C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

c320 sedan: powerchip or pulley??

Old May 11, 2003 | 05:14 PM
  #1  
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Question c320 sedan: powerchip or pulley??

hi guys, if u have around US$1,000 now and u have to choose to either install the powerchip or the pulley, what would you choose? and WHY?

(for a 2001 c320 sedan)
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Old May 11, 2003 | 08:27 PM
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If I had a V6, I would spend $500 on the Evosport power pulleys.
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Old May 12, 2003 | 09:59 AM
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come on guys! really need some experts advice! where are all the helpful fellow mbworld members??
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Old May 12, 2003 | 10:18 AM
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Originally posted by vlix
come on guys! really need some experts advice! where are all the helpful fellow mbworld members??
Perhaps because your original question doesn't make sense. When a 'pulley' is discussed, it's about overdriving the s/c on a 2.3. Since you don't have a s/c, a pulley doesn't apply. Lynn did give you a good idea about using underdrive pulleys to free up some hp.

All of the information you seek is on this board (use the search), and if you post a question asking clarification on these issues, seek opinions on certain mods, etc., members will flock to tell you their expericences. But if you ask a question that doesn't apply to your car and shows that you haven't done even the most basic of research, responses will be few.

I am not trying to be harsh on any of this, just trying to be helpful!
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Old May 12, 2003 | 10:54 AM
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I think Vlix is asking about the underdrive pulley, which works for non-sc cars, and the powerchip.
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Old May 12, 2003 | 01:54 PM
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exactly! of course i was talking about the underdrive pulley.... duhh......
thanks highal320 for clarifying! appreciate that.
i have done some search on powerchip on this forum but not much results showed up. i guess its becuz not many people have powerchipped their w203 sedans?
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Old May 12, 2003 | 02:26 PM
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I think most people did the underdrive pulley. I don't think you'll see too much of a performance gain with the powerchip b/c we don't have turbo, but currently evosport is doing a powerchip for c32amg and it looks promising according to the dyno.
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Old May 12, 2003 | 03:28 PM
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Originally posted by vlix
exactly! of course i was talking about the underdrive pulley.... duhh......
thanks highal320 for clarifying! appreciate that.
i have done some search on powerchip on this forum but not much results showed up. i guess its becuz not many people have powerchipped their w203 sedans?
Vlix,
Sorry! When I saw Pulley (singular) I didn't think you were talking about UD's since they're normally referred to in the plural...
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Old May 12, 2003 | 04:31 PM
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I think it's accurate to say there have been few discussions about modding the C-Class 3.2L motor, compared with lots of posts about 2.3L mods in the Coupe.

Chips have been discussed, but I'm not aware of anyone who has actually bought one... they're rather expensive for this motor.

Underdrive pulleys have gotten more play than chips, but again, only a couple owners have taken that plunge.

Actually there have been as many discussions of K&N filter "upgrades" for the 3.2L than any of these other mods.

Bottom line, not many people feel a need to boost HP on the C320. Those that do, bought C32s instead. I think it's the demographic thing... not that many C320 owners care anymore about the stoplight drags.
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Old May 12, 2003 | 06:32 PM
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Originally posted by MB-BOB
...not many people feel a need to boost HP on the C320........ I think it's the demographic thing... not that many C320 owners care anymore about the stoplight drags.
Nope they don't. Nowadays they run around in circles for a few times. (Paid laps on a bonafide racetrack). j/k
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Old May 12, 2003 | 06:53 PM
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apology accepted kompressornsc see? isn't this forum resourceful? i will now refer it as the UD pulleys.

MBBOB. thanks for your reply. i know c32 is the best for w203 but unfortunately i will be stuck with the c320 sedan for the next 3 to 4 years. the situation is: i have already changed the rims, the lorinser add-ons, the exhaust, installed the alpine entertainment and gps systems... and now i have 1000 extra to spend on my car. so i was thinking of either go for the powerchip OR the UD pulleys. brakes upgrade will be the next thing to do once the old ones wear out.

the UD pulleys seem more reliable since quite a lot of people have done it, plus enri007 (btw, saw his car at burbank ikea last month and his car is very nice) recommended me to get the UD pulleys as he had done so. on the other hand, powerchipping the car seems new and interesting and claims to have a slightly more hp increase. however, it is illegal, but how often does DMV require us to do the smog check? i dunno, what do u guys think? where are the rest of the w203 experts?

hey another thing, not that i am going to do it, but would getting the UD pulleys and then add powerchipping the car make the stock 215hp to 247hp? since powerchip claims it will make the c320 sedan 234hp and evosport's UD pulleys claims a 13hp increase. hmm...interesting huh?
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Old May 12, 2003 | 07:15 PM
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The UD pulleys don't add any horsepower to the engine. What they do is free up some of the horsepower that was being used to drive the accessories. This willl cause an increase in drive-wheel horsepower, as measured by dyno, though.

Cheers, BT
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Old May 12, 2003 | 08:06 PM
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trench is correct! i'd go with the powerchip just because the UD pulley is not noticable. i have done it on my bmw. i didn't feel anything.... because i had an automatic. i am assuming you have an auto also. so.... go with the chip. IMO

Jerry
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Old May 12, 2003 | 08:12 PM
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Originally posted by SiLvaC32
trench is correct! i'd go with the powerchip just because the UD pulley is not noticable. i have done it on my bmw. i didn't feel anything.... because i had an automatic. i am assuming you have an auto also. so.... go with the chip. IMO

Jerry

??? I tried to stay out of this thread because as an evosport employee, my intentions may be percieved as biased. But your last statement is incorrect. European Car Magazine found them noticable enough to write an article on and put on their Project E36 M3, and 90% of the World Challenge BMW race cars found them noticable enough to put on their cars (hence the evosport sticker on the majority of WC cars).

The UD pulleys get nearly double the gains on the Mercedes than that on the BMW (non m3). Not to mention, they provide about a 5% gain in power on the car without risk. We have installed them on automatics and manual transmissions. 13hp at the wheels is 13hp at the wheels, regardless of what transmission you are using. It's when the numbers are reported at the crank that the drivetrain loss becomes a factor.

Powerchip is a great company to work with, and they definitely know what they are doing, but I have not yet seen results of any 91 octane dynos on any naturally-aspirated Mercedes. We are currently working with them and dyno tuning software in house for a variety of Mercedes and BMW's. Any successful software that comes from it will be available to the public.

If you have questions about either product, let me know.

Thanks,
Ben
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Old May 12, 2003 | 08:13 PM
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How can a powerchip increase a C320's horsepower by that much? Why doesn't MB set it to the higher HP to begin with when they sell the car?
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Old May 12, 2003 | 08:32 PM
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I Have The EVOSPORT Pullies on my W210 and They DO work!
12HP Gain ...Numbers on The Dyno Tell Fact!The Car Pulls Much Harder of The Line...Great Mod
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Old May 12, 2003 | 09:31 PM
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Originally posted by oggle
How can a powerchip increase a C320's horsepower by that much? Why doesn't MB set it to the higher HP to begin with when they sell the car?
It's all a compromise. They could tune the engine in many different ways, but they have to consider power, fuel mileage, and stress on the engine. They make a decision based on a compromise and their decision often depends on the nature of the car. A sporty car might be tuned more towards performance, while an average sedan might be tuned for better fuel mileage. Overall, it's hard to say why they tuned it the way they did. If you look at some of their V6 and V8 engines in different cars, some of them have different HP numbers even though it's the same engine.
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Old May 13, 2003 | 02:34 AM
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Hey vlix, you say you are "stuck" w/the vehicle for another few years right? Then why go and get something "illegal" to void your warranty? Sheit, be happy you don't got a lame-o slow 240 like me!! Go w/the UD pulleys as they are less noticeable to the service techs and use the extra cash for those beautiful new AMG brakes! You won't regret it! Thanks 4 the compliment btw.
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Old May 13, 2003 | 09:24 PM
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Vlix, I'd say go for the pulley first, keep saving and then go for the chip, I just spent a bunch of money on maintenance items for my car, but once I save some money, that the way I'm doing it.
Pulleys, pulleys!!!
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Old May 31, 2003 | 10:22 AM
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has anyone done the Kleemann C32k upgrade? i wish i had gotten a c32 in the first place.... i really wanna just get rid of my c320 and buy a used c32..... the Kleemann kompressor cost 8Gs... went to vegas last weekend to try to win it... but i only won 2 Gs.... anyone wanna buy my car so i can get a C32?
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Old May 31, 2003 | 01:34 PM
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From Evosports web page: "The pulleys were good for 13hp (1st gear), 9hp (2nd gear), 7hp (3rd gear) gains on a 2000 E320."

At $499 on sale this is a great immediate upgrade, and guess what it is one of the few that will increase your gass mileage.
Go to http://evosport.com/product/perf/per...3.html#pulleys
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Old May 31, 2003 | 08:50 PM
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13 hp? thats not enough dude... i need 115HP!!!
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Old May 31, 2003 | 09:28 PM
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CarlssonCRS,

If you'd like to come down in a couple weeks, I will have a C32K (C320 + Kleemann) in the shop for you to see.
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Old May 31, 2003 | 09:45 PM
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hehe i dont need to see it! i need to feeeeeeel it!! :p
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