More horses

[R.E92]

Quick update. Long discussion with Auto tech and I'm going with the tuning box. Pete has one fitted to his SLK DCT and no issues after three years.
Having had a look on internet there isn't lots of information on fitting tuning boxes to DCT cars. I understand the concerns with excessive torque but some of the damage inevitably happens with cars carrying huge bhps over 450. Drag racing seems bad for these drivetrains
If I was tracking the car regularly I would get a remap but for occasional fast road use and an couple of laps on the track I'm happy to give the Spider a go.

I will update on Friday after fitting. Worst case I will switch it off as I don't like the drive or how much is a reconditioned gearbox

I don't think the SLK actually came with a dual-clutch gearbox. They are all either manual or torque converter autos. I'm not sure I would trust a guy who doesn't know what gearbox is in his own car

It's not a case of the DCT in the Z4 not being able to hold the torque. There's people putting 750nm of torque through it without slippage.
There's no issues with big torque provided you tell the gearbox about it. When you put 750nm through the box and only tell if you are giving it 500nm then you have problems since the gearbox will only apply a small clamping force to the clutch plates and they will slip more than intended during shifts.

The DCT in our cars is actually pretty robust.

 

[techathy]

Either MB totally messed up the programming of the DCT box on the R172 SLK 350 I drove or it was a 7-speed auto.

 

[sammyz]

You seem to be correct about the SLK although I saw one review by Auto Express saying a dct was fitted to the AMG that might be wrong as well.

I may get it on a rolling road when I can but tbh I'm more interested in how it drives. It is only £350 so If I don't like it or trust it I'll disconnect it.

 

[stuartinzg]

Tuning box is £375 fitted. No rolling road. I also have a local company offering their own software with rolling road before and after for the same money. I'm in no rush so will see what answers I get back from Auto tech then decide what to do. I can see that the DCT box might suffer if its getting the wrong information on how much torque its dealing with. I assume it reacts to revs as well and they don't change. I know Spider claim all safety parameters within the drive train are not exceeded.

You are probably about to fudge up a 12k gearbox because some vendor tells you "it's fine mate". I guess it is, as he has the world's first DCT slk merc. You won't notice the damage right away, but if the DCT does not receive the right load you will end up with serious problems.

Please watch some DCT tuning videos. Call Ryan at Syvecs who took this box and made it work in a Supra. Just talk to someone with actual experience with this unit first.

Good luck.

 

[techathy]

You don't lunch the box just lightly toast your clutch packs. While this isn't a serious problem it's a rather expensive remedial action & the first time you know you have a problem is when you're landed with replacing the clutch packs. At least you can get hold of clutch packs for the Zed's 'box, if you have VAG 'box the clutch-packs are almost impossible to get hold of as a separate item.

 

[stuartinzg]

You don't lunch the box just lightly toast your clutch packs. While this isn't a serious problem it's a rather expensive remedial action & the first time you know you have a problem is when you're landed with replacing the clutch packs. At least you can get hold of clutch packs for the Zed's 'box, if you have VAG 'box the clutch-packs are almost impossible to get hold of as a separate item.

The problem will be getting someone who knows what they are doing to change the clutch, oil etc. It's pretty specialist and would cause you a big headache if it went wrong... :?

 

[techathy]

I agree as the cost I was thinking about wasn't the clutch packs them selves, they aren't too expensive, it's the labour for someone who know what they're doing to rebuild the box with the new clutch packs.

 

[Bombardino]

So did you go for the tune? if so what are the results...

 

[sammyz]

Going to do this next week. I will update on Wednesday after I've had the box fitted or the car remapped. Will decide when I get to the garage.

 

[jimbo1958]

Going to do this next week. I will update on Wednesday after I've had the box fitted or the car remapped. Will decide when I get to the garage.

Hope all goes well John...look forward to your update once installed.

 

[sammyz]

Update. After much discussion I decided not to fit the Spider. It seems a more sensible option to go for a remap. There has been much discussion between the garage and me about Mercedes MCT speed shift clutch driven box and the DCT box being similar but I'm happy they are not so I'm back to square one!
May leave this for now as there are other things to sort including tyres, brakes and an mot on the RX8. In the meantime I will get some photos up of the car.

 

[benv6]

Some photos of the mods you carried out already would be great !!!!

 

[Wondermike]

There has been much discussion between the garage and me about Mercedes MCT speed shift clutch driven box and the DCT box being similar but I'm happy they are not so I'm back to square one!

Definitely no DCT-style gearbox on the SLK, whatever model or year.

The AMG MCT that you see in the SL and C63 etc is still the same 7 speed auto box as before, but with a clutch instead of a torque converter. Doesn't come in the SLK.

The only model with a similar gearbox to the DCT on the 35i is the A class (and derivatives) and Mercedes calls it a DCT.

 

[R.E92]

Update. After much discussion I decided not to fit the Spider. It seems a more sensible option to go for a remap. There has been much discussion between the garage and me about Mercedes MCT speed shift clutch driven box and the DCT box being similar but I'm happy they are not so I'm back to square one!
May leave this for now as there are other things to sort including tyres, brakes and an mot on the RX8. In the meantime I will get some photos up of the car.

Some photos of the RX8 would be welcome!

 

[bigyin]

Interested in the black lci repeaters from Germany for my space grey 35i. Can you post a link to where you purchased them please? Can only find chrome ones! Cheers

 

[sammyz]

The black lci repeaters were from Johannes at- [email protected].

Contact him and he'll invoice you the cost, about £130.
I used paypal to send him the money and he posted them out. A good guy

 

[bigyin]

The black lci repeaters were from Johannes at- [email protected].

Contact him and he'll invoice you the cost, about £130.
I used paypal to send him the money and he posted them out. A good guy

Thanks for that