Track day in a C450?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 420
Likes: 89
From: Los Angeles
2018 E63, 2008 SLR DH, 2011 599 SA, 1995 F50, 2007 through 2011 GT3 RS
Track day in a C450?
Hey guys,
I took delivery of my 2016 C450 last month. it has the 19" wheels with performance tires. ( run flats ) and pretty much every other option the car is available with.
There is a track day next month at willow springs I would like to attend but wanted to get feedback on how the car behaves at the track?
Is there Anything I should look out for ( for example brakes overheating and rotors warping etc..) that would make my day at the track not so enjoyable.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I took delivery of my 2016 C450 last month. it has the 19" wheels with performance tires. ( run flats ) and pretty much every other option the car is available with.
There is a track day next month at willow springs I would like to attend but wanted to get feedback on how the car behaves at the track?
Is there Anything I should look out for ( for example brakes overheating and rotors warping etc..) that would make my day at the track not so enjoyable.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C450
Unless it rains the car is not really suitable for track driving if you press on a bit. Maybe a lame response, but I would keep the car for road driving and rent something for track driving. That may seem expensive, but often much less than the hidden cost of tracking a 1700kg Mercedes.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
C450
I'll track my car in a few weeks
I'm just waiting for the local shop to find performance aftermarket brake pads. So far nothing is available on the market...
Other than that i'll just equip my car with Michelin PSS and try it as is.
I brought my stock W204 C300 to the track several times. Issues were the brakes overheating and the too smooth suspension that killed my tires after +/- fifteen 20 mins sessions.
My friend has a stock 335i M performance package and had no problem at all. You juste have to expect tire and brake wear.
If you go 2-3 times per year, stock as it is should be cool enough
Of course it is not a "track car" and it will never be. Just stay smooth, enjoy the drive and everything should be fine.
let me know !
I'm just waiting for the local shop to find performance aftermarket brake pads. So far nothing is available on the market...
Other than that i'll just equip my car with Michelin PSS and try it as is.
I brought my stock W204 C300 to the track several times. Issues were the brakes overheating and the too smooth suspension that killed my tires after +/- fifteen 20 mins sessions.
My friend has a stock 335i M performance package and had no problem at all. You juste have to expect tire and brake wear.
If you go 2-3 times per year, stock as it is should be cool enough
Of course it is not a "track car" and it will never be. Just stay smooth, enjoy the drive and everything should be fine.
let me know !
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 630
Likes: 188
C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
Vatch - Carbotech will make pads for you in their compounds from your old pads if they don't have anything for you. Not sure if you have enough time for you event for that though.
I'm expecting the C450 to be my backup HPDE (mostly for rain - where speeds will be down anyway).
With any car that isn't really built for the track, treading lightly is pretty smart -- at least until you learn the weakness of the car. For example, on many tracks there is at least one decent straight. I find coasting the second half or 2/3rds of such a straight allows the motor and brakes to cool quite a bit more than otherwise possible and saves the car for the next lap -- and driving as fast as you can in a straight doesn't really add to your skill level. I might push it one or two laps a session, to get an idea of true lap times or something, but I much prefer to drive all the laps at 80% than half the laps at 98%.
I look forward to hearing others' track day experiences, and see how the car holds up.
Put in a high temp DOT 4 brake fluid no mater what though...
I'm expecting the C450 to be my backup HPDE (mostly for rain - where speeds will be down anyway).
With any car that isn't really built for the track, treading lightly is pretty smart -- at least until you learn the weakness of the car. For example, on many tracks there is at least one decent straight. I find coasting the second half or 2/3rds of such a straight allows the motor and brakes to cool quite a bit more than otherwise possible and saves the car for the next lap -- and driving as fast as you can in a straight doesn't really add to your skill level. I might push it one or two laps a session, to get an idea of true lap times or something, but I much prefer to drive all the laps at 80% than half the laps at 98%.
I look forward to hearing others' track day experiences, and see how the car holds up.
Put in a high temp DOT 4 brake fluid no mater what though...
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 630
Likes: 188
C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
The second gen CTS-V had 6 piston calipers (think the rears were the same), also have a good choice of pads, but were somewhat less common.
Might be best to confirm (go to an autoparts store and compare one of your pads to whatever cheapies they sell) and then get some good compounds.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
C450
do you know the boiling temp of the current fluid ?
and for 20 mins sessions the oem fluid should be ok...well I think because it was OK with my W204 C300. Brakes started to fade after 3 20 mins sessions (30 mins pause between each session)
and for 20 mins sessions the oem fluid should be ok...well I think because it was OK with my W204 C300. Brakes started to fade after 3 20 mins sessions (30 mins pause between each session)
Last edited by Vatch; Mar 29, 2016 at 01:49 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 630
Likes: 188
C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
Seems like decent stuff for OEM fluid. That said, if there was only one thing I would do to a car for a track day it would be fresh good high temp brake fluid. Just not worth messing with your ability to stop for $40 in brake fluid. Your C450 should be carrying a decent amount more speed than a W204 C300. If you are a novice, maybe I wouldn't worry about it (really I still would), but if you care enough to change the pads, hopefully you will change the fluid as well.
