I just made an appointment tomorrow to take #2896 in to a shop that specializes in Power chip mods and tuning for MB, BMW and Porche. He told me that when he gets done (providing we have the same Bosch ECU that the SLK has) I will see a minimum of 15% HP and 20% torque increase. That should bring it up close to 250 hp.... I think that should do quite nicely!!! The total cost is $400.00. This mod will not void my warranty in any way.

I will post more after the deed is done.

 

Now you have me excited for it!! Let us know right away what you think of the chip being modded! I'm really debating on doing this too!

 

You can count on it. He said that he's pretty sure he can do a dyno run too. I told him that I had heard it can't be done because of the stability control and no front wheel speed or something.... He said if it's the same as the SLK he can do it. So I should get the baseline numbers and the numbers after the mod.

I can live with hard numbers a lot better than the "push back in the seat" factor. :lol:

 

According to the Powerchip93 literature, you'll get 236 HP (@5500 rpm), and torque will hit 252 lb.ft. (@3000 rpm). I wonder where he's getting the extra HP and torque (20% torque increase would get you 275, woohoo!!!)? Unless you consider 236 'close' to 250 (well, it IS closer than 215!), he must be doing something more than just a PowerChip, or it's something other than a 'PowerChip' power chip.

Great price though... PowerChip wants $690! The Renntech claims 10HP/12lb.ft. increase for $995. Superchip says 10HP, wild price differences abound.

If he can prove the gains on a dyno, tell him I'd take off a day or two from work next week and drive the 3 hours to the beach to get one too! Hell, I'll leave right now if I could see before/after dyno curves. You ARE gonna have it dyno'd BEFORE the mods, right?

 

I'm not sure yet what chip he uses. All I know is he has done a bunch of SLKs and CLKs and comes up with around 15% improvement. That's $400 for the chip and tuning. I'll let you know all the particulars when it's done.

All I'm stating now is what I've been told to expect. I will have the hard data when it's done.

P.S. You won't have to go all the way to Va. Beach. He has 2 shops. One in Williamsburg and the other in Hampton.

 

well heck... I made it to Williamsburg once (in a 97 T-Bird Turbo Coupe) in 2 hours flat. <g>

Hope you have access to a scanner, so you can post some before/after curves.

 

We have a whole computer lab. I think I can scan a page or 2. :lol:

 

Here's a link to the site that I emailed asking about their products and if they made a chip for the Crossfire. They put me in touch with this local guy.

http://www.upsolute.com/eng/index.html

 

I just got off the phone with the guy that will be doing my car. I asked him what the hp numbers are that he's been seeing in the SLK. He told me they have been from 240 - 242 HP. If you look at the charts on the web site in the above post you will see that the chip manufacture says 238 for the SLK after the chip. I'll be happy with that for $400.

 

I'll go look at the site in a few...

Do the mention an Octane (91, 93, ???) requirement?

Damn skippy for $400. I was almost ready to drop $690 on a PowerChip Gold 93 that says 236HP. Hmmm...an extra 4-6 HP for $300 less.. tough choice.

 

No Crossfire listed, but so others don't have to look it up...

Car type Mercedes SLK 320
Engine Sixcylinder V-engine, longitudinal mounted, electronic injection, settled three-way-catalysator
Transmission rear wheel drive, five gear manual or automatic

Original UPsolute

Engine size 3199 3199
Compression 10.0:1 10.0:1
Power (hp) 218 HP/PS 238 HP/PS
Power (kW) 160 kW 175 kW
Torque 229 ft / lb 251 ft / lb
Max Speed 113 mph (180 km/h) 118 mph (188 km/h)

 

I know they don't list the Crossfire. Everything that's going to be done to my car is what they do to the SLK320. But as I said. The tech that's going to do it says that he has been getting a couple more ponies than what they site on the website.

 

Here's the deal and what we did this morning.

When I got there the dyno shop had already told us not to bother trying to get any numbers because of the data the ECU needs from the front wheels. So it was on to the next step... Pull the ECU. Which he did and then he removed the EProm and put it on an eprom reader. The data has been sent to Austria where a flash program is being written. On Tuesday I will take the car back in and he will flash the ECU. He said that it will give from 10 - 13% increase in HP and Torgue. 21 or more hp for $400.00.... I can live with that.

Now here's the good part. If I don't like it I have 30 days to bring it back and he will reflash the ECU with the stock settings and refund my money. Also if I take the car in for service and they have to flash the ECU I take the car back to these folks and for $100 they will reflash it with the performance settings.

I timed the car with a friend. I ran it from standing start until it shifted into 3rd. The time was consistant at 5.836 sec. Speed was right at 58 mph. I'll do the same test on tuesday after the mod.

 

WMichaels,

Damn you... you're making things real difficult in my household!!! :wink: :wink: :wink:

First it was "GreenStuff" and now it's "Power Chips"!!! How am I going to explain the expense of mods to my "Commander-In-Chief"??? She only let me buy the car if I agreed to leave this car as is for a change. She thought the first thing I'd do would be to put aftermarket wheels on it. Of course I agreed and said, "yes dear, no new wheels". (I wasn't planning on new wheels anyway... he-he-he).

Now I'm having a hard time explaining the need for the mods. I think I have her convinced that the OEM brakes were not environmentally friendly because of the nasty black dust they produced... hence the name GreenStuff and the color "green" for the new pads. You gotta help me come up with a reason to justify a power chip!!!

BTW: She's a blonde... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Well remember it gives you not only HP, but better fuel mileage! = Less gas burned! Thus combined with your green stuff brake pads, you have a very environmentally friendly car!

 

I too have a "higher authority" that I run things by for approval (Also a Blonde). Since she retired 2 years ago she is our minister of finance. For the brakes I explained that I was spending tons on wheel cleaner (this was very true) and that in the long run changing the pads would save money. That worked! :P

Now for the Power chip mod.... This was a little more time consuming. Gas prices have helped some. I told her that the gas mileage would get a little better. Then I showed her what RennTech wants for the Mods that they offer. Then a friend of mone just chipped his 2002 BMW Z3 and his wife thinks it's be greatest thing since sliced bread. I think she's really the one that made it easy for me because I let my Bride think that because the Z3 had been chipped that it was faster than the Xfire. So she sent me off, credit card in hand to make our Xfire faster than that Z3. Not a problem! :lol:

 

WMichaels,

I don't know anyone with a BMW Z3!!! Can you give me a quick intro to your friend so I can tell my lovely blonde wife that I too have a freind with a BMW.....??? :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Well, I'm suppose to get the car chipped today. But, I don't know if it will happen. It's 8:39 in the morning and I haven't been able to contact him per his email... attached. I just want my hidden horsepower and I want it now!!!

David Burns gave me an excellent suggestion yesterday. I reinstalled the stock air filters and retested the 0 - 3rd gear shift times. I also checked the time with and without traction control (Last time I checked was just with traction control off).

OAT (outside air temp) 45* F

Results..... with traction control 0 - shift to 3rd (58 mph) 6.365 seconds.
without traction control 6.035 "

After the chip mod I will test with stock filters and then with the K&Ns to see what performance is gained with the K&N filters.

Will keep you posted.....................................


Wes,

I have the file, but still call me tomorrow to make sure things are a go. I
have not felt well today so I'm not sure at this piont I'll be there!?!?

Regards,
Sonny


Quoting Wes Michaels <@msn.com>:

> Hi Sonny,
>
> Let me know if we are a go for the chipping tomorrow. If I haven't heard from
> you by tomorrow morning I will give you a call.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Wes

 

Damn... and here I was so excited for you.

OBTW, haven't heard back from the two Upsolute dealers up here... but haven't checked my email at work yet. I'll let you know what I hear from them.

Hey, all's not lost if you don't get the chip today... you'll have more time to do some more extensive trials with stock vs. K&N air filter!