GTR Turbo upgrade results at Laguna Seca
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
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From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
GTR Turbo upgrade results at Laguna Seca
Well I’m disappointed ☹️ Pure 900 turbos. Downpipes and 100 octane tune. First the good news. It blows the doors off the DP 100 octane tune on the street. Not even close. At ThunderHill raceway it gained a whopping 10 mph down the main straight. Very impressive.
Laguna reopened and I have gone 3 times now. Data points are from T11 to the start Finish which removes the variables going downhill to braking zone. I’m see about a 1 mph gain ….
The only thing I can come up with is heat soak. Laguna is a high HP track. Pushing turbos harder than Thunderhill. It must be pulling so much timing I’m just equal with previous setup which is barely faster than a stock GTR.
I Have upgraded all three heat exchangers as well.
Ill include videos of me on both tracks to compare.
Laguna
https://youtu.be/owrUm9l4AZE
Thunderhill
https://youtu.be/xcaPnroNfho
Laguna reopened and I have gone 3 times now. Data points are from T11 to the start Finish which removes the variables going downhill to braking zone. I’m see about a 1 mph gain ….
The only thing I can come up with is heat soak. Laguna is a high HP track. Pushing turbos harder than Thunderhill. It must be pulling so much timing I’m just equal with previous setup which is barely faster than a stock GTR.
I Have upgraded all three heat exchangers as well.
Ill include videos of me on both tracks to compare.
Laguna
https://youtu.be/owrUm9l4AZE
Thunderhill
https://youtu.be/xcaPnroNfho
Last edited by dllhg; Aug 5, 2023 at 04:54 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 1,007
From: Overland Park, KS
‘24 BMW iX M60
I never really felt as if the GTR in OEM tune was lacking for power on a road course. In fact it was a fantastic balance of adequate power; traction; gear ratios, etc.
This is just my personal opinion but spending money on suspension; wheels; tyres; braking, etc is going to make you faster than stock but not overly challenge the cooling systems of the car, which let’s face it, was damn well engineered by some pretty smart guys in Germany versus a single ‘speed shop’.
This is just my personal opinion but spending money on suspension; wheels; tyres; braking, etc is going to make you faster than stock but not overly challenge the cooling systems of the car, which let’s face it, was damn well engineered by some pretty smart guys in Germany versus a single ‘speed shop’.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
I never really felt as if the GTR in OEM tune was lacking for power on a road course. In fact it was a fantastic balance of adequate power; traction; gear ratios, etc.
This is just my personal opinion but spending money on suspension; wheels; tyres; braking, etc is going to make you faster than stock but not overly challenge the cooling systems of the car, which let’s face it, was damn well engineered by some pretty smart guys in Germany versus a single ‘speed shop’.
This is just my personal opinion but spending money on suspension; wheels; tyres; braking, etc is going to make you faster than stock but not overly challenge the cooling systems of the car, which let’s face it, was damn well engineered by some pretty smart guys in Germany versus a single ‘speed shop’.
I should add the car does not overheat on track.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 1,007
From: Overland Park, KS
‘24 BMW iX M60
it is a well balanced factory car for sure. I have done wheels ,brakes and suspension as well. Factory turbos melted after day 6 at Laguna. So I went with the pure 900s. Was actually $3k cheaper than getting OEM. Before Laguna at Thunderhill it was insanely more fun to drive. Not overpowered at all. More like what I think it should have from factory for track. Low end was about the same ,mid much better and top end where the factory snails fall super flat keeps pulling hard. Feels great and totally manageable on street and track. For some reason either the track or the center HE I’m getting no improvement in power at laguna seca ……. Starting to suspect that HE. Thunderhill is still a demanding track.
I should add the car does not overheat on track.
I should add the car does not overheat on track.
I ran my stock ‘18 on multiple >90dF days with my son driving in the Intermediate run group followed immediately by myself in the Advanced, with zero time for any sort of cool down. Whilst the tyres were shagged by the time I jumped in the car, the ‘mechanicals’ performed flawlessly. Never experienced any appreciable ECU power adjustment, it just pulled like a train; all whilst sounding very ‘Nascarish’ tbh!
Others have ran their stock GTRs for extended periods at COTA iirc without drivetrain issues.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
Didn’t you run a tune on the stock turbos though? If it was running a stock tune it’s the first GTR I’ve heard of that ate its turbos.
I ran my stock ‘18 on multiple >90dF days with my son driving in the Intermediate run group followed immediately by myself in the Advanced, with zero time for any sort of cool down. Whilst the tyres were shagged by the time I jumped in the car, the ‘mechanicals’ performed flawlessly. Never experienced any appreciable ECU power adjustment, it just pulled like a train; all whilst sounding very ‘Nascarish’ tbh!
Others have ran their stock GTRs for extended periods at COTA iirc without drivetrain issues.
I ran my stock ‘18 on multiple >90dF days with my son driving in the Intermediate run group followed immediately by myself in the Advanced, with zero time for any sort of cool down. Whilst the tyres were shagged by the time I jumped in the car, the ‘mechanicals’ performed flawlessly. Never experienced any appreciable ECU power adjustment, it just pulled like a train; all whilst sounding very ‘Nascarish’ tbh!
Others have ran their stock GTRs for extended periods at COTA iirc without drivetrain issues.
Car pulls nicely stock. Top end is super flat though. Low and mid are great. These medium sized turbos are amazing across the board. Maybe little more on the bottom. Tons more mid and top end.
well atleast it was before I did the HE 🤔. 10 mph gain on the straight at Thunderhill is huge. On the street it is sooo much more fun. Not over powered in the least. Probably similar to a BS.
turbos can handle 800 whp on platform but need to upgrade fuel plus I don’t want to beat on it that hard on track. Street and a drag run or two would be fun.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 45
Likes: 22
From: Owasso (Tulsa) OK
AMG GTR, GT350, Raptor, X6
Thanks for sharing your videos/experience. Really enjoyed them and the others on your channel. Would love to see more as there aren't many that do what you do out there. Sorry to hear about your troubles, unfortunately once you change from OEM, who knows what you will experience. I'm not saying I wouldn't have done the exact same thing, that top-end rush is incredible. Keep sharing!!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 228
From: Norther CA
2014 cls63 a amg. 2018 AMG GTR
Thanks for sharing your videos/experience. Really enjoyed them and the others on your channel. Would love to see more as there aren't many that do what you do out there. Sorry to hear about your troubles, unfortunately once you change from OEM, who knows what you will experience. I'm not saying I wouldn't have done the exact same thing, that top-end rush is incredible. Keep sharing!!
Glad you like them. I love this car !! I have 12 track days on the new turbos. No complaints other than power dropped off the last three. It’s either the track or that center Heat Exchanger I added. Tempted to put factory one back in. Especially after hearing how TIKT keeps theirs stock. Prob leave the cheek coolers.
you are right. Not a ton of people running these cars. I get a lot of compliments. Something about seeing such a bad *** Mercedes on the track is really striking to people. Also a driver that can do some justice to the platform. Hoping to drop a couple seconds this season and get down to 1:33-1:34s. I heard a good driver just ran a 1:30-1:31 in a BS. I have never seen one on track myself.
