i wonder who has a pedalbox on their W204

 

An unfamiliar term for me.....please explain "pedalbox"

 

electronic throttle signal amplification system
for example http://www.pedalboxusa.com/

 

Another version of the Sprint Booster!

Here we go again!

Have at it, owners vs "white paper" supporters (long time members of this forum will get this reference.....for others, I suggest "search")!!

 

its about getting rid of that gas throttle delay all mercs have

 

Amplifying the signal so that you have WOT at 60 to 70% throttle pedal travel does not eliminate throttle latency. It is programmed into the ECU.

"nuff said" I'm not interested in repeating this debate.

 

hm so its possible to change the throttle latency with chip tuning? interesting

 

1 minute google search to find out that it's a sprintbooser.

And I've done a lot of research on resolving the massive ecu/tcu delay on my C300, including google searching and reading through pages and pages of opinionated responses about sprintbooser.

From all the information I've gathered, a "throttle booster" is merely just that, increase in throttle. I agree with Glen and Sportstick, that it's useless and most likely a placebo effect. You could achieve the same results, albeit without thinning your wallet, by pressing the gas pedal down further, or even better, doing an TCU reset. I've done the TCU reset and felt the difference right away.

The most ideal options are probably either getting an ECU tune or buying a different car without MB throttle lag.

If I recall correctly, TCU reset directions are as folllows:

1. Put key fob in ignition, put to ON position but do not start engine.
2. Hold gas pedal down to whatever level you want to be your max throttle.
3. Hold pedal at position for at least 5 seconds
4. Release pedal and switch key fob back to ON position, NOT OFF OR OUT.
5. Wait at least 2 minutes for ECU/TCU to reset.

This will allow the car to "unlearn" the previous driving habits and start off with a fresh slate.

Setting the pedal to anything less than full throttle will basically be the same as what a throttle booster would do. I tried to set it to somewhere at the half way mark once and the car felt very confused when I'd only go half throttle. It seemed to pick up to max throttle, and then rev rpms and go back up a gear. Very weird throttle activity until it relearned my driving habits a week later. I just recently reset my ECU and kept the pedal pushed all the way this time. The car feels much more responsive now.

If any of my information is wrong, I hope Glyn or Sport stick can correct me. I'll edit my info for corrections.

 

True, but that would have only helped me.

 

The so called "ECU reset" is in fact a throttle reset. All it does is ensure that the throttle plate is aligned with the throttle pedal. i.e. foot flat = WOT.

The system can loose calibration over time.

 

My OE Tune reduced the throttle lag a bit so it is much more fun blipping the throttle for downshifts. The "throttle overrun" seems to be the same though.

 

Doa - this is a re-post, I am a proponent of the Sprintbooster - Buy it, you will not be disappointed..(It does not add HP, and if jam your foot to the floor with or without it, you will most likely get the same 0-60 time, but in every day driving, it is a great enhancement to an already nice performing car).

I realize there are numerous posts already on this subject, I think I read them all prior to making my decision to buy the Sprintbooster. I also read the old “white paper” that is floating around that somebody did a nice job of documenting and attempted to provide a lot of good scientific detail in a less than scientific way (trying to match exact pressure for each test pushing pedal with foot) that the SB provides little to no improvement over the quick and heavy foot method.

The most common debate has two clear sides/opinions:

Those who have not tried it – “It is worthless, you can achieve the same by just pressing the pedal harder”

Those who have installed it – “It is excellent, truly enhances the driving experience in this car, should have come out of the factory this way”

I am now part of the installed group. I love the way this cars pulls now without having to mash the pedal, it is much improved over the stock, sluggish feeling. For the not so great price of 339 bucks, this part truly changes the way the car drives, not only from a dead stop, but on the highway where I do about 70 miles per day. Passing in the 65 – 80mph range is quick and deliberate – there is basically no delay when kicking down to pass and the pedal travel is minimal to engage the lower gears.

To be completely fair, there are a couple things I think could be improved:

Feels cheaply made – especially the switch to go to the different modes. For what the build cost vs. purchase cost is, I wish it was made “more sturdy” (however, it is nice that you can set it and just remove the switch and it will retain that setting).

3 modes – clear, green, and red - stock, sport, and race is what they are calling the modes. I think green and red are too similar, I actually wish the green (sport) mode was a little more mild – more in between stock and race to provide a wider range of driving choices.

Bottom line – do not knock it until you try it – I have had this car for 6 months, this week I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face while driving it, very much improved…Still need to mount the switch, and snapped a quick pic after detailing right after the install.

 

With respect to Glyn and Sport- I am also a Sprintbooster proponent. I read the "White Paper" and although I appreciate the time spent on the research- I offer my support based on Real-Life experience with a modern vehicle. I believe the research was based on an older Mercedes with a Manual transmission (1999 Mercedes Benz SLK 230 with a manual transmission). I understand the Sprintbooster and PedalBox simply increase the sensitivity of the Accelerator Pedal and allow you to reach WOT within a shorter distance of pedal travel and that it DOES NOT increase HP or Torque. It does, however, increase the driving pleasure of the car. I was referred to Sprintbooster by my friends who are Porsche Owners- they swear by them. I have the Burger Motorsports JB+ on the C250 Coupe and I am considering buying the newer Sprintbooster to compare the two.

 

Thanks, but no need to consider me. Never owned nor tried one. My foot and ankle have full range of motion and if I didn't think more body motion was more enjoyable than less, I'd be driving an automatic!

And for that reason, I'm out!

 

If it wasn't for numerous knee and shoulder surgeries- i'd be a Stick driver too. All my cars were manual transmissions until I started having issues.

 

My last post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but you raise a valid and serious issue. These kind of devices may be quite helpful to make driving more comfortable for restricted motion situations. Hope you are doing ok.

 

For someone so, supposedly, informed, you don't know very much it seems. EVERY single modern car on sale today has a DBW throttle, and almost every one of those cars has selectable "driving" modes - M-sport, R-sport, AMG, Sport Plus, DNA, VXR, the list goes on...

The reason that those modes even exist, is to sharpen the car for driving hard. This often has an effect on the suspension, etc, but normally only affects the throttle response and the gear changes (in an auto). Any suggestion, that this is somehow similar to just mashing the accelerator pedal, is actually quite ignorant. The effect is NOT the same, and can actually often lead to hiccuping acceleration and hesitation, as the electronics try to work out what you want. Mostly, they get it wrong too. Devices like the Pedal Booster eliminate this completely, and achieve an experience similar to a drive by cable throttle system.

Devices, such as Pedal Booster obviously work and achieve their aim too... Otherwise why would the sudden take off, of "driver modes", have taken place?

 

Yeah, the word is "lose", not "loose". You lost my confidence with that simple error, as it shows that you don't proof read what you write. Anyone who does that, is not someone I could ever trust.

Also, throttle position reset does nothing. It will never, ever, achieve the responsiveness of Pedal Box, etc, as it is NOT designed to.

 

Wrong section and old topic buddy. Pedal box is crap, variant coding throttle response is life.

 

Wrong section? I was replying to a thread that already existed, so "wrong section", my so and so... Buddy!

That's the kind of ignorant response I would expect from a Luddite. Prove it doesn't work... Bet you can't.

 

I agree wholeheartedly..I have a pedalbox on my ML63 and would not go without...I have a sprintbooster on my ZR1 and wouldn't go without..the difference is the pedalbox has more settings than the SP of which I never touch on either....both are set to maximum sensitivity...
Again..wouldn't go without

 

+1 to that!

 

Sounds like Donald Trump in drag..

 

Nothing like making friends your first day on the site, especially responding to a post from 2 1/2 years ago.

 

The truth has been spoken.