Wolf190

So tonight I have a new question. I've read a few things about aftermarket parts for the 190's but i havn't found anything for myself yet. Are there aftermarket companies who make performance modifications for these cars or is it only AMG? If someone has any links or phone numbers I would really appreciate it. I'm looking for exhaust, headers, intake, performance chip, wheels, and body kits, but don't want to spend a small fortune to get some of this stuff.

MTI

There are virtually no "bolt on" performance parts for the W201. Sad, but true.

There are no performance "chips" for the engine because the engine management is primarily the mostly mechanical fuel injection system, unlike the modern EFI systems. At best, a $5 resistor, used in the old days by VW tuners for the old Rabbits, etc. can be used to fool the system's air temp sensor.

None of the "intakes" have been shown to increase performance. None of the sellers have put their products through "before & after" dyno tests. The OEM intake system is a "cold air intake" by design and there is no starvation for air. If you think a tube and cone filter is a worthy cosmetic upgrade, then that's fine.

When AMG tuned the 190E, they did it via camshaft and exhaust tuning. The cam allowed the engine to make more HP at higher revs, but sacrificed low end torque. Currently, other than custom ordered cams, there doesn't appear to be a source of special cams.

Other owners have gotten serious HP gains from their cars, but it's usually the result of serious custom work.

Wolf190

I read in another forum from some guy that he put a cat-back exhaust on his 190e and used a Flowmaster 50 series muffler to replace the stock ones. Is this worth the money? What about a high flow cat? I'm just exploring all of my options before I make any decisions on how to spend my money. Also, can you order an exhaust kit from AMG? I would imagine that it is very expesive though. Thanks for the information!

MTI

A less "restrictive" exhaust will get you a few more hp, so the cost/benefit/aesthetic valuation is pretty much up to you.

AMG used exhaust pieces made by Sebring of Austria for the W201. This the same company that produces Remus. I suspect that Mercedes/AMG no longer stocks the pre-merger exhaust parts, however there was really no "magic engineering" in the design, just some really cool looking exhaust tips.

Wolf190

So a high flow exhaust won't do all that much for me? What if I mated this to a high performance cam as you mentioned, about how much would that boost hp? Can you give me any prices on cams? I should probably mention that my engine is a 3.0L out of a 300E. Thanks again.

SRDiver

A high flow exhaust will always help but it has to be constructed in a manner that provides as little restriction as possible (counter to the urban myth concerning the requirement for back pressure ), and the piping can not be too big.
If you make the car fart better you also have to make sure it breathes in better. One option is a K&N air filter, followed by adding a second front intake line to the breather box (if in case you actually have a I6 3.0L).
If you find a decent custom exhaust shop that has a clue about engineering a 3 into one X 2 that you join just ahead of the collector on the Kat and then run straight back along the drive shaft tunnel. Delete the resonator and primary exhaust and 45d dog leg into a decent rear can, will net you a little bit more performance.
However the draw back is after all this - trying to balance the fuel management so you are running the proper enrichment, to little and you will eat valves, too much and your consumption is high and you foul out.

REMUS

He's absolutely right.

Wolf190

So when you say add another intake line, you mean cut a hole in the side of the airbox and run a new hose somewhere right? I've looked into doing this but unless I could squeeze it over the valve cover it doesn't look like there is anywhere to go. I've read that a flowmaster 50 series sounds pretty good (on a 2.6L) so I imagine it would also be suitable for my car. What about flowtech? I saw this brand of mufflers at Napa for only $30 - $40. Seems kind of sketchy but I read that they can sound pretty good. And in the way of "tuning" the gas mixture wouldn't a Mercedes dealer be able to do this accurately?

silverslider

hey guys, do you have any idea on racing suspension for the 201? I know a few manufacturers make springs, but Ive been searching for a shock/spring combo, something for road racing not street, 12k springs in front and 10/8k springs out back. anybody still makes DTM suspension? working on a project that requires some track proven stuff.

Wolf190

Anyone know where I could buy some nice headers for my m103?

Pawsh

http://www.atz-ag.de/auspuff.htm
http://www.hubtraum.de/shop/autotuni...r_mercedes.htm

they list them for the W124

DarkCreep

Nice!!

I just cut off my rear muffler and replaced it with a straight pipe and it soudns awesome but not too loud.

One thing I planned on doing is getting a K&N drop in filter and removing the intake hosing and replacing it with straight PVC piping, custom made of course. The ripples in the intake hose are meant to quiet the intake down and also sadly, reduce airflow.

Wolf190

i got myself a sick exhaust so now I am thinking of some head work. I plan on shaving the head down .010" and a port polish. Anyone try this before? Also removing the AC, radiator fan (replaced with electric fans) and that's it for now. Anyone know where I can get a belt that will fit my m103 3.0l without the ac pump? Maybe a belt off of a model made with no Ac to begin? I love searching for more power!

oooo nooooo i just looked at those headers. those are amazing! but 1200 euros? that is more than i make in a month. still in gay highschool.

Pawsh

can always build them yourself. thats what my intentions were, until i found a header for my car. i had already purchased a set of sbc headers for next to nothing and had already had some flanges cut for my m102 head. was going to cut the sbc headers up and make fit of those into the 190s engine bay. initially a pos set. after that, I was going to get some stainless and bend my own up, using the pos set as a template. then go form there.

ever12

Just a tip about springs... I got Eibach Pro-Kit springs and the handling characteristics and ride quality is superb. It's just low enough without being too low.

Wolf190

ever12 how much did these springs cost? Did they lower the car from stock? and you said "pro kit" does it include shocks?

SoFro

Hi!
Where i get cams (M103 3,0l)?

cheeseraid

I want that header! I wonder if they ship to America, I don't know anyone over there. Performance wise for the Benz, there isn't much. I have a 2.6 that I have done alot to right now. It will out run 5.0 stangs anyday, still can't outrun my TA but that ain't a fair challenge lol. I shaved the head .010 and sent it to lyod elliot (he does lt1 GM heads). I had a 5 axis cut done on it. I ported the exhaust manifold myself, it was pretty sad in my opinion that Mercedes couldn't get the holes right. Ported the intake plenum. Both done with a dremel and a lot of free time lol. Exhaust on mine is 2.5 inch with a high flow magnaflow cat and muffler no resonator. Its not loud but you know its coming. I put a k and n air filter in the airbox. The airbox was switched to 3.0 version, slightly bigger. I messed with the eha and lambda to get it dead on, recently I checked the lambda and it was off. Get that right and it will help a ton. Don't pull the r16 resistor, it will retard the timing 3 degrees at full throttle. It helps till than, put a 250ohm resistor in there, that's what you need. Mine sits on Borbet 17's with 215/40 r17 tires, don't go wider than that. Make sure if you run big wheels, that there light! I had 18's on mine and it got 18mpg lol. With the 17's it gets 24Mpg. Sportline springs and Bilstein hd's are what you want suspension wise, I love mine. It handles great and it's not too low where is dragging everything like my trans am. Sway bars on mine are stock, just upgraded the rear trailing arm's for the sway bar from stock to the 300te version (metal not that plastic crap). Put a 16v steering box and steering wheel and you got a go kart from hell I wanna build a 3.4 stroker for mine, the factory cam is better than you think. The cam can run a 3.4 or 3.6 with no problem. It won't have the sheer upper end power of the amg model but that's hard to reproduce without the right parts. There cams (I have the specs) aren't that much better, they made the power with the exhaust system and none roller lifters. Hydraulic lifters are great but the lifters in these cars are designed for a certain rpm band with very little lifter excel ration rate unlike solid lifters in the amg's and brabus that follow the cam precisely. Just my two cents.

cheeseraid

This is the 12v header

ollle03

Actually i bought a franziz albert sport camshaft that should give a 20-25 hp gain tp the regular m102 8v.

im planning on getting it reproduced maby but i´m going to do a thread about it later.

AMGC

never heard of franziz albert. Was this an ebay buy?

ollle03

Neither had I,
Franziz albert or "Franz albert" was a austrian race car driver that made performance part for mercedeses, the seller told me that the production had stopped for like 20 years ago of the parts so they are extremly rare.
So therefore I'm going to talk with some motor companies here in sweden and ask if they could reproduce the camshaft and then sell some of the copies and have som to my own car.

And yes it was a eebay buy

//Olle