garrettg

Review on the UPD Cold Air Induction Kit for M278

Car:
2014 E550 4Matic

Kit is for the M157 but also works on M278 as they share air induction and filter components.

Install:
25-30 mins
If you can change the air filters in your E550 then installing this kit is just the same level of work.

E Mode:
This was a surprise as the mushy on/off heavy resistance of the pedal is now much improved. There is the ability to drive part throttle in E mode and get the car moving at a decent pace without using full throttle. With the stock filters there was this fine line between getting it moving and wot which forces the car to downshift. I can now modulate the throttle more easily to keep it in the current gear just with more thrust. This has made using the default E mode more enjoyable for city driving. I don't know if there is any more power in E mode now but its more pleasant to use with the ability to modulate. Slightly more sound which is welcomed in the E550.

S Mode:
There is slightly more noise from the engine again welcomed for sure as the E550 seemed to be very quiet stock. Full throttle is as glorious as it was but again more noise and feedback. If anything it makes a person really start to wonder what the car would sound like uncorked from the exhaust side. There is this sense that the car feels less restricted during all throttle applications and easier to modulate with this filter kit. I had stock filters previously with less than 3k on them.

The ecu seems to handle the higher map readings with ease which is usually the case with speed density ecu systems. The short and long term fuel trims look fine with the modification and the car accepts it without any sort of aftermarket tune or calibration to the ecu. I will continue to monitor the engine pids like boost, stft, ltft and iat and provide updates if anything comes up.

blegthbloo

Subscribing for more updates... not sure what I'm waiting for as far as upgrades are concerned... my M278 could use some waking up too lol

ljn21

Is it this one?

http://ultimatepd.com/2011-2015-merc...boost-kit.html

Is it really just a filter change or does it change the air box/tubing? I couldn't tell from the pictures on that site what was actually in the kit.

garrettg

Filters, metal spacers for the filter itself and spacers for the air box/engine trim plates. Also longer screws for the air boxes. The air filter ring spacers are red the filter is not red if that makes sense.

ljn21

Got it. How many miles do you have on it now? Any changes in fuel economy?

garrettg

Not enough to notice any fuel difference. I had done a trip recently with stock filters and averaged 27mpg for reference.

TopGun32

had this mod since March. Highly recommend.

Posted similar review at the C207 forum... and w212

I don't need dyno numbers to verify my car is making more power after this mod. I drove the car with tune and E85 for the last couple of years and the simple intake mod woke up throttle response and much harder pulls.

E mode is plenty now..

cocobeex

E85 ??
How much of E85 mixed ??

garrettg

I assume he applied a e85 specifc ecu calibration to make that work as you need to adjust stoich and lengthen injector cycles to get it right. Can you flip back and forth or always e85?

TopGun32

3 to 4 gallons.. just to boost octane and get some cooling effects for So Cal summer.

Being doing it for about 2 years at my own risk.

Same with my C400.. about 4 gallons on every fill up when empty.


Its a big debate... some say you need injectors or special coding. Very true if you run 100% E85 with no 91 oct.

Google about E20 and E30 blends... don't take it from me. There is apps to understand correct number of gallons of 91 oct/E85 to obtain desired octane.

In my case I felt the reward was worth the risk. I have very good working relationship with my SA and have access to indy mechanics in case something goes wrong.

Read the BMW forums and E85 mixing is a must for tuned cars.

I have also run my Land cruiser with the blend.. and runs very strong.

Texas 93 oct has 15% ethenol.. so going up to 30% is not a big jump.

Prob going to dyno my E550 fall/winter to set cooler air temps.

My E550 is way stronger than my Stage 1 E55.. and lighter by 300lbs.

TTMerc

I second the e85 mix. I run it from time to time on my M278 car really does like it! The 93 in Texas does contain Ethanol already but its not E85 its more like E10 or something so ends up hurting octane numbers.

nicobaires

I used to run E85 on my Audi but it had the extra injector, going to look into this, thanks

seeMeE550

would I be able to do this on my w212 e550 (2011)

blegthbloo

I bit the bullet and got this as well. '13 E550 biturbo... agreed with everything OP says. Is it $450 worth of improvement? Debatable. But it definitely makes the car more enjoyable to drive (and it already was!). I think less restriction from the exhaust will help even more. My OCD just wishes the spacer for the small engine covers was a tad bit shorter, because it seems to sit maybe 1mm too high for me. Having spacers for the big cover would also be a plus. But all that is just cosmetic.