- 1,410
- Canberra
- Unwired-Eddie
Drop-tops on the black-top
This is the fourth episode of my ongoing series of tune-up challenges.
It's Mercedes versus AMG in a bid for supremacy of the 'ring. We see if it is possible to get the cheaper of the pair faster than the other for the same price.
The Contenders
Mercedes SL 500 '02
Cost: CR 127,620
Power: 301 HP
Torque: 459.61 Nm
Weight: 1840 kg
Mercedes SL 55 AMG '02
Cost: CR 168,120
Power: 493 HP
Torque: 699.71 Nm
Weight: 1955 kg
Method
Both vehicles were bought from the showroom with 0 km on the odometer. As the most expensive car, the SL 55 will be test driven by B-Spec Brett at Nurburgring and the fastest lap time recorded. B-Spec Brett will then try to beat this time using the SL 500. Total cost of car and tuning may not exceed the cost of the SL 55. TCS and ASM must be set to 0 and B-Spec will be set to 3.
Track
Nurburgring
Results
After strapping himself in, and saying a few prayers, B-Spec Brett heads out with the AMG SL 55 to see how well he can tame 'the green hell'. Two laps completed, with a fastest time of 7'52.024, and the AMG gets tucked back in its garage while we start to work with the SL 500. B-Spec Brett puts down a reasonable time with 8'28.835 but there is a big gap between the SL 500 and SL 55 - bigger than we anticipated.
With only CR 40,500 to work with today we set about putting in some tuning time with the SL 500. Semi-racing suspension and exhaust, triple clutch, racing flywheel, carbon driveshaft, and racing chip. We then gave it a NA stage 1 upgrade and balanced the engine. With about 371 HP and a slightly lower stance, this beast should be able to reign in the AMG's lead without too much fuss. 8'10.567 was slower than we expected, and even fine tuning the suspension only saw the time drop to 8'10.315 - a negligible gain when you are still 18 seconds behind.
The semi-racing suspension made way for cheaper sports suspension, The exhaust changes were returned to stock, and the triple clutch became twin, allowing us to give the SL 500 a NA stage 2 tune-up. The extra power, now at 416 HP, pushed the Merc around the track in 8'01.034. We are now much closer to the SL 55, which sits only 8 seconds ahead. A change of damper and camber settings did nothing to lower our times so we headed off to the workshop once more.
The original drive shaft was returned to the car so that a semi-racing exhaust could be fitted. Trading gear change time for power saw the time drop to 7'58.871 (449 HP). Forgotten up to now, as usual, was the oil change. This gave us a good boost in times; B-Spec Brett lapped a beautiful looking 7'55.567.
Back in the workshop yet again, we now removed the clutch upgrade, boosted the exhaust to race specification, and dropped the flywheel one stage to semi-racing to keep in line with our budget. Now with a whopping 454 HP, we head back to the 'ring and watch as B-Spec Brett throws in a 7'54.725. Back in the workshop there is a heated discussion going on over our budget figures. Red-faced, I am forced to admit an error to the mechanics, but they let me off lightly because we actually have more money than we thought.
A large single clutch is installed and we wipe another 0.5 seconds off our time. We seem to be out of all options but one. Loathe to use it on the SL 500, I am bribed by way of hot coffee and a doughnut to perform a weight reduction (stage 1) and give up the clutch. The SL 500 now packs 454 HP and weighs more than 300 kg less than the SL 55, and on the track it shows. A fastest lap time of 7'47.053 sees off the comptetion, leaving us CR 550 under budget.
Conclusion
There were 2 things I was interested in today. The suspension settings changed quite a bit during testing but the only noticable differences in times came when the height was changed. The other was the vast improvement seen after the weight reduction. This goes to show just how important centre of gravity and overall weight of a sports car are.
Final figures for the SL500
Cost: CR 167,570
Power: 454 HP
Torque: 667.09 Nm
Weight: 1619 kg
Tuning parts:
engine balance
NA tune stage 2
sports suspension
racing exhaust
racing chip
racing flywheel
oil change
weight reduction stage 1
This is the fourth episode of my ongoing series of tune-up challenges.
It's Mercedes versus AMG in a bid for supremacy of the 'ring. We see if it is possible to get the cheaper of the pair faster than the other for the same price.
The Contenders
Mercedes SL 500 '02
Cost: CR 127,620
Power: 301 HP
Torque: 459.61 Nm
Weight: 1840 kg
Mercedes SL 55 AMG '02
Cost: CR 168,120
Power: 493 HP
Torque: 699.71 Nm
Weight: 1955 kg
Method
Both vehicles were bought from the showroom with 0 km on the odometer. As the most expensive car, the SL 55 will be test driven by B-Spec Brett at Nurburgring and the fastest lap time recorded. B-Spec Brett will then try to beat this time using the SL 500. Total cost of car and tuning may not exceed the cost of the SL 55. TCS and ASM must be set to 0 and B-Spec will be set to 3.
Track
Nurburgring
Results
After strapping himself in, and saying a few prayers, B-Spec Brett heads out with the AMG SL 55 to see how well he can tame 'the green hell'. Two laps completed, with a fastest time of 7'52.024, and the AMG gets tucked back in its garage while we start to work with the SL 500. B-Spec Brett puts down a reasonable time with 8'28.835 but there is a big gap between the SL 500 and SL 55 - bigger than we anticipated.
With only CR 40,500 to work with today we set about putting in some tuning time with the SL 500. Semi-racing suspension and exhaust, triple clutch, racing flywheel, carbon driveshaft, and racing chip. We then gave it a NA stage 1 upgrade and balanced the engine. With about 371 HP and a slightly lower stance, this beast should be able to reign in the AMG's lead without too much fuss. 8'10.567 was slower than we expected, and even fine tuning the suspension only saw the time drop to 8'10.315 - a negligible gain when you are still 18 seconds behind.
The semi-racing suspension made way for cheaper sports suspension, The exhaust changes were returned to stock, and the triple clutch became twin, allowing us to give the SL 500 a NA stage 2 tune-up. The extra power, now at 416 HP, pushed the Merc around the track in 8'01.034. We are now much closer to the SL 55, which sits only 8 seconds ahead. A change of damper and camber settings did nothing to lower our times so we headed off to the workshop once more.
The original drive shaft was returned to the car so that a semi-racing exhaust could be fitted. Trading gear change time for power saw the time drop to 7'58.871 (449 HP). Forgotten up to now, as usual, was the oil change. This gave us a good boost in times; B-Spec Brett lapped a beautiful looking 7'55.567.
Back in the workshop yet again, we now removed the clutch upgrade, boosted the exhaust to race specification, and dropped the flywheel one stage to semi-racing to keep in line with our budget. Now with a whopping 454 HP, we head back to the 'ring and watch as B-Spec Brett throws in a 7'54.725. Back in the workshop there is a heated discussion going on over our budget figures. Red-faced, I am forced to admit an error to the mechanics, but they let me off lightly because we actually have more money than we thought.
A large single clutch is installed and we wipe another 0.5 seconds off our time. We seem to be out of all options but one. Loathe to use it on the SL 500, I am bribed by way of hot coffee and a doughnut to perform a weight reduction (stage 1) and give up the clutch. The SL 500 now packs 454 HP and weighs more than 300 kg less than the SL 55, and on the track it shows. A fastest lap time of 7'47.053 sees off the comptetion, leaving us CR 550 under budget.
Conclusion
There were 2 things I was interested in today. The suspension settings changed quite a bit during testing but the only noticable differences in times came when the height was changed. The other was the vast improvement seen after the weight reduction. This goes to show just how important centre of gravity and overall weight of a sports car are.
Final figures for the SL500
Cost: CR 167,570
Power: 454 HP
Torque: 667.09 Nm
Weight: 1619 kg
Tuning parts:
engine balance
NA tune stage 2
sports suspension
racing exhaust
racing chip
racing flywheel
oil change
weight reduction stage 1
