Hello All. I just got my graphite, auto-stick, coupe a couple of weeks ago and I cant have enough fun in it. It literally makes my stomach sick when I accelerate through turns. WOW, WHAT A VEHICLE! Only hitch (and its a small hitch) is i wish it had more zip from the start. I have read numerous posts raving about the upsolute chip. Is it that good? I have found a guy at Kraut-Burners in Dallas that can do it in 45 min for $425. Im a little leary about it creating warranty problems. Can anyone shed some light on this issue for me. thanks judson

 

Judson,

There are loads of threads on Chipping to look at.

Basically you can improve the performance with the chip (warranty and insurance details aside), you can change the air filters to K&Ns or take the car to Renntech for full performance conversions.

I have the Upsolute chip and love it. I have improved performance across the range, and my fuel economy is up to an average of 27.44 mpg (and that included several 35 mile journeys cruising at 95 and a couple of blasts up to 135).

Have a look at the posts from WMichaels and BobaFettm, as they often comment on chipping.

 

I went into some (too much) detail here about my Upsolute mod - Part 2:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...r=asc&start=10

Part 3: https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...r=asc&start=21

The short story looks like this: (Upsolute chip mod only)

 

Most people don't realize that their autos' start in 2nd gear unless you're on the floor,try manual shift in 1st if you want take off from the line!

 

The auto's have some great power! You just have to use them correctly.. WM taught us all how to torque it correctly... and I have my methods of obtaining the best power ratio also while using the touch stick...

from 0mph... hold the brake and the gas to around 2300 - 2500 (around here it will start to spin) let go over the brake and smash the gas to really get the full potential of our 0 - 60 times... if done correctly the Auto can have almost the exact same 0 - 60 times as the manual...

2nd... while driving around 55 mph... which is the stardard around here in michigan... drop to 50 - 52 mph... drop the gears into second... punch the gas at the same time.... this will allow the trans to hit around 5500-6000rpm's and you will feel the car launch REALLY strong with the ECU chip... 3rd gear w/ the chip works best around 80 - 95 mph... and WOW it really does work... 5500 rpm's in 3rd gear pulls you back much like 1st and 2nd does!

Is chipping worth it?! YES! its a huge difference... is the K&N filter worth it? YES!!! For the gas + tiny bit of performance!...

as you can see from the chart the ECU takes the car up to near 231 - 232 hp max... the Filters we are guessing adds up to making the car 235 hp... This is a pretty solid number for a N/A car!

Everyone attacks the Xfire... even I did... about the "LOW" hp that it comes with... we have a 3.2l engine N/A pushing 235hp with just ECU mod and filters... thats pretty wicked retarded IMO!

Add the Eisenhaus to it... and your looking at around 250hp N/A 3100lbs car... with a ratio of 54 / 46 front to back...

There are some mods! and they are worth it! ... we are all still waiting on Nikon's ... me probably the most **Yes Nikon that was a pun to have you sell that to me first!!!!** ... I would love to see the Xfire dyno'ed after all the mods to around 250hp... I know Upsolute will pull to 230... filters to 235... exhaust = 6.4% of hp bonus... so around 13 - 16hp adding.. so w/ nikon's we will easily be at 250hp for all you "haters" that say its NOT POSSIBLE!!!... well it is possible and shove it... with Nikon's I'm hoping to say we could possibly even have a 260hp car...

NOW for someone to just carbo fiber most of the body and lets drop that weight under 3000lbs and we should be set to own every porsche out there in cornering

 

BobaFettm,

My 3rd gear (manual) runs out at just around 80 mph. I can get to about 110 in 4th. Is this a different between the auto box and the manual in your figures?

 

I was under the impression that the auto stick transmission starts out in first gear, unless you have the switch set to the "W" position. This position starts you out in second gear in wet/winter conditions, to help keep the tires from spinning.

Is that correct, or have I read the manul incorrectly?

 

Hey English! I don't know the ratio's for the Manual ... I just know my Xfire's RPM's very well.. I've became accustomed you recognizing where I am in RPM's without looking at the RPM gauge at all... just knowing the feeling of the engine...

and to everyones know-how ... just incase you didnt know cause you use the manual and not the auto.. you can MISS gears with our autostick... its funny feeling lol.... if you push the shifter at the incorrect moment it will either a) LOSS HUGE RPM builds... or b) SIT in neutral! ... you'll sit and redline and it will not sound good at all ... so just to let ya know the touch stick works VERY well in giving us the most horsepower possible through each RPM shift...

Thats why Merc brags so much about these trans... and why even my friends after laughing at my for getting the auto say... "oh ****" I see why you got this like that....

and to JSJS you read that correct... winter driving starts with different gear position... thats why you can take off very smoothly in the snow and rain and the car seems to handle great! ... but turn that Trac and W off and WOW! its like being on skates!

I love that feelin!!

and btw English!!! I'm so glad someone else drives the Xfire with some *****!!! -- a few blasts up to 135....

 

thanks all for the input im going to get chipped in a couple of weeks. I already have filters on order and want eisenhaus exaust later. I heard about Nikon's intake fabrication. im interested in buying if he has success.

 

On the manual, I seem to redline at about 30 in first, 57ish in second, 80ish in 3rd, 110 in 4th, and I haven't redlined it in 5th or 6th yet. The ratios will be in my manual - will have to check them.

Over here, if you drive a little faster than the car in front, they won't move over. If you come up on them doing 40+mph more than them, they just get out of the way.

Still have to find the opportunity to get to 155, but its surprising how short roads get at these speeds. Anyway, I might as well lose my licence at the limit, as at 135.

I wonder if there is any way to change the 6th cog to a much higher ratio. Anyone messed about with their gearbox?

 

3rd gear in auto runs up to about 100.With the chip there is definitely alot more pull from 80 - 95.
4th maybe redlines around 140 as there is only a 500rpm difference that i've seen when changing manually +/- from 5th to 4th

 

In the MB auto if you roll off the line with alight pedal you'll be in 2nd,at less than10 mph try putting the pedal down to floor it will shift down to 1st !! Your car rarely uses 1st!!

 

BS Dan. As long as the W/S switch is in the S position, the car starts from 1st gear any time you stop. It's a VERY quick shift into 2nd though, unless you're really stomping on the throttle.

I've found the car to be more fuel efficient for sure when driving in the W position. About 1-1.5 extra MPG I noticed over about 3000 miles of testing in each position.

 

Really? I didn't know that. We will have to try it this weekend on our "Phoenix Ice Cream-Up" 600 mile trip!!

I will put it on the spread sheet you sent me and check!! Thanks for the tip! :wink:

 

You wouldn't notice it there, since that will be a lot of cruising in a higher gear with the torque converter locked. Where I see the most difference is on tanks where I do the most stop-and-go driving.

 

OK - we won't try it this weekend. We don't do a lot of stop-and-go driving in CEEBEE. Good to know about anyway. :wink:

 

Isn't that what i said rarely uses 1st!!The MB autos shift very quickly to 2nd therefore you don't realize it's already in 2nd when you think it's still in 1st!!!Dah No BS just fact!!!!!!!Do i have to explain for the DBs in the world!!

 

You might want to re-read your original post before you resort to your usual tactic of lowering the quality of this forum.....

Your original quote was "start in second gear", not "rarely uses 1st".

My question, Bobba's response, and David's confirmation were to your original posting.

The transmission does start in 1st gear. How long it stays there was not the statement you presented.

I think it is clear to everyone but you.

 

THIS THE QUOTE REFERRED TO AGAIN!!AND IF YOU CAN'T FEEL YOUR 1ST SHIFT 1-2ND IS BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY IN 2ND EVEN UNDER 5MPH!tHAT TO ME IS LIKE STARTING IN 2ND!BECAUSE YOU ARE IN 2ND SO QUICKLY.THE ONLY WAY IT STAYS IN 1 IS MANUALY OR BY PUTTING YOUR ACCELERATER TO THE FFFFFFFFLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOR.TRY ROLLING OFF THE LINE AND DOWNSHIFT MANUALY IT WILL DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST EVEN UNDER 5MPH THAT MEANS YOU ARE IN 2ND!THATS' WAY THE CARS FEEL ALITTLE SLUGGISH OFF THE LINE.

 

Oh as far as the term lowering the quality of this forum,1.don't quote out of context.2.I did not use the slang BS first!And i do not continually quote out of context to prove a minor point ! And I stand by my original explanation for a sluggish feeling from the MB autostick, it rarely uses 1 gear and starts in 2nd off the line unless you manualy shift to 1st or put your foot on the floor! Try it under 5mph downshift manualy if it drops to 1st then you started in 2nd!