Ok, I have researched the different chips available for a 2001 CLK55 AMG and determined that based on their representations they all appear to be about the same in their improvement numbers and what they can do, which includes (1) increase HP and TQ, (2) increase the redline and (3) remove the VMAX speed limit of 155.

After speaking with Oliver at SpeedTuningUSA, I have decided to try their 93 octane ECU reprogram. I will have the car dynoed after driving it hard for 200 miles so that the ECU can adjust to the new program in order to see how the numbers improve, or not, over stock. The ECU can then be adjusted again if needed according to the A/F ratios and RMP in order to fine tune the program.

I believe that we can verify whether this reprogram lives up to the claims of an increase in stock hp from 342 hp to 373 and a stock TQ of 376 to 391. For the price, it would be a big bang for the buck at $325.00. Most likely after a retune the program could be more refined for the general masses- at least the 2001 and 2002 CLK55 crowd. Note- they have a program for the other CLK model cars as well, so this is still applicable for those interested.

I will request the following modifications:
(1) Redline moved from 6,000 to 6,400 (may only be valuable in lower gears)
(2) Performance increase based on 93 octane
(3) VMAX speed limitation of 155 removed (this will have to be tested)

I will keep you posted. If the chip works as claimed or even close to it because each car is different (i.e. I have green filters), then I will try and organize a group buy for those interested. I believe this will help other chip resellers compete more competitively in this space. However, if the chip reprogram doesn't work as claimed, I will certainly make every member aware of this fact.

Allan

 

Keep us posted, I'd like to see the outcome.!

 

Just spoke with Oliver. The ECU was received today, programed and shipped back to me. The ECU was programed for the following:
(1) Redline moved from 6,000 to 6,400 (may only be valuable in lower gears)
(2) Performance increase based on 93-94 octane
(3) VMAX speed limitation of 155 removed (this will have to be tested)

The ECU will arrive tomorrow and will be reinstalled by me tomorrow night. I will take it for a test run on 91 octane gas for a seat-of-the-pants dyno but don't expect to much until I raise the octane to 94. I will do this by mixing 91 and 99 octane (unleaded). I will then test with 94 octane on the weekend!

I will run it for 200 miles or so on 94 octane and then have it dynoed for results. I didn't have my car dynoed before the ECU reprogram [sorry- jumped the gun for my birthday and couldn't wait], so I will use as a base-line Chappy (appears to be a strong car) and rsr911's numbers (very close to Chappy's numbers), or anyone else's stock dyno numbers, of:
Chappy
WHP: 304
TQ: 321 lbs

rsr911
WHP: 301.5
TQ: 318 lbs

I will post my reviews along the way. I agree that a before dyno would have been the best test method, but since I didn't do that, we will have to generalize somewhat. I am at a high altitude in Salt Lake City, Utah so I admit it may be harder to determine actual power increase, since altitude affects performance. That being said, CLK owners will just have to evaluate the numbers and factors associated with the dyno in order to determine if the ECU reprogram makes sense for them.

 

I will be dynoing the CLK with my cousin's 2005 Porsche Carrera S (997). I believe they make 355 HP and 295 TQ stock. Should be interesting to see the actual numbers for both cars.

We will run the cars at the track together as well. Should be fun. He has 295s on the rear of his car and I have 265 but other than that they are similar. Real world track time will tell however, how different the cars really are? No flames please.

 

Received ECU back Tuesday night and installed in 3 minutes. Fired the car up on 91 octane (programmed for 93-94) and it ran as normal. Opened the garage to take it out for a "high spirited" run and it was raining. Car was clean and spirited runs don't work well in the rain so I closed the garage door and went back in. Later that night it snowed- of course after weeks of 60 to 70 degree weather. It snowed Wednesday and alittle this morning again but I will try and take it out tonight for a seat of the pants review before I put 93.5 octane in the car. 93 octane will provide more performance, which is the key.

The car will be at the motor park track for a Lapping Day on April 19 and Dynoed on or about April 20th.

Keep you posted.

 

Can someone with a 430 to do the same for us: review.

Anyone??? And no it cant be me I am in Germany LOL

Greg

 

Greg,

You will be able to use my testing as I believe similar numbers are possible for the 430 as well, since we both has N/A engines (non-turbos). If you see what you like then you can probably get the 430 chip and have similar gains- whateve those may be....

 

I'm anxiously awaiting clear skies and dry ground! It's good to hear the ECU right back in and fired up immediately. For me, there is always the concern about electronics being tossed around in transit.

 

*LOL* People from all over the country now monitoring Salt Lake City, UT weather....

 

Hell yeah!!! This is important testing being done

Greg

 

I was able to finally test the new SpeedTuningUSA ECU reprogram last night. Temperatures were in the 40's and the roads clear.

The car is running 91 octane gas right now but the ECU was reprogrammed to make maximum power at 93-94 octane. My analysis is based on 91 octane. First, the car ran very well on 91 octane. I didn't notice any knocking or pinging- but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. The car pulled very hard and I would say was noticeably stronger but I will wait for the Dyno to confirm that seat of the pants feeling.

What I did notice was that with the redline raised 400 RPM, the car would pull very hard to redline in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. In automatic mode the car at first still shifted the car in these gears around 6,000 RPM, which is the original ECU redline. However, in manual mode I was able to take the car to the new redline of 6,400 RPM. 1st gear maximum speed was 50 mph at 6,400 RPM. 2nd gear maximum speed was 80 mph at 6,400 RPM. 3rd gear maximum speed was 124 at around 6,100 RPM, which I couldn't continue to redline as I ran out of road. I estimate it would be between 124 and 130 at 6,400 RPM.

By the end of my run the car in automatic mode was starting to shift after the original 6,000 RPM limit- which is good. This will be part of the learning process for the ECU.

This was fantastic, although I wish again that I had tested the car for these numbers before the ECU program. I apologize for this mistake. Can someone else with a CLK 55 AMG run the same tests for a comparison? My feeling is that in gears between 1st and 3rd, the car benefits from a raised redline as opposed to 4th and 5th gear, where HP and TQ drop off around 5,500 RPM. In the first 3 gears the car felt exceptionally strong all the way to the new redline- there was never a feeling that the car was maxed in power even though I was increasing the RPM. It made me feel like I wanted to raise the redline even more.

I will be adding 93.5 octane gas tonight and driving the car over the next few weeks to accumulate 200 plus miles before I dyno the car on or around April 21st. I will keep you posted.

As a summary, the car feels really strong on 91 octane and I assume will be even more on 93 but even if there was no change in HP and TQ, just raising the redline to 6,400 RPM was worth the $325.

 

Good update THANKS!!!

Greg

 

Update: I drove the car almost 200 miles this weekend on 93-94 octane gas. The car is strong. When I floor it, it feels like turbo boost for those who have driven turbo cars in the past. However, I will defer to the dyno on April 21st for emperical numbers. What I can say is that the car likes higher octane.

I have been trying to notate the mph at the new redline of 6,400 RPM. Here is the update for manual mode shifting: 1st gear maximum speed was 50 mph at 6,400 RPM. 2nd gear maximum speed was 80 mph at 6,400 RPM. 3rd gear maximum speed was 122 at around 6,400 RPM. 4th gear speed was 141 at around 5,500 RPM, I was unable to continue on the open and safe road with no one around. However, I estimate that with another 900 RPM available, the maximum speed would probably be 150+. I will still need test 5th gear with the VMAX (155 speed limiter) removed.

A shift light would be great for manual mode as you could program it to light at around 6,000 PRM in order to miss the 6,400 redline bump. I am looking into this. For the track, it would be very useful.

In automatic mode, the car is shifting at 6,100 RPM, which is up 100 RPM from my initial test.