Now this is interesting...

Took my Xfire in to Wullenweber for the first oil change/service @ 4,000 miles. When I get it back...it is faster. Not at the low end but above 3,000 rpm hits a "strong spot" and then pulls real hard right up to red-line.

I'm banging up against the rev limiter whereas before I hardly ever did.

Do these cars have a "break-in" mode for the first 3-4 thousand miles ?

I've been following the LX forums and the owners of 300C/Magnum/Chargers report a noticeable power increase after a few thousand miles. Could this be a Benz/Bosch ECU programmed thing ? Perhaps activated after "X" many miles or the first service visit ? I know there is a "crossover" valve which opens in the intake to change the tuning at about 3000 rpm. Is this what I'm feeling ? Perhaps this valve is programmed to open late or not at all the first few thousand miles during the break-in or maybe the top end timing is slightly retarded to limit peak Hp/torque ?

I know I'm not imagining this...there is an obvious difference now !

I've read about Magnum owners picking up .3 - .5 seconds in the quarter and a long-term test of a BMW Z4 in Road&Track reported an almost half second e.t. improvement from brand new. This is my first German car, could this be some Bosch Kraut Komputer Kontroller thing ?

Cincinnati Slim