Slk 32 Amg

[psb]

Hi Crew;
any body have some info.
Just bought this one have known it its hole life like NOS 22k owned by a person who waited tell her oil was warm before getting it above 3500 RPMs ect. old retired 747 pilot ect.
Never hit painted or curbed ect.
BUT;
AMG shame on them for not having a Limited slip. ... My other M.B. prod. have posi.
Turn off esp and all i get is one wheel spin. Go dyno mode and more of the same. AMG are driver cars.. ( seems not in America) Thay Should have posi!
and the rear bushing are so soft that it tork steers. Even my old 190 16v came with upgraded ( harder rockwell tested ) bushing for this very problem from the factory
I love the car, so tight for a convert. But if I did not want a drivers car I could just of got a non AMG.
10 -15 years ago in my fortys I said life is too short not to have posi.
I want to have more AMGs but if thay will not put posi in I will have to keep my older stuff.
Have been looking at a 06 c55 4 door for the wife and i.
But not now. Thay seem to not want to compete with the drivers feel of BMW. And I do not ever want a BMW. But DANG IT wheres the FEEL of steering and posi AMG??? My old 16v will drive circles around this in feel....
I can not beleive I am the only one whos feels this.
Any body else have some input?

I can not find anything for our cars. Oh, theres chrome crap. Chrome roll bars chrome this & that.
I want driver stuff. Not chrome.

On a lighter note. My wife giggels like shes in High school when she gets on it. Theres value in that.
Thanks again
Peter

[bill streep]

I'm sorry, Peter, I just can't read your post. When you are looking for help, please take a couple of minutes to ensure it's readability, and you might get a better response.

[Tedzilla]

Peter,

I know what you mean... It's a shame that a mechanical limited slip diff isn't standard on all high performance Mercedes. There are aftermarket sources for an LSD for your SLK32.
I drive an SLK350 in SCCA class A Stock which severly limits non-factory equipment so my co-driver and I am stuck with a severe competitive disadvantage. Lack of suspension adjustiblity is also a tremendous impediment to Mercedes 'real world' performace. These problems could be rectified for less than the cost of the 'AMG Package' dress up option that just adds weight to an already overweight car.
To work around the SLK's inablity to put the power down I run 275/40/17 Kumho V710s on the back with 245/45/17s up front. This helps but doesn't solve the problem.

Regards,

[Alex]

Peter,

Before you criticize M-B or AMG for their take on the SLK you need to learn how to write clearly. If you already know how to write clearly then you need to put that skill into practice here. Editing your writing is a way to start.

Tedzilla, evidently has super cognitive powers with which he was able to understand what you are saying, or he decided to read your post several times. More power to him.

Unfortunately, many of us don't have the patience.

As to the part of your complaint that I managed to understand, the SLK has electronic asists that take the place of the mechanical "posi" feature that's allegedly lacking. It's success is a matter of taste.

[psb]

Thanks Tedzilla;
Nice to know somebody in the USA who drives M.B. knows whats up.
Yes I know those tires. I have used them on a Alfa I raced when thay came out.
Congrats to you for tring to use one on the track!!!
I think in auto X events when I want to use a M.B. prod. I will stick to my 16V.
I have a Euro 3er member out of my old racer 16v. I may have to look into a shim job for the plates and see if it fits.
BUt I wounder what would happen to all those driver aids with posi. Maybe it will screw the hole thing up!?
I may just have to go to the dark side (no caps) bmw and give this baby to my wife.
By the way I am now on the west cost of America if you did not mind where are you? and can you brake into the top 3 with your SLK?
Thank You and Take Care
Maybe if your around the west coast we will meet @ Sears or L. G. Sega
Photo is of my 50 year old SV racer with DOT tires she is under 1:52 @L.G.Sega
But this photo is her 1st auto X 20 years chassing down the Cobra
she did OK, great rotation.
I no longer have a valid track Lic. due to my health/ age ect.

[psb]

I have to chime in Mod or not.
What does criticizing as you say, have to do with English.
Is this BB a only USA BB? 1st I will quailfy. English is not my 1st Language. 2nd I have some Health issues that have slowed my #s and language and some skills.
If one as a mod can not take the time out to understand my post but can the time to Criticize my post mybe, I am not wanted here. My skills in what you want I am told will never be what thay where before.
Tadzilla understands because its simple car feel.
I can not give names But when I started racing a 16V W201-32(34?)many years ago. I was told by MB USA that the MB guys in America have there brains baked by the sun. Thay also said that MB is a Performance Mark in Germany. ( Still Quoteing) But in the U.S.A. MB is a Lux-0-Liner.. Thats all the Americans want . Give them stright line fast suv feel with power..... Thay said it not me. I thinks its a bit harsh to us. But then again the market dictates..
MB USA could not give our team much help on the record. But off record thay love it ! to see there cars compete and do well in little SCCA and other club events.
Alex You stated ("allegedly lacking. It's success is a matter of taste.")
There is nothing that is Alleged at all. What was stated is Fact. a ESP & ASR that can only be disabled when in dyno mode? come on!
and how about he EBR????

"Wounder why brakes last so long on your 911? well maybe because thay only work when you need them. Not when its locking your rear brakes to simulate a proper handling cars with limited slip."

I can go on , but it may be a wast of time sence some dont understand me and maybe chassie dynmics
So I will say it again AMG for the USA has done drivers a disservice. With our wheel base and H.P. our cars should be able to compete with the Up starts like BMW in feel . and Compete against them on auto x and road racing. But no only Honda/Acura gave the M3 a run for there $$$ in America in the S52 and S54 cars a few years sgo.
All i am saying is we can all drive SLK 350 if we chose. But if we want a true drivers car there more to it then a super charger and AMG knows this.
Alex have you ever felt a AMG 32 slk? if so you would ask why in the sam heck does my 35 +year old p-car have better steering feel than my $59,000 AMG????
My 2 cents as a X diving instuctor and 2 time, small time, reg. champ and some other driving BS a lot of years ago.
I may have lost my abilties in some things, but man I know what a good car should do. This is Fact!
Ok guys maybe that was 3 cents.
Take Care Peace out

[Tedzilla]

Peter,

Less than 1% of MBCA members drive in the sedate club-sanctioned driving events, far fewer compete at higher levels. There isn't enough demand from serious drivers to support a strong performance aftermarket, but there are a few tuners, mostly in Europe.
As you may have gathered from some of the responses to your post, Mercedes owners and AMG owners in particular are somewhat thin skinned. I've found E55 owners would much rather tell you how many horsepower they have than ponder why they can't beat an unmodified 10 year old Chevy Camaro or Mustang in a contest involving accelerating, turning and stopping. I myself try not to dwell too long on the fact that my lovely SLK doesn't stand a chance in its class (A Stock) or even two classes lower against diabolical Miatas...
I wouldn't usually say this on this delicate forum, but this is the Performance & Track Prep section... The difference between the Mercedes ESP system and a functional limited slip differential isn't a matter of taste, it's a matter of winning or losing.

[Alex]

Peter,

I understand your second post much better. Thanks for taking the time to clarify.

You do have a point about the car not having the kind of manually controllable handling features that a competitive driver like you might like to have on board.

Perhaps newer versions of this car have them, or they are available as special options.

[Tedzilla]

Pete,

Great looking Alfa! I've had a couple and wish I'd kept them.
I live in Mclean Va. I'm usually in California 2 or 3 times a year, Santa Barbara, Mt Hamilton and San Francisco.
If you're ever near Washington DC look me up. We have some tracks around here you might enjoy.
I've never cracked the top 3 in SCCA competition. Last year the points leader in my class, a very talented driver and good friend, wrecked his Subaru WRX STI after the 4th event of an 8 race season. I offered to share my SLK until his car was fixed. We had driven each others cars several times previously at Capital Driving Club and MBCA events so he was familiar and comfortable with the SLK. It took 2 months for his car to be fixed. He ran SCCA in the SLK twice, and although he did better than I did, he got a 13th and a 10th. I felt bad for him, his season was ruined. That's how badly the SLK 350 is out gunned in A Stock, a class with some of the top cars costing a faction of the SLKs price.
It wouldn't take much money for Mercedes to turn the SLK from "sporty personal car" a competitive sports car. An option package with hard bushings, stiffer springs and bars, camber plates, and a real LSD would be a great start. While I'm dreaming I might as well ask for lighter, wider wheels...

Regards,

[psb]

Tedzilla;
Boy would love to see some old east coast tracks!!!!
You have put a big Grin on my face with the 10year old car info. I know that 1st hand.
Those funny sounding Subies are amazing.
And I was Never a National guy as a driver due to $$$$, Just as a chassie guy for a team .
I have seen so many Reg. champs get there rears wooped in the Nationals
and club stuff by me. ( I bet you know how that went over hehehhehe speaking of thin skinned. I like you just love it and always said it was my car that did it.)
I was blessed with Magic cars, That would just take you into the corners like a nice dance. All I had to do was lightly guide her along. Looking back I have no idea how it would have gone if I went National.
I cant wait tell I feel comfortable in my SLK32. That was nice of you to lone her out. I bet it was fun for you also to see your car work etc....
I think its a fine tight little car up to about 4 to 6 tens. and a ficken hoot on the long pulls... ( too **** with feel ,when you think your gona die) Ha yooo! Just kinda joking guys.

I want to Dream to.... In fact I do all the time about the perfect car.
Just last night My other alfa is a 57 Spider 1 of 10 made to race in the Americas By S. Grizwold The guy who raced the 1st Alfas at Indy Pre war.
It is about the same size as the SLK in wheel base and length. Amazing!
How in the heck can you pack so much in the modern cars. One is 1640 wet and about as a perfect feeling car your going to feel. **** you can drift her around things and feel like you could still have another 5 tens to go before your on the line.
It amazed me thay are the same size. My sprint ( the car photo I posted) is the same size as a Z3M coupe. The 57 is not as pretty as the My SV I posted. But it is as it ran in its day. even down to its #s and back then no sponcers alowed.
If band width alows I will post a photo before and after.
Hows your 16v. Have you ever just auto Xed it? There amazing in a auto x.
Mine 16V has meny a Top time of days at club events, years ago.
You will see a photo in an other post of our 16v. Fun on the track but difficult to not get pulled up hills and on and on. I Love my 16V

I had a bit of a scare today On a rual road up to 60+ MPH saftly in your lane kind of place. Exiting a left corner in 2nd at 4000RPMs hit it hard slite drift (esp some what off) feels good pulling up hill up shift to 3erd super charger doing its thing coming up to a 40 MPH heavy cambered left and I lift And Holy Shi-- she does not respond ASAP, there was like another 1 /10th of a seconds it kept pulling amost like a turbo lag, but a off/on boost lag. we where flying in 3erd under full boost. Thank god for M.B. disk brakes got her down nice and balanced for the left. Man was was that about!??
I have SOOOOOOOOO much to learn about this car.

Alex
Thank You. I have to also learn to some how make my post shorter. There are no options for our cars. My car is fully optioned out. There is a Very small after market.
If my post before was a bit thin skinned I Apologize . I was so frustrated by trying to find out info. M. B America is of no help and every time I Googled all I would get is bmw stuff and if MB options came up it would be heavy chrome stuff to stick on my car. Oh gosh, I am getting upset just thinking about it.
I ment No disrespect to you. I Apologize.
Ok on with some photos of a old Heep!
PS I hope you read this far.
Ps note that the little 8300RPM Alfa engine shot is a true org. as she is a old sand cast engine. evey nut and washer are the same as when she was 1st raced. Pss she is also not stiffly sprung as in todays Vintage cars. Just as she felt then is how she feels today.
I have and had a lot of cars but this little baby is my Fav. It has so much history. You can just feel it sitting in her.
Have a good weekend Guys
take Care
Peter
PSSS. yes same to you if out this was give me a email we can take your rental on some nice roads.....

[Tedzilla]

Pete,

Bring that '57 spyder and we'll go to Summit Point and BeaveRun! I think the straights are too long at VIR and there are too many concrete walls at Mid-Ohio...
My 16 Valve is completely stock, 54K mi, Smoke Silver, won its class at the StarTrack Concours d'Elegance in '05 and Best in Show at the '06 Mid-Atlantic C d'E. I got the car because the best driver in our section (GWS-MBCA) drives one and that's who I wanted to drive against. Although my name is on the registration it has become my co-driver Denise's car. The two of them are magic together. In '05 I got 2nd and Denise got 3rd. Last year Denise got 1st and I got 3rd... I mentioned I might sell the 16V and she looked at me like I had suggested we use a bag of puppies as a pinata! I need to free up some garage space so I'm going to move the 16V into the family room... now that it's family.
We often Autocross both cars at same event. Denise is even faster in the SLK350 but doesn't really have any feelings for it. We going to look at an SLK55 Saturday.

Cheers,

[psb]

Ya Im ready, But the bank account is not. You got it ,The (57) is not one for long straights.
Wow what a 16V!!! check out mine its in a post I did when I found this place to sell a limited W201. Our 16v is my 3erd I think.I keep buying them tell I found the one that was the cleanest. I now have I think 120000+k but every nut and bolt on the underside is like new. The others I had came from states that had salt. None in Calif. I bought her with about your miles.
I understand about the family room. Im there too.
I have been out of the loop the last 8+years. I have to say Big sticky rubber or not on your SLK is faster at a Auto x than your 16v I am very impressed!!!
If you dont mind someday I would love to talk to you on my dime.
I need to learn more about my SLK.
I bet you know the all the info on the 16V. but there is some simple things you can do, that you will feel for real. Not need a dyno, But real seat of the pants feel down low. maybe next week we can talk.
Have fun in the 55 you lucky folks.
Sounds like you guys have a lot of fun out there with the club.
I was a member years ago. But lots of dinners and wine tours. But not one real driving event or even a Auto x out here. I cant beleave it.
Have a Nice weekend
Peter
My SLK32 is black on black with 22 K and like new. But that steering.......
The 55 on the hwy get on it if you can its amazing...
I dont own one but have tried them out with a Buddy who gets cars he writes about.

[Tedzilla]

Pete,

I know a few things that would make a 190 more interesting if there was a class where such a car could run legally. A couple of years ago, on this forum, I suggested a '190E Club Sport' class with a clearly defined set of allowable mods but it never went anywhere.
There are other MBCA sections with driving programs, Western Reserve and Pittsburgh come to mind, but the Greater Washington Section really stands out. This year GWS is hosting two national events, StarTech in May and Tri-O-Rama in Sept, 9 autocrosses plus 3 track events at Summit Point and 1 at Virginia International Raceway. Not exactly SCCA but as good as it gets for MBCA!
GWS also has Drive & Dine stuff I don't know much about...

Regards,

[psb]

Hi Ted.
Wow you guys have events!!!!!!!
That would be just right for me. What a blast to be with like cars at driving events.
I am going to test me computer skills even more. I can not remember what the things are called I did to me 16V a decade and more ago.
then I found a post and think I have part#s ect.
This is not as I have seen in posts, will it did this and that then others say well it couldnt, mine does this. This works for sure.
This is real true info, with help form M.B its self not MB out here.
Not for street use in the USA; by law

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bit on your drivers side fornt fender.
Bosch # 0227400508
M.B.#0035457832
Then a Euro timeing adj. from 230 Ohm. to 2400 ohm
Test untell you here Pinging and retard or up fuel grade.
This works real good with the US Computer also. and still keeps your US revlimiter. and with N. American Pistons and Cams its a good start
Ok that worked now a link to a photos of my 16v.
Maybe this will work. some of my links dont show a photo and some do. you have to click to see them.
http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?p=102047#post102047
This post also has some nice shots of a 16v on the track form a memeber you may know.
Take Care

[ja17]

Hello Guys,

The 190 16 valve is a very balanced and predictable car to drive. It is a real driver's car. But if you can't beat it in your SLK, then you just need more time behind the wheel of the SLK. My SLK 32 is a bit twitchy and when it is finally pushed to it's limits, you better be ready to react quickly because a predictable drift is usually out of the question, on my Kuhmos anyway.

I found that my 230SLK was a bit more balanced. But the power of the SLK 32 makes it more formidable except in very tight circumstances.

I run once or twice a season with SCCA in the very competitive Ohio Valley Region. I have been able to manage top ten overall stock class finishes. The layout of the coarse is always a factor.

I would suggest that you run a MBCA National event and try to beat Frank Cozza in his SLK. He has owned the timed trials at most events for many years. His autocross record is nearly as good. Here you can see what a SLK can do in the hands of a very expert experienced driver. Don't downgrade the competition until you can rule the roost. There are some few very good drivers at these events who are always competitive at any one's event.

There is definately a learning curve with these cars.

I share your concerns about the car, there are some deficiencies. It has been one of the most successful selling sports cars of all times. I guess this makes it a success to 90 percent of the public. I wish it could be a little leaner, with more balance and traction also. At times I think all the automatic controls are allowing bad drivers to become worse.

Are you familiar with the four degrees of "black series" for the SLK AMG? Some pretty amazing factory mods. The fourth degree includes some carbon fiber body parts including no retracting soft top, just a carbon fiber hard top, suspension, exhaust and engine modifications, possibly a posi? The result is around 400hp from the factory and a lighter and better handling car. Making these radical changes to attract a small segment of the market, basically does not make sense on these very successful selling models. :(

I hate to be beat by less expensive A060 Corvettes also, however I have beat my share of those also.

[ggoodman]

Joe,

You make some interesting points. I had the good fortune to drive Frank Cozza's SLK55 at Starfest and found it to be nicely balanced and very neutral from a handling standpoint. I had no problem putting down power on a tight autocross course and the brakes are awesome. Of course maybe I was more gentle on the throttle since it is not my car. I was able to get within .01 second of his time on the autocross but the time trials were a different story--his times were unbelievable! I have not driven a SLK32 on the track but from talking to Frank he feels the new car is much more stable.

Hope to see you at Gemutlichkeit.

Gary Goodman

[ja17]

Hello Gary,

Thanks, I hope to be there. I may bring the Rally 450SLC for some practice instead of the SLK 32, not sure yet. Hopefully Tedzilla and psb can make the event also and all these issues can be dealt with. Yes, I hear the new SLK 55AMG is awesome. With only 18,000 miles on my SLK32, I am still learning how to drive it.
I know you to be a expert driver also. I am not surprized that you gave Frank a run for his money in the autocross. Should be a great time as usual!

[psb]

Hi Guys
I live in Calif. No track events for M.B. out here. I know.
I was the only one to race a W201 16v out west. Many top time time of days but that was years ago. a couple of times Rick E. came out with his 16v for the Speed Tv events. But we had to compete with BMWs and Hondas(Acuras)
I can not even get alinement specs for track use on the 32.
I am not interested in doing club (MB) events because we have none out here.
I would love to do clubMB track events with like cars. But to no avale out here.
At the track events I go to Sear Point as in my photos and L. G. sega nowdays.and up north sometimes. There are no M.B. racing. I would like to use my car on track but it needs some more work. There is a reason guys we dont see our cars in real track events like SCCA ect. There not up to the comp. I dont care I just want to get it dialed in as good as possible. I have real race cars I can race and our 1st race this year for Vintage in a few weeks. I will get track time and want to put th 32 on track But need help. Track events are much faster than most car club track events.
The car as soon as you start to feel the chassie work goes into driver aids. and shuts down. . On right turns all it will do is spin its inside tire if esp off and then still shut down. I could not exit with speed a right hander on to a straight and do my passing there if I get one wheel spinning and then driver aids cutting the car off.
I live in a area that I only have to watch for Dear. The roads home are when engineers made roads. nice banked camber truns ect. nice 30 MPH up to 80 MPH all in my side with out getting crazy.
I would like to drive home like I have for the last 30+ years and use my nice short wheel base and feel the car. As soon as I start to get info a nice drive mode. The dang likghts start blinknig. At Night when I turn off ESP the Light is to bright!
What is the way to get to that Bulb???
as when in esp I have pick ups on my *** and the thng is flashing all over the place. People hall *** on this home road.
Now can somebody shed some light on some caster dial in and other alinement mods I want. or steer me to some one who knows and or has info. and or feel free to foward my info to them.
I can set back and enjoy the ride. But I need more If I want to set back i can drive my 54 El D.Caddie.
Thanks for the input But live to far from you guys to make it.

[ggoodman]

Joe,

Thanks for the kind words--I'm still in the "improve the driver not the car" mode--maybe someday I'll be as fast as my C230. It would be great to see your SLC run around Nelson! Maybe John Buckingham will bring his 5.0 SLC out too. Let me know if you have any interest in being a track instructor.

Peter,

Too bad you missed Starfest '06 in Las Vegas. It is possible that Starfest '08 will be in California so maybe you can attend and have some fun with your SLK32.

Gary Goodman

[psb]

Thanks for the info;
I almost made it a few years ago Maybe 6 to 8 yera ago it was in maybe Vegas
we wanted to bring the 16V. so I took her apart for a Valve ajustment. I called MB and that said thay had all the shims in stock.
well thay did not and it took more than a month to get my car back on the road. and we lost our $$$ to.n Thay said your shims are on a boat form Germany Humm.
Last year we had a our race out here the same week and I needed to be there.
If and when it comes maybe I can have my wife drive the 32 if we still own it. She wants it. I will bring my 16V.
I have been wanting to go to this!!!!! I still can not beleave I lost my $$$ that year that we where set to come and MB messed up on the parts.

[Tedzilla]

Pete,

If the Rick E. you mention is Rick Ellinger you should have called him for shims. If its for a 16 Valve he's got it somewhere.

Regards,

[psb]

Hay Ted;
You bet I did.. But we where still short just one size.
Hay the part #s I gave you he may have those parts incase you dont have them allready. and cheap. MB USA will tell you No you can not get those parts and if you could would cost BIG $$$
Do you have any imput on track Alinement specs for our little SLk? I want more caster for sure and maybe a touch more - camber on the front.

1 more ? I know I should just Call N.J. But is there factory books on our cars like we can get on pre 2000 cars Or is it all CDs?
as you can see I am not so good with the computer. I like a book so I can have it with me and the car.
Take Care Crew. and Thank You for all the input.
Peter

[psb]

Hi Guys;
Come on Now a fellow driver needs help. Tell me or hook me up to the fellows who drive these.
1st , You said somebody gets hard drive out of turns.
maybe in 1st gear on a auto X. I got a little track time .. At our local track in he last turn 11 is a nice long straight. I get in under a slower car and get on it coming out of the turn to pass on the inside . ESP is off but at WOT she up shifts with me starting to really pull him. and she shuts down for it seems like for ever the ESP light is blinking and its esp is off as always.

There is NO WAY IN HECK you can compete with this thing. ** There must be a way to put a RESISTER in the esp to turn it off all the way??????**

I have no trouble piching it and catching it. not thats thats fun or fast in a car with out limited slip (posi) My race car has a 2 inch smaller wheel base with a close LBS to Hp ratio. So I have no Problem with a short wheel base in a drift.

So how do we put the power down with out driver aids that shut the car off.
or send me to a contack who wants to see another MB at track events. or a site that know about these cars.

2 ; These ?s lead me to wonder if there is even a good oil pan in a AMG for track events that keeps all the oil from splashing around away from the pick up.
or does the ESP ect shut it down so thay did not need to spend $$ on a good oils pan???

3: I really want this and its a NEED. Oil pressure and Oil temp gauges.
who ever heard of a performace car with out real instruments. I rememeber my dads old chevy had only idiot lights back in the 60s. Then he got a better chevy and was so happy to see real Gauges as in the Fords....
Thats what low line car gauges where called "Idiot lights". I am amazed that thats what thay give us now in a High line car. I Think this is the only car I know of with out a real guages.
I looked in all the new cars at the track thay all had real Guages. all other German cars did.... Why why ?????

I really like this car, But am so disipointed with the D. Benz guys did to cut off the AMG guys. There is no way a AMG made by AMG own would have alowed these things. The guys at AMG used to Love being better than The compittion.

I like a underdog, But this is ridiculous ... A Out rage. I want to refuse that these are just pozer cars. But I can get no real info.

** Is there a resester to turn off the esp?
*** is there a good oil pan with a proper windage try? HELP
Thanks crew
Love the crewz but want to play too!!! Thats why I bought an other AMG Not a standerd model

[ja17]

Hello psb,

It sounds like there may be something wrong with your car. When my ESP is off, I have never had it interfere with hard driving.

You may need to drive another SLK 32 to verify this.

[ggoodman]

I haven't experienced that either although most of my track time has been in non-AMG cars with ESP. Just a thought--are you in the manual or automatic mode--is it the rev limiter shutting the car down or the ESP? Joe is more familiar than I am with the SLK32 but in my limited experience with the car it likes to be driven smoothly rather than being tossed around. I wouldn't worry about the oil pan & windage. There are no sensors in the ESP system that is connected to oil pressure etc.

[psb]

Hi Guys thanks for the input.
Ggoodman it is not near red line so no to the rev limiter. It will do it in any trany mode. I have found it can only be drivin at a quick pace if driven smoothly as with most my cars on the track. and MOST Important Thanks for the windage tray info. Are you sure about that? I ask because there is a off camber turn called the Carousell that is also down hill and up to a passing zone 50 mph to 115 mph. as the car gets into a nice less than 15% slide powering out into the out side passing zone she starts backing off( again!). can not see the light at this point because I am kinda busy with a new car/ as I get to checking out what the heck is going on I see the Light blinking away even though we are back going well.
I have no Guages to see if there is any oil fluctuations. This is why we need real gauges.
So it was a thought about the oil pan not being a real AMG pan and just a 320 pan. ect. I would hate to get air in there....

JA17. May I ask. If you are all warmed up and you stand on your 32 from a dead stop with esp off ( light on) the light will start blinking and your car does not shut down? then when it goes again it goes like heck then it hits 2nd gear man or auto mode and it starts to burn rubber again and then the lights blinks and she backs off again?
Now with the light off esp on it will do it much more.
I have not driven a slk 32 but have driven a slk 55 and c55 and a c32 sedan
I did not think it best to be too hard on them. YOu can be sure next time I will find a safe place to use it a bit harder.

Ja 17 all the reviews I have seen sence I bought it and I have thanks to Google seen a lot. have all had the same regrets I am having. see some top gear tests vidoes over the Pond. Thay test it against (to us much less cars). and come out disipointed for the same things getting me down. Over the pond is where I got the fraze "Poozer car" in some reviews. Nice driving but thay all hate the driver aids thay can not turn off.
So I ask you are you sure if you drift it and or stand on it under 30 MPH it does not shut you down? And By drift it I do NOT mean hang the tail out some But hang it out and counter steer and keep it drifting under power through a turn.
There is NO WAY IN H---. My car will do that.
YOu guys Know about the Dyno Mode correct? Well I could not get it to do it correctly at the track. I did not bring the info. I have read ( I do not know in person) That that is the ONLY way to get it out of ESP and all the other driver aids.
So I think its not a problem with the car. and it is bloody fast in 3rd gear it pulls my buddies c32 like its a normal 320. But in 1st and 2nd it lose of traction make him pull me as my car slows down tell its gets its traction. This is due to the driver aids.
I could have a problem as you say But I dought any dealer around these parts would think so.
any ideas who knows these car well and or BB that have more engineering knowlege about these systems.
I bet you that some where in the drivers aid esp ect there is a resister that can be changed and it will shut off the esp all the way. then I could get a posi and use the car the way AMG was founded.
Something like the Euro cars have for timing and maual cliker under the hood for timeing. all it is differnt resisters something like 230 Ohms to 2300 ohms. we dont get this stuff here. I bet its something like that very easy to modify. But I need to find the guys in the know. MB USA can not coment on my ideas by law thay say.
Years ago there hands where tied also ,but there where guys who would say we cant tell you the high ohms gives you more advance ect. Now it is like there all Plymoth tecks and have no ideas..Zombies.
Help
ThaNKS
Peter

[ja17]

Hello psb,

I have noticed no automatic inputs with my 2002 SLK32 when the ESP is switched off although they say a small percentage is left working. You may want to talk this over with the factory AMG guys at the AMG Lounge Website

http://www.mercedes-amg.com/privatelounge/login/login_external.php

My ESP light stays on when it is switched off. I have never noticed any blinking when off. The rev limiter is the only automatic function which stays completely intact on my car. My top speed limiter seems not to be working on my car. It was still pulling at 165mph! :)

[psb]

Thanks for the link.
I did not know of this place. I will try it out.
Man that to fast with our cars aerodynamics. It is a testement to the power of the engine.
Let me ask you one more ?
You can turn off esp in your car. and stand on it and it well just spin its tiers all the way into 2nd gear with no light blinking?
because if you can burn rubber in the 1st 2 gears with out it getting limited than I think your lucky. With out dyno mode my car will not. even just a Wide open (WOT) just shifting into 2nd breakes the tiers loose and she backs off tell tirers get traction.
I am off to The new site
thanks
Peter

[psb]

Hi Guys;
I trust by now you have found that indeed esp switched off ( light on) is still in limited mode on M.B.. and will and does blink if used and there is slip felt in the sysytem.
The AMG site has no info for AMG cars for track use or perf. updates None.

*** Some info for you guys in other states where you can get 93 oct.***
I have been all over these cars in the short time I have owned this Newer one.
Now some good infor for those who may know this. ( Tadzilla what do you think)
?Where are your cars specked at? ME
I bet there all done at Base leavel.
AMG also has level for 87 Oc.
91 Oc. and 93 Oc.
Now we know 93 will give the best timing speck.
Can any body add some light to what the Base is???
Also Dyno mode.
With no steering wheel buttons how does one get it in dyno mode with out the dealer computer????
Try the Oct Adj... You will love it.