CLK 230 k - launching and ESP tips

[Mistreku]

Hello guys, I've recently got myself a 230k CLK and, after many teases from my BMW mates, decided to take up the gauntlet thrown by a 530i E60 (slightly modded with remap and shorter diff). Yes I am aware that some will say it's stupid to drag race MB, especially non AMG cars, but I can't help it (old habits die hard, I used to have a 325i E36 and dragged the ****e out of it! quite successfully, if I do say so myself )

It was pretty tight, I won 3 out of 5, and I'm pretty sure I could win 10 out of 10 if I knew how to launch this bloody thing, especially in this cold weather. Supercharger not helping much, either, the torque just spins the wheels like a mofo. And another annoying thing, despite having the ESP turned off, I could still feel it interfering after changing gears, bogging the car down almost every time I changed gears.

Which brings me to the point of this thread. Is there a way to completely turn ESP off? And if it is one, is there a strong reason not to?

And lastly, do you lads have any tips for a more successful launch?

Other than these two issues, I love it, it was the first time I really stomped on the loud pedal, and from a rolling start, I'm sure I'll whoop the 530i anytime, however, he'll be looking for a rematch and he won't accept rolling starts.

Any input appreciated!

Cheers,
Gab

 

[sjmaxwell]

Dont know if the ESP can be completely switched off but certainly wider grippier tyres will help at the back!:bannana:

 

[flango]

Same car as mine although you don't say which year, yep you kill the ESP by pulling the fuse can't remember which one but its in the manual, if you cant find it let me know and I'll look.

I put staggered alloys on mine wider rears certainly helps the launch, which is best done remembering the fastest launch will always include wheelspin and clutch slip. Which is contrary to what some people believe.

My technique (having been racing for over 35 years) is as follows)

Take the car to about 3000 rpm and hold on the clutch bite.
Then launch by
Feathering the clutch out whilst increasing the power
now once you are launched between gears you can powershift (i.e. dont take you foot of the gas when changing, keep it floored) but this is not for the faint hearted as its easy to over rev and kill the engine (assuming you have removed the rev limiter) if not then its easy to drop out of the power band and sweet spot and lose power.

Before I modded mine (now running 274 bhp) it would easily bury a 530i

Good luck

 

[Mistreku]

Woah! 274bhp?! I knew you had fiddled with your car, but didn't know to what extent! Nice one!

My car is completely stock 2001 230k. Tyres also stock, 16" wheels, yea, definitely not helping with the launch. Will have to replace the wheels with something bigger and wider, but not sooner than the spring.

Thanks for tips!

Now, I didn't get what's with the rev limiter. I still have it, as it's completely stock, but what do you mean "drop out of the power band"? I would've assumed this shouldn't be a problem with a supercharged engine.

P.S. I imagine I'd kill a stock 530i any day, but this one was remapped and, most importantly, shorter geared (2.93 OEM diff, now swapped for 3.46, massive difference in acceleration).

 

[John Jones Jr]

You'll have your work cut out 'killing' a stock E60 530i even an early version, never mind that it's been mapped and that has more advantageous gearing than a standard model. I'd be putting my money on the 5.

190BHP/1350KG -V- 231BHP/1550Kg.

Now, if you fitted a larger crank pulley and had a remap...my wallet would stay firmly closed.

 

[markjay]

If I understand it correctly then putting the car into Dyno Mode (from the instrument cluster) will disable all electronic interference, although it is obviously not recommended (and probably not safe) to drive it while in this mode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9e8CFssJPg

 

[flango]

You'll have your work cut out 'killing' a stock E60 530i even an early version, never mind that it's been mapped and that has more advantageous gearing than a standard model. I'd be putting my money on the 5.

190BHP/1350KG -V- 231BHP/1550Kg.

Now, if you fitted a larger crank pulley and had a remap...my wallet would stay firmly closed.

A 230k 2001 model makes 197 bhp which gives it and the BMW a very similar power to weight ratio. The main advantage of the MB is to clear 60mph takes only one gear change as you get about 63mph in 2nd in a stock 230k. In the Beemer to get to 60 mph takes two gear changes and you are in third. Winner depends on distance, beemer comes into its own around 95 mph and then would definitely outdrag the MB to Vmax

 

[John Jones Jr]

A 230k 2001 model makes 197 bhp which gives it and the BMW a very similar power to weight ratio. The main advantage of the MB is to clear 60mph takes only one gear change as you get about 63mph in 2nd in a stock 230k. In the Beemer to get to 60 mph takes two gear changes and you are in third. Winner depends on distance, beemer comes into its own around 95 mph and then would definitely outdrag the MB to Vmax

You can talk about geaing and extra 7PS (4BHP), he'll still have problems 'killing' the 530i and I'm presuming that's an early model. But I'd certainly fancy my chances with my mildly modded manual 230K.

Now take into consideration that the 530i has been remapped, say another 15BHP plus it's got a more suitable diff than standard and the dice is from a standing start...yep, it's still the BM for me.

Edit: Also the 1350kg I quoted for the CLK seems to be incorrect, more like 1400+kg depending on who one believes.

 

[Mistreku]

I get the feeling I didn't express myself clear enough here. The CLK is definitely faster from a rolling start, albeit, not by much. I lost count of the inline 6 Bm's I drove and raced, I know very well what they can and can't do (search on youtube for "mistreku", you'll see I have a bunch of races in my ex 325i).

The 530i I mentioned earlier is an early version (M54 engine, 231bhp standard) remapped and with a 3.46 open diff and a weight of 1580kg.

Just to make things clear, every time I launched first, I increased the gap between cars by the end of the race, and even when I launched second, I was catching up constantly. However, the place where we raced it's an old deserted airfield secondary lane, which is about 350m long, and I didn't have enough track to catch up and win. I'm pretty sure I would have won all raced if I had another 100m.

My main issues are the launch (too much wheel spin) and that bloody ESP which even when it's off, it's not actually off and still bogs down the car for a second, between gear changes.

Now, is there any reason not to unplug the ESP fuse? I imagine I'll get some warning lights after that, but will they go off once I put the fuse back?

 

[Mistreku]

[...]you can powershift but this is not for the faint hearted as its easy to over rev and kill the engine (assuming you have removed the rev limiter) if not then its easy to drop out of the power band and sweet spot and lose power.

Sorry to bring this up again, but I'm a little confused here, regarding the power band.

I thought this engine peaked at 5300 (power wise). Would it be more efficient to rev it up to the limiter (6000, IIRC), where it's pretty much out of breath?

I know for a N/A there are advantages in this technique, as your next gear will be spot on in the power band, but with this supercharged engine, I thought there's no need to go above 5500, where it start to feel out of breath (mine is completely stock, BTW, dunno if this applies to an M111 with the pulley mod), and that it would be more efficient to change gear earlier, and let the torque deal with the next gear being slightly lower in revs.

Also, around what RPM's do you reckon the "sweet spot" for the next gear is?

Cheers,
Gab