Improving a W210 E55 AMG

[Ubercleggmeister]

Greets to all,

Before the summer comes I'm wanting to spend a few £££'s on my E55 to get it looking as good as new. As well as having the stonechips removed I'll be getting the wheels refurbished and a couple of light scratches sorted too.

What I'm wondering is whether I would improve the driving experience by spending a few more £££'s under the bonnet while I'm at it. The car has covered 125k miles (70k under my ownership) and has never missed a service. I am aware however of a very light "clatter" from then engine when cold starting (this disappears after a few seconds), and a barely audible but irritating ticking noise at 2,000 rpm (60mph) when accelerating in 5th gear.

What are your thoughts about me taking it into my independent and asking for a bit of an engine overhaul?

[iluvmercs]

Hi there! W210 E55....

Engine overhaul (rebuild) would be expensive, but if you can afford it, go for it! Would mean you'd have to run the engine is again.
If it's tuning you're after....

www.cksperformance.co.uk offer some tuning for the W210 E55. One pretty reasonable route is they can chip the car 21 bhp, and destrestrict the car, all for around £750+VAT (don't quote me on that figure, I'm not 100% sure)

Higher tuning is obviously offered, liked engine enlargment by Brabus (to 400bhp 5.8 and 426bhp 6.1) and supercharging by Kleemann.

Good luck with it! They're good cars! Not as fast as the W211 AMG, but can still hold its own amongst ALOT of cars out there!

Darren

[Parrot of Doom]

The clatter could be the timing chain tensioner - I'd get that investigated if I were you. On mine its on the left side of the engine at the front. I think they're oil-filled, and required a specific procedure to install.

[Parrot of Doom]

Another thing you could do is refurb the headlights, I did it recently on mine and it makes a big difference. Yours is the facelift though and IIRC you have to remove the bumper to get the lights out.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/sho

[Ubercleggmeister]

Cheers guys, I'll get it into my local independent and get the clatter checked out. While I'm at it I'll investigate costs for him to take the top off and maybe do a little polishing. The chip option is something I'd not thought of, and may well be a nice and relatively inexpensive way of upping the performance (though the limiter can stay right where it is - I'm brave but not that brave!!!)

[Ubercleggmeister]

Parrot of Doom said:

Another thing you could do is refurb the headlights, I did it recently on mine and it makes a big difference. Yours is the facelift though and IIRC you have to remove the bumper to get the lights out.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/sho

I don't think mine is the facelift mate, I have the standard wing mirrors (without indicators) and the basic multi-function display in the speedo. Nice guide on the headlamps, looks like a good return on a couple of hours work.