When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
2 years ago I got my CLS63 ECU remapped from PP-Performance via Evolve-Technik in Melbourne, Australia that was the most convenient way of shipping my ECU somewhere without sending it to the US tuning houses.
The HP results were astounding just from a tune: 564hp at the wheels. The torque figure was low at 438 ft-lbs torque but I did not worry much.
I went ahead January and got a weistec exhaust including turbopipe/downpipe installed by Peak Performance in Sydney and the ECU remapped from PP-Performance through Evolve-Technik. Dyno result after spending all that cash: 527hp at the wheels and 482 ft-lbs torque!!!
On both occasions, I went to the same dyno centre with the same guy behind the wheel dynoing the car for me. Ambient temperature in Sydney today was 25 degrees. 2 years ago I recall the temperature was over 35 degrees. The elevation of this place has not changed!
So I am baffled. I assumed less restrictive exhaust coupled with a more aggressive dyno-tune should equal more power (564hp before vs 527hp after catless turboback exhaust and tune)
Considering PP-Performance advertises a tune after downpipe/exhaust and filters would raise the power to 730PS and 1080Nm torque the results of this dyno are especially disappointing.
I have spoken to the Evolve-Technik representative who said he will look at the graphs and speak to PP-Performance and get back to me with a response.
Driving-wise, the car definitely has felt like it had more grunt in lower rpms as reflected by the power and torque graph achieving higher figures earlier in the curves.
For a daily driven car, the difference is noticeable. Not sure if having a catless system with turbopipes equating to very loud noises is clouding my judgement and giving me the impression that I am going faster.
And the fact that power arrives earlier is definitely what I was going for.
But to be honest, I was hoping for better dyno results. The HP figure is lower than before. And the torque figure is nowhere close to what every other dyno graph I've looked at for a tuned CLS produces.
Having spent AUD$5287 on exhaust and AUD$1400 on installation and AUD$500 on a retune totalling almost USD$5600 (excluding the original tune 2 years ago which was AUD$2900), I do not feel like I have got my money's worth when I've lost top-end power.
So I am attaching the dyno-runs to see if anyone notices anything unusual or can explain why this is the case. Is this part of the aging process of an engine. My car is 2011 and has 134000kms on the clock. Any other components of the car that can cause this drop in power? Should I be worried? First graph is from 2016 after just a tune; second graph is HP/torque for new and old tunes; third graph is HP/air-fuel-ratio for new and old tune). And a screenshot of the PP-Performance claims on their website.
Either terrible tune, or something else wrong. Possible bad plugs, or IAT, O2s? Tune only on these cars should be high 500-low 600 whp, and torque well into the 700s. Torque curve being displayed is all kinds of wrong for one of these cars. Possible dyno issues?
I would probably start with spark plugs and make sure to use dyno mode. Even with bad plugs and tune that torque figure is not right, maybe tires slipping on dyno or something is wrong with it. Not sure its possible to mess a tune up that bad.
One more thing, make sure the spark plugs are gapped correctly. .024" or slightly less depending on how aggressive the tune is.
I would probably start with spark plugs and make sure to use dyno mode. Even with bad plugs and tune that torque figure is not right, maybe tires slipping on dyno or something is wrong with it. Not sure its possible to mess a tune up that bad.
One more thing, make sure the spark plugs are gapped correctly. .024" or slightly less depending on how aggressive the tune is.
Any recommendations for plugs? Aftermarket plugs? I'll have to clarify with the tuner how aggressive it was.
I guess this is the problem with not dynotuning and getting off the shelf maps. Never happened with the Jap cars I owned and modified because there are plenty of dynotuners in sydney for JDM. Haven't found one in Sydney yet. And not sure I'd trust a tuner with low volume work anyways!
Might call around next week to find another dyno though! Would a different type of dyno have less wheelspin?
Personally I would go for the latest p/n mercedes plug: 004-159-81-03, I believe they are one step colder then what was originally used in 2012.
Just bought the NGK 97506 SILZKBR8D8S Laser Iridium Spark Plug that KLR CLS had recommended. Will take 2 weeks to arrive by mail from overseas!
Fingers crossed it'll do something. I just realised that I don't think the plugs have ever been changed on the car despite 134000 on the clock.
Anything else that I need to worry about with high kms affecting performance?
had each one modded and had problems with each one of them.
1st one - 2012 - just a tune. no difference in performance,
second one , 2012, tune, kleeman turbo pipes and downpipes - had no top end. (but made 650, 825 tq) same 1.4 mile time as stock.
now i have a 2015 cls63s that i put almost $40,000 in mods into. - misfiring issues.
had car shipped across Canada twice to be worked on. getting it back on Thursday for second time.
spent probably 55K total in mods on all 3 cars and have gotten zero enjoyment or results from everything.
had each one modded and had problems with each one of them.
1st one - 2012 - just a tune. no difference in performance,
second one , 2012, tune, kleeman turbo pipes and downpipes - had no top end. (but made 650, 825 tq) same 1.4 mile time as stock.
now i have a 2015 cls63s that i put almost $40,000 in mods into. - misfiring issues.
had car shipped across Canada twice to be worked on. getting it back on Thursday for second time.
spent probably 55K total in mods on all 3 cars and have gotten zero enjoyment or results from everything.
I'm really sorry to hear this bro I've not have any of these experiences at all no misfire or anything and I spent a lot less and would never even consider spending 40k on the mods. i really hope you are not discouraged in modding and tuning cars but i understand how much 40k is and why you would feel that way but im really sure that whoever you spent the money with has mislead you in some way or did not do the job properly. hopefully in the future you can keep an open mind to mods as this platform and other platforms are great for modding for a lot cheaper
had each one modded and had problems with each one of them.
1st one - 2012 - just a tune. no difference in performance,
second one , 2012, tune, kleeman turbo pipes and downpipes - had no top end. (but made 650, 825 tq) same 1.4 mile time as stock.
now i have a 2015 cls63s that i put almost $40,000 in mods into. - misfiring issues.
had car shipped across Canada twice to be worked on. getting it back on Thursday for second time.
spent probably 55K total in mods on all 3 cars and have gotten zero enjoyment or results from everything.
so i feel you pain.
Thats absolutely BRUTAL dude, but there is a lesson here.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
