2003 LHD 61 bhp model

698cc 3 cylinder Mercedes engineered engine with turbo

Red Dot Racing brakes

Spikeline 16" wheels
Eibach springs

Janspeed quad exhaust

Hybrid turbo
Custom Remap
Pipercross Viper induction kit
Janspeed intercooler pipes
Brabus 74kw induction pipe
Oil cooler

Metal Monkey stainless steel dial faces
Button gear shift on steering wheel (F1 style)
Brabus 'carbon fibre' interior trim
Novelty horn (sounds include Tarzan, Donkey, Wolf whistle, Woody woodpecker, Roadrunner and Horse)

6-sound novelty horn control unit

Here are some pictures I took on a rolling road day

Here's my car on the rolling road - the noise from the exhaust was phenomenal!

Here's Pauls car with mine. He organised the day and is the owner of Smartarse Design (top bloke)

Here's Steves car which has been modified to the level of a roadster and has the brilliant Viper induction hose which really improves the smoothness of the gearchange and gives a good increase in bhp. Steve edits the Smartimes magazine and is very knowledgable and respected in the smart world.

This is the graph from the rolling road session. It shows great results from the horsepower (81.34 hp @ 5350 rpm at the wheels) and torque (96.05 ft-ib) but my remap is giving too much turbo boost (23.63 psi).
As a result of this I got a custom remap done on the same day using the data from the dyno run. It still feels quick but is not as manic in the higher rev range and should preserve the little 698cc engine.

Mesh rear grill

At Smartarse Design

Brabus injectors fitted

80bhp camshaft in place

Nice new stainless steel axle caps

2-sound air horn just visible

The update on my roadster for March 2006 is the fitting of a Janspeed Stealth exhaust, Bonalume racing clutch and braided brake hoses.

The Stealth exhaust has greatly improved the torque as it is freer flowing than the previous quad. It isn't quite as tuneful but is quiet when idling and under gentle acceleration. Under heavier application of the throttle there is a nice bass roar and the feeling of nice smooth power.

Janspeed Stealth exhaust

The Italian Bonalume clutch is used on Racing smarts in Italy and is a must have for a high performance smart as the power gets to around 100bhp. The smoothness is improved in the gearchange to such a degree that the delay between gearchanges is all but gone and there is no slipping - just a nice whoosh of power. The effect is quite dramatic!

Bonalume racing clutch

The braided brake hoses have improved progressive braking and heavy braking but have not significantly firmed up the feel of the pedal as I hoped they might. The brakes are adequate however for spirited driving and the feel has been improved at higher performance levels.

The windows have now been tinted and I will provide photos soon. They give a nice purposeful look and give the illusion that the car has been lowered further still - almost like a 'chopped' roof.

The remap on the car will be changed to take into account the new modifications but, even with the existing map, the dyno figures show promising results as follows:-
77.9bhp at the wheels
98.52bhp at the flywheel
103.3lb-ft @ 2750rpm torque.

The good torque figure gives the car amazing useable power, especially in the lower rev range and there are no problems with overboosting or the car running into safe mode.
An evolution of this map will see a figure of around at least 105bhp at the flywheel as a conservative estimate. The torque figure is already very acceptable.

Friday 28th April: Magnecor high performance silicone ignition leads fitted. Proven in racing engines these leads:-

- Maximise and maintain full output of the ignition system, even at maximum revs
- Provide easier starting, smoother running and quicker response on acceleration
- Improve engine performance, fuel efficiency and reduce emissions
- Protect against extreme temperatures and damp starts
- Eliminate RFI (radio static) and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference).

Picked up my car today (Tuesday 16th May 2006) after an evolution of my custom remap was applied by Augusto at Red Dot.
The figures are as follows:
111.4 bhp at the flywheel
109.7 lb-ft torque @ 2800rpm

Here's the dyno chart

The car outran a Golf Gti in testing and, having driven it, I can believe it. What is just as nice as the pace is the smoothness and the application of the power. It's hard to see what more I can do but a charge cooler is a possibility!

Here are some cosmetic additions

Michalak metal pedals

Carbon door inserts

Chrome petrol cap cover

Gold valve caps

August 2006 and KW adjustable suspension has been fitted to my roadster along with Continental tyres on the front axle and Bridgestones on the rear.
A temporary setup of 10mm spacers on each front wheel and 25mm on each back wheel has been fitted to help cornering and roadholding. This will be upgraded to even wider spacers when I can source the parts.

KW Coilover Variant 2 suspension

Here's a description of the suspension:
• Damping technology with individually adjustable rebound
• inox-line stainless steel technology
• Individually height adjustable
• German TUEV-tested adjustment parameters
• High-quality components for long life
• Infinitely adjustable rebound damping

Having driven another roadster with this setup I've followed a similar setting because that car cornered like it was on rails with no appreciable body roll.

They are as follows:
- Front ride height - set to minimum
- Rear ride height - set to minimum
- Front dampers - set to halfway
- Rear dampers - set to 3/4 soft

This gives the car a slammed appearance but the ride isn't too compromised and the cornering is amazing even with the spacers I have on at the moment. It is difficult to ground the car too despite it being so low.

Front wheelarch clearance

Overall stance with roof off and roof on.

The above picture shows the tinted windows applied to the car earlier this year.

This illustrates the beefier appearance of the car due to the wheel spacers

The rear window tint is dark but within legal limits. The rear wheel is more spaced than the front at the moment.

29th September 2006 and 30mm spacers have been added to the car as well as a Bosch fuel regulator from an Audi A6. This fits exactly and replaces the 3.8 bar item for a 4 bar one. The extra fuel pressure means slightly better performance and it seems to be felt more in the mid-range.

Here's a comparison of the smart fuel regulator (left) with the Audi one (right).

Here are some recent photos (October 2006) of the roadster with the 30mm spacers all round. It has a meatier stance and corners incredibly well.

Toyo T1-R tyres fitted all round (April 18 2007) replacing the Continentals on the front axle and the Bridgestones on the rear.
The size is as before (205/45/16) but the grip from the softer compound is much improved with less sidewall flexing around tight corners and less skittishness around bends.
The ride is perhaps mildly improved and there is no appreciable difference in road noise.

May 12 2007 and I've found a set of Crossblade Spikeline wheels in the lovely graphite finish they come in. They make the car appear lower and give it a sort of Lotus Exige look.
The contrast with the yellow panels works well.

On 28th September 2007 there was a meeting at Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands, the site of the historic racing circuit.
Here is my car along with some other very nice smarts on the Smartarse stand.

3rd August 2007 and I've had my button shift steering wheel removed and replaced with a smaller, 3-spoke leather covered smart wheel with paddle shifts. A Tan code has to be added to activate the paddles and, because my car never had factory fitted paddles, the footwell wiring had to be altered: the white to white connection is changed to a white to black.
The reason for the change of wheel was to keep the originality of the smart with the paddles and have the better feel of the thicker rimmed leather wheel.
The previous button shift was the preferable system for usage though and I'll miss it for that reason.

Smart Hertford did the necessary Tan code and wiring alterations on 8th August and the paddle shift works great.

You will notice a carbon fibre transmission tunnel and handbrake that were fitted at the same time along with carbon dressings for the side mirrors and rear boot hinge covers (below).

Soon to be added:
Metal gear knob
Lightweight seats
Carbon fibre bonnet and boot lids

The car now boosts at up to 1.5 bar and has good torque in a very light chassis. It sounds like a real racing car and seriously shifts.