Chappy

My first couple runs I ever did was with ESP on. I just wanted to get a "feel" for the track, concentrating on the lights, etc.

Then, switch off ESP. I always leave the shifter in "D" to avoid hitting the rev-limiter in case I don't shift at the best time.

Small burnout.

Stage, then load the tranny but don't break the tires loose. When it's time to go, roll the throttle steadily to the floor in a deliberate motion (don't slam the gas or you'll spin the tires badly). This procedure will take some practice and some patience.

Have fun and be safe!

p.s. Post pics and results asap

ProjectC55

You are loading the tranny up to what rpm?



I will certainly try to geet pics but it will be on my next trip to the track after this Wed.Someone stole my damn digi cam in Dominican Republic and I've yet to replace it.

Chappy

I never looked down at the tach

CERY

Have you tried asking the record holders for any tips? If they were able to pull those numbers with a full interior and nothing too fancy, it's all about the way they drove it. Just more and I'm sure you'll be knocking at the door. The big deviation in your runs is a little

Chappy

Not sure if they still have their cars.

prof.griff

Chappy,

I've been to the track about 30 times or more last summer trying everything. Here's how it went.

Stock- (15.145)

K+N, Eisenmann exhaust, replaced cats- (15.025)

Everything above plus plugs+ wires - (14.870)

Everything above plus removed fan - (15.192) Car ran to hot and slowed down.

Everything above plus resonator removed -(15.050)

Fan back on, replaced battery, removed spare -(14.695)

Changed exhaust to AMG, returned resonator, used 4 spare rims 17s (14.574)

Amg exhaust, pulley, Denso plugs, K+N, Optimum Battery, Chip, Monolites, heat wrapped airbox, water wetter - (14.268 @99mph)

Don't go any lower than a 1/2 tank of gas because it will affect your traction (Launch).
Have a little more air in the front than the back.

I tried revin the car before launching and never got good R/T. Hold the brake with one foot and the gas with the other, as soon as you see the third light, GO!!!!! If you time it right you will get the best R/T. Your actually leaving a tad earlier but because your lifting one foot and applying the other, it comes out perfect.

Good Luck.

2000 E430

ProjectC55

This technique wrked perfect last night Chappy.I believe I either came close or broke the record of the CLK55. I ran the car with pump gas at 1/8th to 1/4 of a tank.Spare tire and car jack out.Did two runs.I wll post pic of slips this evenng and I will start a new thread on last nights run.One run was against a 2004 911 Carrera S and last race was against a Jaguar XJR! You guys will be surprised because I know I sure as hell was.I will scan and post first thing this evening. Slips are the proof,talk is cheap! So my runs will be posted tonite!

Chappy

TIMES.......WE WANT TIMES!!!

ProjectC55

13.39 @102mph pump gas,no spare tire or jack and between an 1/8th and 1/4 tank full of gas!! Wish me luck Chappy because I'm shooting for 12's! your technique wrked like a charm!

chem0

drive naked?

E55AMG99

Nice job!

I'm surprised your trap speed is not closer to 105 at that ET. Do you remember what gear you were in when you crossed the line? Dropping another .4 will not be easy but don't give up! Have you considered lighter tires and wheels?

Good luck!

ProjectC55

I started in D3 then shifted to D4 b4 redline near the end of the 1/4.I was more listening to the motor more so than looking at the tach.I think that was the death of my ET and MPH. A shift light would be nice and in the near future I will datalog my runs to try to be a lot more accurate. I'm certainly gonna consider other weight saving measures.

ProjectC55

As I mentioned b4 in another thread I may consider programming the car with the star diag for the RON92 setting.I don't know if you guys are familiar with that.It'ss supposed to advance the timing a little bit resulting in more TQ I've been told by Steve (C55m80) who has the other C43 to C55 conversion that my mechanic Jeffrey did. Steve your input would be apprciated.I'm wondering if this would give me even more of an increase 1/4 mile wise Steve.

c55m8o

Hey Carl. Actually RON92 is a possibility, but you want RON93. I've been running that was for many many years.

For all reading, if they haven't heard about this before... there's 4 settings in the Ignition Retard section under the Star Diagnosis Computer, Default, RON91, RON92 and RON93. This is using the European octane measurement -- in the US we use (RON + MON) / 2. I've learned that MON = 89 for US gasoline... so RON93 = US octane 91 ... RON91 = US octane 90. On RON93, You're basically telling the engine management system "you can expect I'm using US octane 91 or better at all times ...". This will "narrow" the sub-set of maps the ECU will choose from, from all the maps that it has built-in, and use just the ones with a more aggressive timing. It actually reduces the maximum amount of retard the engine managment might apply -- furthuremore is provides for a much closer relationship between the movement of the foot, and the production of power. As many should have notices, your Benz has a tendancy to "ignore" the 1st 1/3 or more of the movement of the gas peddle ... not so with RON93.

I'd sure say it works, as I am putting down about 325 ft-lb rw torque in the upper 4K range; and that's with the shot MAS (MAF? I forget). I'll let you know how that translates on the track. But even if it doesn't do much, the affect it has on every day driving with the direct responsiveness to movement of the right foot, is all that I need.

The negative I learned from speedybenz's analysis is in very hot weather, it is necessary for the engine to retard the timing beyond what timing in the RON93 map sub-set contains. This can certainly be a bad thing if it leads to excessive heat in the cylinder, which leads to pre-ignition. If the engine detects ping, it will definitely pull the timing back. But it may only be able to do so if the ping occurs first. (I'm paraphrasing)

...I will add though, I've driven my car =hard= in near 100 degree weather, A/C on; off stop lights where you'd expect the pinging the most. And if I were to experience pinging, a code should show up when you scan it. I had no such codes when I changed my MAS two weeks ago. However, we don't get the 110 degree (or higher) weather SoCal and other areas were getting this year.

Chappy

Any other mods? Filters, ECU tuning, etc.?

Chappy

Close, but no cigar. The best I've seen recorded on a W208 CLK55 was 13.32 by skidz1.

I'm still gunning for a high 13.2X on October 9th

ProjectC55

Yes Chappy,Steve has custom chip tuning by the same guy .The guy was able to change the files on the C43 progam and install E55 files. Steve also has K&N filters plus he has a 2k1 motor 11.0:1 compression motor vs my 10.5:1 2k motor.Steve's car seems to be putting down higher #'s than me on the Dyno.Steve also has new valves and had the heads cleaned and freshened with new valve seats and guides.No porting was done though, just a regular R&R job.

ProjectC55

You're gonna hit the 13.3 or 2 I'm sure of it!

Chappy

ONE WEEK TO GO!!!

I've been fasting and have lost an additional two pounds. :p Sorry, coolcarlskiC43....you are going DOWN!

ProjectC55

LOL! Im watching!!

c55m8o

so what happened wednesday when you went back to the track?

ProjectC55

1st run terrible launch and did not stage properly(Revs not up on pwr braking). 1st run I raced against my friends turbo charged Lexus IS 300 had traction control on , terrible launch as well 60ft'2.499 14.118 @105.00 .His last run was the same ET with traction control off but ran 111.50 mph

r/t .192
60' 2.439
330 6.140
1/8 9.135
mph 83.01
1000 11.681
1/4 13.818
mph 104.40


2nd run and last run(red light) killed an Audi S4(2k-2002) in opposing Lane 14.5@98.93


r/t -.305
60ft' 2.071
330 5.725
1/8 8.697
mph 82.36
1000 11.251
1/4 13.405
mph 104.71


I'm still trying to launch the car into the 1.8-1.9 range @ get 105mph + at high 12's.

c55m8o

That's a bummer. I know you'll get it. Put on some Bridgestone Potenza SO-3 Pole Positions and you'll get that 60' time... ...best/stickiest tires I ever had.
(I thought you were away.)

ProjectC55

I leave Thurs morning.After I come back it will be back to the track and dyno that following sat.

Chappy

Sad news to report, gents. The elusive MBWorld record has passed me by once again

My best time (first of the day) was a 13.6 and went quickly downhill after that as track conditions were not the most favorable. In fact, they were the worst I had see in the 5 or 6 trips I had been to this track! It was very humid and temps creeped into the mid 70s. It was overcast and I thought I felt a couple sprinkles on one or two occasions.

All the cars that came and raced included:

G55K
W210 E55 Kleemann S7 (490hp at the wheels)
C55
W211
W211 on drag radials
W211 Wagon
SLK55
W208 CLK55
500E - on slicks!

My buddy also came and brought his 540i 6 spd.

FWIW, an M5 (old body style -400hp) came and made a few passes and could not manage any better than a 14.1!

In all, we still had a great time as we met some new folks and saw some familiar faces too

CoolcarlskiC43.....you are safe.....for now :v :p

Oh, just a note that at the end of the 1/4, I was still in 3rd gear.