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.