10' E550 M273 performance
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2010 Mercedes E550 and a 1997 S600 Coupe
10' E550 M273 performance
I just scored a sweet deal on an extremely nice 10' E550 and its completely loaded, I am curious on if anyone has any info or recommendations on some light performance upgrades for it. It is going to be a daily driver but I'd like to do exhaust, a tune for the ECU and TCU, and I'd hope to find some kind of custom intake or maybe an intake spacer like they make for the M278 engine and others. Any other recommendations would be much appreciated 
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From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
15 years old the E550 is, right ?
If I were you, performance modification is the last wish list.
Look back at its service records and do what not been done.Or do sooner what been done with too long a service interval.
As the car gets cheaper and cheaper and many owners later, maintenance could be neglected by them previous owners.
If I were you, performance modification is the last wish list.
Look back at its service records and do what not been done.Or do sooner what been done with too long a service interval.
As the car gets cheaper and cheaper and many owners later, maintenance could be neglected by them previous owners.
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I just scored a sweet deal on an extremely nice 10' E550 and its completely loaded, I am curious on if anyone has any info or recommendations on some light performance upgrades for it. It is going to be a daily driver but I'd like to do exhaust, a tune for the ECU and TCU, and I'd hope to find some kind of custom intake or maybe an intake spacer like they make for the M278 engine and others. Any other recommendations would be much appreciated
I have changed oil always after 5000 miles and it does not eat a drop of oil between changes. I use Mobil1 0W-40 oil. A couple times 5W-40 when the first option was not available.
I change oil myself with sucking it out with a Mityvac, filter I change in 10 000 miles interval.
My miles are 85-90% hwy so compared to a city car the engine has around 60 000 miles.
I don't favor upgrades to exhaust piping etc. I'm not build for that but I like response from the gas pedal. This is why I installed a SprintBooster in it to combat the gas pedal lag. Extremely good improvement, the best $300 you can spend on this beast!!!
They say it does not increase engine power but it sure feels like it does. Get one, you will not be disappointed, guaranteed! After running it with SB you may not need any tunes for it.
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W212 FL
If it were an M278 , tuning option would be a feasible one but for non turbo engines I don't know . We had my dad car's tuned and those were non turbo V8 engines . Yes, we felt the difference afterwards but my own W212 FL with bi turbo with the stock engine still is faster .
You would still gain HP and torque but I doubt those would match up a stock M278
You would still gain HP and torque but I doubt those would match up a stock M278
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
ECU tuning for a non-turbo car is generally a waste of money. As @S-Prihadi stated, make sure all of the maintenance items are up to date.
I can't speak to Sprint Booster, but I had a Pedal Commander (essentially the same thing) on my 2004 SL500. It did increase throttle response, but not overall top end performance. It's not expected to. However, I did remove it after it caused complete lack of throttle response a couple of times while I was driving. I would have to pull over and cycle the ignition off and on to restore my throttle. I saw that as a serious safety issue.
I can't speak to Sprint Booster, but I had a Pedal Commander (essentially the same thing) on my 2004 SL500. It did increase throttle response, but not overall top end performance. It's not expected to. However, I did remove it after it caused complete lack of throttle response a couple of times while I was driving. I would have to pull over and cycle the ignition off and on to restore my throttle. I saw that as a serious safety issue.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
The common advice for tuning the M273 is to leave it alone. There was a company (Kleemans if I recall correctly) making some parts for it, but they stopped selling them. No major improvement after $$$$.
I would check service, in particular: PCV/oil separator and the intake manifold: together the Achilles heel of the M273. Otherwise, that engine well maintained is bulletproof.
I would check service, in particular: PCV/oil separator and the intake manifold: together the Achilles heel of the M273. Otherwise, that engine well maintained is bulletproof.
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The M278 E550s are old school muscle taken about as far as it'll go in a luxury package. Port injection, hydraulic power steering, natural aspiration. All stone age tech. As reliable and maintainable as you can get, but not as powerful as more modern tech. By all means, have fun with it; it has more power on tap than you need, and that can bring a smile to your face. It's definitely luxury first, power second or even third. If you're looking for a tuner car, this probably isn't it. Step across to BMW for that. N54/55s are very tunable in a class for class package. I'm sure there are things out there, but you're not going to get a lot of power gains compared to more modern forced inducted options, especially not for the money.
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2010 Mercedes E550 and a 1997 S600 Coupe
I should have prefaced this by saying I realize what kind of vehicle this is. I am just looking to squeeze a hair more out of it . I am not looking to get extreme numbers out of it as I realize it is a NA engine and not like the M278 which really benefits ALOT from tuning, I had previously built my 2013 E550 bi-turbo to over 600hp and around 800ft/lb of torque before the cylinder lining in cylinder #1 started to erode. As for exhaust goes I know they used to make headers for this and even cams but I would not be going that in depth. I still see some headers floating around and I would be still using resonators or mufflers at least on my custom exhaust, I just want to get a nice V8 tone from it, nothing excessively loud. I believe Renntech and Eurocharged still do ECU and possibly TCU tuning for the old M273. Like I said this is my daily driver now and it was well maintained and only at 140k miles now, I just wanted to do some minor mods to give it a tiny bit more pep. Eventually I will plan on going with an AMG for my summer cruiser.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,123
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
ECU tuning for a non-turbo car is generally a waste of money. As @S-Prihadi stated, make sure all of the maintenance items are up to date.
I can't speak to Sprint Booster, but I had a Pedal Commander (essentially the same thing) on my 2004 SL500. It did increase throttle response, but not overall top end performance. It's not expected to. However, I did remove it after it caused complete lack of throttle response a couple of times while I was driving. I would have to pull over and cycle the ignition off and on to restore my throttle. I saw that as a serious safety issue.
I can't speak to Sprint Booster, but I had a Pedal Commander (essentially the same thing) on my 2004 SL500. It did increase throttle response, but not overall top end performance. It's not expected to. However, I did remove it after it caused complete lack of throttle response a couple of times while I was driving. I would have to pull over and cycle the ignition off and on to restore my throttle. I saw that as a serious safety issue.
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From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
NECESSARY STEP...
I just scored a sweet deal on an extremely nice 10' E550 and its completely loaded, I am curious on if anyone has any info or recommendations on some light performance upgrades for it. It is going to be a daily driver but I'd like to do exhaust, a tune for the ECU and TCU, and I'd hope to find some kind of custom intake or maybe an intake spacer like they make for the M278 engine and others. Any other recommendations would be much appreciated
-- Replace your UPSTREAM LAMBDAS with a pair of Bosch sensors.
Done!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,812
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From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Isn't M273 the engine prior to MB splitting the long timing chain to one per bank ?
VVT gears are used to physically correct chain stretch.
VVT gears are used to physically correct chain stretch.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Mar 16, 2025 at 03:45 AM.
