TWS 19 Jan 08 H3 L 1-5

rb136 · 02-01-2008

This was a first for me, getting to hot lap with another SLK55. Thanks John. I now have coilover envy.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0d34e098-a0f0-4080-a15d-9a340182ad7a.htm

**alroumi** · 02-01-2008

Thanks for sharing, you guys are lucky the closest track to me is a 4 hours drive in some of the worst two lane roads with dust and trucks everywhere.

**F111F** · 02-04-2008

Well, I was at MSR this weekend with DriversEdge. Rick and some of the other instructors are very excited about the video you (rb136) provided. Rick loved the sound of your x-pipe exhaust, it does sound great. He was maybe going to show the video to some folks in the beginning group.

I got Steve Bell (the lead instructor) as my instructor at MSR and what a great experience. I also got to ride along with Steve in the instructor group in his RS GT3 Porche. Very excited and learned a ton of what I was doing wrong. Also have bruises from the 5 point harness, we were braking so hard.

He has the Porsche similar to what is pictured below. It makes me want to work harder on my driving technique and maybe pull in some more AMG upgrades, such as composite brakes.

rb136 · 02-04-2008

Find the limit of your stock brakes before you spring for that kind of $$$. Notice in the 19 Jan vids I'm still at full throttle at the end of the divider between pit out and the track doing 140+. I can do this all day and I've yet to experience any fade. Of all the things I like about this car, the brakes are real close to the top. I put 7 weekends on the track + 20K miles of regular driving before I had to change the front pads. The wear indicator still wasn't on but the contact was close.
Speaking of mods, what is the biggest difference you noticed after installing the coilovers? I'm more than a little interested.

**alroumi** · 02-04-2008

I love the GT3, it and the Lotus Exige S are one of my favourite track cars. Thanks about the information regarding rb136's video as I was astonished how the exhaust/engine sounds loud as I thought that was the OEM setup.

**dsb** · 02-04-2008

I too am very interested in seeing pics and hearing comments about the coilovers. Please tell us more.

**F111F** · 02-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb136

Find the limit of your stock brakes before you spring for that kind of $$$. Notice in the 19 Jan vids I'm still at full throttle at the end of the divider between pit out and the track doing 140+. I can do this all day and I've yet to experience any fade. Of all the things I like about this car, the brakes are real close to the top. I put 7 weekends on the track + 20K miles of regular driving before I had to change the front pads. The wear indicator still wasn't on but the contact was close.
Speaking of mods, what is the biggest difference you noticed after installing the coilovers? I'm more than a little interested.

Prior to getting the coil overs, the car felt overly sensitive to expansion joints on bridges. Turn 3 at MSR, the car would get very unsettled, with the backend trying to come around the front if I didn't have the car lined up perfectly when heavily braking.

Now with the coilovers, going over uneven bumps is very smooth on the highway. Not being lined up when heavy braking is not a problem, the car feels very settled. Corners, you feel like you are on rails and you feel like you are in control. You don't fight the suspension when tracking. The biggest difference???? I can track down SCCA Miata's and pester them in the curves. Normally, they are able to pull away from me. The only vehicle that can pull from me on my street tires, was GT3 Porsche with racing slicks. So now, I feel like I have the competitive advantage.

Rick, the guy who runs The Drivers Edge said to me on Sunday, "Not only is this a gorgeous car, but it is a sleeper on the track. It is unbelievable fast." And he has seen a lot of vehicles!

That is the difference the coilovers have made. Had the power and braking, but I couldn't control it as well. Now I have control.

rb136 · 02-05-2008

When I transition from trail braking to light acceleration like on turn one at TWS, the car is unsettled for an instant. Do you feel that the coilovers would help? Fear of going through this transient is costing me speed and time. I've always wondered if coilovers would help.

**F111F** · 02-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb136

When I transition from trail braking to light acceleration like on turn one at TWS, the car is unsettled for an instant. Do you feel that the coilovers would help? Fear of going through this transient is costing me speed and time. I've always wondered if coilovers would help.

Yes the coilover really help settle the car. I also found that left braking and right foot acceleration kept the back end down, so you don't get unsettled. Thus you are always on the gas, which is why I might be eating up my brakes at a faster rate than expected. This is similar to kart racing and the technique that Michael Schumacher used to be an F1 success (and he is an okay driver!).

**F111F** · 02-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsb

I too am very interested in seeing pics and hearing comments about the coilovers. Please tell us more.

Before coilovers:

**F111F** · 02-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsb

I too am very interested in seeing pics and hearing comments about the coilovers. Please tell us more.

After coilovers:

rb136 · 02-06-2008

Wow, looks like about an inch drop. I can't believe I didn't notice this at TWS. I'm assuming your set up is KW? One of the reasons I'm considering this set up is to allow the use of 235 35 19 in the front and 265 30 19 in the rear. I'm running this size PS Cup Michelins on the street now. I can't run them at the track as the fronts rub the bottom of the spring mount under extremely hard cornering. From looking at yours, it looks like they may solve this problem. I don't think I'll be able to run 235s AND lower the car like yours. If they are KWs, they should be stage 3s and are fully adjustable.

**alroumi** · 02-07-2008

I love the drop F11F and the Designo Mocha black is a very rich and classy colour that suites the SLK well and makes it look more nimble. I would like to start tracking my car but the closest one is in Bahrain which is a 4 hours drive if I am speeding, however the roads aren't that great and there are many trucks in the two lane road.

**F111F** · 02-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb136

Wow, looks like about an inch drop. I can't believe I didn't notice this at TWS. I'm assuming your set up is KW? One of the reasons I'm considering this set up is to allow the use of 235 35 19 in the front and 265 30 19 in the rear. I'm running this size PS Cup Michelins on the street now. I can't run them at the track as the fronts rub the bottom of the spring mount under extremely hard cornering. From looking at yours, it looks like they may solve this problem. I don't think I'll be able to run 235s AND lower the car like yours. If they are KWs, they should be stage 3s and are fully adjustable.

Note that I had the regular suspension on my car, not the 030 package.

Just had H&R Coilover Kit put on my SLK. This is a track performance version. Had the ride height lowered Front: from 26" to 25"; Rear: from 26" to 25.1".

Had the car corner balanced also:

Cross Balance: 49.3%
LF: 923
RF: 908
LR: 790
RR: 828

Car still rides really well (I think better than the normal street suspension, especially on the chunky cement streets here in Plano), and performed much, much better on the track.

Coilovers are adjustable, but since I paid to have the suspension balanced, I currently don't want to make any adjustments until I have a better feel for what changes need to be made.

**F111F** · 02-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by alroumi

I love the drop F11F and the Designo Mocha black is a very rich and classy colour that suites the SLK well and makes it look more nimble. I would like to start tracking my car but the closest one is in Bahrain which is a 4 hours drive if I am speeding, however the roads aren't that great and there are many trucks in the two lane road.

A lot of folks trailer their cars to the track because of the types of issues you just describe. You might consider trailering your car to Bahrain.

**Ynot** · 02-07-2008

Beautiful the last pic is money. the way a sports car should look.

**alroumi** · 02-07-2008

F11F do you mind posting the price of the suspension kit, I just need to compare it to the retail the dealer gave me for the brabus installed.

**F111F** · 02-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by alroumi

F11F do you mind posting the price of the suspension kit, I just need to compare it to the retail the dealer gave me for the brabus installed.

$1300 USD for H&K Kit
Labor not included.

**alroumi** · 02-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by F111F

$1300 USD for H&K Kit
Labor not included.

I see, thanks. That is a very good price I was expecting it to burn the wallet with a hefty price tag.

02-01-2008	#1 (permalink)
rb136 SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baytown, Texas Vehicle: SLK55 Other Toys: 05 G55 AMG Posts: 77 Country: Thanks: 3 Thanked 30 Times in 6 Posts	TWS 19 Jan 08 H3 L 1-5 This was a first for me, getting to hot lap with another SLK55. Thanks John. I now have coilover envy. http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0d34e098-a0f0-4080-a15d-9a340182ad7a.htm

02-01-2008	#2 (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	Thanks for sharing, you guys are lucky the closest track to me is a 4 hours drive in some of the worst two lane roads with dust and trucks everywhere. __________________ 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!

02-04-2008	#5 (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	I love the GT3, it and the Lotus Exige S are one of my favourite track cars. Thanks about the information regarding rb136's video as I was astonished how the exhaust/engine sounds loud as I thought that was the OEM setup. __________________ 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!

02-04-2008	#6 (permalink)
dsb Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: '06 slk55 Posts: 1,176 Country: Thanks: 67 Thanked 120 Times in 42 Posts	I too am very interested in seeing pics and hearing comments about the coilovers. Please tell us more. __________________ SOLD! 06 Mercedes Benz SLK55 Caspian Blue / Black & Ash *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

02-07-2008	#13 (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	I love the drop F11F and the Designo Mocha black is a very rich and classy colour that suites the SLK well and makes it look more nimble. I would like to start tracking my car but the closest one is in Bahrain which is a 4 hours drive if I am speeding, however the roads aren't that great and there are many trucks in the two lane road. __________________ 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!

02-04-2008	#3 (permalink)
F111F Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plano, TX Vehicle: SLK55 Black Mocha Designo Posts: 290 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 22 Times in 10 Posts	Well, I was at MSR this weekend with DriversEdge. Rick and some of the other instructors are very excited about the video you (rb136) provided. Rick loved the sound of your x-pipe exhaust, it does sound great. He was maybe going to show the video to some folks in the beginning group. I got Steve Bell (the lead instructor) as my instructor at MSR and what a great experience. I also got to ride along with Steve in the instructor group in his RS GT3 Porche. Very excited and learned a ton of what I was doing wrong. Also have bruises from the 5 point harness, we were braking so hard. He has the Porsche similar to what is pictured below. It makes me want to work harder on my driving technique and maybe pull in some more AMG upgrades, such as composite brakes.

02-04-2008	#4 (permalink)
rb136 SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baytown, Texas Vehicle: SLK55 Other Toys: 05 G55 AMG Posts: 77 Country: Thanks: 3 Thanked 30 Times in 6 Posts	Find the limit of your stock brakes before you spring for that kind of $$$. Notice in the 19 Jan vids I'm still at full throttle at the end of the divider between pit out and the track doing 140+. I can do this all day and I've yet to experience any fade. Of all the things I like about this car, the brakes are real close to the top. I put 7 weekends on the track + 20K miles of regular driving before I had to change the front pads. The wear indicator still wasn't on but the contact was close. Speaking of mods, what is the biggest difference you noticed after installing the coilovers? I'm more than a little interested.

02-05-2008	#8 (permalink)
rb136 SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baytown, Texas Vehicle: SLK55 Other Toys: 05 G55 AMG Posts: 77 Country: Thanks: 3 Thanked 30 Times in 6 Posts	When I transition from trail braking to light acceleration like on turn one at TWS, the car is unsettled for an instant. Do you feel that the coilovers would help? Fear of going through this transient is costing me speed and time. I've always wondered if coilovers would help.

02-07-2008	#16 (permalink)
Ynot Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colorado Vehicle: 06' MBZ SLK Posts: 2,795 Country: Thanks: 135 Thanked 35 Times in 30 Posts	Beautiful the last pic is money. the way a sports car should look. __________________ 06' SLK 350, Iridium/Ash all pkgs. 6-spd, 19" DCR. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-07-2008	#17 (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	F11F do you mind posting the price of the suspension kit, I just need to compare it to the retail the dealer gave me for the brabus installed. __________________ 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!

02-08-2008	#20 (permalink)
F111F Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plano, TX Vehicle: SLK55 Black Mocha Designo Posts: 290 Country: