List of best mods for added horsepower
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
c350 (soon)
List of best mods for added horsepower
Ok so i tried doing searches and didnt really yield much. I'm just curious of a list of mods that increase horsepower.
I only know of two ECU tunes for the c350 that are under 1k which i find decent but i havent seen any recent posts stating whether they were worth it or not, only older posts when they just got it done.
I also know of Eisenmann's exhaust but I find that to be very expensive. The X pipe sounds like a good option.
Any other company's websites or just other mods that add more horsepower that you guys know about?
I only know of two ECU tunes for the c350 that are under 1k which i find decent but i havent seen any recent posts stating whether they were worth it or not, only older posts when they just got it done.
I also know of Eisenmann's exhaust but I find that to be very expensive. The X pipe sounds like a good option.
Any other company's websites or just other mods that add more horsepower that you guys know about?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
I don't think exhaust or intake work will add much, if any power. The ECU tunes sound like they give a real world 5-10 HP increase but nothing like a turbo vehicle's ECU upgrade. I would think the faster throttle response would be more gratifying than the 10 extra HP.
I haven't seen any accessory underdrives for the C...likely for good reason I suppose.
I think my biggest performance improvement has been to lose almost 30 lbs...and the seatbelt seems to fit better to...
I haven't seen any accessory underdrives for the C...likely for good reason I suppose.
I think my biggest performance improvement has been to lose almost 30 lbs...and the seatbelt seems to fit better to...
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Mercedes c300
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: Bergen Co,NJ
14' CLS550
An ecu tune will give u the most for your $$.. On paper it mite only be 10-15 hp, but u really feel the difference, better throttle response,less hesitation between gears,I feel it most during midrange rpm's.. also headers/full exhaust/performance air filters(AS A PACKAGE) you will feel a difference, any1 of those by them selves is minimal gains.. Keep in mind any mods for a benz isn't cheap, especially performance mods.. Good luck
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,809
Likes: 4
From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
If you want real power, you'll have to go remote turbo due to lack of real estate in the engine compartment. There's only so much you can squeeze out of these M272 N/A V6s and you'd end up spending too much money for negligible return. If you wanted more power, plenty of used C63s now on the market with initial leases expiring. Asides from that, just be happy with your "quick enough for daily" car and spend the money on handling suspension, cosmetics, or a savings plan.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
C300 Luxury
If you want real power, you'll have to go remote turbo due to lack of real estate in the engine compartment. There's only so much you can squeeze out of these M272 N/A V6s and you'd end up spending too much money for negligible return. If you wanted more power, plenty of used C63s now on the market with initial leases expiring. Asides from that, just be happy with your "quick enough for daily" car and spend the money on handling suspension, cosmetics, or a savings plan.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
C300 W204
If you want real power, you'll have to go remote turbo due to lack of real estate in the engine compartment. There's only so much you can squeeze out of these M272 N/A V6s and you'd end up spending too much money for negligible return. If you wanted more power, plenty of used C63s now on the market with initial leases expiring. Asides from that, just be happy with your "quick enough for daily" car and spend the money on handling suspension, cosmetics, or a savings plan.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: So-Cal
c350
Im in the same category for power, im thinking of dropping in some headers,k&n filters, and possibly sec. cat delete unless its to loud. And later on an ecu tune but still researching that. Im looking to get 300hp. Cant believe these cars dont come stock with 300.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: Bergen Co,NJ
14' CLS550
ecu tune and headers will def get you close to 300hp
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,809
Likes: 4
From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
Tune is fine. Butt dyno can't tell the difference with the added 5hp. lol. MPG did seem to slightly go up by 2 mpg from what data I had recorded for my 3 month trial after I got it done.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
Kleemann is now selling their sport camshafts too. From their website, "New for 2010 is this K3 kit for V6 M272 engines, and it will raise power up to 335 HP and 379 Nm."
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Headers and an ECU should easily get you over 300hp. RENNtech and Kleemann both advertise their headers/ECU/K&N combos add 40HP to the M272 3.5L. The dyno's I saw from Kleemann I think actually were closer to a 50HP gain.
Kleemann is now selling their sport camshafts too. From their website, "New for 2010 is this K3 kit for V6 M272 engines, and it will raise power up to 335 HP and 379 Nm."
Kleemann is now selling their sport camshafts too. From their website, "New for 2010 is this K3 kit for V6 M272 engines, and it will raise power up to 335 HP and 379 Nm."
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
I think the performance gain is two fold. First slightly less back pressure due to the larger piping, second the OE headers allows the gases to mix right away as soon as they leave the engine, whereas the these headers have much longer equal length tubing and then mixes the exhaust gas at a central point. From my limited knowledge, the key to good/tuned headers is that they allow the gases to flow from the exhaust port on the engine without interference all the way to the collector. With the cast iron/cost-effective OE headers the gases mix right away and the pressure waves interfere with one another and this also causes back pressure and changes in exhaust velocity.
But most importantly...they should sound pretty badass
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
c350 (soon)
I would love to do the ECU tune but every company requires you to send it to them. I wish I could just bring my car somewhere but it seems all of these places are on the west coast. Sucks.
My friend said he did his himself through th ODB2 port or somethin like that.
My friend said he did his himself through th ODB2 port or somethin like that.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 418
Likes: 1
08 MB
Depending on where you live there are a few tuners that can do tunes on site. I know a few on the east coast are dealers for Kleeman and Renntech and have on site capabilities.
Eurocharged is based in the Chicago area and also travel a lot and may be in your area at some point.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
There are some members on an SLK forum (different site - don't recall but slk was in the site name) that have posted their dyno results. They seemed about right. Both tuners originally sold those kits for the SLK crowd. For the W203/4 they required extra work to get them to fit, specially the collectors & down-pipes. These new headers though should be much easier to install but will still require some cutting and welding since the outlet pipes on the headers are almost 3/4" larger.
I think the performance gain is two fold. First slightly less back pressure due to the larger piping, second the OE headers allows the gases to mix right away as soon as they leave the engine, whereas the these headers have much longer equal length tubing and then mixes the exhaust gas at a central point. From my limited knowledge, the key to good/tuned headers is that they allow the gases to flow from the exhaust port on the engine without interference all the way to the collector. With the cast iron/cost-effective OE headers the gases mix right away and the pressure waves interfere with one another and this also causes back pressure and changes in exhaust velocity.
But most importantly...they should sound pretty badass
I think the performance gain is two fold. First slightly less back pressure due to the larger piping, second the OE headers allows the gases to mix right away as soon as they leave the engine, whereas the these headers have much longer equal length tubing and then mixes the exhaust gas at a central point. From my limited knowledge, the key to good/tuned headers is that they allow the gases to flow from the exhaust port on the engine without interference all the way to the collector. With the cast iron/cost-effective OE headers the gases mix right away and the pressure waves interfere with one another and this also causes back pressure and changes in exhaust velocity.
But most importantly...they should sound pretty badass
Do any tuners customize the tune for individual cars? If you get a full intake and exhaust rework, it seems the ECU mod could be tweaked to really benefit all the extra work. The AMG Performance manager at the Buckhead center says they do that on site but I have not really dug much deeper for the details.
