stephens

Apologies for the quality of the pics, I will take some better ones tomorrow.
Just a quick note on my quest to get baseline performance numbers on my new E55.
The biggest problem I am having at the moment is the traction control system. The best times I can get with ESP left on is 4.56sec for 0-100kmh (equal to 4.3-4.4 0-60mph), but the car is bogging as the ESP cuts the power completely when the wheels start spinning off the line.
My next task will be to practice getting the car off the line with ESP off to maximise acceleration.
I have done some experimentation and you cannot use full throttle in 1st gear at any speed without wheelspin.

treynor

Sounds like the same situation I had with my S600 - mid-4s 0-60, but always with wheelspin and ESP activation. I finally took it to the dragstrip where I could get it to hook up properly, and ran 0-60 in 3.9

Try doing a stint at high speed before your 0-60 pull. You'll get the tires warmed up and they will stick better.

Good luck and keep us posted!

03E55AMG

Very nice !!

stephens

treynor
I take it your 3.9 run is with ESP off?
The local drag strip is holdin a "street meet" next Friday night, so if it's not raining I'll get some good baseline numbers for the car.
I've spent plenty of time on racetracks, but never drag racing, so it should be a great experience for me.

benznut

[QUOTE]Originally posted by stephens
The best times I can get with ESP left on is 4.56sec for 0-100kmh (equal to 4.3-4.4 0-60mph), but the car is bogging as the ESP cuts the power completely when the wheels start spinning off the line.


What kind of equipment do you use to measure the acceleration?

AMGB

How did you get 4.56 seconds? Did you do any brake torque? If so, what rpm did you do the brake torque? Or just leave esp on and just slammed on the accelerator?

amgB

stephens

ESP on, foot to the floor. There is still plenty to come, but I'll have to turn off the ESP and learn to drive it onto the gas properly.
I cut the times on my old E55 from 5.4 to 5.1 getting it right with the ESP off.

Rennteam

Several german car magazines tested the E55 and never got a better time from 0-100 kph than 4.6 seconds. I think you're beating a dead horse, I'm not sure you can get a better 0-100 kph time. BTW: at speed 100 kph on the speedo, your car runs around 95 kph. Just FYI.

Bilal

dude, your car is plain awesome, no ***** about it

stephens

Rennteam
We have radar speed checks to calibrate speedo's, I will check then. I have fitted 275/35 rears which are a little taller, so it will be a little faster than that, but in the Aust mag test the car is measured as reading 100kmh at the indicated 100kmh. By the way I am not using the speedo and stop watch to take these times.
I have read a number of Euro reviews quoting a 4.6sec 0-100 time. The ones I have read left ESP on and commented on how they couldn't get any faster with it off. US testers on the other hand have been getting 4.2s 0-60 which equates to 4.4s 0-100kmh running the stock 265 rear tyres, by turning the ESP off, but have commented that it is hard to get it right. From my experience with doing literally 100's of runs playing with modifcations to my other E55 is that from the amount of "bogging" I feel when the ESP cuts in, I am losing at least .25sec.

Benznut
I use a G-Tech Pro accelerometer. I used it on my old E55 and Porsche Turbo. The numbers it produced were replicated within 0.1sec on a $20,000 "professional" system that was used to help tune the custom injection mapping for the Turbo (using 02 sensors). There was also an article in an Aust performance mag comparing the HSV Commodore and the old E55 where they used to G-tech at the drag strip and found it to be within 0.1sec of the "official" no's.
I have found the unit very easy to use and accurate along as the road you use is truly straight and flat.
Anyway the proof is in the pudding and I will be taking it to the drag strip (barring rain) next Friday night.

treynor

Excellent reports! Take video at the dragstrip if you have the opportunity.

One recommendation for the dragstrip - do a short burnout before your runs. Your rear tires will be cold, and contrary to popular opinion I have found that a burnout (enough to make smoke) helped considerably with traction.

I look forward to hearing how you fare.

pocholin

Stephens, I know you can get better times in the quarter mile, I'll keep checking this thread to see the results, I think best my car can do is 4.9 or 5.0 if I remember correctly from my last experience at the track with g-tech

stephens

Any other tips for a drag racing newbie guys?

RJC

How many miles were on your car before you started the full throttle standing start stuff?

pocholin

yes, don't power brake at all, no need, you'll spin and even if you don't it doesn't get you anywhere on these cars.

stephens

I started the full throttle runs at 1500km's.
I have been running the car on full throttle starting at 2500rpm-4000rpm increasing in 500rpm increments every 100km for the last 500km's. ie my final runs were full acceleration between 2500 rpm and 6000 rpm. I actually take the car onto the freeway for a 100km odd run each night. Thats how I have managed to get the car run in over a 1 week period!

Rennteam

I don't know about the US but in Europe, car magazines usually do around 5-10 acceleration rounds and calculate the middle value of all runs. So yes, you might be able to get a slightly better time but let me ask you one thing: why?
Turning the ESP off can be harmful to the car's drivetrain. Due to the excessive torque, you might put a lot of stress on the drivetrain if you do several 0-100 kph acceleration runs with back to back with ESP turned off. As long as I don't get money for that or I don't have to win a track run, this doesn't make sense.
Not to forget about the tires.

When I was 19 years old, I owned a Lancia Delta HF Integrale (yep, one of those "hatchback Porsche killers" by that time).
I did several acceleration runs from 0-100 kph several times to see how fast the car was going. I ended up with a broken "differential" (sorry, don't know the right english word ).
Yes, it was covered by warranty but my car was 1 week at the dealership and I never felt good again in my car after it happened.

Now I'm 38 and somehow (a little bit :p ) wiser.

Enjoy your E55 and don't worry too much about performance. We already did several comparison runs and I can tell you: from 0-300 kph (yikes... ), the E55 smokes the SL55, 996 Turbo and the Ferrari 360 Modena. What do you want more from a "Taxi" as some of my friends call the E55.

AMGB

stephens,

4.56 0-100 with ESP is just plain awsome!

Tell me about your rear wheel setup? From your pictures, you have the standard rims 18 inch 265 35 standard for the rears? Did you just put 275 35 on the rears? Can you do that without harming the car? Does the ride suffer with your new setup? Can the airmatic suspension handle that? I want better traction to be able to beat anybody at the light, (vettes and well just plain anybody), except I don't think I want to punish my passengers when I am taking them out to lunch with a harsh ride.

amgB

stephens

I have changed to the Pirelli P Zero Rosso in a 275. IMO the ride is quieter and at least as good, if not better than the OEM Contact Sport 2.
I originally wanted the S03, but it is not available in Australia as a 275, only 265 and 285, but apparently it is alot noiser and harsher than the Pirelli so maybe it was for the best.

AMGB

Does that throw off your spedometer because of the different size setup for the back?

amgB

motormouth

Bummer........they put the steering wheel on the wrong side of your car.

J/K.....looks awesome. Thanks for the pics.


Enjoy

stephens

AMGB
The difference in speeds for the tyres is around 1%. This is less than the variation of individual speedometers.

AMGB

Thanks.

amgB

AMGB

1 quick question, how do you know it will only effect the spedo by 1%?

amgB

E55 KEV

By using a tire size calculator. Difference in 265/35/18 & 275/35/18 is 1.1%.

www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi