nobli

Hello, i bought a c230 and have been happy with it so far. made some slight exterior modifications (side markers, tails, heads) but nothing major. now i want to move onto performance. what are my options? i dont even know the first place to look. ive browsed through performance chips, but the ebay ones look like scams. ( 30HP for $ 40?) and this one guy i emailed wanted $800 for a custom one. any and all help is appreciated

nrg_mike

You've got a lot of options on what you can do to modify the vehicle for more power.
Take look at some of the stuff in the sticky
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-diy-faqs.html

As for chips, they're a waste of money and a total scam. In terms of ECU, the general method of choice is to have your ecu programmed.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...2006-c230.html

and also use the search button. I won't drill you on it but someone will.

XsuperbeeX

change to a c32 or c55 done..

CoupeCrazy03

Make it sound so easy Ed

But seriously you could open up the power by getting altering your exhuast a little bit perhaps with an aftermarket exhaust/header combo. If you want an ecu tune, there are quite a few forums you can find about those such as powerchip and LET. You may also want to consider in altering your suspension a bit especially with a decent sway bar kit, perhaps H&R or Eibach because that helps CONSIDERABLY with handling Search around a bit on the forum, if you see someone with something you may be interested, don't hesitate to shoot them with a PM with any questions you may have and good luck with your C230

Oh and there is no such thing as "cheap" power. 30HP for $40 is preposterous.

W203E35

Welcome

There are a lot of performance mods but "you gotta pay to play". The performance mods are pretty expensive and in the end it is much cheaper to sell the car and to put the performance mod money and get an AMG C55.

NEVER BUY EBAY PERFORMANCE CHIPS!!!

Examples of performance mods: (estimates)

ECU Tune (chip): $1,000 for 20hp
Headers : $1,900 for 20hp
Cams : $2,400 for 20hp
Supercharger: $8,000 120hp

$13,300 (not including labor but let's give benefit of doubt 13,300 out the door)

Your car = $18,000 = 200hp
Mods = $13,300 = 180hp
Total = $31,300 = 380hp

C55 = $24,000 (amazing condition) = 360hp
Mods = $1,000 (ECU Tune) = 20hp
Total = $25,000 = 380hp

If you want to start off you can get a tune for 700 bucks. But they say 10-20hp

I say if you are really after speed then save up get a different car. Save the tune money and spend on exterior or interior mods.

Trust me bro, I wanted to do a whole turbo setup on my car I finally accept the fact that the cheaper route is to sell and get a different car.

I might do it down the line for the hell of it.

Post pics of your car

AdidasC230

I have the Powerchips ECU tune and its a great mod, I got it on sale for 300 bux however which makes it a bit more cost effective. It brought me up to 220hp 200tq, I havent thrown it on a dyno to see its actual gains, but its an improvement you can feel. C classes are not evos and are quick but not fast. They dont really need to be C230 arent boy racer mobiles, enjoy the ride, and do throw up some pics

omg its nate

Well I am glad are cars are not evos. That would suck. It's not even a euro car. Bad comparison.

Are cars are not AMGs

carbonfiberwhor

Yea but a 380hp C230 would be freaking sick!

nobli

sigh... to be quite honest, a couple of my friends said to do that basically. just trade down to a lower year and more miles for the power. i suppose. is engine conversion an option at this point or no?

OneOfaKindTrini

Well, people are always saying that w203's are not the car's for making power, if you want power from a euro car, get a AMG or a BMW. For starters you can go begin with a exhaust w/ a hfc. If want a fast car I know a guy in Vegas selling a 06 Lancer EVOLUTION. lmk if you have any interest in it.

OneOfaKindTrini

EVO's as in mitsubishi? Nothing is wrong with those cars, they're just not for everyone.

nobli

nah, thanks for the offer but buying an evo is not something i plan on doing at the moment. and i have heard it before. "you dont buy mercedes for speed" "its not a honda" just stupid **** like that. simply enough, i love the way the w203 looks and feels. i just want it to be faster than its peers.

AdidasC230

Should go more like this: if you want more power get a Mercedes AMG or a BMW ///M, both N/A BMW and Mercs are pretty tuned out and gains on them are usually very low even when modded. A C230 Comp is easily improved but the N/A V6 even with BMW with the I6 dont have cost effective upgrades for our cars.

Also to who said a C230 with 380 hp is great, yes it is they call it a C55 or C32. Only reason I could see peeing all your money away doing it is so you have a 6 speed, since I for one find autos lame

OneOfaKindTrini

[quote=AdidasC230;4027352]
Also to who said a C230 with 380 hp is great, yes it is they call it a C55 or C32. Only reason I could see peeing all your money away doing it is so you have a 6 speed, since I for one find autos lame[/quote]


Haha, and yeah I also agree with you, auto's are soft, I rather do my own shifting through the gears for a more in depth driving feel.

W203E35

+1

nobli

lol i was under the impression a manual merc is almost impossible to find. i know this is like asking for an oil well in my backyard, but does the c55 come in manual? if so what year. also what year c55 should i look for. most i found were 05 with like 60k + on it for 20-25k.
thoughts/opinions on this?

W203E35

C55 doesn't come in manual. Not even a C32. A rare very rare find would be a C350 manual. I personally would take a C350 manual over the C55 anyday

nobli

thank you karo, i knew it was too good to hope for. what would your thoughts be on an engine swap? maybe with something from the E?

W203E35

Engine swap is very possible. Someone successfully did an E55 (supercharged) engine swap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBJQ_c3BzMM

You will need someone with Mercedes STAR (computer system) to do all the programing then you would need someone to program the ECU.

Again it all comes down to money. Honestly I say enjoy your car for now save up money then sell your car and get an E55 or E63 down the road. You can get a pretty decent E55 for 30 - 32k.

Or if you are truly into speed and power then you can get a CL600 BiTurbo which goes around the same price as the E55 and invest 2k into it and get it close to 600hp and 700tq

Edit:

Forgot to say don't worry about manual because you can always convert a car to be manual (which again comes down to money). Also this depends what you are doing. If you are going to auto cross your car a lot more people prefer an automatic and supercharger vs a manual supercharger/turbo

AdidasC230

agreed. C350 Manual>C55 Auto.

Closest bang for buck would be to try to find a C320 manual and then S/C it, its basically what a C32 is.

nobli

i appreciate the answers guys. but thats the thing. i hate the new bodies of the c. my dream car would be the cl 63, but 200k is out of the question. the E's are disgusting looking (to me). in all honesty, i would prefer a w203 body with a cl 65 engine lol. short of that, the c55 is nice. i have a couple more questions.
how much would a transmission conversion run me?
w203 with engine swap would cost like 13k for the engine + labor?
how much power would i be able to top out at with that?
c55 tops at like 400whp?
do both e55 and c55 have the amg 155mph limiters?

I appreciate all the help. i have a general knowledge of cars but am slowly learning about mercs. i figure i would ask around these parts to know what things to specifically research

AdidasC230

^^

nobli

the e55 one, more specifically this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...item53db8d2c87

i would be willing to trade mine in (15-16k?) and end up spending like 10-15k on upgrades. so anything around like 30-35k? and where are you guys finding this stuff at? are there reputable merc websites that you guys buy from?

W203E35

For the C55 you will be able to pull around 500hp (470hp - 500hp) with a supercharger and headers for around 18 - 20k

If you do an engine swap (E55) you will be able to pull 580hp for 22 - 24k not including price of engine swap.

If you get a CL600 BiTurbo you will be able to pull 625hp for 4 - 5k

Edit:
These prices include transmission tune which will shift much faster than stock trannies.

W203E35

If I were you and I were strictly into speed I would definitely trade my car and get a CL600 BiTurbo (2004>...I heard 03 wasn't that good of a year and anything below 03 is garbage).
The CL63 is more balanced but its pretty expensive now.