Bought 507 - What next?

[Evotion]

Hi all,

Just acquired a 507 version of the C63 AMG.

The body is perfect and seems to run perfectly.
However, I am still taking into Mercedes Guildford for a full checkover and diagnostics and hope to put right anything that is amiss.
The last service in July mentioned rockers and brakes so I might be looking at 2k of work.
They told me it needs the steering rack recal thing too.

Whilst there or otherwise, I seek to get the car to the peak it can be as I aim to have this for a long time.
So far, am loving it, by the way. Am new to Mercedes and am VERY impressed. Wow, what a car!

Questions:

1. What general upgrades are prudent to maximise the car's potential? Engine parts, etc
2. What should I replace why Merc is looking at it to ensure longevity? e.g. bushes, etc
3. Is there a way to unplug a part which keeps the valve open. Sounds epic on acceleration but a bit quiet on normal idle and low speeds.
4. What the best pads to get - assuming the ones Merc will suggest will be sub-optimum?
5. What is the perfect fuel for the car? I have both a Shell and BP near me.
6. How do I find out what the car out of the factory with, as standard?
7. I doubt the car has an LSD - is it really worth adding restrospectively for fast road driving. I will NOT take the car on the track.
8. Will Google Maps/Wave on my Android come up on the car's screen? So far, I can get my bluetooth music to play but am using the car's own Sat Nav.
9. Where can I get black badges to replace the side 6.3 badges and the AMG and 6.3 badges on the boot? I'll leave the silver rim on the wheels and the silver exhaust tips
10. What does the little RS mean on the circular mode knob?

Cheers, much appreciated.

 

[Steve84N]

Questions:

1. What general upgrades are prudent to maximise the car's potential? Engine parts, etc

None. You already have SLS forged pistons, conrods and lighter crank. You can upgrade the hydraulic lifters to SLS ones which have a friction reducing coating or SLS Black Series ones with the coating all over instead of just part.

1. What should I replace why Merc is looking at it to ensure longevity? e.g. bushes, etc

Bushes do inevitably wear. The lower front control arms are common and the ones further back are AMG specific, being thicker than standard. They're about £400 each.

Engine mounts get tired and are hydraulic so can leak their oil when they fail.

The engine sump has three layers and each one is just a bead of sealant. It's now becoming common for these to weep oil, the middle one needs subframe out and the top one is engine out. However, can be monitored with mild seeping for quite a while before it really needs fixing.

Camshaft adjusters have a plate inside that wears and can cause a rattle on startup.

1. Is there a way to unplug a part which keeps the valve open. Sounds epic on acceleration but a bit quiet on normal idle and low speeds.

No valves... Full noise all the time.

1. What the best pads to get - assuming the ones Merc will suggest will be sub-optimum?

Actually the standard pads are good for road use, bite from cold, no squeal and perform well.

1. What is the perfect fuel for the car? I have both a Shell and BP near me.

The higher the octane the better, otherwise don't sweat it.

1. How do I find out what the car out of the factory with, as standard?

There weren't many options but you can use a VIN decoder like: Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

1. I doubt the car has an LSD - is it really worth adding restrospectively for fast road driving. I will NOT take the car on the track.

Yes it is worth it. I don't powerslide but my Wavetrac gets more traction off the line and a better connected feel when applying power in corners. Helps in the wet and works well whether traction control is on or not. The other popular choice is Quaife.

1. Will Google Maps/Wave on my Android come up on the car's screen? So far, I can get my bluetooth music to play but am using the car's own Sat Nav.

No, but you can wire in a box and get this through the AUX port for the sound and then switch between standard Mercedes interface and the Android Auto through the box.

1. Where can I get black badges to replace the side 6.3 badges and the AMG and 6.3 badges on the boot? I'll leave the silver rim on the wheels and the silver exhaust tips

Nowhere officially. Paint yours or buy some on ebay.

1. What does the little RS mean on the circular mode knob?

Race Start... Launch control that holds the revs under the brake. Little bit fiddly to engage in a hurry. Works pretty well but your best time may simply come from flooring the throttle at idle as the 6.2 doesn't bog down, it has loads of power from the off.

 

[Evotion]

Cool, thanks. Let;'s see what Merc find and suggest!

"gets more traction off the line and a better connected feel when applying power in corners. Helps in the wet "
Ha, SOLD. I will get one then as this car is a nightmare for traction and it is scary enough in the dry. I will need to drive this in the wet and it will give my sweaty palms

Many thanks.

 

[Steve84N]

Quite a few cars have since had some form of differential fitted due to how little were optioned with the factory LSD. It's worth opening the fill plug on the differential casing to have a peek inside to check what's there with a borescope.

 

[Petrol Pete]

What body style is it ? Personally I would not do too much to it 507's are thin on the ground and stock ones (with just sympathetic mods) will hold their value better.

 

[Spider10]

It could just be the rocker cover as these are prone to leak and drip onto the exhaust (usually passenger side)

 

[Evotion]

Quite a few cars have since had some form of differential fitted due to how little were optioned with the factory LSD. It's worth opening the fill plug on the differential casing to have a peek inside to check what's there with a borescope.

I'll get Merc to check it whilst there then. Do merc fit them or do I need to go to Wavetrac/Quaife?

What body style is it ? Personally I would not do too much to it 507's are thin on the ground and stock ones (with just sympathetic mods) will hold their value better.

Coupe. Yeah, I want to keep it standard in terms of exhuats system and pure performance mods. Sounds like I dont need to touch it.
It has black everywhere so I feel I need to change the chrome badges.

 

[Evotion]

I like the gloss £d blackj Merc emblem in the middle of the boot but, to my mind, needs the others in a similar look. Not end of the world stuff

I;d like to black out the wheel rims and the exhaust tips but that might be a bit of madness.

The car has very tinted black windows - just legal for the front I;d say..

 

[Steve84N]

Someone has blacked out much of the chrome, probably a wrap on the door trims and front grille.

Mercedes wouldn't normally fit aftermarket parts and frankly I wouldn't choose them to anyway. There are independent specialists who fit differentials on a regular basis. Where are you located?

The front window tints may well be illegal as the factory tints are usually at or very close to the limit already.

 

[Evotion]

Weybridge, Surrey,

Mercedes wouldn't normally fit aftermarket parts and frankly I wouldn't choose them to anyway.

Fair enough. That is my usual belief with most cars.

 

[Spider10]

If that was mine id definitely put it back to stock also why wrap-cover up the rear carbon lip?

 

[Spider10]

MSL fitted my quafe

 

[Steve84N]

By the way, the polished lip on those wheels is formed from 5D milling and is essentially impossible to replicate if it needs refurbishing. They are worth more unmolested and to my eyes look much better with the lip, helps define the wheels.

For Wavetrac you could go to Regal Autosport in Southampton, the UK dealers and who fitted mine. PCS Horndean are also near Southampton and have an excellent reputation. They can fit Quaife or Wavetrac and arranged my remap. I'm in Gloucestershire so I travelled, it's not that far. MSL are in Birmingham and would also do a good job but further away from you.

The C63 badge on the boot has been off at some point because the space between C and 63 is too small and misaligned. Hopefully not crash damage reasons...

 

[Evotion]

If that was mine id definitely put it back to stock also why wrap-cover up the rear carbon lip?

What carbon lip?

 

[Spider10]

The boot lip should be carbon

 

[Evotion]

By the way, the polished lip on those wheels is formed from 5D milling and is essentially impossible to replicate if it needs refurbishing. They are worth more unmolested and to my eyes look much better with the lip, helps define the wheels.

For Wavetrac you could go to Regal Autosport in Southampton, the UK dealers and who fitted mine. PCS Horndean are also near Southampton and have an excellent reputation. They can fit Quaife or Wavetrac and arranged my remap. I'm in Gloucestershire so I travelled, it's not that far. MSL are in Birmingham and would also do a good job but further away from you.

OK,thanks. That is easier for me to get to.

I will see what Mercedes say about the car and then look into the other stuff. The LSD sounds wise.

Do the cars always squirrel away even under mild acceleration?! Marvellous but surprised me. Yes, it has the power, but it is a heavy car with big tyres. (Umm, better check them)

 

[Steve84N]

Yes they squirrel under moderate throttle in slippery conditions, lots of torque from idle...

The boot spoiler is another sign (as well as the badge in my edited reply above) that maybe the boot has been replaced.

 

[Evotion]

The boot lip should be carbon

Blimey, I agree then. Strange to wrap carbon. I guess hey thought as it was the only carbon and they were making everything black that it made more sense to them to do it as well. I kinda get that but I would have left it.,
No biggie. wIll leave and any new owner one day can peel it off.

 

[Evotion]

Yes they squirrel under moderate throttle in slippery conditions, lots of torque from idle...

The boot spoiler is another sign (as well as the badge in my edited reply above) that maybe the boot has been replaced.

Thanks, will ask Merc to confirm and therefore also the rear chassic components - to be safe.

 

[Steve84N]

If you would have left it carbon then try and peel it off. Shouldn't damage it and will confirm if it's been replaced on the cheap.