C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

Disappointing 1/4 results

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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 02:11 PM
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02 C32 AMG
Disappointing 1/4 results

Hello folks, I recently bought a used 02 C32 for a relatively cheap price as my daily driver. I took it to HRP last night to see how she would do and was very disappointed- Especially after seeing all the timeslips on dragtimes.com. The car ran consistent 13.7’s @ 101 mph w/ 2.1 60fts, this seems to be ridiculously slow compared to many other stock C32’s I’ve read about. I tried brake stalling slightly in D, then just punching it and manually shifting, then brake stalling and manually shifting- All with the same results. It’s a bone-stock C32 w/ 72k miles, I unfortunately do not have maintenance records from the previous owner but the car “seems” to be just fine other than needing the control arm bushing(s) replaced. Anyway, I suppose my question would be can anyone give me some pointers on what to look for to possibly get this aged C32 back up to par? There doesn’t seem to be any apparent signs of performance loss (i/e sketchy idle, hesitation, misfiring, etc.) but then again I’ve never owned or ridden in a C32 previous to owning this one. I’m not sure what the DA was at the track last night but the temps were around 66F w/ a slight tail wind, and HRP is pretty much dead sea level.

Thanks guys!
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 02:37 PM
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You might have extremely dirty filters. But most stock ones should be in the 13.4-13.6 range so you aren't too far off.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 02:38 PM
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Im curious to see what you are reading about the stock C32's......?

Your not too far away from what a "stock" C32 should do, and with that temp, heat soak was probably not helping as well.

Time to start modding.....
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 02:41 PM
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Hey there:

Okay to start with your 60' times are high. Most on Dragtimes are around 1.8'. So theres 0.3 seconds right there, or actually a little more down the track. If you get a faster 0-60' foot times, you are already going ALOT faster, hence a BIGGER, okay faster time. Try dropping the rear pressure to around 25psi next time. LEAVE it in S mode and DON'T shift manually. Are tac's are WAY too small to try and read. Also, the AMG speed shift shifts at red line already for you, hence manually is a WASTE of time.

One last note: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Many guys around here will tell you that their first time out wasn't anything to get excited about. It's just like everything else in life and it takes some time and skill to get it right

See yeah
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 03:03 PM
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02 C32 AMG
Thanks for the tips guys, I think more than anything I am disappointed in my trap speed. Reading through the timeslip thread and on dragtimes.com it seems most folks are trapping a solid 4-5mph better than I am. The worst part is I experienced no wheel spin, so I didn’t have to lower my tire pressure (on brand new BFG’s as well), so if anything the higher tire pressure should have helped my trap speed I would think. I am definitely going to take a look at the air filters when I get home, I also haven’t done the TCU reset if that would make any difference at all. At first I was apprehensive about the DA, but there was a pullied CL55 AMG running an 11.x @ 116-119mph so the weather couldn’t have been that bad!
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 03:34 PM
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My ex-cars: 03 E55,04 C32, 05 C55 ,03 E320
I think I did close to those times when I had my old EVOsport Stage I C32...

Those are pretty good times assuming u were on stock tires as well.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by derrick_lui
I think I did close to those times when I had my old EVOsport Stage I C32...

Those are pretty good times assuming you were on stock tires as well.
YOUR RT is a lil slow, BUT considering the fact that the car is stock, it may be a lil on the slower side. I ran in August 2008 at Morrocco IN a totally stock car at about 13.3-13.4 at 104-105 on a very hot day. Given your DA's, you probably should have been in the 13.5-13.3 range with a 103-105 traps, BUT again, the RT was slow. Also, no wheel spin with street tires concerns me since my car with 30 K miles has always easily spun the wheels on the street and at the drags. Now, after the Jerry Tune and the Code III pulley and intake, I was consistently in the low 13s at about 105-108 MPH. Once I added the Code III intake to the LET intake, refined the Jerry Tune , I ran a 12.7 at almost 110 MPH. A lil modding will bring your times down about a second I would reckon. All in all, you're not doing bad when a stock $40 K 2008 WRX Sti is doing about the same numbers.(Autoweek has it at 13.44 at 101)
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Newzchspy
YOUR RT is a lil slow, BUT considering the fact that the car is stock, it may be a lil on the slower side. I ran in August 2008 at Morrocco IN a totally stock car at about 13.3-13.4 at 104-105 on a very hot day. Given your DA's, you probably should have been in the 13.5-13.3 range with a 103-105 traps, BUT again, the RT was slow. Also, no wheel spin with street tires concerns me since my car with 30 K miles has always easily spun the wheels on the street and at the drags. Now, after the Jerry Tune and the Code III pulley and intake, I was consistently in the low 13s at about 105-108 MPH. Once I added the Code III intake to the LET intake, refined the Jerry Tune , I ran a 12.7 at almost 110 MPH. A lil modding will bring your times down about a second I would reckon. All in all, you're not doing bad when a stock $40 K 2008 WRX Sti is doing about the same numbers.(Autoweek has it at 13.44 at 101)
Ditto.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:58 PM
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But seriously, check your filters. At ~40k miles, mine had never been replaced and were disgusting when I took them out and replaced them.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Newzchspy
YOUR RT is a lil slow, BUT considering the fact that the car is stock, it may be a lil on the slower side. I ran in August 2008 at Morrocco IN a totally stock car at about 13.3-13.4 at 104-105 on a very hot day. Given your DA's, you probably should have been in the 13.5-13.3 range with a 103-105 traps, BUT again, the RT was slow. Also, no wheel spin with street tires concerns me since my car with 30 K miles has always easily spun the wheels on the street and at the drags. Now, after the Jerry Tune and the Code III pulley and intake, I was consistently in the low 13s at about 105-108 MPH. Once I added the Code III intake to the LET intake, refined the Jerry Tune , I ran a 12.7 at almost 110 MPH. A lil modding will bring your times down about a second I would reckon. All in all, you're not doing bad when a stock $40 K 2008 WRX Sti is doing about the same numbers.(Autoweek has it at 13.44 at 101)

RT(Reaction Time) has NOTHING to do with your ET or Trap Speed. You can run a 13.7 @101 with a 10 second RT................and run a 13.7 @101 with a .001 RT. That's just a measurement of how quick the drivers reflexes are and is used during bracket racing.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by moparrbust
RT(Reaction Time) has NOTHING to do with your ET or Trap Speed. You can run a 13.7 @101 with a 10 second RT................and run a 13.7 @101 with a .001 RT. That's just a measurement of how quick the drivers reflexes are and is used during bracket racing.
+1 - was going to mention the same thing.

Also, MRAMG1, a 1.8x 60' in any C32 is SMOKING fast my friend; in a stock car w/ stock tires that would be absolutely incredible...
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 12:16 AM
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That's exactly what I was running when I got the car except my best trap was 103.5. Had about the same mileage as you and same year.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by CalebL
Hello folks, I recently bought a used 02 C32 for a relatively cheap price as my daily driver. I took it to HRP last night to see how she would do and was very disappointed- Especially after seeing all the timeslips on dragtimes.com. The car ran consistent 13.7’s @ 101 mph w/ 2.1 60fts, this seems to be ridiculously slow compared to many other stock C32’s I’ve read about. I tried brake stalling slightly in D, then just punching it and manually shifting, then brake stalling and manually shifting- All with the same results. It’s a bone-stock C32 w/ 72k miles, I unfortunately do not have maintenance records from the previous owner but the car “seems” to be just fine other than needing the control arm bushing(s) replaced. Anyway, I suppose my question would be can anyone give me some pointers on what to look for to possibly get this aged C32 back up to par? There doesn’t seem to be any apparent signs of performance loss (i/e sketchy idle, hesitation, misfiring, etc.) but then again I’ve never owned or ridden in a C32 previous to owning this one. I’m not sure what the DA was at the track last night but the temps were around 66F w/ a slight tail wind, and HRP is pretty much dead sea level.

Thanks guys!
Your trap speed is weak. Something is not right.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by moparrbust
RT(Reaction Time) has NOTHING to do with your ET or Trap Speed. You can run a 13.7 @101 with a 10 second RT................and run a 13.7 @101 with a .001 RT. That's just a measurement of how quick the drivers reflexes are and is used during bracket racing.
Agreed, wrongly stated. The RT is very slow and it is making the car appear slow. Sorry!

RT is used during all drag racing, even if not bracket. Probably more important in bracket due to the need to keep cinsistent times and not break out and go "faster" than dialed in at.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by c32AMG-DTM
+1 - was going to mention the same thing.

Also, MRAMG1, a 1.8x 60' in any C32 is SMOKING fast my friend; in a stock car w/ stock tires that would be absolutely incredible...




+ 1 My best 60 ft time in the C32 was 1.98 (when I ran the 12.7) , so yes, 1.8 is very quick.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by c32AMG-DTM
+1 - was going to mention the same thing.

Also, MRAMG1, a 1.8x 60' in any C32 is SMOKING fast my friend; in a stock car w/ stock tires that would be absolutely incredible...
Okay guys, I meant in the 1.8's. You do know that 6 out of the top 10 c32 times on dragtimes.com are IN the 1.8's. Two of which are board members I know well. ALL of the others are in the low 1.9's, just FYI here

See yeah
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by MRAMG1
Okay guys, I meant in the 1.8's. You do know that 6 out of the top 10 c32 times on dragtimes.com are IN the 1.8's. Two of which are board members I know well. ALL of the others are in the low 1.9's, just FYI here

See yeah
So you're telling me that my 1.98 is slow!! If so, yes it is. I've seen some E 55 guys between 1.6 and 1.8, now thats rockin. I try to watch their Youtubes and see that they are not nailing it on the last yellow BUT the second to the last yellow. Watch their brake lights, that tells all. Nate , who is great, ran a 11.07 in a E 55 and his RT and 60 foot are awesome. Marko has a very good RT and 60 foot too in the that V-12
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Newzchspy
So you're telling me that my 1.98 is slow!! If so, yes it is. I've seen some E 55 guys between 1.6 and 1.8, now thats rockin. I try to watch their Youtubes and see that they are not nailing it on the last yellow BUT the second to the last yellow. Watch their brake lights, that tells all. Nate , who is great, ran a 11.07 in a E 55 and his RT and 60 foot are awesome. Marko has a very good RT and 60 foot too in the that V-12
Hey Newz:

I am not suggesting or telling anyone anything that is not factual. Its just a fact that the quickest cars are running those numbers. Please don't read into it, and NO anything under a 2.0 on street tires is a good run, IMHO. By the way, those E55 numbers are sick

See yeah
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by MRAMG1
Hey Newz:

I am not suggesting or telling anyone anything that is not factual. Its just a fact that the quickest cars are running those numbers. Please don't read into it, and NO anything under a 2.0 on street tires is a good run, IMHO. By the way, those E55 numbers are sick

See yeah
We're cool. My 1.98 60 ft was on VHT on Street tires after the track was dried (barely) after a horrible Indiana rain the night before. I am refining my skills as I went from the old SCCA Pro Solo and Solo II (nail it until the next cone) to having to "feather" the C32 as the Michelin's I have tend to spin like crazy out of the hole. Thus, my 60 foot of 1.98 is decent BUT my RT of .1079 still needs a lot of work. With a set of street slicks (Nittos, I 'd like to think my 60ft would be 1.85 or so and I'll take that all day long. Nitto's still wont change my RT though!! I am wondering what Jake's 60ft are RTs are since he's got his C32 going 12.3??
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Newzchspy
We're cool. My 1.98 60 ft was on VHT on Street tires after the track was dried (barely) after a horrible Indiana rain the night before. I am refining my skills as I went from the old SCCA Pro Solo and Solo II (nail it until the next cone) to having to "feather" the C32 as the Michelin's I have tend to spin like crazy out of the hole. Thus, my 60 foot of 1.98 is decent BUT my RT of .1079 still needs a lot of work. With a set of street slicks (Nittos, I 'd like to think my 60ft would be 1.85 or so and I'll take that all day long. Nitto's still wont change my RT though!! I am wondering what Jake's 60ft are RTs are since he's got his C32 going 12.3??
avg 60 is 1.84
rt varies... from .001 to .13

from last track event.....

Last edited by loungn14; Nov 12, 2008 at 05:46 PM.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 04:24 PM
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CalebL - PM me in advance next time you go. I assure you better results.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by MRAMG1
Okay guys, I meant in the 1.8's. You do know that 6 out of the top 10 c32 times on dragtimes.com are IN the 1.8's. Two of which are board members I know well. ALL of the others are in the low 1.9's, just FYI here

See yeah
im just happy that andy (szavvy75 running jerrys old car) took 10th place from Glenn....just proves glenns car is slow....

then again...i think a stock one beat vics best run....
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by loungn14
im just happy that andy (szavvy75 running jerrys old car) took 10th place from Glenn....just proves glenns car is slow....
Originally Posted by loungn14

When Jake??? Recently or at Morrocco???


then again...i think a stock one beat vics best run....
But that was on 89 octane too (not Vic's car )
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