SAguirre

Is there anything that is simple to do that adds more power to the E320? I already have k & N filters. But is there anyhting that actually works that is worth doing?

My service rep told me that one of the performance kits (I can't remember the name of it) that they install actually removes all the limiters. When they put it on the DINO it only added about 3 HP. He said that there is not too much you can do to the 320 aside from changing cams.

So there is no software or anything like that, right? I am just curious, I am actually happy with the power. I didn't buy it to race, if I wanted to do that I would have bought the 500. But, if there is something that works and is worth it I would like to know.

Steven Aguirre

hlkc

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/pdf/W211.PDF

Thanks!

SAguirre

Thanks for the link, I guess this stuff is really not cheap. Has anyone done any of these changes and felt a difference?

Steve

hlkc

Yes, they are not cheap but they are the only one have a long Mercedes tuning history here. I'll be very careful to do anything else. Good luck!

Thanks!

F1Fan

Before you start modding the engine, think about the how much it will cost to add the hp. If the cost is more than the cost of upgrading to an E500, then it may not be worth your time and money.

hlkc

That is excatly what I did before I decided to go from E320 to E500. Now, I am thinking E55 in the future. But my car, E500, and E55 is $30K+ different. Therefore I need to think more and save more at the same time.

Thanks!

SAguirre

Thanks to everyone. I am a big believer in K & N filters. I don't really get more power (that I can tell), but I always get better MPGs. Also, the E320 had a rough idle at this altitude since the other filters were not letting enough thin air through and starving the engine at low RPMs. The fix was to remove the software for the injection and then re-install it (this did not always fix the problem and you can imagine why). I just put the K & Ns in and it runs totally smooth. Now the dealer is recommending them to all the other owners who report this issue.

I will not change anything to get more PS, I think. Like you (all) said; if you really want to spend that much money just get a 500 or 55. That will not happen since I refuse to have car payments and I will not spend that much money on a car (yet).

At this time I am very happy with the performance since it keeps me out of trouble and is still faster than the old 300E. I can still keep 85 MPH in 4th gear climbing up the Eisenhower tunnel on I 70 going to Vail. I can only guess how fast the E500 is! (the SAT NAV is great since it tells you the altitude gain/loss; I go from 5,200 feet at home to 11,000++ at the passes and then to 8,700 feet once at home in Vail). The engine and tranny have performed flawlessly.

Did you flatlanders know that this is the only auto-tranny that I have ever driven that actually does not hunt while going uphill for prolonged periods of time? It is so good that I can leave it in D (but I still like to play with it most of the time) The tranny actually knows that it needs to downshift (nothing new here), but once it is in the lower gear, it still senses that you are going uphill and it will keep the low gear on even if you ease the throttle. Once you get to the crest of the hill, the tranny automatically shifts at the top. I guess it must use the esp sensor or something like that to know the angle along with the stress demanded by the throttle position.

O, I only have about 3,500 miles on it now and my MPGs are still getting better. I am getting about 28 MPG while averaging about 70 MHP when I drive the 300 miles to Vail and back. This is a great improvement over the 300E and my 5 cyl. AUDI Q. I bet I can break 30 soon. The CDI would be better, but I'll take the 4-matic over the rwd. I’ve been stuck too many times (even with snow tires and chains).


Thanks again for the 411,

Steve A.