Luckily, I live in New England. We don't know what "real" heat is like. It'll probably hit 80 today here, which is hot, but not "that" hot...

I'm definitely going to dyno again right after the tune, but maybe I'll do it again in the fall, just so I have something more fun to post.

 

you are right, I didn't notice you were in MA, our top down weather starts here about the time the snow tires go on in your area, (still have lots of family in VT)

 

Most 'before' dynos I have seen on 600s have been in the 405-420 range, which is consistent with ~500 crank hp.

 

Well, Dino, I'm not sure if I got a special car, or if something screwy went on, but I'm very happy with the results. I've posted some sheets below, but I hit 453 rwhp! Ironically enough, they had just dyno'd an '07 SL65 two days earlier. They pulled up that chart and that car hit 485 rwhp. Having said that, the tq on the SL 65 they tested was nearly 650 (yikes!) and mine hit ~530.

I should add the temp was very reasonable in the garage. I was pulled into the basement of a 3 story brick building. It was 80 outside, but probably only low 70's in the garage. They also had a couple big ol' fans blowing right on the engine, keepin' her cool.

It will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

 

Wow, great numbers, that's close to the RENNtech numbers they provided, I hope the "after" numbers are equally impressive . Dino, sounds like most of the numbers you are looking at are for Arizona dyno'ed cars right? (I spent a lot of time with Pro Dyno in Tempe trying to get a blown Hemi to run right) always got lower results in the desert.

 

metalica_23,making 453hp/530tq from a car that advertises 493hp/590tq is amazing and making 485hp/650tq from a car that advertises 604hp/738tq seems about right hp wise but a little high in tq when you consider 20% loss!! I just had my 04 sl 600 ecu tuned on sunday by Dino and when it's cool the car runs really strong but when it's real warm/ hot it's down on power I think my ic pump may be bad, taking it to the dealer on monday to find out. Anyhow I've called Dino every day since then sometimes twice in the same day with questions and he either answers the phone or calls me back within 5 mintues and has even fax instructions on how to replace the ic pump! NOW that's what I call great customer service!! Give him a call I'm sure you'll be glad you did!!!

 

I appreciate the vote of confidence. I try to treat all of our clients like I want to be treated. This car thing that we all have is and should be fun... from buying it, to improving it.

I have been very fortunate in that I have made allot of friends from our clients. Its like one big speed freak support group!

 

Well, my wife just signed for the package and my "new" ECU/TCU are back home. Needless to say, lunch today will involve flying home and inserting said pieces back into the car. I'll offer up the "driving experience" report later today. No time this week, but hopefully I can get it dyno'd next week sometime.

 

Great! Butt dyno report soon

 

First of all, I wanted to mention that I considered RennTech, Veloce, and Kleemann. I had absolutely no concerns after talking with all of them. They all seemed great, but I ended up sending my stuff out to Kleemann.

All I can say is "wow". It is definitely a noticeable increase in the acceleration of the car. The shifting is a little more prolonged and the car flies. 60-100 happens in a flash and the shifting is as smooth as ever. In 1st gear, I actually lose the tires twice. Once at takeoff, and again around 4k RPMs when the turbos must really get spooled up (unless someone has another thought on this, maybe something to do with the ESP shutting off and then turning back on?). I need to go get me some traction!

Dyno next week...

 

Great, look forward to the dyno numbers, but it sounds like some real improvement. Thanks for posting this

 

Thanks for the info.

When you say shifting is more prolonged, do you mean time between gear engagement? Is this from slipping discs in the clutch packs?

I have pretty much decided on Kleemann to be installed by Lyle at DC Cars in Los Angeles along with their limited slip diff and SL55 gears. But after talking to him, I understand their trans upgrade to be little more than increased pressure. Not a way I want to go. I haven't spoken to anyone at Veloce, but what I read on their website about their TCU upgrade of rewriting the entire program and changing the algorhythms made much more sense to me.

Any comments, Dino?

 

Sorry, by prolonged I meant that it lets you stay in the lower gear a little longer before upshifting...not that the actual shift takes longer.

 

Sounds like you are enjoying the Kleeman work. They are a solid company with a good track record. Of course I think we're better..... but I am biased!

Now go beat up some of those great New England roads! Have fun and be safe!

 

Hi Dino, I used to own an 04 SL55 (I remember when you first got your 03 SL55 tuned by a guy in Maryland?) and I just got an 06 SL600 and am considering getting the ECU tuned. I have a few questions: any transmission issues and do the shift points change? At what RPM does the engine produce max torque. I am in NY-NJ any dealers around here? BTW what's the IC pump? Thx.

P.S. I'm sorry about Montana.

 

I'm new to MBWorld but not at all new to exotic/performance cars. I considered posting in the new members' area, but it looks as though this thread has exactly the discussion I'm looking for. Thanks to those who have posted ..... I've learned a lot already.

I recently purchased a 2005 SL600 RENNtech package 1 out of Tampa, CPO warranty, 21k miles. It's very close to mint and is the best of the 600's I've owned over the years (3 previous: SL, CL, S).

I'm brand new to racing on the track and last weekend went to the drag strip for the first time. After making a pass as a passenger in a friend's car to see the procedure, I took the MB down the track and to my amazement had an 11.88 1/4 mile. Needless to say, I am pleased.

I made 8 subsequent runs, trying different launch techniques, correcting my errors, even running twice with the top down ......... all runs were between 11.8 and 12.2. I ran street tires (RENNtech 10 spoke 20" with Continental Sport Contact2 Giavannas), took 4 psi out of the rears and added 8 psi to the fronts, avoided the water/burnout area, ran 93 octane gas. Temp was in the mid to upper 70's, generally I allowed cool-down between runs.

I've spoken with several tuners in the central Ohio area about getting the car (and driver) down into the 10's with street tires. One suggestion was the RENNtech package 3, but a local tuner wants 18k (installed), and it looks as though the horsepower increase is significant, but rather pricey when you look at it on a dollar/horsepower level.

The EVOtech folks are clearly helpful, but I'm almost 2000 miles from your shop!

My questions, for anyone still reading and not put to sleep by all this:

1) Will the use of 100 octane unleaded yield better times? (Some on the forums have said no, that the ECU won't adjust for octane above 93, while others say use the 100 octane and let the ECU adjust to it for a tank or so before taking it to the track.)

2) Would the Kleeman Stage 2 LSD be a reasonable addition?

3) Will an intercooler pump upgrade show significant results? RENNtech's is pricey, of course, so are other options better values?

4) What driving techniques are other drivers using? I left the ESP "on," got on the torque converter slightly as the tree descended, then applied 2/3 throttle to about 2000 rpm, then applied 90% throttle for 2 secs, then WOT. Attempts to hurry WOT resulted in the ESP engaging.

Here is a poorly-filmed YouTube of a 12 second run with the top down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT7PO05D7Tg

Any help/advice will be appreciated.

 

It would help is you would post your complete time slip data, especially the 60 ft times, that is the key to good e/t's.

 

Thanks for the offer of help. Here are the slip data from the first run:

Reaction=1.272
60 ft=1.8918
330 ft=5.0930
ET @ 594 ft=7.2411
1/8 ET=7.7181
1/8 mph=94.34
1/4 ET=11.8891
1/4 mph=116.86

 

and here are the 60 ft times for each run:

1.8918 (11.88 quarter)
1.8742 (11.90 quarter)
1.8911 (12.21 quarter)
2.0160 (12.27 quarter)
2.0030 (12.16 quarter)
2.0090 (12.22 quarter)
1.9791 (12.17 quarter) (one on YouTube link, I think)
1.8750 (12.01 quarter)

 

I think you made a typo when you said between 11.0 and 12.2. Great runs especially on street tires.

You said you have a RENNtech Stage 1...but doesn't that include the ECU software? Why would it cost you an additional $18K for the airboxes, IC and sport mufflers when the whole Package 3 cost $18,990 (including the $6,400 software package)? Seems like they misquoted you the price.

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/sl.html

I believe EVOtech is out of business....were you thinking of a different tuner?

Let me see if I can help out on the numbered questions:

1) That debate is still a debate. Some do it just to feel better...just in case the ECU can advance the timing. I know some people ask for tunes that take advanage of the 100 octane. Not sure that an "off the shelf" RENNtech can take advantage of it.

2) Kleemann stage 2 will probably be a good addition for off track traction. However, if you are running drag radials on a properly prepared drag track the LSD will not have any discernable advantage (at least not for the $'s you will spend).

3) The V12TT motor runs hot and there can be significant results from an improved cooling system. The factory set up is kind of poorly designed compared to other turbo cars (the IC's on top of the scortching hot engine). I don't want to throw down the RENNtech IC system...but you can accomplish the same results through much cheaper means. Although, I have seen innovative systems for the CL V12TT platforms...I am not so sure how to accomplish it in the SL platform. The CL's are limited by the space up front...it seems the SL's have some additional room to play with.

4) I am not the drag expert. I fiddled with it on and off and screwed up during all three of my 1/4 mile runs in this car. I know one expert does something unique.

Tom

 

OK, first a few other questions, and I am by no means very experienced with the SL600 at the track but I do have a lot of recent experience with the SRT8 Charger platform that has some similar launch problems including ESP of the same design and heavy cars with good horsepower.
Does your car have the Sport and Comfort modes for the transmission? Car should launch a lot better with it in sport and in 1 st. I would try esp off and launch without loading the trans at first, just mash the pedal 100 % off the line, if you get excessive wheel spin then try esp on and 100% pedal and see if that drops your 60 ft time. Bring some ice to the track and ice down the top of the engine after each run, pay attention to your temp gauge when you are in the staging area, try to keep the car at about 160 degrees, heat soak will kill your times. Try to work those things down before you spend money for improved times, you may be pleasantly surprised how well you do, and how much the driver effects your 1/4 mile times.

 

RENNdoc:

Can you post a scan of your timeslips? I am keeping a list of the fastest MB's and would like to add your best time.

Looking at the data from the one that you did post...your car is really stong through the 1/8th mile, trapping 94.3mph...but it seems to fall down a bit over the remainder of the 1/4 mile. The conditions seemed to be somewhat mild.

Tom

 

Thanks for all your info. The 11.0 was a typo, sorry. If I had run an 11.0 on my first day, breaking into the 10's probably would not require any mods.

The 18k quote is the installed price through my local shop. I was told that the ECU/TCU has to be reflashed because of all of the other mods (exhaust & airbox) which were different than stock. Although I'm only a novice, it makes sense to me that the package 1 ECU/TCU would not run the package 3 upgrades as efficiently.

My bad on EVOtech. Yes, I meant Veloce. Their posts have been very helpful, but I realize the shop is in Arizonia.

Thanks for the LSD info. I don't intend to use drag radials unless I can't get into the 10's any other way with this car.

I guess I'll need to try the 100 octane to see if it makes an improvement, unless another reader has information on whether the RENNtech package 1 ECU can compensate to take advantage of it.

Again, thanks for your information and your patience.

 

Many thanks for your advice.

Yes, I used the sport mode for the transmission, which selects 1st gear for the launch. I didn't try any runs in manual mode or comfort mode.

Turning ESP "off" is a bit tricky. Pushing the button to make it select "off" does NOT disengage the system which attempts to brake a spinning wheel. I concluded then (and correct me if I'm wrong) that mashing the pedal will result in brake application if the ESP "off," and will result in both brake application and throttle cut-off if the ESP is "on." My decision was to leave the ESP "on" and attempt, through judicious throttle control, to avoid wheel spin. It seemed that once I was underway, mashing the pedal no longer engaged the ESP.

Engine coolant gauge never budged from its usual spot. The day was 70-75 degrees officially, although it was warmer on the track.

I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this, and I hope this is helpful information on this thread. (I don't mean to hijack the OP's intention on the thread.)

 

Here are the slips from the two fastest passes. I was car #39. The yellowish one was from my first time at a drag strip. Pardon the thumbprints, but yes, I did have to show it a few times to people who weren't present for the run.