captrivers

I'm and Old School Hot Rodder wanting to hop-up my E500. I've done some reasearch and found reprogramming the ECU is one of the steps. I'm not prepared to install an entire exhaust system. But, are looking for a good set of mufflers. My wife drives it more than me. So, I'm not looking for nothing to loud. I just want to enhance what the newly programmed chip will offer.

Can I get some suggestions on where to get the chip programmed and mufflers.

captrivers

NO TAKERS?

I searched this forum and found a thread on UPSOLUTE. Any comments on this company? They charge $400 for an ECU and I've seen others charging up to $800. Why such a price difference?

JRAMGV8

Rates vary but I'd go with powerchip ECU ... www.powerchipgroup.com

captrivers

Thanks, what about exhaust. I like the single oval tail pipe. Any suggestions? Also, I've read these systems are basic and can be done yourself. I've got the skill, tools and knowledge to tackle most mechanical task. Right now I'm building custom choppers.

Scambo

Check with Benzorama. He did a sweet job on his using the quad set up. I believe he had a shop do the cut outs in the bumper for cheap and it looks perfect.

captrivers

scam, thanks. I sent him a PM.

Scambo

No probelm, anytime. Glad I could help. If you search his threads, he has pics of the job on his car looking mighty fine. My understanding is that he purchased a used E55 exhaust system and had installed at the local shop including the cutouts.

Benz-O-Rama

hey guys....typing this from my cell phone. had to go to Arab, Alabama for a family emergency. when I get off the road and in front of a computer I'll be able to answer all of your questions.

captrivers

I ran across Bekkers. They have Super Sprint mufflers that have the look I'm after and they remap ECU's. Anybody have any experience with them?

And can someone refer some web-sites or companies to buy parts/after market parts for my car.

jimmydagreek

captrivers

lol, jimmy. I'm not asking for favorites, just places in general. This is the first time I considered modifying my Mercedes and don't know where to get parts. I do have plenty of mechanical experience, knowledge and background though. Hopefully I will be able to contribute to this forum also.

Phil aka chopt aka captrivers

jimmydagreek

No man, I subscribed to your thread because I might be getting into a W211 E500 or E55 so I wanted to see what people had to say, lol...

captrivers

Got ya, I've modified almost everything I've owned . My wife thought I went to far when she bought me a leaf blower and I relieved the exhaust. I know I am not going to get one company's product preferred over another in this forum. I will use my knowledge (and how much $$ I have in my account.lol)to make my decision on which to use. I just need to know who are the game players for the products;exhaust, ECU tuning, air intake, etc. Hopefully we have enough users in this forum who's experienced these said products and are willing to share their experiences.

jimmydagreek

Yeah, I've fully modded 2 W210's now; a 97 E420 Carlsson and my most recent 01 E55 which you see as "sold" in my sig. I know quite a bit on the W210 but not the W211. I'm driving my best friend's 03 E500 right now and contemplating buying but it has a few issues that I need to resolve first. Then, let the modding begin because I too mod everything I own, lol.

mbuskuhl

Powerchip.com does a lot of MB's I hear, looks like some others have good luck as well with some other companies. I don't have first hand experience.

Exhaust, some options to consider sorted by price...

Magnaflow (search, a few of us have done it here)
Remus
Used E55
Eisenmann


If I had it to do over, I would have liked to have done Remus.

jimmydagreek

Used E55??? LOL...

REMUS

You have the option between single oval or twin round more classic look :
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/e500...7_280_281.html




You can see comparable sound clips here :
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/faq.php?cID=2#21

They are in stock!

T304 stainless steel inside and out
441 stainless steel chrome plated tips for even more resistance to corosion
Black ceramic paint for looks and to prevent damages
Resonated tips

jimmydagreek

Wow, they're nice but a bit more than I would like to spend on exhaust. Thanks for tapping in to the inquiries on upgrades though!

captrivers

Oval REMUS, are what I'm leaning toward and since you've chimmed in. Can they be mounted higher? I really don't want them hanging below the valence. Also, can you PM me pricing or captrivers@hotmail.com.

What is known about UPSOLUTE. They're offering ECU tuning for a fraction of some pricing I've seen.

rhampar

I wouldn't go by price along. On alot of these forums people have made purchases based more on price than performance and in many cases weren't happy with the outcome.

I think you'll find while researching that Brabus and Kleemann are two of the best as far as overall tuning goes but they're also the most expensive.

With regard to ECU reflashing there's alot of debate between speedtuningusa and powerchip. After my research I've found while more expensive; powerchip has done their homework and provide a product that's optimized for regular day to day driving as well as giving you full power and the performance your looking for when it's time to put the pedal to the metal .

JRAMGV8

I prefer the dual exhaust but the oval Remus looks good though..

captrivers

I'd like to stay with budget-friendly products. But, all my experience with performance throughout the years has made me aware to get more, you will pay more. On the other hand, my experiences has taught me to do research on products of interest to justify the price differences. I ride a 45+K dollar bike because for 20-30K dollars I could not build a bike I liked. I bought this E500 because a Honda Accord or the similar would not suffice. I buy what my finances will allow me to have. But, I spend my money wisely.
Sorry if this sounds contradictary. I just want the best-bang for my buck.

Right now, I am doing the research to find what's out there. I will make my decision and purchases based on this. I bought this car for my wife. She'll spend 85% of the time in it. The other 15% I'll be in it and wanna have some fun. With that said. I do not half-to-have the best performing upgrades available. Then again, if the lessor priced item doesn't justify the difference in the performance gain. I will go for the more expensive better performing item.

rhamp, have you personally seen how the different chips perform. I'm new to programming a chip for more performance. But, correct me if I'm wrong. You can only program the chip to advance the ignition, send the fuel, etc. so far/much for a given scenario. Are else the motor will detonate, load-up, etc. and show no increase and even hurt the performance of an engine. So, how can these different companies charge such different rates? These are some questions I would like to have answered before I spend $1400 compared to $800 or even $400. Can anyone shed some light here for me?

As for the exhaust. I am very aware that the installation of mufflers only will not have a noticable gain. I'll need the entire exhaust system. The mufflers to me are only for the tail pipes and to let the guy next to me know I just nailed it you better come-on. I personally like the oval pipes. I had a single oval pipe on my lil Compressor and I liked that look.

REMUS

Pricing, follow the url :
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/e500...7_280_281.html

You could try playing with the hangers to have it higher, it will require a bit of trimming, however they cannot be mounted fully into a cutout bumper.

mbuskuhl

Is this funny because it's below you or ?

captrivers

REMUS, on your w-site. Which sound clip will be closest to model E500 with the 5.0?