99 E300 with Speedtuning's Computer Program
 

Had Speedtuning USA reflash my ECM and the wife could feel the difference in the performance. In the last couple of weeks, it seems like we picked up 1 mpg. The only drawback, if you can call it that is that it behaves like a semi when you hit the pedal in that it will smoke. I talked to Oliver at Speedtuning USA and he said that is OK. In fact, he said if I wanted to, I could put a K&N filter which might help it in the smoking and increase the boost by 5 psi. Hmmmm. The wife used to complain that this car didn't seem to have enough Ooomph when she was passing. Now she is much happier. Wonder how much happier she will be if I install a boost gauge and increase the boost. :D :D

LMAO!!! Not enough passing power? Shee-it, she should drive my OM606NA. She'd have all the power she could ever dream of.

Hi aklim,

Doesn't smoke mean unburned fuel?

Also, is Oliver suggesting a K&N will increase the boost or that he'd increase the boost in ADDITION to adding a K&N?

Seems that iff you did somehow manage to increase the boost, you might get rid of the smoking and increase your power. I'm pretty sure though that higher boost equals higher fuel consumption if you're going for more power...

Are you SURE you're getting 1 mpg better?

Oliver is suggesting that there will be more air to burn the unburnt fuel. It does seem like I am getting a little shy of 31.5 from the late average of mid 30s on the mpg department. Of course, that is with driving 85-95 mph and bursts of acceleration. Oliver suggested I could change the length of the actuator rod by adjustment to get more boost which equals more power.

Don't know if it is summer and the cause but it seems like the engine gets hotter faster. Again, it might be because the temp is 95 outside that the temp sits between 80 and 120. So it is not a scientific thing

Hotter weather = Hotter running, YES!
 

I've noticed this too. In the cold weather the temp would almost never go above 80°C and would take a long time to get there but now that it has been HOT outside (90°F) and the AC is running the car will go up to the line which I assume is 100°C if I am at idle. I also notice the "roar" of the fan engaging which has never happened before to me (I bought the car in January). I don't know if the electric fan has ever kicked on but the gauge has never gone above 100°C mark, it usually comes back down to about 85°C as soon as I start moving again.

I believe this is prefectly normal for these cars but I would like to test out the electric fan...anyone know how to do an easy test to see if it is functioning in a W210?

If it is roaring when you start it, why would you say it wasn't functioning? I think it turns on when you first start the car, doesn't it?

What did it cost you? Did the transmission shift any differently (firmer)?

Tranny didn't seem to be bothered at all. Shifts about the same or so. Costs $275 plus overnight there and back

The electric fan is not roaring, it is the mechanical fan which usually just spins at relatively slow speed until the car gets hot enough for it to engage directly through the coupling clutch (I am not sure if this model uses a viscous mechanical or electric clutch).

Once it engages and you step on the accelerator pedal you hear that fan ROAR! If you don't notice it yours may not be working, which also may explain why you are seeing temps over 100°C on the gauge.

My electric fan has never gone on that I have seen or heard.

OK. When you first turn the key to the run position, you should hear some sort of click and see the fans moving for a few seconds. The electric ones that is. If not you hopefully have a broken belt or at worst case a bad motor, IIRC. When I put my key to the run position, and look at the electric fans, I see them spinning down. IOW, it runs for a few seconds and shuts down. When the engine is running and the AC is on and the engine is warm, I can see both the fans running. When the engine is hot and the AC is on and I touch the pedal briefly, I do seem to hear a roar from the engine fan

Bottom line, it sounds like it's running a little hot.

On mine, eveen with hot 95 degree weather, I've never seen my car hit 90 degrees celcius. I've seen 88, 89...

Could it be that because we have increased the power levels there is increased heat and it shows in the summertime?

Honestly I have never looked to see if the electric fan turns when I turn the key but will tomorrow morning. The belt is good, I can spin one by hand and the other turns. I have just never seen them turn on their own. I have read it only goes on if the AC reaches a certain pressure or if the coolant temp exceeds 100°C but if it is supposed to cycle when you put the key in I haven't noticed it doing that.

Mine does when I turn the key to the Run position. Your's should too

My fans turn on the instant the AC compressor is activated. Makes sense as airflow is needed over the condensor...

Mine cycles on briefly and then off when the car is set in the run position. NHDOC said he had a bad fan and it might be a variable speed one. Any one know if it is a fixed speed or variable?

Does your aux fan come on with the AC? I was able to read some voltage at the plug when I turned the AC on, it started as a few volts and gradually got up to 9-10 and then dropped back again. That's why I think it is a variable speed fan which gets fed voltage according to what the AC unit needs.

I figured since it was non-functional I would remove the entire assembly until the replacement unit arrives. The silly thing is that it blocks a significant portion of the airflow if it is present but not working. I would say something on the order of 30-50% of the radiator's area is blocked either by the fan blades themselves or the frame around them. Removing them sure opens up the front for better airflow through the condensor and radiator.

I figure I could easily get away with leaving the assembly out because our weather is relatively cool most of the time. We rarely see 90°F+ temps but I think it is prudent to replace it so I ordered a new aux fan assembly and will install it when it comes in.

The electric fans are variable speed. The engine driven fan has a viscous clutch. This engine should never run hot - my viscous clutch was not engaging last summer and even in the Florida heat it never topped 100*C. After about a year of freewheeling, the clutch eventually seized and started spitting out its bearings.

The smoking aklim referred to at the beginning of this thread is from overfueling at low RPM, and it disappears once the boost comes on about 2000 RPM. Lightman has had one of these chips in his car for about a year, and he also mentioned that it smokes like a freight train if you floor the accelerator from a dead stop. IMHO, a little smoke is a small price to pay in return for performance when you want it. I plan on getting a chip soon.

The fans do come on when I turn the key and put it in run mode. Briefly that is. Also, it they would come on irrespective of whether the AC was in "EC" mode or not. IOW, they come on when you turn the key into the run mode.

I don't know about Lightman but there were 2 versions of the chip. The one they listed or the stronger version. Guess which one I got. When you drive normally, there is no smoke and it behaves nicely. When you hit the accelerator, it will smoke like a frieght train. Also it does seem like I picked up 1 mpg with this mod.

Benifits
Wife is happy.
1 mpg more
I get to smoke out a tailgater

Cons
Costs $325 which includes overnight back and forth

I am about to have my car done up by SpeedtuningUSA.. I have been emailing back and forth with Oliver.. Only thing I am concerned with at this point is how the engine will respond with the upgrading timing and fuel delivery that the reflash gives.. in other words.. how safe is it for the engine long-term? Do you notice if the engine runs any wamer than with the stock program?

I had my '99 E300TD reprogrammed at Speedtuning 2 weeks ago. Got the K&N as well. Its transformed the car. Had my Mercedes mechanic drive it -he was going to take it around the block -a couple of miles later he was stilling exclaiming wow! this really feels like a lot more power.

Needless to say I'm happy. The car has 130,000 miles on it. Right before I had it chiped it got a complete overhaul. New nozzles, tie rods, AMG springs, Bilstein sport shocks, H+R sway bars, new bushings, etc. As soon as I put in the Magnaflow turbo-back dual exhaust I'll be ready for the next 130,000 miles.