SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: More thoughts on the SL65 performance
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
More thoughts on the SL65 performance
... so I punched in the available data on the SL65 into CarTest2000, a car performance simulator program. Relevant points:
My SL65 weighs (according to the trackside scale, accuracy unknown) 4500 lbs with half a tank of gas and no driver.
RENNtech has dyno'd a stock SL65 with 93 octane at 522 RWHP / 617 RWTQ; they were kind enough to email me their dyno chart.
Plugging those figures into CarTest and assuming some sticky tires/track, but launching off idle, I get:
0-60 in 3.58
60': 1.88
330': 5.00
1/8: 7.64 @ 96
1/4: 11.71 @ 121.59
I don't have 1/8th mile data, but those figures line up VERY closely with my first run of the evening, on 93 octane. I ran 1.1 MPH faster and .01s slower. Admittedly, that was with traction control kicking in in 1st.
Soo... I propose that my car seems to be running pretty much as expectedl. I'm not sure why Schiz's MPH was down, but I suspect a combo of track prep beyond the 60' mark + high humidity + temps with the sunlight. All my runs were after sundown.
Now the other interesting thing about these figures is that my car picked up 2.7 MPH with 100 octane gas. That's not too surprising -- more octane == less timing retard == more power.
More in a minute.
My SL65 weighs (according to the trackside scale, accuracy unknown) 4500 lbs with half a tank of gas and no driver.
RENNtech has dyno'd a stock SL65 with 93 octane at 522 RWHP / 617 RWTQ; they were kind enough to email me their dyno chart.
Plugging those figures into CarTest and assuming some sticky tires/track, but launching off idle, I get:
0-60 in 3.58
60': 1.88
330': 5.00
1/8: 7.64 @ 96
1/4: 11.71 @ 121.59
I don't have 1/8th mile data, but those figures line up VERY closely with my first run of the evening, on 93 octane. I ran 1.1 MPH faster and .01s slower. Admittedly, that was with traction control kicking in in 1st.
Soo... I propose that my car seems to be running pretty much as expectedl. I'm not sure why Schiz's MPH was down, but I suspect a combo of track prep beyond the 60' mark + high humidity + temps with the sunlight. All my runs were after sundown.
Now the other interesting thing about these figures is that my car picked up 2.7 MPH with 100 octane gas. That's not too surprising -- more octane == less timing retard == more power.
More in a minute.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
So I plugged in some reasonable figures for the 275/35-18 drag radials I have sitting in my garage and reran the performance figures. The computer now recommends launching at 2000 RPM, with the following results:
0-60: 3.16
60': 1.65 (reasonable, my big S600 runs 1.62 - 1.66 60's on 265/40-18s)
330': 4.72 @ 74.6
1/8th: 7.34 @ 97.5
1/4: 11.40 @ 120.0
So - lose 1.6 MPH and drop 0.31 off the 1/4. Sounds pretty reasonable to me!
Now, to run some figures for the effect of 100 octane...
0-60: 3.16
60': 1.65 (reasonable, my big S600 runs 1.62 - 1.66 60's on 265/40-18s)
330': 4.72 @ 74.6
1/8th: 7.34 @ 97.5
1/4: 11.40 @ 120.0
So - lose 1.6 MPH and drop 0.31 off the 1/4. Sounds pretty reasonable to me!
Now, to run some figures for the effect of 100 octane...
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
OK... ah, heh...
So with another 40 HP (around what I calc I was getting from the gasoline), the program says:
0-60: 2.98 secs
60': 1.62 (again, reasonable)
330': 4.63 @ 75.9
1/8th: 7.18 @ 100.1
1/4: 11.15 @ 123.2
The MPH seems right on - a bit slow even - but the 11.18 1/4 is a little hard to fathom. I'm going to stick with 11.4 @ 123 for my fearless prediction.
Now, to model what the RENNtech ECU would give
So with another 40 HP (around what I calc I was getting from the gasoline), the program says:
0-60: 2.98 secs
60': 1.62 (again, reasonable)
330': 4.63 @ 75.9
1/8th: 7.18 @ 100.1
1/4: 11.15 @ 123.2
The MPH seems right on - a bit slow even - but the 11.18 1/4 is a little hard to fathom. I'm going to stick with 11.4 @ 123 for my fearless prediction.
Now, to model what the RENNtech ECU would give
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
OK, this would be crazy, but it's within the realm of possibility IF the car can hook up. I frankly think it's a bit unlikely, but then again I thought there was no way in hell this car could run 126 MPH stock either 
Using the 93-octane dyno sheet RENNtech gave me, and adding 40 HP from 3500 RPM on up to model the effect of 100 octane, we have
[drumroll please]
0-60: 2.84
60': 1.58 (this strains credibility, but... more tire, more power and less weight than my S600)
330': 4.55 @ 76.9
1/8th: 7.05 @ 102
1/4: 10.97 @ 125.4
Egad. There you have it - it's mathmatically possible for this car to run 10s with just an ECU, some good gas / air, and drag radials. That would be TOTALLY INSANE.
I'll try to get it on video when it happens
Using the 93-octane dyno sheet RENNtech gave me, and adding 40 HP from 3500 RPM on up to model the effect of 100 octane, we have
[drumroll please]
0-60: 2.84
60': 1.58 (this strains credibility, but... more tire, more power and less weight than my S600)
330': 4.55 @ 76.9
1/8th: 7.05 @ 102
1/4: 10.97 @ 125.4
Egad. There you have it - it's mathmatically possible for this car to run 10s with just an ECU, some good gas / air, and drag radials. That would be TOTALLY INSANE.
I'll try to get it on video when it happens
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Let's go Road Racing Now!
All this talk about drag racing.....If the SL65 is as good as my SL55....it will make a great road racing car as well. I have done a number of track events with my 55 and it pretty much embaresses most everything out there (in the street car groups)....except heavily modified cars on slicks. (I guess I need to get a set of track wheels and slicks!)
You guys should try your hand at road courses....it's actually much more fun than just stomping on it and holding on.
You guys should try your hand at road courses....it's actually much more fun than just stomping on it and holding on.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
SL65, 911
Road courses are fun too, but hustling a 4500lb car around a tight course is tough on brakes / tires / chassis. A 3400lb Viper is a better choice. Actually, the 1100lb open-wheel formula Mazdas are better choices still.
