SM105K's Ownership/Performance/Maintenance Thread

[kryptto]

I went to Dyno Comp yesterday to inquire about a tune. Just a basic ECU tune (don't want to go crazy) like Renntech. What is funny is, Renntech used to have an office next door to Dyno Comp for many years. The basic Renntech ECU tune is $3800. Yes.....$3800!! That does not include CPC tune or Transmission tune. So yeah.......

Let me delve into the limited knowledge that I have about tuning the m177/m178 Biturbo 4.0 liter AMG V8. The ECU tune is the biggest bang for your buck just like the SHO platform. However, the CPC is gate keeper. The latest Mercedes AMG models have their VMax (Speed limiter) and the torque limiters managed from a separate module called the CPC. These values cannot be modified through the ECU software. With just a CPC tune (no ECU tune) e63's are going into the high tens in the quarter mile and dropping up to 9 tenths off their 60 to 130 pulls. Also the stock CPC is speed limited to 186 mph. I have every intention of surpassing that, and getting into the 200 mph club.

Just like the SHO, transmission tuning can really make a difference in performance and driving experience. After speaking to the tuner, and discussing the options......I said full send. For less then the price of the Renntech tune, I will getting the ECU, CPC, and Transmission Tune. Didn't want to go crazy right? After seeing their dossier on other AMG's they have tuned, I am confident in this decision. My AMG will be tuned on the fuel it will primarily run, in the climate it resides in, and will actually be dyno tuned. However, they use a Dyno Dynamics which in the dyno world is the heart breaker. The DD usually reads 10 to 12% lower than a Dyno Jet. However, I have a slide chart and math is math.

The appointment is November 26th, so I have some work that needs to be done. I need to pull out the draggy and do some baseline tests. Things like 0 to 60 times, 1/4 miles times, and of course 60 to 130 times. I also need to get the AMG strapped to the Dyno Jet I used for the SHO all of those years modifying her so I can compare before and after numbers. I like all of the data!

Also all of these numbers are coming from a bone stock E63S with no plans of bolt ons as of yet. I will keep you guys posted.

Good luck and may the Gewalt, be with you...

 

[SM105K]

So I went out last night with the dragy. There is a flat road near my house. However it isn't the best by any means. Being flat and almost 1.5 miles long is literally the only thing it has going for it. Curb weight for the E63s is 4515lbs to 4669 lbs. So call her 4600 lbs. I weigh 255 lbs. Altogether 4855 lbs. Coupled with 40 psi in the tires, and 3/4 of a tank of fuel these were the results. Only did one run which recorded, 0 to 60 mph, 1/4 mile, and 60 mph to 130 mph. Below are the results.

0 to 60 mph

1/4 Mile

60 to 130

Not too shabby all things considered. DA was trash. Pretty sure I can screw around with tire pressure and the get the short times quicker. However, I am not really interested in that. I just want to be able to get in with a reasonable street tire pressure 36 to 40 psi, and click off a high 10 second pass on dragy. Hopefully with the tune we can accomplish this.

 

[kryptto]

So I went out last night with the dragy. There is a flat road near my house. However it isn't the best by any means. Being flat and almost 1.5 miles long is literally the only thing it has going for it. Curb weight for the E63s is 4515lbs to 4669 lbs. So call her 4600 lbs. I weigh 255 lbs. Altogether 4855 lbs. Coupled with 40 psi in the tires, and 3/4 of a tank of fuel these were the results. Only did one run which recorded, 0 to 60 mph, 1/4 mile, and 60 mph to 130 mph. Below are the results.

0 to 60 mph
View attachment 92365
1/4 Mile
View attachment 92366
60 to 130
View attachment 92367
Not too shabby all things considered. DA was trash. Pretty sure I can screw around with tire pressure and the get the short times quicker. However, I am not really interested in that. I just want to be able to get in with a reasonable street tire pressure 36 to 40 psi, and click off a high 10 second. Hopefully with the tune we can accomplish this.

Those are some great numbers. The 0-60 is nice so is 1/4 mile.

 

[SM105K]

Those are some great numbers. The 0-60 is nice so is 1/4 mile.

I cant complain, all things being compared to other publications and owners. Most are posting 3.2 to 3.4 0 to 60's, and 11.20 to 11.40's at 120ish - to 122ish mph in the quarter. I am right there as well.

 

[LilCop2002]

I cant complain, all things being compared to other publications and owners. Most are posting 3.2 to 3.4 0 to 60's, and 11.20 to 11.40's at 120ish - to 122ish mph in the quarter. I am right there as well.

I haven't followed your full details... is this Margot or Elizabeth? Either way, with the signature items listed for each, those cars are fast.

 

[SM105K]

I haven't followed your full details... is this Margot or Elizabeth? Either way, with the signature items listed for each, those cars are fast.

This one is Elizabeth my E63s. Come to think if it, I should do some runs with Margot as well. I don't know what tune is in her and if everything goes well with Dyno Comp with Elizabeth, I might just have them retune Margot as well.

 

[SM105K]

Elizabeth goes on a Dyno Jet tomorrow at 2pm. It will be interesting to see the before tune numbers, and after tune numbers. Of course I will keep everyone posted.

 

[FrankK]

Easton,

Just wanted to say thanks for keeping the rest of us under privileged folks up to date. Love hearing about what you are doing with your new cars.

 

[SM105K]

Easton,

Just wanted to say thanks for keeping the rest of us under privileged folks up to date. Love hearing about what you are doing with your new cars.

No worries. I like to keep a record of things so I can go back and remember. I still use the beginning of this thread to research things I did to my SHO. It is nice to have a place to put things down and have have feedback from guys like you.

 

[SM105K]

Okay guys. Today was a fight. My car was the first E63S on their dyno. Long story short, we struggled to get a good rpm sync for the tq reading. The car has to be put in a dyno mode. The dyno has to be linked for the AWD, and Yada Yada.

We got the best HP run we could get at 543 to the tire. That is right in the ball park of other E63s cars. Most are dynoing 530 to 550 hp and 550 to 570tq to the tire.

The shop it goes to next week dyno's and tunes cars like this all of the time. I just wanted to use this as a good baseline.

 

[Zpak]

That’s a quick ass car for bone stock. I imagine is super comfortable too. Gotta be fun to drive.

 

[kryptto]

That’s a quick ass car for bone stock. I imagine is super comfortable too. Gotta be fun to drive.

I agree

 

[SM105K]

That’s a quick ass car for bone stock. I imagine is super comfortable too. Gotta be fun to drive.

It is super interesting, to say the least. There are so many ways that the E63s and the SHO are the same, but so vastly different.

Both are AWD (albeit in completely different configurations). One is twin turbo, the other is bi-turbo (lol). One is a 3.5 liter 210 cubic inch V6. The other is 4.0 liter 240 cubic inch V8.

They are both pretty heavy. M was 4550 lbs with me in her with a 1/4 tank of fuel. Elizabeth is roughly 4900 with me in her and 3/4 tank of fuel.

Both are ascetically appealing to me. Both are fully optioned with leather interior, massage seats, heated and cooled seats, sun shade, infotainment systems.

Mercedes is light years ahead in tech (even against a same year equivalent 2019 SHO), interior materials, and mechanical engineering. I know....I know...its a Mercedes, but I will get to that later.

This is where they differ. A stock SHO vs a stock E63s isn't a fair comparison. However, the way I built M makes a pretty good case for the SHO.

M went 1.77 to sixty foot at the track on a 12.54 pass. M's best street pass with a dragy was 1.90 to sixty foot on an 12.27 pass. Best MPH was 110.98. I never got to back to the track with M after I put the upgraded HPFP. The 12.27 dragy pass was after the HPFP upgrade.

Elizabeth went 1.75 to sixty foot, 11.38 to the quarter mile at 120.58 mph bone stock.

Elizabeth matched M's best track sixty foot on the street. Elizabeth went .9 tenths of a second faster, and almost 10 mph quicker stock. I am flirting on put a drag radial on Elizabeth as well.

M made 411 hp and 546 tq to the tire Full Bolt ON (FBO) on E30. Elizabeth made 543 hp and roughly 565 tq to the tire stock on 91. So tq numbers are really close, but the HP numbers are massively different.

Biggest difference. The window sticker for M was $46,580. The window sticker for Elizabeth was $126,500.

I bought M (5 years old) in 2018 with 52,000 miles completely stock for $21,000. I bought Elizabeth (5 years old) in 2024 with 38,000 miles completely stock for $68,200. So both have depreciated to roughly half of what they were bought for.

All of M's modifications (springs, brakes, wheels, DP's, custom exhaust, HPFP, tune, tuner) cost me roughly $4000. I also had to replace a transmission for $4800 out of pocket. I won't count tires, fuel, or oil changes...but at roughly $30k that is incredibly hard to beat for the performance and comfort I recieved.

Just the tune for Elizabeth is going to be roughly $3500. So yeah........

The price of a used SHO coupled with $5k in upgrades to run a high 11, with all of the creatures comforts and good styling....is damn hard to beat for the price. Esp if you can get a decent SHO for under 17K. Add turbos and you run with most of the stock German BiTurbo V8 cars for 1/4 to 1/2 the price.

Overall I had a great experience with M. She did everything I asked of her. She beat 95% of cars that I raced in Mexico. Only lost a couple times in the street light grand prix, and was a great long distance driver. For the price point, price in mods, and performance...the SHO is hard to beat. However unless your are FBO, on E30, with upgraded turbos (or named Jordan or Andrew)...you don't stand a chance against a stock E63s.

If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I would buy the SHO again, mod it again, enjoy it again. However, once I sold the SHO, I would buy a E63s again as well.

 

[shoblock]

So with all the work that has been done to the Mercedes over the past couple of weeks, I drove it to Dumbfuckistan over the past weekend. Everyone needs a good road trip with their new to them car. During my trip I got a check engine light. I scanned it and a couple of codes came up. A couple of air temp sensors, and a full throttle purge valve. I just deleted the codes and went on my business. I will say, the little v8 averaged 20.3 mpg with an average mph of 87 mph. Not too shabby.

Once I got back into town, I took her straight to Mercedes. Car was purchased there new, had all of her service done there, and the service writer remembered the car. I explained my ordeal with the car since I purchased it, and what I knew about the codes. During our conversation, I noticed a picture of him in his Dress Blues on a digital picture frame. Long story short, we are both inactive duty Marines and that help set the tone. He asked if the car was tuned. I told him not yet. I said asked about the process in what happens with a tuned car? He said there are ways to work around stuff, but it usually isn't a big deal. However, if the car is tuned to let them know. In case stuff needing to be updated ect.

So I asked point blank, if I were to tune the car who would be a good tuner. He told me Renntech is what a lot of the AMG community use, but if it was up to him he would stay local. There is a tuning shop called Dyno Comp here in the Phoenix Metro Area. The dealership and Dyno Comp have a good relationship and they take care of each other. That planted a seed in my head.

I left the car at Mercedes on Monday 11/11/24 @ 545 pm. I recieved a call Tuesday 11/12/24 @1230 pm say my car is done and ready for pick up. I laughed, went home, got into a Uber (GF was at work and didnt want to leave a car down there). My Uber driver was from Stuttgart, Germany. It was a super interesting 30 min ride with this gentleman. He is 57 and lived in Germany his whole life, he lives here now. He told me a bunch of stories about living in Germany, driving the Autobahn, and other things. Super cool guy. Funny he was the one driving me to Mercedes to pick up my AMG. Also his personal preference for German cars was Audi.

Get to Mercedes and my service writer explains that the plug for the full throttle purge valve was not plugged in. In the notes he wrote about the upper pan gasket seal, rear main seal ect. The tech saw that, and did an inspection of the work and said everything seemed to be good. I paid my way cheaper than I thought bill. Started the car and no CEL. That damn little light was started to give me PTSD. Car runs great, no CEL, and hopefully I can put some trouble free miles in the next week because......it's time........

So we went to Germany earlier this year to Heidelburg, where my wife worked for 1 week. On the way there from the airport, it was in an Audi doing 118+ in the fast lane, smooth and stable. But, on the way back we had 6 people in a Mercedes mini-van. The girls were all talking away, and I sat there silently, watching the speedometer, and worrying enough for all seven of us. (the driver wasn't worried at all) It wasn't smooth, like the Audi, and the extra weight made a LOT of bouncing motion at 118, with bursts to 128! Okay the car BARELY handled it, but there are these 4 items called tires that I worried about for over 35 minutes. I checked the tires when we reached our destination and they looked like about half tread. The girls had zero concern and I didn't share what I knew the rest of our day (and maybe life) would have been like if one of those tires let go. I've had the SHO up to 135 many times, but it's a very well maintained SHO. Did I worry unnecessarily?
SHOBLOCK

 

[kryptto]

So we went to Germany earlier this year to Heidelburg, where my wife worked for 1 week. On the way there from the airport, it was in an Audi doing 118+ in the fast lane, smooth and stable. But, on the way back we had 6 people in a Mercedes mini-van. The girls were all talking away, and I sat there silently, watching the speedometer, and worrying enough for all seven of us. (the driver wasn't worried at all) It wasn't smooth, like the Audi, and the extra weight made a LOT of bouncing motion at 118, with bursts to 128! Okay the car BARELY handled it, but there are these 4 items called tires that I worried about for over 35 minutes. I checked the tires when we reached our destination and they looked like about half tread. The girls had zero concern and I didn't share what I knew the rest of our day (and maybe life) would have been like if one of those tires let go. I've had the SHO up to 135 many times, but it's a very well maintained SHO. Did I worry unnecessarily?
SHOBLOCK

No you were in the know thus knew you the dangers that said, you should of asked the driver to slow it down knowing the issues. I say the same, drive my car and take her to whatever speed you want. She is very very well maintained and safe. It amazes me how many people just drive the car to the grave with no concern for their safety. It says a lot about the engineering of modern cars, but those tires... Probably the biggest safety feature of the whole car

 

[SM105K]

So we went to Germany earlier this year to Heidelburg, where my wife worked for 1 week. On the way there from the airport, it was in an Audi doing 118+ in the fast lane, smooth and stable. But, on the way back we had 6 people in a Mercedes mini-van. The girls were all talking away, and I sat there silently, watching the speedometer, and worrying enough for all seven of us. (the driver wasn't worried at all) It wasn't smooth, like the Audi, and the extra weight made a LOT of bouncing motion at 118, with bursts to 128! Okay the car BARELY handled it, but there are these 4 items called tires that I worried about for over 35 minutes. I checked the tires when we reached our destination and they looked like about half tread. The girls had zero concern and I didn't share what I knew the rest of our day (and maybe life) would have been like if one of those tires let go. I've had the SHO up to 135 many times, but it's a very well maintained SHO. Did I worry unnecessarily?
SHOBLOCK

See that is the funny thing. In Germany..100 mph is our 65-70 mph. I honestly wouldn't have thought twice about it. When the driver is worried, is when I get worried. Funny story. I had a enduro/downhill bike race this weekend. I came over a lip and realized that I effed up. Way too hot going into a corner, but while I was crashing I was still trying to save it. I didn't save it, and crashed pretty heavy. For the most part, I am good to go. I believe it is the mentality of still working through the problem until the end that probably saved me from a bigger crash, instead of just freezing up and becoming a passenger.

 

[SHOdded]

the autobahn of yore is not the autobahn of today, but they at least seem to be more organized with their construction projects.

used to be georgia was the autobahn of the USA lol.

 

[SM105K]

Just got a pretty good Black Friday Deal on Catless Downpipes for the E63S.

2017-2023 Mercedes E63 AMG Downpipes | W213

Give your 2017-2023 Mercedes E63 AMG a facelift with these Downpipes from us! Perfect fitment and High quality these Downpipes will not disappoint.

german-car-accessories.com

$808 shipped to me. I spoke to the fabricator that built my custom exhaust for SHO about the install. He is going to install these. To remove the stock downpipes you have two options. You need to either cut them in half, or you need to remove the transmission. So....Kyle is going to cut the stock DP's and then vband them back in place in case I ever have to put them back on again.

Installation of the new DP's is super easy because they are two piece. I bought the shielded ones, because there is quite a bit of things (electronics) surrounding the downpipes from the top of the engine to the termination point to the stock exhaust. The Catless Downpipes make the E63S sound really nasty when you open the baffles. They also open up the top end of the turbos.

 

[SM105K]

Just picked Elizabeth up. Here's what she cranked out. Bone stock, BMC drop in filters, Shell 91 octane 23 psi.

Notice the how the graphs go flat? That is the stock CPC limiting the gains. We had a miscommunication about the CPC. Not a big deal. The new blank CPC arrives from Mercedes tomorrow. They have to clone it, and then install it. However, I am taking the car to CA tonight. So....on Monday, it will get installed. That should bump the numbers up and it will be more a natural curve.

Good numbers though. Tq really moved. With the CPC and Catless downpipes, we should see over 700 hp and 800 tq. I am going to try and get a dragy run tonight before I leave, but without the CPC I really don't think it will make a different because of the tq limits. So yeah. The story continues...

 

[SM105K]

Alrighty. Same road 1/2 tank of fuel.

Struggled with traction. Like I said the road is trash. Went faster zero to sixty though...

That close to a verified 10 second pass. It did spin more than the last pass. However I would say after the mid range made up for that. .3 tenths faster and almost 4 mph. Still hampered by the stock CPC. Most guys are reporting .3 to .4 tenths faster and another 3 to 4 mph. Car should go 10.80 at 127 with a tuned CPC. Maybe on Monday, I can go back and try again.

60 to 130 was 1.07 seconds faster. Most CPC tuned cars are going bottom to mid 8's.

So yeah. I think on a better road it will click off a 10 second pass as she sits.