The 500E's scheduled to be brought to the shop this weekend for the first of many (mostly reversible) mods. The car's going in for a facelift with a new hood, grille, euro spec headlamps, corner lenses and tail lights. The euro-spec oil cooler should arrive in time to be installed as well.

Soon after, I should be installing a RENNTech ASR defeat switch then followed by a 1st gear start mod (thinking of going with Satish's) and a RENNTech sway bar.

Have some questions for those of you with the ASR defeat mod...

1. What exactly comes with the kit, what are its components?

2. How involved is the install?

3. Is it fully reversible or will any wires have to be cut?

4. How exactly does it work/function? I take it it's not just a simple on off switch.

5. Other than terribly shortening the life of rear tires and potentially the differential (especially when having too much fun with the vehicle), any downside I've overlooked?

6. Any problems you guys have encountered with these?

Feedback is most appreciated.

Many thanks...




[Edited by rainmaker on 05-31-2001 at 09:55 AM]

updates
 

I'm envious!! Actually I'd like to do the '94 update also... I have a couple of prying questions... I'm assuming the dealer is where I'd go for the hood/grill/trunk lid/etc... As far as euro-spec headlamps and oil cooler, these are obtainable through the dealer also? Are you going to have the entire car painted or just the new parts? Now, to be completely nosey, care to share the approximate/ballpark cost of doing the '94 conversion for someone considering it?

good luck and be sure to post pictures.

Mark,

I got the OEM parts from my dealer:

94/95 Hood*, $405.00
94/95 Hood Grille*, $189.72
Hood Ornament*, $15.84
Clear Corner Lenses*, pair, $59.42
Euro-spec head lamps, pair, $210.00 (est.)
Red/Clear Tail Light Assembly*, pair, $274.56
Oil Cooler, $325 (est.)
Euro headlamp wiper assembly, pair, $300 (est.)

Prices marked with asterisks (*) are in dealer's inventory and are new old stock and therefore artificially cheap (in dollar terms) due to the spate of currency devaluations the past few years. Prices with estimates have to be flown in (I live in Asia), airfreight for dealer's account.

Prices exclude paint and labor, which I haven't been quoted yet...but I assume they shouldn't go beyond $500 total.

Hopefully, only the hood will have to be painted and the dealer can match the paint perfectly.

Should be done by this time next week if all the parts arrive. Will post pics as soon as its finished.

You might want to try the Parts Shop for your requirements. Their prices are very reasonable but air (instant gratification!) freight would've killed me. I'll try em for smaller parts.

Hope that helps...

I just added a PAD switch to my 500E. I am sure they are on the same lines. We took out the rear light and put the switch in that slot. The switch comes with a ugly looking switch (maybe Renntech will be different) so I took a defeat switch from a late model S-class instead.

From what I can tell the ASR switch activates the "snowchains" bypass (the snowchain light is always on) of the ASR circuit, so that instead of there allowing wheel spin up to 10mph (or whatever the speed is), it allows wheelspin throughout the speed range. There is definitely wires that are cut in the process, and another thing, it completely wipes out all the fault codes in the computer.

As far as wheelspin, there is a lot (even with 275/40 Pilot Sports), but she hooks up strong and just takes off! I have not had chance to check with the g-tech, but she feels faster.

Be careful of hitting the rev. limiter on slippery roads, as one wheel will really spin.

David Hendy
'92 500E 66k miles

500E "facelift" pictures
 

For those who have not seen my pictures, please visit:

http://www.nemonis.net/index.html

I have welded over my hood's star emblem and my rear quarter-panle's antenna-hole, in addition to inverting my windshield washer squirters so that my hood is 100% clean (no bumps).

Kind regards,

Straight from the horses mouth...
 

Just got word from Bob at Renntech that this is going to be a 5 hour job. For my application (i.e. it doesn't snow in the tropics), I would just have to remove the snow chain switch from the dash (without cutting any wires) and zip tie it behind the panel. The ASR switch is then installed in the hole left by the snow chain switch.

I'm going ahead with this purchase and will be on my way to toasting my diff! :D:D:D

As far as the first gear start mod is concerned, RENNTech actually requires you to replace the valve body while Satish's version is more of an electronic switch which more or less mimics engaging the all the way down to B in order to induce 1st gear start.

I'm still interested in hearing from those who've tried these mods...

Many thanks...

1st gear start on 500E/E500, and SL V8
 

Hello,

Just installed an electronic 1st gear start on a 1992 500SL yesterday with a cutoff switch (defeat for 2nd gear start) in the ashtray. Car runs GREAT!! Completely like factory stock. I would REALLY recommend this over the valve body modification (which I've done in another 1992 500SL which at times overrevs the 2-3 shift now).

Nice to have a selectable 2nd gear/1st gear takeoff option; not to mention, stay away from tinkering with the hydraulics of the valve body.

PS - if Bob Brady has any questions, have him give me a call at: (248) 737-4229. I've already had the Brabus guys calling...

Regards,

Satish

David,

What exactly do you mean by this?

I received the ASR switch a several days ago and might be putting it on this week (waiting for some other parts for the car). Anyway, does this mean it resets the existing fault codes if there are any stored in memory or does it mean the vehicle would henceforth be unable to give you fault codes?

Scott,

Any input here since you've installed your ASR switch already?

Thanks...

Just make sure you read the fault codes before you install, as it wipes out all the old codes. You can still read the codes in the future.
Any thoughts? Yeah, smoke those tires baby!

David Hendy
'92 500E 66k miles

Hell yeah! That's one request that would be easy to accomodate in the land of no (enforced) speed limits! :D

smokin'
 

Gentlemen:

You have motivated me to excuse myself from my cube, step outside to the parking lot, drive to the nearest freeway onramp, and launch (from a 20-foot burnout)...

"Roger that. ASR is functional. We have liftoff..."

What is the next upgrade Guy's?

A beefier differential? You don't want to smoke the original unit from all these single tire burnouts.

BTW, who was the longest burnout going?
When I did the temporary ABS disable and had, "ASR defeat" in effect, I was able to get a great 50+ ft black mark on my deserted testing road.

[Edited by roas on 06-22-2001 at 01:44 PM]

Hey Scott, I'd like to see the exterior mods on your 500E sometime and maybe be privied to a monster burnout sometime.... maybe snap a pic or two for entertainment value too. I'm located in SF....

...although my E500 is not set up with mods like yours, I'm finding it nearly impossible to restrain myself to mature sessions behind the wheel as well...read: unlike a stereotypical adrenaline addicted teenager with a potent new toy 5.0 Mustang/SS Camaro/Corvette etc....!

-fad

Amen
 

Tell me about it, FAD... I'm more than a bit amazed, myself, that:

- my license hasn't been revoked, yet
- I haven't received a moving violation citiation in almost 2 years
- I haven't died in a fiery crash

You're welcome to click some pics, anytime.
Please e-mail me, directly, at least 24 hours in advance
(nemo@nemonis.net).

With fingers crossed for my continued luck,

Great and thanks! Look forward to meeting you.

The next two weeks are pretty tight on the work and social calendar on my side, so let's target after that?

Maybe we'll be able to break away from the female types for a cup of early morning Java (read: uncrowded roads).

And,,,amazing that you've had such luck from law enforcement (you must $$ support the CHP and policeman's ball, or be related to a law enforcement officer?)

...in either case where can one get some type of a cloaking device ...50% V1 other half radar scrambler? This idea is waiting for invention and marketing to make someone rich...it can also offer options like integrated garage door opener, remote locks, and all the LEDs/ bells and whistles current technology will afford...


-fad

Maybe Satish would share some of the finer points of the installation procedure of his electronic 1st gear start?

Also, how does the ASR work without being defeated when using first gear start?

1st gear start reads the speed pulses from the speedometer circuitry. When speeds fall below 2 mph, the module sends 12VDC to the kickdown solenoid via the "B" switch. At speeds greater than 6mph, 12VDC is released from the solenoid and pedal pressure will determine how long the car remains in 1st gear (just like any other gear).

Installation involves 4 wires total:

1 = ground
2 = kickdown
3 = 12VDC+
4 = speedometer pulse

The module is solid state, small, and works great! No modifications to the transmission necessary and the circuit may be disrupted by interrupting the power source to the unit (therefore reverting to a 2nd gear takeoff).

ASR may be more active with 1st gear starts just because there's more chance of wheelspin in 1st gear. Obviously 1st gear start combined with a proper ASR defeat switch is the best thing to do. In terms of bang for the buck with virtually NO possible harm to the car, this duo is the way to go.

Best Regards,

Satish
1989 500SEC-32V
1999 E430 Sport

So is the ASR Defeat switch merely a switch that enables the "SNOW" feature at all times (removes speed sensor from the ASR SNOW OFF equation), or is there more circuitry involved?

If a 1st gear start with the 2.87 diff is too much, I guess I won't go to a 3.07.

However, is there such thing as a 2.87 limited-slip ASR diff?

TIA,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMGE
1993 500E (Barney)

PS: Satish, did I see a "1999 E430 Sport" in your signature line? That sounds too "simple" for your tastes. Is a Brabus 5.8L engine transplant in the future?

I just gotta say, Scott, your car is BEAUTIFUL! Keep the shiny side up, eh! :D

Neil,

Here's a pic of the ASR defeat mod from Renntech:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...featSwitch.jpg

The kit comes with (1) an instruction sheet, (2)an "ASR Off" switch, (3) an ASR harness which connects to the ASR computer control module found in the engine bay, (4)a switch connector harness which connects to the switch and to the (5)control box. It does tap into the snowchains switch though...

Hope that helps.

Thanks.

What we need to see, is what's in the box, and what connects where.

Care to open up that "black box"?

Take care,
:-) neil

Refer to above post.

The ASR switch (2) is connected by the harness (4) to the control box (5) which is in turn connected by harness (3) to the ASR computer.

The black box is sealed, sorry.

What does Renntech get for that setup? I have heard some big dollar figures to defeat a 10 year old setup. Someone has to have found a way to feed the proper voltage inputs into the OBC to deactivate the ASR without causing the system to go into limp in mode.
Does jumping the 2 wires at the OBC or disconnecting the front sensors give you a one time only launch without losing performance? I would love to feel this car go around a corner knowing how it will come out. My '01 Vette had a refined system to correct for high speed control problems by activating a brake and retarding timing but it was defeatable.
Something tells me that someone wil be unsealing one of those "stealth" boxes in the near future.

This has to be a mod. that can be made affordable or at least one that I can justifiy the cost of.

Renntech wants $985 for it.

I was looking around for alternatives but couldn't find any. Although I agree it's quite pricey for what it ultimately does, which is turn asr off, there doesn't seem to be a cheap alternative. Renntech put in a lot of R&D into this and came up with something that works. If it were and easy mod, I guess a lot of the shops would have it figured out by now.

Some things you just gotta pay for I guess...

I have had the PAD switch for 6 months. Cost $485. Works great. My car just ups and goes, on the track it is absolutely priceless, you can hold the car through a corner on the throttle, without ASR taking the power away.

With 275 Pilot Sports you can use all the power and all the grip.

David Hendy

'92 500E

What mistake?

[I deleted my correction too! :) ]

Was very nice of you to point that out. I will return to literacy classes next week

I deleted my mistake. Does that excuse my mistake?

I tried...
 

Neil,

I was inspecting the box again tonight and noticed it was not sealed. There were scews at the bottom. I opened the box up and found what seemed to be a thick copper or other metal (it seems) circuit board, 3 rectangular ICs and ten wires going out through a wire loom. Unfortunately, Renntech sprayed everything with black paint, I believe precisely to disguise/hide what components were used.

I didn't mess with it any further...

Sorry bout that...

Thanks for your efforts.

:-) neil

Here's an attempt at an illustration of the installation instructions, for whatever it's worth:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fe399a59.gif

Click here for a larger image

Thanks for the high-level diagram. Can you post the Mercedes part number for the ASR-OFF rocker-switch, as well as the switch connector?

Also, did you have to run the wires to the ASR in the engine, and then back to the center console to mount the ASR-OFF rocker-switch?

If so, where did you go through the firewall?
And where did you locate the "blackbox"?

David Hendy- can you comment with your PAD ASR-defeat install as well?

Thanks,
:-) neil
1993 500E
1988 360TE AMG

Rainmaker- forgot to ask you to please post a scan of the RennTech instructions.

Thanks,
:-) neil

No problem, Neil!
 

Here ya go...

Part number of the ASR switch is: A 129 821 20 51

The connector and wiring harness is from RENNTech. The connector itself has no part number stamped on it.

Sorry, I forgot to decipher my drawing. The gray box labeled "ASR Module" is the actual ASR module of the car mounted in the engine bay. The "ASR Harness" runs from the black box (can be installed under dash) through the firewall, into the ASR box. Note that the 3 ASR wires have to be cut, therefore giving you 6 wires to work with. According to RENNTech, as long as you match up the color of the wires, it doesn't matter which wire (the one going to the computer, or the one going out) is connected to the harness wires...just make sure the correct wire colors.

(In case I gave the impression that this has been installed already...it hasn't. I'm doing that later this week as the car's still being clearcoated right now.)

The "Switch Connector Harness" runs from the blackbox to the dashboard.

I'll scan and post the original instructions later on.

Thanks. How about the MB PN# for the socket that the ASR-OFF rocker-switch plugs into?

Look forward to seeing those directions.

:-) neil

"The connector itself has no part number stamped on it. "

I meant socket.

Cheers!

Rainmaker- can you post a copy those RennTech ASR hookup instructions?

Thanks,
:-) neil

Sorry, Neil. Took Monday to Wednesday off work so I wasn't able to scan the instructions. (Scanner at home's busted.)

I'll put it up in 24 to 48 hours.

Here ya go...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...2/fe377da9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fe377d7d.jpg

Click on the pics to enlarge.

Cheers!

Thanks!

:-) neil

Rainmaker- how about a picture of the ASR-OFF *socket*, front & back.

Thanks,
:-) neil

Apparently, there's a part number on the socket: 013 54530 28. it's really tiny and hardly noticeable.

Here's a pic of the front of the switch (used photoshop on both pics to provide better contrast):

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e/fe376864.jpg


Rear:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...a/fe376849.jpg

Click the pics to enlarge.

Hey, Neil, if you come up with your own ASR defeat switch, I expect 40% royalties! :D

How about a free one if I can reverse engineer it and you can sell it . . .

Which pins of the socket (they look numberd) are used for:
Illumination ; GROUND; and Ignition Power?

Which pins are used to hookup to the "blackbox"

Thanks,
:-) neil

Anybody know,

If this (ASR Defeat kit) will work on 97 C36 as well ..?

Thanks,


J Irwan

Help request
 

"rainmaker", do you still have the missing pictures?

Can you repost/attach or send them to me?




.