Hey guys,

I just went and test drove the 2005 W203 C230K and I liked it very much. The only thing that this car is lacking is a little power. I think i'd be completely happy with it if it had somewhere around 230hp.

Now i've been looking on many different forums including this one but am having an increasingly hard time finding companies (tuners) that offer performance upgrades for the c230k. Something affordable would be nice as well.

Now my question..

Can you guys write down a list of all the companies that offer performance upgrades for this car.

Also who here has already done mods to the c230k? who's running the most HP?

I'd apreciate all the help you guys have to offer.

Thank You
-Danny

Renntech has an ECU upgrade, also an ECU with pulley upgrade for 1695. I think it'll bring the car up to 210hp.

Thats such a rip off! WOW!

Here is a suggestion...

If you “think” the C230 “lacks power” -- I happen to disagree -- then get the C320

Nobody on any of the MB forums has a performance modified C230K with the M271 motor. It's a Mercedes, it's not meant to be tinkered with. For that you have Honda's and the M111 motor in the 2002 C230K. Best I got was 197HP and 212 ft/lbs torque at the rear wheels on a 2002.

-Danny,

You are not making sense If you have a WRX then that is your power car(my wife spanked one in the 300zx yesterday,I think the sound of the blowoff valves hurt their ears ) ..........You say you have an ML? thats your suv. The C230k would be your luxury car. But why spend money on something that is not going to achieve the goal you want?

Sell them all and get a C32 or C55........

That's actually a very depressing answer! The reason i dont want to get a 320 is because of the price.

yet, nobody has answered my question.

So far the only option i have is Kleeman?

anything else?

-Danny

I'm actually pushing over 350hp on the wrx, but it is up for sale. I'm looking for a luxury/performance car at a good price. The c230k although not a very powerfull car, looks incredible on the 2005 models. I'm looking for something in the $30,000-32,000 range. So far i find the c230k the most attractive.

C32-C55 will not fit the budget at this time.

Your wife does this? Holy cow I hope I marry a woman like yours...

EDIT: Oh wait, gotta get back on topic, lol. Unfortunately, power is going to be ridiculously expensive on that car, or any Benz for that matter. The only reasonable mods are suspension, looks, and ICE. If you want this car as your luxury car, I wouldn't spend so much time on the engine. Tint the windows nice and dark, lower the car with cup kit or CO, then get some nice rims, then follow up with something like an Eisenmann exhaust. Then work on the interior (DVD player, amps, subs, whatever's your thing), and if you want more exterior think about red AMG brakes. That'll be more worth it in the long run than downing $2k+ on the engine just to pull out 20 HP.

EDIT 2: If you want something more balanced between luxury and performance (and new), how about a G35 or similar type? The price restrictions end up that you'll either get a "luxury" car like a Benz or Bimmer without much power, or a more decently powered car with a little less in the "luxury" department.

Kleemann is only an option with the V6, a very expensive 10K option at that. At that point you might as well get the C32 or even the new C55. Sorry, no magic bullet for the 1.8L short of NO2. Some tuners have said they have a pulley for the 1.8L but at the prices they are charging, nobody is taking them up on it. If you want to check these tuners, call Renntech in Florida, Dyno Spot Racing in California or Carlsson and Vaeth in Germany. Mr. Vaeth or Richard Chaing of DSR are your best bet, they're approachable, for the other tuners all you'll get is sales talk.

geez. even a porsche boxster S (0-60 mph 5.5 secs) would lack power compared to a subaru wrx (0-60 mph 5.1 secs).

you would need a 2005 C6 corvette (0-60 mph 4.2 secs) to have more power than a wrx.

I've considered the G35.. but something about it i just dont like plus it's a little above what i would like to pay for now...

this is depressing..

I always figured since it's forced induction i could at least chip it do a full exhaust and raise the boost a little.. no one is doing that eh?

Chip won't help with boost, it's pulley driven, not wastegate controlled like a turbo. So a chip would only control timing/fuel and that's pretty minor unless you have good fuel around you and you do as there's a 76 off Culver that sells 100 octane, just don't expect it to be less than $5/gal.

No full exhaust that I've heard off, if anyone would have that it would be Supersprint as they have headers for the 2.3L motors.

So you are in a quandry, you want performance and you want euro luxury but $32K won't get you both. Here's my suggestion since you would get the C320 if it was as cheap as the C230. Get the Jaguar X 3.0, it's has more HP and is as quick as the C320, they reduced the price this year big time and you can get one for about $28K. You keep the AWD you are used to, you get about 230HP in a smooth V6 you want, you get luxury, you get free scheduled maintenance (MB stopped this for 2005) and you get seats and leather that are incomperable to German cars, glove soft leather. You can also get the sport package for a few grand more, all within your budget.

Buellwinkle, I think MKB does make a full exhaust for the W203, but it's ridiculously expensive (I got a quote for C320 and the thing cost couple Gs).

how about buying a used AMG mercedes. that thing got tons of horsepower.

I really like the look of the new C230k SS sedan. Exhaust would be no problem hence i dont mind having one completely custom fabricated. I've done this for all my previous cars.

I dont want to get a Jaguar (ford).. and i also want something brand new w/ waranty.

and i think the C230k offers all of those just a bit more power would be nice.

I am in a small rut here.

Is there anyone else that can offer me some help?

Thanks guys,
-Danny

does it work that way? What if he gets the 320 and finds it lacks power too a little later? C32 then?

to get 5.1 seconds for the 0-60 mph sprint requires a damn good driver, most stock WRX with average drivers can't do that time

have you looked at the A4's? 2005 models are rolling in now (i just put a deposit on one )

IMO, it's solid build, top notch materials and for it's price, pretty good. Base 1.8T Quattro 6-Speed (don't know if you looking for Auto?) is $27,750 i believe. You can get one nicely equipped for about $32k (premium package, sport package, lighting package). Since it's got a turbo, you got a few more options for boost in power (from research, powerchip gives it nice boost: stock 170HP, chipped 205-212 HP I think.) plus you can get a bigger turbo and that'll give it a good kick.

Basically the point is that there are options. Renntech makes a Pulley/ECU/Exhaust Upgrade for the M271, no one has bought this yet to see what real gains there are! It is around $2K. Also you could take the pulley off the SC and send it to ASP racing to have it made smaller as well. They do make kits for these engines but no one wants to really spend the money on something that is unproven. You could get a new IC, but no one has tried that on the M271 and seen if there is less loss than the stock one! Once again someone will do this someday but no one has. It is pricey to modify an MB, just as it is with a BMW! Someday I plan on doing it with mine, but first I need to pry $2-3K out of my wife's hands and that aint happening anytime soon!!!!! Buy one and be the first to mod it and if the gains are there then so be it!!!! A C320 Sedan is $10K more than the C230K Sedan so you will still save money if you get the same power for $2K more by doing some mods....

The only thing left is to drive a C240 for a few weeks, then the C230 will seem like a rocket ship...... Are there performance out there for the 1.8L? YES. Do they work? Nobody knows, it's all trial and error, install/dyno/uninstall. I did this a lot for the 2.3L motor but few people are willing to go through this and I haven't had the urge to do it on the 1.8L. So you could spend $32K, get a nice car and it may never be faster, if that's not acceptable then you are outa luck. You can get a C320 Sport for about $32K if you a) find a C-Spot coupon or attend the new Love Tour, b) find a 2004 C320 Sport Sedan with a 6-spd. The car will sticker for just under $40K and with the C-spot coupon you should be able to get the car for $32K. The best part is you get free maintenance for 4 years. Of course you won't get the bumpers and new interior of the 2005. Can't have it all.....

Yeah, but that $10K (which is high price for a KLEEMANN; more like $7-8K), will make your C320 a 349hp machine.

Yes, you are correct, for the parts but installation is what drives it up to over $10K but at least it's an option, specially if you want C32 performance with a 6-spd.

I think if i were to get the C230k SS then I would definitely be one of the first to modify it. I really like the look of this car so for now i'm going to stick to it. I'll be going to the Love mercedes tour on SAT so i can get a discount that way. and with the money i save i could invest in some go fast parts.

So far you guys have mentioned only two companies making anything for the C230k SS.

Kleeman and rennsport.. Any others?

Never heard of Rennsport, Kleemann makes nothing for the 2005 C230