SL/R129: R129 M113 Modifications
I have a 2000 SL500 with the M113. Im trying to do some performance based modifications to the engine and car in general. Not looking to build a race car, but more or less wake the car up a little bit.
I've been in contact with a few distributors of aftermarket components. Primarily looking for an ECU flash on a ME 2.0. Kleemann is the top contender as of now due to their ability to flash the ME 2.0 vs a ME 2.8. I found during my search this may make a difference. Does anyone have any suggestions for other tuners? Large or small. (VRP is too busy moving warehouses to help at this time, weistec refuses to touch the ME 2.0) I ask because I would like to eventually remove my Secondary Air and EGR to clean up my engine bay and avoid problems down the road. I know of VRPs available block off plates. Kleemann from my current understanding does not provide the software to remove these components and have the CEL be happy. (I'd rather not pull the bulb)
Besides that I'm looking at purchasing a set of kleemann camshafts or potentially a mild set of catcams. Does anyone have personal experience replacing these in a NA113? Any tips, tricks, or advice is appreciated.
Before someone says it, I want to keep my current engine and I'm not looking to swap a M113K unless my motor goes out down the road. Lastly, does anyone have any other "cool" modifications they would recommend or in general advice.
Thank you.
Current Mods- Strut Bar- Radio- Amp




Engine swap is straight forward and you can get even more power when you tune your ECU.
My first mod to the SL was remove the intake baffles on the radiator so that the intake is getting "ram" air from the grill.
The second thing I did was to replace the airbox with m113k airboxes and Y pipe. Again, same thing, "ram" air directly into the intake manifold.
Right now I'm looking into an exhaust, I'm probably going to go the CKS route for the muffler and possibly a custom x-pipe to replace the resonators in the middle of the car.
Last edited by SLGuy408; Sep 24, 2022 at 01:43 PM. Reason: Added picture




And then hope when we get them back and re-install... everything works okay.
Although I would much prefer to have my car tuned on a Dyno but it seems unless you got a newer Merc no one will even bother to entertain that idea.
Tuning your are looking at 10whp probably and 10tq
Also make sure your transmission is good and serviced, buy a 150% valve body. Will shift much faster, one of the best mods every for a car with a 722.6
Catless should make 10/15 whp. Yes it will throw a check engine light. But from my Experience with me2.0 you have like a 5/6 start window where all the monitors are ran, and it will pass state inspection.
5.4 swap is the cheapest and easy way to go, 40 to 50whp and torque, maybe even more.
I built a custom intake for my w210 E55 and last night I made one for my 129, with some parts we had at the shop to see if it will work.
my 210 this made 18whp on my e55
my 129 not how it will look once finished. Using a different filter and a carbon pipe. Going to dyno it also. Going to make a heat shield also, run some tubing got more fresh air also.
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Tuning your are looking at 10whp probably and 10tq
Also make sure your transmission is good and serviced, buy a 150% valve body. Will shift much faster, one of the best mods every for a car with a 722.6
Catless should make 10/15 whp. Yes it will throw a check engine light. But from my Experience with me2.0 you have like a 5/6 start window where all the monitors are ran, and it will pass state inspection.
5.4 swap is the cheapest and easy way to go, 40 to 50whp and torque, maybe even more.
I built a custom intake for my w210 E55 and last night I made one for my 129, with some parts we had at the shop to see if it will work.
my 210 this made 18whp on my e55
my 129 not how it will look once finished. Using a different filter and a carbon pipe. Going to dyno it also. Going to make a heat shield also, run some tubing got more fresh air also.
Also your secondary cats, deleting those makes power on an m156, I could see it making power on a 113.
Probably an x pipe and close as you can get it to the transmission.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Also C43’s came with 5.4 cams. You could get a set of 5.4 cams and have them installed also. Maybe 10whp. Not really sure.
What? The intake on my e55 made 18whp, that’s more than the tune and cat delete.
Also why would you change your injectors? Maybe install new injectors of the same size.
Also a new intake manifold, maybe egr and air injection delete also.
My first mod to the SL was remove the intake baffles on the radiator so that the intake is getting "ram" air from the grill.
The second thing I did was to replace the airbox with m113k airboxes and Y pipe. Again, same thing, "ram" air directly into the intake manifold.
Right now I'm looking into an exhaust, I'm probably going to go the CKS route for the muffler and possibly a custom x-pipe to replace the resonators in the middle of the car.
Its 100% legal to remove the secondary cats. They aren’t monitored by the car. They are know to make power on m156 cars when we moved. But yes these cars can definitely use an x pipe.
I would like to actually see a dyno from using the m113 intakes.




Although I would much prefer to have my car tuned on a Dyno but it seems unless you got a newer Merc no one will even bother to entertain that idea.
Same ECU.
You and me both, I've yet to find a tuner that will dyno tune this old of a Merc.
In the future I may have an x-pipe installed, and would enjoy to replace the muffler to give the car a better tone.
Tuning your are looking at 10whp probably and 10tq
Also make sure your transmission is good and serviced, buy a 150% valve body. Will shift much faster, one of the best mods every for a car with a 722.6
Catless should make 10/15 whp. Yes it will throw a check engine light. But from my Experience with me2.0 you have like a 5/6 start window where all the monitors are ran, and it will pass state inspection.
5.4 swap is the cheapest and easy way to go, 40 to 50whp and torque, maybe even more.
I built a custom intake for my w210 E55 and last night I made one for my 129, with some parts we had at the shop to see if it will work.
my 210 this made 18whp on my e55
my 129 not how it will look once finished. Using a different filter and a carbon pipe. Going to dyno it also. Going to make a heat shield also, run some tubing got more fresh air also.
Last edited by SLGuy408; Sep 28, 2022 at 03:15 AM.
Not worth it, on top of everything VRP makes being junk.
In the future I may have an x-pipe installed, and would enjoy to replace the muffler to give the car a better tone.



