newlyAMG

I know drag times vary WIDELY based on conditions, but here's my short experience, wanted to see what you all thought and if there were any immediate room for improvement.

I bought my 2007 E63 AMG back mid-May (see avatar), and have been loving every minute of it. Took it to the local drag strip here in central VA about a week after getting it, stood out like a sore thumb but had a blast and I think turned a few heads.

My first time out back in May it was upper 80s/lower 90s with well over 80% humidity, just a hot and muggy VA evening, as I've come to know and love (and being in central VA I assume the altitude of the track is close to sea-level, FWIW)

Anyway, my passes started at 13.4@107.5 MPH (2.187 60') and as it minimally cooled off, came down to a best of 12.924 @ 110.58 (2.080 60'). I knew in general that I sucked and the car had more in it. I just drove in Sport w/ airmatic at standard setting and ride height elevated, didn't mess with burnouts on my Pirelli street tires.

Last nite, 2nd time out, it was a more comfortable mid-70s down to upper-60s, and not nearly as humid, so I figured this would benefit my speed and times.
-I also inflated my tires to proper specs (41 up front and 45 out back, they were kind of out of whack the previous time for some reason, dealer pre-sale quality i guess),
-and also did quick burnouts before each pass, just to clean the tires.

I was pleased that my first pass (sport mode and suspension raised) was a 12.75@111mph, 2.015 60', and they just got better from there.

My second pass, and the rest of the night, I left suspension down, as I had read that the car hesitates a little when lowering mid-pass, and just tried to ease into the throttle a bit more carefully. 12.65@111.75, 1.958 60'

I stayed with that setup the rest of the night, and also folded my side mirrors in. went 12.58@112.5, then my last 3 runs, within a 15 minute window to end the night, were all 12.3xx (best of 12.369) at 114mph! I was impressed expecially since the car had minimal cooldown between passes. 60' time of best pass being 1.899.

What do you guys think? The speed kind of suprised me for stock on street tires actually, I have no reason to believe that in 50 degree weather with minimal humidity I could almost flirt with 11s if I get good starts, no question if I had better tires.

--sidenote, I was initially depressed that I got beat by a new 5.0 Mustang, looked and sounded like a stock car with far too much money spent on huge rims and Nitto drag radials, I had the guy the whole way, we were even at 1000ft, and then I heard a whole lot of engine and he pulled me the last couple hundred feet and trapped almost 120 mph! My thoughts are that he desparately hit the NOS on me, as I figured if he had done anything else to the car, exhaust would be high on the list, and I just didn't hear it.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like the 'Stang guy hit the NAWWS on you, those things don't just wake up all of a sudden.

Good runs, the 63 takes a little practice to run but it looks like you're well on your way.

RedBullJnky

Congrats! You are definately moving in the right direction. Keep it up. Learning how to launch the car properly is all it takes.

And more than likey the stang sprayed you.

fly2nite

Which Pirellis are you running? P-zero?

newlyAMG

My mistake, in my excitement I just spouted off the first "P" tire I could think of

They are Bridgestone Potenza's, RE050A, 245s in front and 265s in the rear, stock wheels, decent tread on them I guess

fly2nite

I've heard good things about those tires. Thanks.

Denroll

That's a pretty good 60' for street tires.

Kreuzfeuer

Very good runs!!

BenzoBoi

Nice runs!

newlyAMG

thanks guys, have you all heard of (or personally done) much below a 1.8 with drag radials (something like a Nitto that's still comfortable on the street)?

I'm assuming practice may get me potentially closer to an even 1.8 60', but I know tires are eventually the limiting factor. Think those Bridgestones are pretty good, or would my whole world change with some Nittos or other streetable DRs?

And if I hit 11s with DRs and possibly some K&Ns, could I still get excited and say that I got into the 11s STOCK, or are the tires and potentially filters enough "modification" that I couldn't run around waving my timeslip in the air like a jackass?

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Filters would cause your car to throw up in most cases. Too much air will confuse the ECU.

newlyAMG

Yeah the more I read about k&ns I may not bother. Anyone have specific experiences with their e63s and drag radials?

The basic rundown as I understand it is the nittos are good at the strip and best on the street, MTs the opposite, and BFGs somewhere in the middle.

Think even the nittos would show a noticeable improvement at the drag strip over the Potenza R050As I currently have?

Kreuzfeuer

R050A is a fantastic all-around tire... but it's designed to do many things well. So, with any compromise comes an area for improvement, versus a purpose-built tire like the Nitto.

As for a summer tire that is suitable for daily-driver use, you won't get much better than a 1.80 60'... Anything less than that really requires a decent drag-radial or R-compound tire (<160 TW)

stevieg

Wow, great results. I am sure you were thinking all along how much better the beast would be with that Weistec sitting under the hood !!!
That is how speed is.....the faster you go, the more you want to go faster !!
The heat and humidity down here in Atlanta is a ***** as well and really affects the times.
I like the Bridgestones as well. Good Luck.

newlyAMG

thanks stevie,

I actually like the idea of "How fast can I push it in stock form" as much as "what are the absolute limits". Anyone else kind of have that inclination? I feel that the track I go to is good enough that with a little improvement in launch and even cooler/drier weather I may touch 11.xx. I think I may practice for that all summer and give it my best the couple T/T days they have in Oct./Nov., then get into a few slight modifications.

I'm also a big N/A fan, would probably just start with a tune for a little power and better shifting, etc., then upgrade to lightweight rotors and better tires before anything else. Don't really wanna do too much to draw any more attention to it (exhaust) than it gets with looks alone. I really like the "subtle" performance aspect, rather than calling out "hey look at me im making 500hp+"!, I donno, thats just me, I'll probably change my outlook the faster I get it....

Love these things