More Horsepower?

[WinstonHong]

I want to get more horsepower from my 1992 300CE but not sure what would be the most feasible (or not feasible) way of achieving this. I was thinking of getting the valve train "Ported & Polished" but not sure if anyone here in Houston, Tx. will do the work properly or even at all.
Would like some feedback in getting more power from those of you who have done so! Thanks...Winston

[300EVIL]

Winston,
welcome to the Mercedesshop forum. In answer to your question there are plenty of modifications you can do to the M103 engine to produce more HP. the biggest problem is $$$$.$$. My first choice would be a Mosselmann twin turbo system but I'm not shelling out $4500 for that yet. you could go for a cam but then the throttle body and exaust would have to be modified. the valve head made by Mercedes is already flawless and there is not much performance gain by porting it so im told. For my car i am planning on changing my differential to a 3.27:1 ratio wich will increase my torque and lower my max speed. basically there are positives and negitives to performance modification on the M103 engine but if your willing to invest the cash it is well worth it. i am currently having fun modifying and driving my 300E but plan on upgrading to a 500E in the near future.
Have fun and drive safely.
Adam

[Ashman]

Unfortunately you do not have an M103 engine, you have an M104 Engine, a 3.0 litre 24 valve inline 6 that produces 217 hp and around 220 ftlbs of torque.

TO boost performance, I would start by searching on the site for mods.

If you can find a chip, then it will help a little. A good cat back free flow exhaust will do nicely. a Modified Airbox, designed for more flow, porting and polishing, and a jacobs or other electronic ignition upgrade, will probably help just a little. all this may or may not give you many gains in hp, but you will get some.

Other than that there is not much you can do with an engine that is pretty much tweaked from the factory, unless you go with some more major mods, like boring and putting in hotter cam, bored out throttle bodies etc, all of which are tough to find or have to be custom made.

you can probably find a good turbo system from mossleman for your car to really give it some oomf, or possibly a supercharger.

you can change your differential for a 3.27 as found in the 260e and the wagon, but you will need to change the speedo to match or have it recalibrated, and you will have to have the tranny adjusted for the new differential. This will give you better accel at the loss of some top speed.

Otherwise, go all out and find yourself a C36 complete donor car, and transplant the engine, computers, tranny, etc and have youself my dream coupe. hehe

For me, I'll stick to suspension, cosmetic, and other minor mods, then one day, a 500e engine, or a c36 engine will be going in. hehe

Alon

[infinite007]

ALon...

Is the C36 engine the AMG tuned version of the 2.8L I6 in the 94C280's or is that the C32 if there was one? I too want more oomph with my C280 and dont know where to start...

[infinite007]

thank you much john...

hehe... I was just curious about the C36 and the relationship with the 2.8L engine. But I dont think i will be converting the 2.8 to the 3.6 as someone before told me the exact same thing you just told me!!! I should have broken up my questions as they were actually two different things. I want to keep my current C280. I will lower the car with the lorinser pro kit that i have sitting in my living room ... I want new rims... I will change out the stereo system... maybe a bodykit... and I just want a little bit of tweaking for the engine... maybe modified intake and exhaust and/or anything else to get the most bang for my buck... dont know where to get those exhaust and intake (what brand to get and where to order)...

hmmm... $20,000? here in guam since our economy has suffered a lot since the reduction of military troops at our local US bases, cars, especially MB's are not selling very well... mine will go for $7,000 USD even at its immaculate state!!! Well anyway... I'm just looking through my options

~manny

Originally posted by WinstonHong
I want to get more horsepower from my 1992 300CE but not sure what would be the most feasible (or not feasible) way of achieving this. I was thinking of getting the valve train "Ported & Polished" but not sure if anyone here in Houston, Tx. will do the work properly or even at all.
Would like some feedback in getting more power from those of you who have done so! Thanks...Winston

Hi Winston,
Unfortunately, there isn't an easy way to do it. The engineering and build quality of the engine is good enough where a "port and polish" job isn't going to do much without major changes to the engine (more displacement, higher compression, etc...). Aftermarket chips or ignition won't do much either. The engine management system is very well thought out. Think about it, over 200 Hp from 3 liters; that ain't bad at all. An exhaust system is the only place where I think any money would be well spent. I don't mean a cat back system, but the whole thing including the catalyst.
It's amazing how quickly we all get used to whatever power a car might have and want more...and more. Every spring when I get my 6.3 out of storage...WOW! I feel like I'm in the astronaut training program being tested for tolerance to G-forces. Then, as the Summer wears on...it really isn't that big a deal.
Regards,
Randy D.

[ctaylor738]

See if you can swap the automatic for a 5-speed. That will make a huge difference.

Larry Bible - don't you agree?

[300EVIL]

In respoce to Ashman's comment, we are actually both correct. In 1992 there were 3,896 units made with the M104 engine and 3,361 units made with the M103 engine. Thus, a 50/50 chance that Winston has the M103/M104 engine. In further reasearch i also noticed more 300CE's with the M103 engine were exported to the US than thier brothers with the 24 valves. Either way what i suggesed for modification above would still work on the M104 engine. If you are one of the 50% with the M104 engine like Ashman,, More Power To You!!
Thanks,
Adam

[intruder]

Go to http://www.renntechmercedes.com/ and see if you like what you see. They have a long waiting list if you're interested.

Intruder

[Ashman]

weird.. I thought that all 300CE's in The US as of 1990 had the M104 24V Engine.

When I was looking to buy a 300CE, every car that I saw that was 1990 and up was the M104 24V Engine.

The only cars That I know of that still had the M103 after 1990 was the 300E, which also had the 2.8 and the m104 24v engines as options as well.

But you may be right on this one Adam, Though I havent seen any M103 300CE's in Los Angeles that were made in 1990 - 1993. I have seen them in 1987-1989 300ce's though...

Alon

[300EVIL]

its a possibility that the majority of 300CE's with the M104 engine were sold in California due to strict emission laws? or people with more money!

Originally posted by ADAM BOURASSA
its a possibility that the majority of 300CE's with the M104 engine were sold in California due to strict emission laws? or people with more money!

As of 1990, the coupe was only available with the M104 engine. There was no other choice.
Randy D.