PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Read this if you have done the "free horsepower upgrade"

Greg in Oz · #5 06-17-2003, 08:41 PM

I originally changed the value of R16 on our 300TE some years ago, long before I ever read about it on any forum. I decided to try it simply through studying the workshop manual for the M103 and realising that the setup we got in Australia was for our low octane regular fuel. I was prepared to use higher octane fuel if by changing R16 it meant greater power and/or better economy could be achieved. It was at that time I realised that progressively higher resistor values did not necessarily give greater ignition advance, the reason I ended up using 750 ohms for the 300TE. It was only last weekend that I decided to try the same experiment on my more recently acquired 190E 2.3 5-speed Sportline to find that for it either 1.3k ohms or 2.4k ohms gave the best result. On either car, an open circuit gave the least amount of ignition advance. I also seem to remember reading in either the M102 or M103 engine manual that an open circuit condition is read as a fault condition which give the most retarded ignition curve.

It was after reading numerous threads on several discussion forums that I decided to describe my findings with my cars. I did mention in my original post that these results were obtained with my cars, both Oz deliveries from 1990. Different models and years from different markets may give different results. Please, nobody take this as suggesting that they don't know what they are doing. I simply am suggesting that it might be worth verifying the results of doing this mod to your cars with a timing light at the very least. I wouldn't want to think that any of us are driving our great cars that we enjoy so much in less than the best state of tune. It is important to me as I am sure it is to all of you. I can say with pride that I keep my cars in top condition mechanically and cosmetically, verified by top results in all types of club events from motor sport to economy runs to concours.

Thanks for reading and for the encouraging comments.