Tuning A C280
 

I just sold my Impala and I'm on the verge of buying a 1998 C280 with the 2.8 liter V6 engine. I am well aware of its superb handling, ride and acceleration (at least for the gas mileage it gets), and that is the main reason I am going to buy it. Of course besides the fact that two of my friends have one and we're going to have a little W202 gang...haha

But I'm kind of a car enthusiast (read: car freak) in the process of learning. So before I actually buy the car, I would like to know what are my tuning options, and how costly they are.

Some of the things that come to mind are:

• Stereo deck. I had bought a double din stereo deck for my Impala but never got around to install it. Is it possible to somehow open up some space on the console for it on a C280?
  
• Rims. I know the log pattern, but I'm not very sure of the offsets and how big the rims can be. I personally wouldn't mind AMG-like 20" rims, but the question is, will it fit? If so, how thick should the tire (not) be?
  
• Exhaust system, and how possible it would be to create a tone similar to the V8 MBs. I don't know if you watch Top Gear or not, but Jeremy Clarkson describes it as the sound of a "spitfire".
  
• Stroking the engine to 3.2 or 3.6. I'm wondering what would need to be replaced and how costly it would be.
  
• Any kind of boost system. I know the compression is very high to begin with, but for a car this popular, there must be some sort of turbo/super/pro charger, right?
  
• And eventually maybe a 4.3 V8 swap. I know it will have lot of electrical complexities, but if its doable and not too costly (apart from the cost of the rather rare engine, of course) why not?
  
• And I would like to know the popular terms to describe the model of the engine and the transmission.

BTW, in regards to my not-so-popular-in-the-US name. If you don't know this by now (which you probably do), Persians love Mercedes. ;)

Your engine is a 2.8L V6 known as the M112 and your transmission is the 5 speed auto known as the 722.6 .

If you want exterior/wheel modding advice theres a dude on mymbonline.com called OCKlasse who knows every inch around the c class cars and what their tolerances are.

I don't think anyone currently makes a turbo or supercharger for your engine(yet :D) There might have been a supercharger but it has been discontinued. It wouldn't be hard to retrofit one and the motor could definitely take it. No one had a turbo kit for my car and I fixed that :D

There is a C43 AMG owner who swapped out the 4.3 in favor of a 55 AMG motor. Im sure you could swap to the 4.3 but you would need the V8 transmission.

Man how hard is it for you to find a c43??? where do u live right now? i mean if u live in the usa it might not be that hard to find your self a clean AMG W202.fixing up a car will set u a fortune no matter how u look at it and espcially if you lack the mechanical experience.

then there is the complexity of the systems in your car which might drive u crazy in the end.

i am not trying to break your wings or anything. just be ready for a full load of work if you go the tuned way.

If you boost your car screw all those electrical system problems and just use a BEGI FMU. Its so simple to use and its so proven in cars with no after market tuning availability and it wont throw codes in your car, its pretty much fool proof.

What about the stroking thing then? There is something similar you can do to the 3100 and 3400 GM engines. You basically replace a few parts and increase the displacement to 3500cc, since the block of all engines are basically the same thing. Is something like that possible with the M112 engine? Because when I search M112, I not only get the 2.8 as a result, I get the 3.2 and 3.6 as well.


Edit: Oh by the way. Which one is faster, the I6 2.8 or the V6 2.8? I've heard the V6 is more powerful but then how come Car&Driver says it does 0-60 in 7.9 seconds while the I6 they tested did it in 7.3?