Trackday with CLK 55 AMG
Discussion
Hi all, Just been up to Blyton to test my W209 55 on track. Yes the car is fine on the road, but all my cars have to have at least one track session to value their merit. Well, I must admit to being pleasantly surprised by its ability as a standard car. There are mods I would like to do, probably similar to Peter Mansell`s. What is interesting is that people don`t believe that you are actually going to track the car? Even at Blyton it raised eyebrows at signing on. That was a first! Anyway the brakes will need upgrading and some ducting to them will be most needed. They are OK for a few laps in cold weather. The engine and dare I say it autobox in manual mode are great. The track had ice on it early on which made the electronics earn their corn. Later the track almost dried out which helped give lots of power oversteer drifting. The car was used with three grown men on board, well two and myself, and it barely blunted performance. I know what you are going to say, good old V8s and torque. I am so looking forward to next time. I hope fellow owners have a go.
Cheers
Cheers
Yep - traction control when off is completely off (although if you skid too much ie for sustained periods such as on skid pans it throws the computer into muddled mode and you get a message saying somthing along the lines of see the garage asap but if you switch the car ignition off for a few minutes and then drive it often clears).
On my car, the ESP can only be switched sort of 3/4 off. It does cut in and drop the power when trying to do snakey up the road take offs, most annoying. However, when power sliding in a fast corner it didn`t cut in, as I guess the lateral motion sensors and electro gubbins knew what the car was doing. It will cut in though if you start to get way out of shape. To be fair, I was expecting it to be alot worse on the track, especially in the slippery conditions. The fitting of an LSD would help plenty, but the car did put the power down reasonably well considering all the torque. I am considering fitting a Quaife ATB quite soon, and look forward to Peter Mansell`s feedback on his. I can see a program of subtle development emerging for this year. If anyone has modded their CLK, it would be great to hear from you.
Cheers.
Cheers.
During your track session were there many other vehicles out and if so how did the clk compare. Interesting feedback on switching the ESP off. Just getting used to mine after only 2 weeks of ownership, found out the hard way how not to pull out of a junction quickley in S mode and ESP turned on, left sat there waiting for computer to say yes. Pulls off much better in second gear when wet.
shadowninja said:
TBH I daren't turn mine off. The day I turn it off is the day I have an accident and the insurance company finding out I turned it off.
Is there a blackbox recorder that says when you have turned it off because you want some fun?
I would argue that if it was not safe to turn it off why do they fit a switch? If they insist it is not safe you would have a case against MB surely? Is there a blackbox recorder that says when you have turned it off because you want some fun?
Traction control on Mrs D'd E320 seems especially sensitive, but the car seems to break traction at the slightest hint of damp. Got Vredestein's on there at present, had them on previous cars and never a problem.
I have to be honest here, but every time I get into car and it isn`t icey, the first thing I do is switch the ESP off. I used to do it with my BMW M3 CSL the same, I just drive it on the throttle with the back wheels slipping a little. That way you don`t get the drop off in power and the eternal pause before you can regather forward thrust. Not that I drive round like a total chav, it`s just that cars can be steered from either end when nobody is looking! This car reminds me of the V8 American cars I drove in my youth, but with technological advances. The gearbox especially is very good even in auto mode, but on track the manual facility was impressive. The broad spread of torque meant you weren`t having to change as much as you thought. So looking forward to the next track session.
shadowninja said:
If you get that "ESP failed - see garage" warning (or whatever it says), does it mean the ESP is completely off? 
I have had this, along with Brake Assist BAS warning, and ABS Warning all at the same time - meaning all of those systems where inoperative - it was the best fun I have ever had in the car 
So I have just got back from a day with Andy Walsh at North Weald airfield in Essex where I could try out the car with the new setup (Quaife LSD and different (A&R) anti-sway bars to increase the roll stiffness at the rear). It's great! I must have lied in my easier post because even when traction control was off it still cut in in sever conditions.
However the new set up is a definite improvement on the standard: I noticed less electronic intrusion generally; the most impressive thing was the change in under steer/over steer due to the anti sway bar setup. The car still will under steer of course, but much less so. All I had to do was reduce the steering angle slightly and let the front wheels grip and hey presto ...over steer. I don't think I am a great driver (but I enjoy it!) and can recommend both the changes I made to the car (although if I was starting again I probably would not have remapped/delimited the engine as it makes little difference 99% of the time) and the "No limits" sessions Andy runs.
The day begins with cornering at speed: one corner done over and over again. Each time your reflecting on what Andy has told you he's seen you do and trying to understand that and apply his tips to get through the corner faster. Then you move onto some figures of 8 and then to a track where you put into practice what you have learned. There were four of us today - two BMW M coupes and a lotus Elise and my car. The day ends with each driver being a passenger in each other’s car.
So 2skiddy - I'd recommend you get the work done but I felt the change to the anti sway bars was the thing that made the biggest changes to the cars handling.
However the new set up is a definite improvement on the standard: I noticed less electronic intrusion generally; the most impressive thing was the change in under steer/over steer due to the anti sway bar setup. The car still will under steer of course, but much less so. All I had to do was reduce the steering angle slightly and let the front wheels grip and hey presto ...over steer. I don't think I am a great driver (but I enjoy it!) and can recommend both the changes I made to the car (although if I was starting again I probably would not have remapped/delimited the engine as it makes little difference 99% of the time) and the "No limits" sessions Andy runs.
The day begins with cornering at speed: one corner done over and over again. Each time your reflecting on what Andy has told you he's seen you do and trying to understand that and apply his tips to get through the corner faster. Then you move onto some figures of 8 and then to a track where you put into practice what you have learned. There were four of us today - two BMW M coupes and a lotus Elise and my car. The day ends with each driver being a passenger in each other’s car.
So 2skiddy - I'd recommend you get the work done but I felt the change to the anti sway bars was the thing that made the biggest changes to the cars handling.
Hi petermansell, glad you had an enjoyable and successful day. Your feedback is most appreciated as not many people seem to modify and trackday these cars, or am I wrong? Will be fitting the ATB soon and possibly some lowering springs. H&R do some with a 40mm drop, but I wondered if it was too much. I was looking for 30mm, but nobody seems to do them. Apex do 35-40mm, but I have no experience with this make, anyone out there have? BTW what size wheels are you running? Has anyone put the back wheels on the front and put larger 9.5" wheels off the E class on the back. Just a thought. Oh, also have you got uprated pads in or just standard?
Cheers.
Cheers.
Front wheels are 8x19 with 235/35s and the rear is 9x19 with 265/30s. The front has a 10mm hub centred alloy spacers and the rear has 30mm spacers (I don’t like spacers but like the wheels!). The rear wheel arches are rolled. (Normally I run the tyres at 41psi cold and but today ran them at 45psi for obvious reasons)
I have not strayed and used different brake pads and find the brakes a real strong point in regard of road driving but after two hot twisty laps today the brakes were fading so would be interested to hear from you if you do anything in this area.
I've not lowered the car at all and think the wheels fill the arches nicely on the current setup ..although if I am totally honest the ride is very hard in potholed London with the lower profile tyres. Are you using the car as your daily driver as well as modifying it for the track?
I have not strayed and used different brake pads and find the brakes a real strong point in regard of road driving but after two hot twisty laps today the brakes were fading so would be interested to hear from you if you do anything in this area.
I've not lowered the car at all and think the wheels fill the arches nicely on the current setup ..although if I am totally honest the ride is very hard in potholed London with the lower profile tyres. Are you using the car as your daily driver as well as modifying it for the track?
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