Not seen one of these in ages.

[Conquistador]

Anyone seriously interested to know of all the work done and how we got 20 x 13J wheels on the back and why we need them, please do feel free to ask.

:bannana:
13J?! Jeez. Rolled arches? Or wider wings?

You done anything to do the exhaust or just different trims?

 

[PlantysPaj]

Hiya Rob,
I'll sort some Pics and post later,

Conquistador: Mods to date:
Prior Design Black Series Body Kit (USA)
Stage 2 Kompressor upgrade
CKS Sports Headers
Crossover Sports X Exhaust
Bhp 582 -600
Torque 640 foot pounds
Top Speed close 200mph, (don't really know, I won't be in it at that speed!)
0-60, sub 4sec or there abouts
Boost circa 15psi
Suspension Mods & Lowered ride height
Uprated discs & Pads
Uprated Intercooler Coolant pump and Fan

Rear Wheels, DPE (Veilside) CS7's 3 part billet, Polished outers, 20" x 13J running Michelin Super Sport 335x30x20
Fronts, DPE CS7's as above, 19" x 11J running same tyres at 265x35x19

Next job is probably reduced pulleys on superchargers then possibly a light remap, and possibly some new reg plates
Truth is far more powerful than I really ever need but it has become a labour of love. Cheers P

 

[PlantysPaj]

Apologies, reall haven't a clue what I'm doing with photos / attachments.
P

 

[PlantysPaj]

And another!

 

[njkmr]

Looks like a quality labour of love.
Great to see someone doing something different.
Sounds like a real beast of a motor.
Good stuff.

 

[neilrr]

Hi John,

Plate lettering is a taste thing and subjective I suppose....

Isn't it more of a legal thing?

 

[Black Scorpion]

I do like this one.

The badges are subjective but not a "deal breaker".

Enjoy the beast and be safe.

 

[Alex]

Or you could say "it's a SL55 with a wide body kit". This way it should satisfy the unbelievers and won't irk the purists. Better to understate than overstate when it comes to performance.

 

[John]

As for the sound, in my opinion and that of many others, having had the exhausts, headers etc seriously worked and audio tuned, over 3000 rpm its quite simply a symphony. Cheers P

Having owned an E55K myself with Kleemann headers, X pipe and full decat, only utter bellends would think it was a 350 badged up as a V8 as it is unmistakable! Especially if, as you say, you had that work done similarly.

Gracefully, I never had to endure such idiots but if you've had them then I can understand why you would badge it up the way you did and give up. It will at least be of a similar performance to a standard 65.

Personally, I preferred to under-badge and over-deliver for that feeling of utter smugness!

You are running at similar performance to mine. It's mind-bending and just keeps on giving. Which is why I had to move it on but I had it a fair few years. So I know your car would "over-deliver" similarly!

Be interested to see what it makes when you run smaller pulleys...

PS: I am glad I don't have your tyre bill. My current 285 20 rears give me a twitch in the rear when I contemplate the eventual change of them. Anything over 300 is nuts!

Cheers.

 

[Grovsie31]

Why not put a Ferrari badge on it?

Im sorry but badging it up as a SL65 is retarded, and anyone who does it, or similar is a bell end.

 

[Doc matt]

SL65, 55, 2000005, it doesn't matter that looks a hell of a motor from those side shots. Like I said it caught my eye hence the photo.

PP I saw you top of Reddicap Hill in Sutton Coldfield. Were you passing through or do you live there?

I only work down the road by the Porsche centre, be great if you could pop down for 20 mins.

Doc.

 

[BTB 500]

Nice car apart from the plates (yes they are illegal), and I'm sure it sounds great and pulls like a train.

But it's not an SL65. It has less bhp and less torque than an SL65. So why badge it as one? How hard is it to tell people who ask that it's a (well) modified SL55?

 

[brucemillar]

Hi John,
Agree with a lot you comment on, Plate lettering is a taste thing and subjective I suppose, SL55 exhausts simply don't fit kit mouldings, ones on are best we could get at present. They may well change, just the aesthetics that is.

As for badges, she didn't have badges on at all, straight after kit went on, couldn't go anywhere without being stopped and had to endure all sorts of tiresome, comments that went as follows:
"suppose its a 350 done up eh?"
"what is it?"
"Which kit is it and what have you done that to a 350 for?"

So we put SL55 Badges on:
"Thats not a 55!"
"Bet its a 350 with badges on?"
and just about every other "stupid" comment you can ever think of. I couldn't be bothered eventually.

Thus, far better to just stick SL65 badges on. As you quite rightly say, those in the know; know it aint right, cabrio roof, oval rather than square petrol cap, non standard wheels, does rather give it away. All the others just nod appreciation and believe what they want to believe. If they ask, they're normally lovely and we have a great discussion about all the work done, really enjoy the crack.

As for the sound, in my opinion and that of many others, having had the exhausts, headers etc seriously worked and audio tuned, over 3000 rpm its quite simply a symphony. Cheers P

Looks very nice. Agree with the badges - sorry. Just de-badge it. You know what it is and that is what counts. I have a C55 Estate and spend way too much time being told "that's not a real C55" "AMG didn't build a C55 Estate" "Is it really an AMG" "where did you buy the badges"

Funny thing is: I have two Siberian Husky dogs. Guess what?

Yup. Almost every day..... "There not huskies, are they mate" "what sort of dogs are they" "I have seen huskies that look like that"

They have no badges so I can't de-badge them.

 

[E55BOF]

Not my cup of tea, but chacun a son gout. Why not be REALLY cool, and put SLK 200 badges on it? You'll still get questions, but without the (entirely accurate...) "it's not quite as good as that, is it?" edge you get now. Less is more...

 

[JDL60]

I'd have gone be badgeless personally ( I did indeed n my SL500) but each to their own.
Looks awesome I think anyway so ignore the trolls

 

[PlantysPaj]

Hi Bruce, been there done that with dogs too, son had an Alaskan Malamute (?), same thing! Why do people always have to have an opinion? Worse, know s*d all, acheive s*d all and yet espouse vitriol and nastiness? I increasingly default to the "Grumpy Old Man" state and think, "rise above it, far more graceful.......I'm right anyway, so stuff 'em". P

 

[brucemillar]

Hi Bruce, been there done that with dogs too, son had an Alaskan Malamute (?), same thing! Why do people always have to have an opinion? Worse, know s*d all, acheive s*d all and yet espouse vitriol and nastiness? I increasingly default to the "Grumpy Old Man" state and think, "rise above it, far more graceful.......I'm right anyway, so stuff 'em". P

Yup agreed. My C55 seems to attract these kinds of questions that are really statements "It's not a real AMG, is it?" being a favourite. The temptation to respond with:

Correct. It's just the chassis, wheels, engine, gearbox, seats etc that are AMG.

 

[PlantysPaj]

Love that Bruce, must remember that one.

I do wonder if all the badge detractors are having a go at Mercedes Benz for Badging the new C63 AMG as a "63" when its actually a "40". Like me perhaps Merc, explain its actually a Replica?

That said I love Mercedes, have done for years, currently have 5 cars in my little family and multiple vans in the business, so again, "stuff 'em" P

 

[brucemillar]

The badging issue gets very emotional. Same on the BMW / Msport side.

I had my 55 de-badged for a while. That just seemed to upset more people who thought I was making a statement ;^)

It's a car. I like it and that's all that really matters (to me)

 

[zoros]

PlantysPaj

First shot from behind, I'd give it an 8. Looks well 'planted' on the road. Second shot emphasising the wheels and air vents - reduces my appreciation to a 6. Finding out you've put 65 on it instead of leaving the 55 alone suggests you're a little bit underwhelmed with your car in its original guise - 4.
Shame really - enthusiast, imaginative, technical - and then blow it by being vain.
Why are you ashamed to flag it for what it is - a glorious, rare, good looking SL55 AMG?