If we get 5 customers together we can get custom headers for our W210 E55's for about half of what others are charging. Stock pipes are very restrictive. These custom pipes should be good for 20 to 30 hp, more if your car is supercharged.
See Supercharged SEC's pics under the 'E55 mods' string currently on page 3.
Factory E55 pipes open to 62mm starting from between the two cats and continues on to the rear mufflers. MBZ restricted the front portion of the E55 exhaust to less than 62mm. Some rumors say they did this to limit the power on the less expensive E55, as the more costly S55 has 62mm pipes throughout. They did not want people grumbling about paying more for a slower car I guess.
Let us know if there is interest.
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"Build a man a fire and warm him for a day. Set a man on fire and warm him for the rest of his life!"
These headers are model specific. We are currently recruiting W210 E55 owners only. We need three or four more people to make it worth the while of the fabricator. See the pics as described in the initial posting above to see the quality. C43 and other models could also be serviced if each distinct model has at least 5 or so paying customers already in line at the outset. For around $2K to $2.5K you get a real quality piece and a substantial performance increase, not to mention an engine that will be cooler running, get better mpg and last longer.
I am in the bay area and I am interested in the headers. How many horsepower does the header adds? Are you getting some local shop to make up the header or are you buying from Kleemann?
I have a 2001 E55 with 26k miles, still under warranty. I am interested in making this E55 handles and responds better than it is today. I think the suspension has some room for improvement and the throttle/transmission response is preventing me from driving fast and smooth. I had BMW for 20years and it is hard not to compare the driving impressions. This E55 is powerful but not being able to get power to the wheel when I needed it bothers me.
I have looked into K&N, supper charger, ECU mod, muffler and supercharger. Somehow I cannot find headers and transmission modification. What would you suggest that I should do?
My primary needs are 1. throttle/transmission response and 2. suspension set up and 3. of course more power.
Check out this thread to see a pic and read some info on these headers
http://www.mbnz.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=719522&posts=11&fid=6
If we get 5 E55's together, we currently have 2, for a production run, the guy who makes them will be able to do them for us for around $2K a set. Kleemann is about twice that. I don't like getting overcharged that grossly. $3,700 for headers is pure rape. The rate of exchange and import taxes may in large part be the culprit. Read my original thread on these headers for more info.
I will also be a dealer and installer in the SF Bay Area for a new supercharger system starting early June when the new system is slated to be released. If you want more bang for the buck, around $7K, plus a 4 year warranty, this will be the ultimate mod for the E55. I will be first installing on my E55 to test and to offer potential customers a demo ride.
Suspension upgrades are limited to swapping your springs for H&R's or eibach's or swapping your shocks and springs. I put H&R's on my car, lowered perfectly now, and it really shores up the initial body roll. The car is not a race car in the suspension department, nor do I want it to be, that is what my 700 horsepower V8 Porsche 914 is for. Brembo brakes are also coming, as I will also be dealing with them.
Check out my other postings for thorough info on all the topics discussed here. Or go to my site www.godspeed.bz
I am interested in the header, how much will installation be? Are you doing it or I need to find someone else to do the installation?
On the brake side, I will be ordering brake rotor soon. Should I use Brembo rotor and pads? I heard so many horror story on the BMW forum on changing to other pads and ended up going back to factory parts due to squeaky brakes. What is a good choice here?
I read your * threads and I look forward for a demo after you are done with yours. Keep me posted. June is ok.
On the lowering of the car, how much have you lowered yours? I know the car rides high compared with my 5 series BMW with sport package. But I don't want to scrape every driveway and speed bump and get caught up with curbs and torn off the front bumper like my wife did on the Bimmer. Any advice on a reasonable number? I have my car aligned at Custom Alignment in Mountain View which is a very good shop and they took out my wagging tail problem and balanced my tires perfectly. They do custom spring installation but they advise me not to lower the car. I understand the hassle but seems like there is no easy way to stablize the car other than lowering the CG. Steve Dinan used to tell me that with a softer spring and a stiffer shock (Bilstein), a car's handling can be improved without hurting ride quality. But BMW are typically lowered so may be he was not thinking about it. Anyway, what is your take on how much to lower on the E55?
Sorry for the long post. I have a lot of questions.
With the H&R springs my car has a one and a half fingers width gap between the top of the tire and the weel well. Handling is much improved, but the car still absorbs most road imperfections in a Mercedes like manner. Only one ride height shim had to be altered for the car to be totally even at all four corners. I have yet to scrape on anything. Horrible pot holes at freeway speeds are noticeably more jarring than was stock. But for less than $300 plus labor, the looks and reduced body roll are a great improvement.
As far as the headers go, I will be able to arrange installation should we actually get enough cars together to do a production run.
If I plan to do the High Performance system sc, do I still need to do the headers? I am sure if I do everything, the car will be better. I wonder if the header's improvement will not be obvious if the sc is in place. What's your comment?
Where did you have your car lowered? How much will that cost? Taking out 1.875" seems a lot. Would I be able to determine how much to take out or the spring comes in a fixed length?
Headers are not required to install the blower kit. The included fuel map supports the stock car with the blower only. The header will be an additional mod that will require extra chip tuning to optimize, it should add a noticeable improvement on an E55, especially on one that is supercharged, since the stock headers were purposely restrictive from the factory as to make the more expensive S class cars look better on paper.
I will be able to supply the parts and labor for swapping to the upgraded Brembo brakes and H&R, Eibach, or full suspension kits, as well as proper alignment. You can check out my car before you buy to see if you likey. I think the whole job, springs, installation, adjustment and alignment, will be around a grand.
I will be putting together varying level packages for Supercharger systems, 14' and 15' Brembo brake kits, tire and wheel packages and suspension upgrades which will allow me to save my customers a lot of money on parts and/or labor.
Dynamometer and drag-race/top-speed testing packages will also be available.
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