I outran -- Myself!

**Dolebludger** · 03-05-2008

In addition to an SLK 280 7 speed auto, I have a Honda S 2000. Actually, the 280 was my wife's pick, and I have been surprised at how fast it actually is. Now, my S 2000 is an '01 with only about 29K on the odo. I've been driving it for over six years and know how to operate the six speed. So wife (in the SLK) and I (in the S 2000) decided to have a little 0 to 60 drag race. Wife in SLK 280 only had to hold the shifter to the left for a second, then floor it. I had to get the S 2000 into the 6K to 9K rpm range as fast as possible and keep it there. In spite of my experience in doing so, shall we say, the S 2000 did not win.

There are no losses when you own both cars. But I have stop-watched the S 2000 in 0 to 60 at 5.2 seconds. The SLK 280 is manufacturer rated at 6.1 seconds in such a run. Now, I know that the car magazines have tested the 55 AMG and 350, and have obtained 0 to 60 runs in times much less than manufacturer's ratings. But no car magazine has ever done a road test on the SLK 280. So I took the 280 out and stop watched it at 0 - 60 in 5.1 seconds. It couldn't have been that, but it was.

Ikarus · 03-05-2008

How did you measure that? A stop watch ain't very precise and neither is the speedometer. As much as I would like to believe what you found, I don't believe the SLK280 can be that fast, even under the best of circumstances. Also, the S2000 should win. You gotta practice that launch.

**alroumi** · 03-05-2008

The closest thing to the exact 0 to 60 time is a drift box, however you can get the g-tech which isnt bad and not far from the close actual time. A stop watch isnt the ideal way of getting the correct time.

cyberdrakon · 03-05-2008

Yeah...you know how they say it's the driver that makes the difference?

**Dolebludger** · 03-05-2008

Thanks, all. Yes, I know a stopwatch and the car's speedometer can give only an approximate 0 to 60 time. My measurements weren't done in an accurate manner, and only give a rough idea of what's going on.

Just a couple of comments. The S 2000 is modded in such a way as to increase apparent torque and throttle response as low as 2500 rpm, so "launching" isn't that critical. And the SLK 280, I don't know what to say about that thing. When I first got it with 40 miles on the odo, I thought it quicker than other 280s I had tested, but initially thought it to be my imagination. Then at 140 miles, I took it to my local MB dealer for something minor. Their tech road tested the car, and then the tech got another tech to do so. Then, they looked closely under the hood and shook their heads. I asked for an explanation. The techs said "well, it looks like a 280, but for some reason it seems to have the power more like a 350, and we don't know why." And as it nears 2K miles, it's getting even quicker. No explanation, except that maybe something good happened to me for a change.

JOC · 03-05-2008

Sweet! Maybe when you took it in for service some disgruntled employee dropped a 55 amg engine in there for kicks... that would be cool!

RedDevil07 · 03-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOC

Sweet! Maybe when you took it in for service some disgruntled employee dropped a 55 amg engine in there for kicks... that would be cool!

**alroumi** · 03-06-2008

dolebludger, your car has a high possibility to be a factory freak.

**Dolebludger** · 03-06-2008

All:

The dealer's techs looked the engine over and there were no visible abnormalities, when compared to any other 3L, 280 engine. Nobody knows why the car performs as well as it does, and this is not the sort of thing one pays tech $100 per hour to check out ( as in "help me, my car is running better than it should!") And no, it won't "pull" like a 55 AMG. It is just somewhere in between the other 280s I've driven and the 350s I've driven. The car came from a S. California dealer as a new left over '07. My local dealer didn't have one of these, and couldn't get one last November. And I wanted one like this, as I received a $2000 rebate due to my Mercedes Benz Club of America membership. When it left the S Cal. dealer's lot, it had 13 miles on the odo. Perhaps it is a mystery best left unsolved.

DansSlk · 03-06-2008

Take 10 identical MB's line then up and drag them against a timer and i guarantee at least 8 will run faster than the specifications say they will.

Its a known fact I've no idea why the dealer made such a fuss about it.

**Dolebludger** · 03-07-2008

DanSLK:

I wouldn't say the dealer's techs made a big fuss over it. These guys merely said (in so many words) that this particular SLK 280 was the quickest 280 they had driven (and they have test driven a bunch.) They were more surprised about it because there were only 140 miles on the odo, and the engine was pretty "green." And being techs, they were curious.

On a related subject, I just installed the Green Filters yesterday. How long does it take for the ECU to reset?

**Dolebludger** · 03-07-2008

Bill T:

Thanks for the validation of what I feel every time I drive the SLK 280! It runs and feels more like a 350. And in my recent car search for this car, I drove many, many used and new 280s and 350s. The exact words the techs used were "this little car is a whole lot faster than it has a right to be." And, this was said in the context that (to my experience and theirs) ALL Mercedes get better 0 to 60 times than manufacturer's rating. Sea level should have little to do with it, as unless you are driving at very high altitudes (Colorado mountains, for example), the ECU will adjust for it. My locl altitude is only 500 feet above sea level.

Looks like we both lucked out.

DansSlk · 03-07-2008

Its just a case of computer adaption, only extremely small differences in machine built engines and just slightly more tolerance in a hand built unit.

From personal experience with the AMG's the engines are all born within 1-2 horses of each other, how they develop from there depends on who owns them and how they drive.

About the adaption it happens very fast as the MAF senses the increased airflow the ECU add's fuel.

Altitude plays a huge role with these being N/A engines the ECU can only compensate by reducing fueling per firing and you end up with a loss of power.

Best time to drive is when its right around 0 degrees at sea level, they love it.

**Dolebludger** · 03-16-2008

Dan:

I don't know what I can say except for what my Service Manager told me, and that is "that little car is faster than it has a right to be." Then I put the Green filters on it, and I think it picked up a little steam. Accelerates in a straight line like my S 2000, and corners rather like it too. Don't know what is going on with it, but if anybody from this board is ever in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, just contact me and we can meet and try to figure it out. I've got four spare bedrooms, and all Mercedes enthusiasts are welcome here.

People post on "car boards" all the time that their car is running below par. We accept that and try to help out. I just think that some are not able to accept a poster who says "my car is running better and faster than it should" as I am. What do I do, pay my dealer's techs $100 USD per hour to figure out why? I don't think so. I just drive it and love it. And if anybody on this board is ever in my area, please contact me and stop it, and we'll check it out.

Mohammed and all:

What is a "factory freak?"

**alroumi** · 03-16-2008

Facotry freak is when you car is stock and is faster than all of the 280's that are not modified, a miracle of a car.

**Dolebludger** · 03-16-2008

Mohammed:

Have there been other claims of "factory freaks", or am I the only one -- just imagining things?

**alroumi** · 03-16-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Mohammed:

Have there been other claims of "factory freaks", or am I the only one -- just imagining things?

No its quiet common to see variations in the performance of stock cars, one car can be more capable or faster than the other by a small margin in your case.

03-05-2008	#1 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	I outran -- Myself! In addition to an SLK 280 7 speed auto, I have a Honda S 2000. Actually, the 280 was my wife's pick, and I have been surprised at how fast it actually is. Now, my S 2000 is an '01 with only about 29K on the odo. I've been driving it for over six years and know how to operate the six speed. So wife (in the SLK) and I (in the S 2000) decided to have a little 0 to 60 drag race. Wife in SLK 280 only had to hold the shifter to the left for a second, then floor it. I had to get the S 2000 into the 6K to 9K rpm range as fast as possible and keep it there. In spite of my experience in doing so, shall we say, the S 2000 did not win. There are no losses when you own both cars. But I have stop-watched the S 2000 in 0 to 60 at 5.2 seconds. The SLK 280 is manufacturer rated at 6.1 seconds in such a run. Now, I know that the car magazines have tested the 55 AMG and 350, and have obtained 0 to 60 runs in times much less than manufacturer's ratings. But no car magazine has ever done a road test on the SLK 280. So I took the 280 out and stop watched it at 0 - 60 in 5.1 seconds. It couldn't have been that, but it was.

03-05-2008	#3 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	The closest thing to the exact 0 to 60 time is a drift box, however you can get the g-tech which isnt bad and not far from the close actual time. A stop watch isnt the ideal way of getting the correct time. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-06-2008	#8 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	dolebludger, your car has a high possibility to be a factory freak. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-06-2008	#10 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Take 10 identical MB's line then up and drag them against a timer and i guarantee at least 8 will run faster than the specifications say they will. Its a known fact I've no idea why the dealer made such a fuss about it. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

03-07-2008	#11 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	DanSLK: I wouldn't say the dealer's techs made a big fuss over it. These guys merely said (in so many words) that this particular SLK 280 was the quickest 280 they had driven (and they have test driven a bunch.) They were more surprised about it because there were only 140 miles on the odo, and the engine was pretty "green." And being techs, they were curious. On a related subject, I just installed the Green Filters yesterday. How long does it take for the ECU to reset? Last edited by Dolebludger; 03-16-2008 at 02:00 AM.

03-05-2008	#2 (permalink)
Ikarus Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: 2006 SLK 280 w. 6M Other Toys: 2000 New Beetle GLS w. 5M Posts: 596 Country: Thanks: 18 Thanked 40 Times in 20 Posts	How did you measure that? A stop watch ain't very precise and neither is the speedometer. As much as I would like to believe what you found, I don't believe the SLK280 can be that fast, even under the best of circumstances. Also, the S2000 should win. You gotta practice that launch.

03-05-2008	#4 (permalink)
cyberdrakon Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Vehicle: SLK55 2006 Other Toys: 560SEC 1990, CLK500 2005 Posts: 1,399 Country: Thanks: 24 Thanked 63 Times in 42 Posts	Yeah...you know how they say it's the driver that makes the difference?

03-05-2008	#5 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Thanks, all. Yes, I know a stopwatch and the car's speedometer can give only an approximate 0 to 60 time. My measurements weren't done in an accurate manner, and only give a rough idea of what's going on. Just a couple of comments. The S 2000 is modded in such a way as to increase apparent torque and throttle response as low as 2500 rpm, so "launching" isn't that critical. And the SLK 280, I don't know what to say about that thing. When I first got it with 40 miles on the odo, I thought it quicker than other 280s I had tested, but initially thought it to be my imagination. Then at 140 miles, I took it to my local MB dealer for something minor. Their tech road tested the car, and then the tech got another tech to do so. Then, they looked closely under the hood and shook their heads. I asked for an explanation. The techs said "well, it looks like a 280, but for some reason it seems to have the power more like a 350, and we don't know why." And as it nears 2K miles, it's getting even quicker. No explanation, except that maybe something good happened to me for a change.

03-05-2008	#6 (permalink)
JOC SLK World Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Vehicle: 2007 SLK 350 (Black with tan) Posts: 83 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Sweet! Maybe when you took it in for service some disgruntled employee dropped a 55 amg engine in there for kicks... that would be cool!

03-06-2008	#9 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	All: The dealer's techs looked the engine over and there were no visible abnormalities, when compared to any other 3L, 280 engine. Nobody knows why the car performs as well as it does, and this is not the sort of thing one pays tech $100 per hour to check out ( as in "help me, my car is running better than it should!") And no, it won't "pull" like a 55 AMG. It is just somewhere in between the other 280s I've driven and the 350s I've driven. The car came from a S. California dealer as a new left over '07. My local dealer didn't have one of these, and couldn't get one last November. And I wanted one like this, as I received a $2000 rebate due to my Mercedes Benz Club of America membership. When it left the S Cal. dealer's lot, it had 13 miles on the odo. Perhaps it is a mystery best left unsolved.

03-07-2008	#12 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Bill T: Thanks for the validation of what I feel every time I drive the SLK 280! It runs and feels more like a 350. And in my recent car search for this car, I drove many, many used and new 280s and 350s. The exact words the techs used were "this little car is a whole lot faster than it has a right to be." And, this was said in the context that (to my experience and theirs) ALL Mercedes get better 0 to 60 times than manufacturer's rating. Sea level should have little to do with it, as unless you are driving at very high altitudes (Colorado mountains, for example), the ECU will adjust for it. My locl altitude is only 500 feet above sea level. Looks like we both lucked out.

03-07-2008	#13 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Its just a case of computer adaption, only extremely small differences in machine built engines and just slightly more tolerance in a hand built unit. From personal experience with the AMG's the engines are all born within 1-2 horses of each other, how they develop from there depends on who owns them and how they drive. About the adaption it happens very fast as the MAF senses the increased airflow the ECU add's fuel. Altitude plays a huge role with these being N/A engines the ECU can only compensate by reducing fueling per firing and you end up with a loss of power. Best time to drive is when its right around 0 degrees at sea level, they love it. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

03-16-2008	#14 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Dan: I don't know what I can say except for what my Service Manager told me, and that is "that little car is faster than it has a right to be." Then I put the Green filters on it, and I think it picked up a little steam. Accelerates in a straight line like my S 2000, and corners rather like it too. Don't know what is going on with it, but if anybody from this board is ever in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, just contact me and we can meet and try to figure it out. I've got four spare bedrooms, and all Mercedes enthusiasts are welcome here. People post on "car boards" all the time that their car is running below par. We accept that and try to help out. I just think that some are not able to accept a poster who says "my car is running better and faster than it should" as I am. What do I do, pay my dealer's techs $100 USD per hour to figure out why? I don't think so. I just drive it and love it. And if anybody on this board is ever in my area, please contact me and stop it, and we'll check it out. Mohammed and all: What is a "factory freak?"

03-16-2008	#15 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	Facotry freak is when you car is stock and is faster than all of the 280's that are not modified, a miracle of a car. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-16-2008	#16 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Mohammed: Have there been other claims of "factory freaks", or am I the only one -- just imagining things?

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