, it eats tires on the street. Too many burnouts are tough on tires, too! (I installed K-Mac camber kits and that gave me more adjustment so I could run street or race settings).

My advice?
Unless you have serious money to spend ($25k - $50k), leave the car as is and enjoy it. A carbon fiber airbox is not going to do much of anything other than look nice. You CAN get serious performance from that E55 but, you'll have to put up with downsides that may be a pain. The stock E55 is a GREAT CAR as is.

VERY VERY nice!
The suspension is what I am really interested in. I want to improve the bit of body roll & maybe tighten up the steering.
Thank you for the great info.

Johnhef · #6 01-10-2009, 11:10 AM

Nice car Bill, a friend near me here has an 01 CLK55 with all the Kleeman stuff too and had their diff, but now I believe he put a quaife in it. He was breaking axles. That supercharger really packs a punch! nothing like laying into that pedal and having it shove you into your seat!

What did yours run at the track? Last November he got his fastest yet- an 11.09 @ 124.570

Bill Wood · #7 01-10-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

What did yours run at the track? Last November he got his fastest yet- an 11.09 @ 124.570

I never broke into the 11's in my car. The main problem was finding wheels and tires that would allow me to put the power down. You can't buy wide drag slicks in a size that fits these cars. I did mostly road courses and my race tires were great for that but not great on the drag strip.

We built a C Class with a 55 engine and Kleemann supercharger that got into the low 11's. We wanted to get into the 10's so we added nitrous. Bad move! We ended up cracking 2 pistons. This car was a lot more radical than my CLK.

Here's a pic of the C55K. You can just see the front of my CLK55K coming into the left of the image. Look at the expression on the guy's face at the starting line. That's priceless! He's not expecting a Mercedes to launch like that.

Johnhef · #8 01-10-2009, 02:38 PM

haha! awesome!

His CLK actually does have nitrous too, but he didn't use it that day, the bottle wasn't even in the car.

el presidente · #9 01-10-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webmaster

Here's my $0.02

I used to own a 2001 CLK55 AMG. Basically the same engine you have but the W208 chassis instead of the W210.

There are some pics of the car in my gallery

I installed the Kleemann supercharger, chip, suspension and wheels. The suspension included springs, shocks and swaybar.

The car was an absolute rocket on the drag strip and road course.
550 HP of big bad beast!

Once you go down this road be aware there are hidden costs!
- the differential was destroyed from too much fun at the drag strip. (I replaced the diff and life was good again)
- the left side motor mount broke from excessive torque and allowed the engine to rotate within the engine bay enough to dent the hood. (I replaced the motor mount and installed a steel cable safety line to limit travel. Paintless dent repair fixed the hood)
- the Kleemann suspension has so much negative camber that I was always buying tires. The negative camber helps give you extra speed on the road course but, it eats tires on the street. Too many burnouts are tough on tires, too! (I installed K-Mac camber kits and that gave me more adjustment so I could run street or race settings).

My advice?
Unless you have serious money to spend ($25k - $50k), leave the car as is and enjoy it. A carbon fiber airbox is not going to do much of anything other than look nice. You CAN get serious performance from that E55 but, you'll have to put up with downsides that may be a pain. The stock E55 is a GREAT CAR as is.

Bill,

Extremely valuable advice - thank you for the informative post.

For the O.P. - Check to see if K2 suspension has an application for the W210/55. There is one for the W208, but as Bill noted, you may see significantly increased tire wear.

Another option is to order a set of euro-spec springs. I've got them on my CLK55 and the difference is noticed. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADVERSE CAMBER WEAR either - I'm running stock dampers and sway bars with polyurethane LCA bushings.

Good luck!

wis · #10 01-10-2009, 08:07 PM

i put bilstein sports and h&r springs on my car, no adverse tire wear and great cornering fo a street car, very reasonable cost as well. my 210 is not a amg though

Kieran1 · #11 01-10-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el presidente

Bill,

Extremely valuable advice - thank you for the informative post.

For the O.P. - Check to see if K2 suspension has an application for the W210/55. There is one for the W208, but as Bill noted, you may see significantly increased tire wear.

Another option is to order a set of euro-spec springs. I've got them on my CLK55 and the difference is noticed. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADVERSE CAMBER WEAR either - I'm running stock dampers and sway bars with polyurethane LCA bushings.

Good luck!

Hi,

I assume "K2" is KLEEMANN...?
I see that they do have kit for the W210.
Has anyone done anything with RennTech (within reason)?

I am actively looking into the Kleemann stuff. I am not looking for radical, just a high quality upgrade. So far, it looks like Kleemann.

Sincere thanks & best regards,

Kieran-

el presidente · #12 01-11-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieran1

Hi,

I assume "K2" is KLEEMANN...?
I see that they do have kit for the W210.
Has anyone done anything with RennTech (within reason)?

I am actively looking into the Kleemann stuff. I am not looking for radical, just a high quality upgrade. So far, it looks like Kleemann.

Sincere thanks & best regards,

Kieran-

My apologies....I meant to type KW suspension. Made in Germany - quality stuff from the feedback I've seen.

They make a 'V2' or Version 2 coilover setup for the W208. Google for their website.

Good luck!