Anyone know a quick way to defeat the ASR on a 93 400e? I want to take it to the drags and see what she'll do and need some wheelspin.

I read somewhere that if you disable the front wheel sensors on the ABS/ASR it will kill the ASR and harmlessly store a code.

Jack
93 400e

I think Michael with the 500E had a quick way of putting the car into diagnostic mode by playin' around with the fuses with a 500E, thereby disabling the ASR. However, I don't know if it will work for a 400E too, since I was too chicken to try it out...maybe you can be the guinea pig for us? I remember something about fuse #1 and #6...try searchin' through the archives, or wait for him to come check this forum and tell you himself!

__________________
1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

From a Lee Scheeler post from Mar 1999:

"Okay,
Did some research on Michael's new trick. By bridging pins #1 and #6 on the CAN plug you are grounding #6 (#1's the ground). This puts the car in "diagnostic mode" which allows for full throttle/braking no matter what the wheel speed sensors say. The diff is 25% locking but was designed to have ASR backing it up. It should work but use burnouts wisely. "

So it looks like you can ground the #6 pin on the CAN.

Now what the heck does that mean?

Jack
93 400e

If I recall, the CAN is an abbreviation for the Central Area Network. This is the mechanism used to tie many of the car’s circuits into the control computer. Accordingly, by shorting this circuit you are putting the ASR systems into diagnostic mode and essentially defeating it, except for elements that don’t get shut off. Personally, and based on absolutely no factual information, I wouldn’t be thrilled by this approach simply as you are grounding a circuit in a way not intended. Well maybe it’s intended for diagnostic purposes but, not much more. I saw something a while ago in a Performance Products catalogue that was an ASR defeat switch. Don’t remember what model(s) it was for. You can contact Performance Products and find out, or perhaps contact a MB dealer, independent MB shop, or maybe even the folks at PartShop here.

I’d also wonder why you want to drag race a 400e? The flex disks are not setup to handle this kind of strain for very long, to mention nothing about the remaining elements of the ASR system or transmission. Kind of like treating a classy babe like a cheap whore. Fun, perhaps, but inevitably short lived. No need to respond – just IMO.

…Tracy

Tracy,

I learned of this trick from the shop foreman at an MBZ dealership outside of Boston that KNOWS these cars. Heck, he even drives a 500E!! So, I think his suggestion is exceptionally well qualified. I assure you, I would not have thrown it out there if there were a chance of frying any part of the CAN (Control Area Network).

The preferred way to bridge #1 and #6 is by using proper diagnostic pin inserts(purchased from your local MBZ dealer)soldered together; however, a more expeditious way of shutting down ASR (and it takes ABS with it) is to disconnect the front wheel speed sensors. Since there's no speed to compare the rear wheels to, ASR & ABS go to sleep. Be advised that this will illuminate your ABS warning light, and your CAN will store a fault code which can be easily cleared off the system whenever convenient...does no harm.

Have fun, and don't forget to upshift or you'll be bouncing off the electronic rev-limiter!!

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Michael,

Next question. In which way do you disconnect the front wheel speed sensors? Do you so this at the wheels or at the computer?

Also, where are you to do the bridge of #1 and #6, at the diagnostics connection? I could easily make a wiring rig if this is easier.

Too bad it just snowed this morning, so I won't be doing any testing of this method for a couple days.

--snip--
" why you want to drag race a 400e? Kind of like treating a classy babe like a cheap whore. Fun, perhaps, but inevitably short lived."
--snip--

I agree with your assessment.

I don't intend to make more than a few runs just to baseline the car, both with and without ASR. I am a performance-minded individual who loves Mercedes (hence the 400e) and just wonder what it will do in the 0-60 and the quarter. My goal is to have a 13 second quarter mile w124. I think this car will do it, but need to take it to the track to baseline it and see how far I need to go to accomplish my goal.

I am less than totally satisified with the performance of this car. The power is there, it is just not getting to the ground in a timely fashion since the rear gear is too tall. I am sure that in Germany on the autobahn it is spectacular, but in rush hour Dallas it takes too much throttle to make it go.

My goal is to make it as fast as a stock 500e. That way, I can keep a car I know and love, and still have the performance of a true supercar.

Jack
93 400e

Jack,

To attain the performance you want, you're gonna have to drop a LOT more than you would if you simply sold your 400 and purchased a 500E. The reason I say this is that there is a lot more to performance than just acceleration. If acceleration is all you're after, then track yourself down a Nitrous setup, change out your rear gears, and you'll have the acceleration you want.

However, if you want a complete performance package you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a comparable all-rounder to a 500E (only talking W124s here, folks) by simply bolting parts onto a 400. I very nearly bought a 400, and had worked out most of the mods I'd planned to do so I've been about where you are.

However, with bigger brakes tranny & motor, a more robust differential, a wider track, a stiffened chassis, an adaptive rear suspension that assists greatly in the traction area, and a bunch of other things, it would take large dollars to compete. Just look at the original AMG hammer...comparable performance to a 500 at 2-3 times the price!

I'm not trying to dissuade you from doing mods, heck I encourage you, but don't dig too deep a hole before you do a proper cost/benefit analysis.

Just my 2% of a buck

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Michael: Thanks for the clarification. I have doubts about this scenario, but will let it go. In brief, I’ve always been a little hesitant with handed down wisdom…If it’s cool with yer friend, who lives with the systems, there’s no issue. I wouldn’t do it to my 400e without at least further research, however. Of course, I bought my 400e 3 weeks ago and still haven’t seen it so I’m not sure just what I’ll do with it… Right now I’ve been reading a lot of articles on the 400e.

Jack: Your goals are cool. It sounds as if you want an old friend to tweak out with lots of low end acceleration. Given this, and speaking of handed down wisdom, there was a series of articles I saw here regarding putting a different rear end in the 400e to provide better low end pull. Each article has a slightly different solution for the rear end setup. One warning is that if your car has ASR, accordingly, you will want to replace the diffy with something that also has ASR (which I would guess would end up shut off to whatever extent it can be). Anyway, if you were to swap the rear end, add nitrous, big sticky tires, and of course the ASR/ABS defeat switch you’d have a streetlight rocket and still keep the benefits of a sleeper! Also, keep a few flex disks around…

Here’s an excellent thread on changing the differential of a 400e.

400E/E420 rear differential swap

Another one is:

MB Doc had some good on comments at the bottom.

Shorter gears for a 94 E420

Also do a search for 400e differential swap for several other threads.

Regards & hope you don’t turn the babe into a ho -- I have no idea why I would even care, really.

…Tracy

I just got around to trying the speed sensor disconnect trick, OMG!

I have not had so much fun since I was in my brother's 9 sec. Pro-Street machine! The 500E rocks, there is nothing quite like laying down a 60 foot tire mark and then taking her up to ..... (well, maybe I shouldn't go there)!

The hardest part is keeping the engine below redline, the next hardest thing to do is to let off the accelerator pedal before traveling speeds that include jail time.

And the last thing that is hard about this whole exercise is NOT doing it again!

Give Performance Products, aka, IMPCO, a call. They have an ASR defeat switch assembly and diagram for under $500.

It would probably take 2-3 hours to install. Much cheaper than RennTechs, which I bet is the same contraption.

Have fun,
:-) neil