Hello forum - can someone help me play with my new '05 CLK55 AMG?
 

Well, it's new to me, anyway. It's a 2005 with 27,500 miles, in absolutely perfect, apparently garaged, condition. Did I do OK for $29,9?

I totally love it, although I really was looking for something...well, sportier, and "snarlier," I couldn't pass it up after I drove one. There wasn't much else out there I was very interested in, and it's obviously a really awesome car.

Anyway, I hate something really bad about this car: ESP. And it's not like you can just turn it off. It turns itself back on... http://mercedesforum.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif

Is there a way to either make the default position off, or simply disable it altogether, without adversely affecting the other functions of the computer?

Also, I would like to tease the last few HP out of the beast that are available. Any advice about which performance chip to get, maybe other "easy" mods that will put it nearer 400HP?

I have to be careful that anything I do is either not visible, or easily reversed - as the factory warranty was out, and to get a really good extended/aftermarket warranty out to 5 yrs and 100k miles, I had to spend $5k, and it very specifically excludes much significant coverage in case of mechanical failure if there are performance mods.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Clay

You had to spend $5k on a warranty out to 5 years on a 3+ year old car? That's not a good sign.

ESP is a safety system. It will be mandated for all cars at some date. It can be shut off but will come back on a key cycle, but it should stay off till such a cycle. It is a required control unit. Unplugging it will cause all manner of difficulties. Wheel speed signals are processed by it and passed by network to the engine and trans and other modules.

Hey gasmanstl, which ESP function are you looking to disable? ESP encompasses several systems(ABS, BAS, ASR). In my experience, most people want to disable ASR. This would allow the driver to spin the rear tires on hard acceleration, if it were possible to completely disable it. Selecting ESP OFF will allow some rear tire spin, but the ASR function will still intervene at some point.

What really galls me is the fact that, when I'm depending on the oomph of the engine to be there when I mash on the pedal, it is deprived of me. I'm not sure what ASR is...I'm an ESP newbie. I just hate all of this, to be honest. I would like a CAR, with BRAKES, and STEERING, and NO @#$%^&* mind of its own. I'm smart enough to pilot my own vehicle without the aid of a damn computer, and I resent the fact that my car thinks it has better judgement than me. I've gotten along just fine all of these years without a car that thinks.

It's frankly dangerous when I've decided to make a quick move, depend on the power to be there, and then the car decides I really don't need it. It about caused someone to hit me the other day. ESP is *dangerous.*

ABS is a good thing, I suppose; it's hard to argue against that, except that it's just more electronic BS to fail.

Could you please tell me what BAS and ASR mean?

I almost went to a classic auto store and bought a REAL car, with a 454, and a *carburetor,* and *breaker points,* instead of this MB. I do like the car, but I just hate all of this electronic stuff.

Thanks for all of your help, in advance.

Clay

The warranty is only good for 1 more year?

I would think if you stomp on the gas the thing should go pretty good.

BAS = Brake Assist System. To put it simply, it's a system meant to counteract the natural tendency of most drivers to get off the brakes when ABS kicks in during a panic stop. Regardless of the braking force applied to the pedal, BAS will momentarily apply full pressure, via the vacuum booster, during a panic stop, even if the driver releases the brake pedal. It makes such little difference IMHO, that you won't even know it's there. I've never been able to detect a BAS intervention, even though I've tried many times.

ASR = Anti-Skid/Slip Regulation. This is the one most people wish they could turn off. Without ASR, you'd be able to burn the rear tires off the rims, especially on your car.

ESP = Electronic Stability Program. This system can apply, or release the brakes at the individual wheels, depending on the situation. This feature can keep a driver from getting sideways, or from understeering.

These systems have evolved into Senso-Tronic Brake Control, or SBC, but we really don't need to go there!!! The latest system is the Adaptive Brake system, or ABR. It's works kind of like SBC, but without the headaches.

You seem like the perfect prospect not to buy the car you just bought.

I sold my C55 in large part due to the ubernanny electronics. You can defeat the system by putting it in dyno mode as mentioned above, but as soon as you cycle the key, ESP regains control.

Cool car but you are stuck with the nanny.

I concur on the warranty, you took both barrels to the chest on that one. You should go get a refund. You can get good warranties for as little as 1000, 2000 on the high end.

Remember that most plug in performance mods are detectable. They leave a trail in the cars ECM even after removal.

All...
 

Mpolli: No, the warranty is good for 5 years and 100,000 miles. I shopped this one out for a looooong time, before plunking down that much money. It was the best deal available from many vendors. It's truly a bumper-to-bumper warranty, excluding only "wear and tear" items. However, if I mod the car, I could be screwed in case I throw a rod...

Deanyel: Hmmm, perhaps you're right. I do love the car, and it is soooo tight. But I hate being saved from myself. Reminds me of the government. I want my car to do what I ask of it. And, if I had known about this, I probably wouldn't have bought it. It was an ebay car...I drove one briefly in town at a dealer before buying, but I guess I neglected to abuse that one enough...

ILUVMILS: Yes, ASR. That's the one I really hate. The one that bogs the car down like a carbureted car with no accelerator pump when you goose it from a stop. The one that caused me to cut someone off the other day that I could have easily gotten in front of without him even having to slow down, if the car had only worked like it was supposed to do - even if the tires might have chirped.

Douge: Is dyno mode the same as "ESP OFF" button? If not, how do you do it? I've also heard of some way to install a toggle switch in the wiring somewhere, have you heard of this?

When I hit the "ESP OFF" button, the damn thing turns itself back on at least one time before a key cycle. I haven't caught it turning itself back on a second time yet.

So, all: What should I do about the warranty thing? Should I get another brain, and then mod to my heart's delight - and switch the whole thing out in case it explodes? I don't even know if this would be feasible. I know absolutely nothing about the brain, or where it even is, etc.

Thanks to you all for your help... :rockon:

Clay.

Leave the car stock and go buy a 72 Chevelle SS 4 speed and dump a blown 572 into it. Or even more fun, a 72 Nova.

Best of both worlds.

Get used to it , or go buy a horse!:D
or dont be afraid to buy an old car and work on it your self!!

btw- Go a head and get in a wreck with an old car with out all the electronics and saftey features. See how you fair compaired to a newer m.b.
-Dont knock somthing when you simply dont know how to use it properly or even what it does!
- I would have to say though that when I first came on the "Newer" car scene I was very sceptical of all the new fangled stuff.I grew up driving/working on tractors, old chevys ,three wheelers and motorcycles. I simply didnt understand it. Once you study how it works , why it works , what it can do for you, and ultimatly how to utilize it- it really is enjoyable and assuring to operate a car like this.