LET Tune or ASP Pulley? - Considering first mods...
I can guess this has been discussed probably a gazillion times, but I really want some fresh answers. I have an 05' E55 with only K&N drop ins, and recently took it to the track. My best 1/4 was at 12.6 sec at 110 mph with ESP turned on (Think I should be faster)
. I would be satisfied getting into the consistent high 11s. This was my first time at the track, and did not want to embarrass myself slipping and sliding all over the track by trying to control the throttle (figured the geniuses at AMG knew what they were doing when they designed the ESP on the E55).My BIG question is... If you had to do it all over again
, and had a limited budget, and little tolerance for headaches, what would be the first Big Bang for the Buck modification you would do/recommend? Honestly, I am scared of the ECU Tune, and don't want to adversely affect the ESP controls (they kick in great and save me from myself). I don't want to have to run drag radials on my car to lower my ET as that would not be real world street conditions IMO. Want to truly get into the 11s (without drags), but don't want to sacrifice wasted $$$, time, and drivability. Am I asking too much? PS - Considering ASP pulley or Let Tune (not both)
Thank you in advanced for the input/suggestions!!!
Last edited by ptirado961; Mar 11, 2011 at 11:08 AM.
Then add headers, replace the primary cat with a race cat, delete the second cat, install an Xpipe and call it a day.
If you want more power simply add a tune at that point.
Adding a larger pulley will cause issues with heat soak and launching at the track. You would definitely make more power, but that does not always equate to a lower et in the 1/4 with our cars on stock cooling.
If I had it to do all over, this is what I would do.
Last edited by Worth the wait; Mar 11, 2011 at 11:24 AM.
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However our intercoolers are not up to the task of cooling additional boost stock, so there will be added cost in upgrading that.
Kleeman shorties and race cat will cost about $1800. Install and fabrication of x pipe should be in the 500-800 range. This setup should produce at least 40whp.
Additionally extra boost off the line with further challenge traction, which is already a significant issue on the stock set up.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Best 1/4 timeslip below:
R/T... .449 (best R/T was .149)
60'... 1.902
330... 5.341
1/8... 8.160
MPH... 87.09
1000... 10.591
1/4... 12.644 (slowest was 12.691)
MPH... 109.72 (fastest was 110.05)
Shouldn't I be traping at 112-114mph? (even with ESP on?) Could my IC Pump be acting up? After I turned off the track, the car felt like it would not boost/respond when I gave it gas...
However our intercoolers are not up to the task of cooling additional boost stock, so there will be added cost in upgrading that.
Kleeman shorties and race cat will cost about $1800. Install and fabrication of x pipe should be in the 500-800 range. This setup should produce at least 40whp.
Additionally extra boost off the line with further challenge traction, which is already a significant issue on the stock set up.
I am liking the header & exhaust idea more than the pulley and/or tune. Does anyone have a picture of their exhaust setup with the X pipe and secondary cat removed? What size piping? Same as stock? Assume res delete too.
Nitrous anyone???
Spoke to a ZEX rep, and seemed to think a wet system with the right safety controls could give me 50-75hp +no problems.
), and just want to squeeze myself into the 11s without white knuckling it praying I lock the tires right everytime I race.
That's why I decided to just screw it and ordered the Eurocharged package with headers, tune, pulley and intercooler. On top of that I plan on getting drag radials ( although my tires aren't exactly crap, I have Falken Azenis RT615's ) on my hopes to get easy 11's.
Last edited by GT-ER; Mar 11, 2011 at 12:59 PM.
These cars with drags on the street are lethal. I ran that setup for a year without any issues and mine was daily driven for a while.
Last edited by chawkins2001; Mar 11, 2011 at 01:22 PM.
I sold my 168 to dimon so will see what he does at the tack in about a month.
He's running pulley and tune with rear res delete.
Last edited by skratch77; Mar 11, 2011 at 01:30 PM.
I would guess, as others have said, that you need to upgrade your pump. Start there, return to the track and see what happens.
Also invest in some data logging so you can monitor IAT's (among many other things). If your times are still off after the pump upgrade a datalogger will be invaluable in diagnosing what could be any number of other problems.
Good luck!
Best 1/4 timeslip below:
R/T... .449 (best R/T was .149)
60'... 1.902
330... 5.341
1/8... 8.160
MPH... 87.09
1000... 10.591
1/4... 12.644 (slowest was 12.691)
MPH... 109.72 (fastest was 110.05)
Shouldn't I be traping at 112-114mph? (even with ESP on?) Could my IC Pump be acting up? After I turned off the track, the car felt like it would not boost/respond when I gave it gas...

FWIW the first time went to the track I had similar results. New IC pump fixed that. Ended up going 12.06 at 116 mph bone stock. I guarantee I could have gone 11.9x with drag radials.




I've seen a few people with headers putting down great power gains with no tuning what so ever.



An 11 second daily driver... Not bad ehh???
I'm thinking you should still be getting more with those mods? Were you getting wheelspin still? (as I was)
Last edited by Shifter; Jan 13, 2012 at 11:15 PM. Reason: addition
My best 60' time when I went to the track was 1.957...most were around 2.3...yeah...that bad. I still destroyed everyone I raced and had traps kissing 120 (118.98...118.66...118.73)....
Decent tires, a conscious effort on your 60' and launch, and you're in the 11's. Seriously...I had no idea how important the launch is.
I totally believe the guys that have stock time's in the 11's with DR's because their 60' times are also like 1.7. Totally do it.
If I had a 60' of 1.7 my car would easily be mid 11's.
You can have 700 hp and without a decent launch...doesn't matter.








