adding powerchip and pulley
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2004 c230 sedan sporte
adding powerchip and pulley
hi all. i am new to this forum. i purchased an 04 c230 sedan sport about 11 days ago..i love the car ,but i could do with a little more horsepower...i have read all the posts that say that adding a powerchip and pulley could give me between 20 and 30 hp.but my question is what are the downsides to adding theses items e.g. less fuel economy,shorter life for my engine ,more frequent brakedowns...any thoughts or personal experinces on this would be great...thanks 
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
Erik, I thought Brabus or someone made a pulley for the lil 1.8 but it is ungodly expensive and I have yet to see anyone get it. Maybe with the Sport Sedan using the same engine and after 2 model years in production we may see something in the next year or so.
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From: Atlanta
2002 E55, Black on Black
Not sure about what is available, but as with any engine mod the risks are as follows:
1) reliability -- you are relying on the quality of the aftermarket part (some are good, some not so good)
2) warranty -- any mod risks voiding the MB warranty, certainly so for anything that breaks MB could pin on the aftermarket part (for instance if your engine blows with a powerchip, it's on your dollar). Despite what aftermarket companies say, you risk a fight with MB if something goes wrong with a modded car. An exhaust would be low risk, a turbo-charger would be high risk in this area.
3) resale -- generally speaking, modded cars take a huge resale hit b/c most people don't want a used modded car (driven hard, car is outside MB tolerances, etc.). Of course you could always remove the mod before resale.
4) Leased cars -- all mods will have to be removed before lease turn in.
1) reliability -- you are relying on the quality of the aftermarket part (some are good, some not so good)
2) warranty -- any mod risks voiding the MB warranty, certainly so for anything that breaks MB could pin on the aftermarket part (for instance if your engine blows with a powerchip, it's on your dollar). Despite what aftermarket companies say, you risk a fight with MB if something goes wrong with a modded car. An exhaust would be low risk, a turbo-charger would be high risk in this area.
3) resale -- generally speaking, modded cars take a huge resale hit b/c most people don't want a used modded car (driven hard, car is outside MB tolerances, etc.). Of course you could always remove the mod before resale.
4) Leased cars -- all mods will have to be removed before lease turn in.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Somebody has to have the ***** to go for it. I never met such a bunch of wimps as the 1.8L owners, not one has stepped up to the plate for a pulley upgrade and Carlsson has had one for a while. The 2.3L owners where all over the pulleys as soon as they came out.
So Carmos, be the one, get the pulley and chip and show the rest how it's done.....
So Carmos, be the one, get the pulley and chip and show the rest how it's done.....
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Sorry, didn't realize Carlsson had one.
Part #11330323D - $3,645.81
Consists of a special belt pulley, vibration damper, deflection pulley, special airfilter, and Carlsson chrome insignia.
Erik
Part #11330323D - $3,645.81
Consists of a special belt pulley, vibration damper, deflection pulley, special airfilter, and Carlsson chrome insignia.
Erik
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From: NH-NJ
I don't think it's a matter of no one is willing to do it as much as the price of the pully kit is expensive.
That being said, I am more than willing to start taking donations and be the first one to try the Carlsson pully kit on my engine.
That being said, I am more than willing to start taking donations and be the first one to try the Carlsson pully kit on my engine.
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From: Hong Kong / Jakarta
CLS350
The former official brabus rep says he has a pulley kit for the M271 available which was made by same company who produces the brabus kit and is like 1/3 the price. if anyone is really interested i can ask him for more details.
Thread Starter
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2004 c230 sedan sporte
thanks all for your input
after some thinking ,i will probably go with an exhaust and powerchip 1st...i am a little hesitant about the pully...for exhaust its either supersprint or brabus...the supersprint has cat-back and the brabus is the muffler only...any idea's on how much i gain or lose by goiing catback or muffler only..prices i have gotten so far are 1200..00 for the supersprint catback and 850.00 for the brabus muffler only...thanks again...
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From: Toronto, Canada
2003 C230K Sedan
I don't think there is much power gain in putting in new exhaust. When I look at the way Mercedes has design the exhaust for this car, it is pretty efficient. The only gain you are going to get is the noise if you do it right. Otherwise, you are going to see a loss of power if you do it wrong.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Heck save your money, just remove the factory muffler, you'll get plenty of noise and 6 more HP, proved it on the dyno. If you want more quiet, just get a glasspack and you'll get a the same 6 HP.
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
Heck save your money, just remove the factory muffler, you'll get plenty of noise and 6 more HP, proved it on the dyno. If you want more quiet, just get a glasspack and you'll get a the same 6 HP.
Heck save your money, just remove the factory muffler, you'll get plenty of noise and 6 more HP, proved it on the dyno. If you want more quiet, just get a glasspack and you'll get a the same 6 HP.
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From: Bay Area
Originally posted by Tezta
The former official brabus rep says he has a pulley kit for the M271 available which was made by same company who produces the brabus kit and is like 1/3 the price. if anyone is really interested i can ask him for more details.
The former official brabus rep says he has a pulley kit for the M271 available which was made by same company who produces the brabus kit and is like 1/3 the price. if anyone is really interested i can ask him for more details.
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From: Hong Kong / Jakarta
CLS350
Originally posted by mbphreak
Wow, really? A link/contact info would be nice...im sure a lot a lot of m271 owners would jump on this.
Wow, really? A link/contact info would be nice...im sure a lot a lot of m271 owners would jump on this.
MBphreak is your car a 320? or 230K?
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From: Toronto, Canada
2003 C230K Sedan
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Heck save your money, just remove the factory muffler, you'll get plenty of noise and 6 more HP, proved it on the dyno. If you want more quiet, just get a glasspack and you'll get a the same 6 HP.
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Just wondering where you can this information from. Does this apply to the W203 sedan. Very interested to know. Thanks.
Heck save your money, just remove the factory muffler, you'll get plenty of noise and 6 more HP, proved it on the dyno. If you want more quiet, just get a glasspack and you'll get a the same 6 HP.
************************************************** *
Just wondering where you can this information from. Does this apply to the W203 sedan. Very interested to know. Thanks.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Don't know about your sedan, the dyno was done on my Coupe with the 2.3L motor. Hacksawed off the muffler and 5.9 HP magically appeared. Most mufflers, even the Remus that most people get appears to be just as restrictive as the stock muffler with baffles and chambers, the traditional muffler. Hot rodders, ricers, bikers and the like tend to want slightly more rumble and power and use a glass-pack style muffler. That type uses a straight through pipe with perforations and they using some kind off packing material (usually fiberglass, hence the word glass-pack) to reduce noise. If you want a cheap glass-pack but still reasonably well made using stainless steel then get the APC for about $99 and have a muffler shop custom fit it in or get the SuperSprint for slightly more at about $600 and it will fit without the custom work. You want the shortest muffler you can find to fit in the cavetity where the current muffler sits.
