wickedrsr

Hi, I just bought my 2003 SL 55. I just wondered... is there something wrong with my car? I dont think this car is fast at all. Does not feel like 493 HP.
I am running 20" GFG wheels. Could that be it? I think if i floor the car, it does not peel out, it feels sluggish if i put my foot on the gas pedal. But if i gradually step on the pedal, it feels much stronger... the car is very smooth though. Am i missing something? Is everyones SL 55 the same as mine? Please advise... Thanks to you all who reply to this thread.

wickedrsr

=)

RobertG

ASP-antispin protection.When the computer detects possible wheel spin it either backs-off the throtle or engine timing to give you maximum stability and control.You can disable this feature on most cars equipped with that feature.Also if you have winter or summer switch on your transmission than you need to keep it in summer position. In winter position car starts out in 2nd gear instead of first,again to prevent wheel spin.

theboogers

trans switch is a winter or standard position. winter position starts in 2nd gear. also, you can switch off esp, not reccommended, if you want to partially defeat the traction control. the wheels are braked to stop wheel spin. you will be eating up the brakes. the supercharger does not kick in until you hit about 2k rpm.

Fast_SL55

I'm with you on that Wicked... This is the lamest 493 HP I've ever felt! Must be because the car is heavy as hell but this is nothing a few mods won't cure. This car will need 600 whp to feel right in my opinion.

ima55r2

You need to "train" the adaptive transmission for a faster response. Punch it about 5 times in a row and you will notice a big difference in performance.

Patrick1990

493 horsepower, and you are not statisfied...i surrive with 98 horespower for 1.200 kilogrames...so be glad with your car, where i live no one got a car like yours.

The SL is not a sportscar. "If you want a fast dragracer. Buy another car. If you want a smooth idealline/racingline-keeping racer. Buy another car. If you want a racer without anything, exept of carbon... And aircondition, to keep you alive from the hardworking engine. buy another car. if you want a sportscar, with a sound like a pissed off lion, mixed with a midsized-explosion and some music from U2. Buy another car. BUT if you want a comfortable grandtouring, with all that luxury, that you usualy find in a S-Class. This is the car for you! If you want a relaxed cruiser with the roof down, and the radio growling on a real cool way. This is the car for you! If you want a cabriolet in the summer, and a coupé in the winther. This is the car for you! If you want the beutifulest roadster in the world. This is the car for you! If you want the beautifulest coupé in the world. This is the car for you!

See what i mean?

Patrick1990

"People who drive SL, don't care about wheelspin, and hardcore suspension that makes it go like a racer. They just wan't to could enjoy driving to the shop after breakfast every morning, in style. And allways have same enjoy of the car, even at 40 mph". - Jeremy Clarkson... Or he diden't said it with that kind of grammer

IanSL55

Maybe you're used to something that rockets you to 60 in under 4 seconds... but compared to most cars the SL55 is a beast. Maybe you're in comfort mode... Drop that thing into sport mode, floor it, and you'll certainly shred your tires...

~ Ian

vraa

Turn off ESP.
Don't keep it in Winter/Comfort mode, make sure it's in Summer/Sport mode.
Get lighter rims!

You know what you might need to do? Ask your dealer to just reset your tranny and ECU, that way the car can re-learn everything. Drive it hard. Like crazy.

If that doesn't solve your problem, ask me about the RENNtech ECU upgrade. It's probably the easiest and one of the more inexpensive mods you can do for your car to easily ramp up response.

Fast_SL55

Ricky, when I turn off ESP I get a warning light. Is this normal? Is there a noticeable diiference with ESP off?

vraa

That means ESP is off. don't worry about it.

When I turn off DSC in my X5 the DSC light stays on.
When I turn off Traction Control in the LS430 the Traction Control light stays on.

It's just a way to tell you that it's on.

When ESP is off, you'll notice a lot more wheel spin. Personally, don't drive with it off normally, especially in the rain. It can be deadly. I would suggest that you try whatever you will do in an empty parking lot, especially if you don't have a lot of experience with driving cars of the SL55's caliber.
ESP and all these fancy electronic stability stuff makes it so easy to drive these monsters. Unless you are on a track or crazy on the road, I'd leave them on. Not only is it dangerous, it's very embarrasing to wipe out in the when taking a left on harlem and first just because you floored it too much

Mind you, ESP will never be 100% off though, even when you push that switch. You still have a small safety margin. To turn it 100% off you have to enable Dyno mode. That... is absolutley stupid to do unless you're on a dyno though. All electronic assists are disabled.

I hope I answered your question about noticeable difference with ESP off, I know I kinda jumped around on a few topics.

Fast_SL55

Good info... Yea, I'm used to a car with alot more HP which is the reason I'm eager to turn up the wick on this one. When you say "Dyno Mode" which is obviously for extracting every last pony of of the car, can the car be driven like that? How is this enabled? You're gonna make me pull this thing outta the garage tonight if you keep telling me HP secrets! LOL.

vraa

Don't do dyno mode. I won't even post the instructions. I'll just tell you to search mbworld for it.

Dyno mode doesn't extract more hp, neither does turning off ESP. They just disable some electronical gadgetry.
The car can be driven in Dyno mode, but it is sooo not suggested.

IngenereAMG

If the SL55 feels slow either you are hitting the wrong pedal or you have it in the wrong mode. I drive mine in Sport mode, manual shift on the wheel with ESP off and haven't run into anything that can hang with me..........I'm sure there are cars that are faster in a straight line, but the SL can be hustled around a track or a mountain road so well.

IanSL55

Not laughing at anyone - but this line had me in stitches!

~ Ian

wickedrsr

Geeez.. i think imma take my car to the dealer... i tried all of those things mentioned... and it jsut feels so slow.. even my friend with a C32 test drove it and said it was really, really slow....

It just feels slow when you are at a stand still and when u just punch it... it feels like it has no power. But if i gradually push on the pedal i feel more power, but i would think... 493 HP with torque with a 4.6 0-60 gotta feel faster then what im experiencing... I drove a e46 m3 and i know for sure the M3 was much faster off the line... not sure on the freeway....

I know this isnt a race car, but a quality luxury car, but this is with 493 HP this gotta be something wrong.... I thank all you fellow SL 55 owners for all the replies... If everything in my car is functioning correctly, The power of the SL is a total let down. =(

$110k car, has got to have everything... Looks and Speed... it should also come with a Mail Order Bride Coupon... as a rebate... Sheesh.. let me know what u guys think... Thanks again..

vraa

You're sure that ESP isn't cutting your power?

V8 AMG

WickedRSR,

Get the dealer to check to see if u have a faulty MAF (Mass airflow sensor) ....if it is faulty, the car can misbehave and lose power like you've described.

v8plus4

Maybe you bought a re-badged SL350.

Patrick1990

Nah i've tried The Sl55 on Nürburgring, in a simulator..or GT4, (but it have to sound like more than it is). The SL65 is faster but the SL55 drives better. so that the SL55 sets a 5 seconds better time than the SL65. so even the SL65 dosen't help you. So..if you aren't statisfied... then you'll have to buy one of these! The Ariel Atom with a 0-60 speed at under 3 seconds! or the Maserati for all of us who think the Enzo, is the uglies car in the world, next to Lada 2104 (we danes love it, because is the only car you can get in all those taxes)

Fast_SL55

I'm not all that impressed with the acceleration of the SL55 either but then again I wasn't terribly impressed with the 911 Turbo X50 that I almost bought before I settled on the SL... The 911 handled well but was sooo boring and neanderthal like that the SL was like a breath of fresh air in comparison...

IanSL55

Question: What are you impressed with?

~ Ian

Fast_SL55

Unfortunately I've gotten accustomed to the brutal acceleration of my Supra which makes 700 HP at the wheels and although the car is no SL55 in terms of status, it has tremendous pulling power at 35 psi boost. Most of the cars that I've test driven such as the SL65, SL55 and 911TT feel like just what they are... Cars running low boost trying to carry a heavy load. The 65 and the 911TT felt very similar in straight line performance but the 55 feels at least a second slower through the 1/4 mile...That's nothing a little more boost couldn't handle though! I'm in no means sorry I bought the 55 because it's a great looking car but I did expect a bit more in straight line performance.

Patrick1990

Yeah you need the Ariel Atom 3,2 seconds from 0-60...or a Maserati MC12/Ferrari Enzo..