Anybody know if a turbo or supercharger kit is available for the ML320 six-cylinder engine? The poor little thing has developed a need for speed!

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Seriously, Upgrade to the ML430, be cheaper then a kit, and nicer too.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel
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- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

Charlie:

I'm not so sure about that! The local dealers want $15k Cdn. more for a 99 and $20k more for a 2000 ML430

Admittedly the 2000 has improved trim and soundproofing, but $10k per cylinder is a bit much. Or is that $5k per inch of wheel diameter?

I think I can turbocharge for about $5,000, if there is a suitable kit out there.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Dean,
I believe all the big MB tuners make superchargers for the 112 and 113 engines (Renntech, Brabus, Lorinser) Also STILLEN has hopped on the wagon with their own version. I remember seeing a spread in a mag where 4 ML's were pumped up and compared (Body kits, brakes, wheels, superchgrs, etc). Renntech came out on top (speed and power and price), Lorinser I think was last. STILLEN was the least expensive of the bunch. They even offer tuning for the CLKs. Good Luck.
Bill
91 300E

http://www.stillen.com/gt/gtm/gtm.html

Try going here.

Doesen't the 500E satisfy your needed for speed enough?
Well I guess one never has enough power.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

I'm pretty sure you're not going to find a turbo or supercharger kit for ML320 for anything close to $5K Cdn, or even $5K US. A turbo- or super-charger conversion will require some internal engine modifications to be reliable and durable. E.g., lowering the compression ratio so that you can actually use the extra charge.

You may as well just go down to your dealer and put down a deposit for the 2002 ML500. I'm not kidding.

How do you lower engine compression. I know you can raise it by "lowering" or cutting the heads down to have less space between the piston and valve(s) Or you can increase it by having a done shaped piston.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

You can lower the compression several ways. E.g. changing the shape of the pistons, shortening the connecting rods, or changing the heads to have larger combustion chambers. You can also shorten the crankshaft stroke, but that will also lower the displacement of the engine. The point is that it's not going to be cheap and you really need to do this to add a turbo- or super-charger, even one with a low boost, if you want a reasonable combination of reliability, durability, and performance.

Well, I guess technology has its good and bad points. This turbocharging business has come along way since I slapped a Rajay unit on my 1977 Dodge Colt some twenty years ago ($500 installed). Car went like stink but the intake chamber to the carb always froze up in cold weather. Had to thaw it with my hands until I plumbed the radiator coolant through it.

Hotrodding my 84 Volvo Turbo was easily done by re-routing the vaccuum lines to the wastegate ($15). Raised the boost by several pounds and I drove it by ear...backing off when I heard the rattle of detonation. Owned that car for many years and never blew the engine.

Things were easier with an 86 Audi Turbo. A simple chip ($200) was good for 60 hp. Great car but fussy electricals.

Anyway, I think I'll try the DYI approach once again. It's really more fun, you know

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Good approach Dean,

That way you can Turbo the E500 NEXT!

Seems like the engine in the 500E/E500 is begging for a Supercharger/Turbo as this was Mercedes fastest production car for a while and the suspension and brakes are ready (?) for it, but there seem to be few reasonable kits?


What gives? Is there simply no available room under the hood, or is it just to complex a system to mess with? I ask because I hope to purchase a 500E some time next year and would consider the mods at purchase time and reap the typical 30%-50% increase from the above mentioned methods.

Has this been done? I know someone in this country has had the urge to get this done but I have not heard of it?

Sorry for going off topic, perhaps a variable vane turbo might be nifty? Aerodyne makes one, http://www.aerocharger.com/ and this might overcome some of the negatives associated with "turbo lag". This type is only slightly more expensive than a regular turbo. Since most "Mercedes" tuners aren't in the habit of having DIY customers, it may be hard to find a kit in the US?

Lorinser of Germany lists a "compressor kit" for the ML320. I'm awaiting a reply from their technical staff on details and prices.

Stillen and others only make turbo or supercharger kits for the V-8 ML430...you'd think they'd realize the V-6 needs it more?

Ross, as far as the E500 goes, I'm not going to make any modifications that can't be easily reversed. That model is a true collector's car and I wouldn't feel right messing with it too much.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

I am planning on supercharging my CLK55 soon...we will be using a new system being developed by ESS.They are specifically designed for high compression MB engines and entails only replacing the intake manifold and mounting the compressor and intercooler with no modifications to engine management.6lbs of boost will net us an addition 150 hp...ESS suggests that a charger can actually reduce stress on the engine by reducing load on pistons as they change direction, and also provides more HP at lower RPM's...high RPMs being the real danger to engines.
I asked Phil at Eurotek about versions for the 320 engine...there good ones out there but I forgot what he said...I'll have to ask again.

[Edited by jco on 12-14-2000 at 12:15 AM]

Awesome JCO. Does ESS have a website? I'd like to check out their wares.

By the way, Lorinser Germany has pointed out a Canadian dealer for their products so I should hear about their kit soon.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Dean,
Two places you may do a search of are:
1. http://www.performancemarket.com/turbo

2. Clinton recently did a 190-2.3/16V turbo upgrade and got a kit from England but made by Mosselman in Holland. I know they also have a new website but forgot what it is but they do the ML turbo kits. Check Clinton's site/forum on the subject or do a search.

Good luck

Tobias MB
4 MBs