moomeh

my previous car was a oldsmobile cutlass ceira. buying a MB was a huge step, not only in having a luxury and just better car, but the FWD to RWD change. When test driving the c240 i never really notice how long it took me to accelerate from 0-60 in 8 secs. the RWD feeling and smooth ride overtook my senses (since i was use to FWD in the oldsmobile). However, during the past few days, i can't seem to accelerate faster than other cars (audis, volvos, ford!, honda!). How do i make my c240 accelerate faster??? do things such as spiralmax or turbonator work? ( http://www.turbonator.com/ ) ???

Mach430

Turbonator and all of those other tornado intake effect products will provide no gains (if they even keep the power you have). A Supercharger is your best bet. We are currently finishing a C240 Kleemann, and I'm sure results will be posted here shortly. Our underdrive pulleys are the easiest low-cost upgrade for the C240. For $499, you will get another 13HP at the rear wheels. There have been many recent threads with dyno proof regarding our pulleys. How much power are you looking to gain? What are you looking to spend?

moomeh

i'm willing to spend about $1000 or so. i'm currently at 1300 miles. i'm looking at options from now so that when i reach about 5000 miles, i want to add things that would help me gain enough power to maybe accelerate 0-60 to at most 7 secs, not 8.7 secs as the stock. that'll probably cost more than $1000 i fear .


the problem i have is that i'm not only just beginning to understand how to supercharge a car, but also finding a place that does it for MB near me. i live in ohio, nothing out here like in cali or the east coast. can a beginner buy the stuff and install it himself on a $40,000 car? i'm still trying to learn....

so is the pulley (which i have no idea where and what it is) is the first thing that is good to change?

TimmyC230boy

I'm sure Mach will correct me is i say anything wrong. the pullies he is referring to are the ones on the crank, alternator, water pump. etc. They are lighter and I bvelive some are resized. the just let the engine keep more of the horsepower it is making and with the lighter wieght it allows for a faster reving car. A high flow intake or air filter will also help you out. You should be able to get that for around $1000.

You say you are not a mechanic, I would not attempt to install a supercharger system by yourself.

I have used pullies on engines before in the past and I can say they really do work!

jswedberg

I don't think you are going to be able to get the performance you are looking for $1000.

Going from 8.7 seconds to less than 7 is a big jump. The MB published numbers for the C320 are 6.9 seconds, so you MIGHT get there if you can equal the C320's horsepower.

That means bumping up from 168 to 215, an increase of almost 50 hp!

Now, admittedly, the C240 has a shorter final drive (3.46:1 vs. 3.23:1), so you might not need 50 hp.

Just by looking at horsepower-to-weight, you would need to go from your current 20 lb/hp to 16, which means 208 hp or an increase of 40 hp.

I don't think you are going to get that with a chip and/or pulley upgrade. I think 20 hp is realistic - that'll put you around 8 seconds 0-60.

There is not much more you can do to C240 engine without going the full-blown (pun intended) C240 Kleeman, which will put out about 240 hp and get you in to your zone. But it is not cheap - I forget how much exactly , but $8000+ is in the ballpark.

Buellwinkle

The supercharger that will get you to the performance numbers you want is about $10K (installed). Also if you don't mind a 2 door, the 2002 C230 is not only as fast as you want to be, but $1,000 you can bring it into the sixes for 0-60hp. Or just enjoy the ride and don't worry about passing people.

There is someone, I think Brabus C, was working on a AMG s/c kit for his C240, this may be cheaper, probably half the other kit but still out of the 1K range.

moomeh

i've been reading about the c240 kleeman compressor, sounds really cool. i've been reading about brabus too. but it looks like brabus sells an entirely new engine...


BRABUS 3.8 V6 272 hp / 200 kW, 381 Nm, 255 km/h
BRABUS 3.8 S V6 300 hp / 220 kW, 395 Nm, 262 km/h

i got that from their website under engine tuning.
http://www.brabus-online.de/prog02e.htm


i'm skeptical about buying a new engine, or whatever the engine tuning brabus is selling, but does anyone know the price for the brabus stuff i listed above? brabus website doesn't have any purchase info and i emailed them but nobody emailed back.

also...Brabus C keep me posted if you are installing the AMG sc kit !

Buellwinkle

What would be interesting to know is if the 2.6L can be upgraded to the 3.2L. If they share the same block that maybe possible, possibly a stroker kit.

Outland

Here's a good application for Nitrous.

You need 50HP for under 1000 bucks? Naws. The motor isn't already forced induction, so there's no really detonation worries if you go with a wet kit and use a 50shot.

Lynn

moomeh, the Renntech 3.8 liter engines are $15,000 and $19,000. You can expect the Brabus engines to be in the same price range.

trench

C240: bore 89.9/stroke 68.2 (mm) compression ratio 10.5:1
C320: bore 89.9/stroke 84.0 (mm) compression ratio 10.0:1

Looks like the C320 is a stroker version of the C240 motor.

Cheers, BT

moomeh

i bought this car in one day! driving that crappy oldsmobile made me fall in love with it so fast that i didn't research on it much. i should have gotten the c32. all these mods will basically reach the same price. btw, does adding a s/c void the warranty?

Buellwinkle

What do you think? Show up with engine problems and an aftermarket supercharger bolted on and it's going to be tough to prove that the s/c didn't damage the engine, trasmission, rear end. You could remove everything and return to stock and you have a chance. It definetly will not void the entire warranty, probably just the drivetrain. It's up to you to do due diligence in selecting a vendor that stands behind their product and has a reputation for dependable products.

There is one small loophole for you, if the kit/parts are self-certified to meet federal emmissions by the vendor then the car manufacturer is responsible to repair the problem and then collect damages from the kit/parts vendor after the fact. This is part of the Federal Clean Air Act and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

amgme

it you're planning to spend that much, you would have been better off w/ a c320.

moomeh

or a c32 amg.....


i'm just going to enjoy the damn car.

Jim Banville

I guess some people live on drag strips!
What is with this 0-60 obsession?
Yes, the C240 is "slow" from a dead stop, but once you get moving, the power comes up quickly. I find the C240 "feels" just as fast as my 4.6L V8 Crown Vic, once you get moving.

moomeh

well for one thing, i like to always accelerate faster than other cars a the lights.


also, about the car moving faster while it actually gets going, i don't think is true. i thought i was going to die one time on the highway when i changed lanes and pressed the gas really hard yet this freaking truck clings up near my booty. i didn't cut him off or anything like that. i actually had ample time to press the gas and accelerate but for some odd reason that didn't happen. i told several people this story and they suggested getting the car supercharged to get more power...


but anywayz, i'm just going to chill with the idea for awhile. i'm now more interested in getting new rims.

Buellwinkle

Good idea, some very lightweight 14" rims with low profile tires will give you some added kick. Also consider getting the 3.67 rear end used in Australia on the C180 sedan. That will give you a little more of a kick, specially if you keep those large 16" stock wheels.

Jim Banville

Moomeh, BrabusCclass put some under-drive pulleys on his C240 (approx. $600 - replaces pulleys on alternator, power sterring pump, water pump, etc.) that he believes gives the car about 10-15 more HP in the lower gears.
Also, have you discovered the kick-down button underneath the gas pedal? If you push the gas pedal all the way down, you'll feel it stop. Push harder and the gas pedal should push in a button that causes the car to shift to a lower gear. Perhaps this to will help you accelerate faster.

shtatc

I too bought my car in a one day impulse buy. I have been looking around for several months, but was not sure what to get - I knew I wanted a manual transmission. The dealer just happen to have one in - and I knew that when I test drove the car - that, this is all I am going to get out of the motor. i dont think I had nay visions of grandeur - making this car out for more than it really was. It was take it or look at the C320 (no C32 were readily available) as I needed something right then and there. My Chevy Tahoe(yes SUV) was acting up and I wanted to get rid of it before I started having major problems with it. Not trying to bash anyone, but you knew what you were getting into. I too have bought things on impulse and brought it home, only to be disappointed. Leason learned - yes, I wish I had more HP, but I am not unhappy.

shtatc

The C240 is definitely the wrong car to get if this is important.



I agree with you here. That's why I got the 6speed - you have more control. But, there are still times where passing can be a little hairy and time consuming.

Yeah - thats what I did - got C32 wheels and people think the car looks fast. I guess it is a mental state.

moomeh

i'm not totally unhappy. i'm just going to add rims, and maybe get a new rear muffler. and if my "moomeh's c240 fund" gets big again, i will either get a s/c kit or integrate the fund with "moomeh's by a new car fund".

Mach430

We do not touch the crank pulley! Otherwise, you're right on!

TimmyC230boy

didn't I say he would correct me!