Some of you may know that I recently acquired a C320 Auto. Very happy with the drive, comfort, noise levels and performance. I have 2 friends who have E46 BMW's, one a manual, the other an Auto. My freinds Auto is black, stock like my car.
We've raced several times to see what each cars strengths are. His car is slower on the launch, 1st and 2nd gear the C320 is quicker. Then 3rd gear and 4th gear he outdrags me by such a margin that he opens up at least 10 cars gap. The gear spacing on the C320 isnt well placed for that. By the time I catch him the race is finished. I would say that over a standing mile, he shows me a clean pair of heels.
The manual 330i is the way faster. 1st and 2nd gear the Merc's gear ratios are quicker. But from 3rd gear onwards he just keeps pulling away from me, maybe 15 cars in comparison to the Auto.
I also had the opportunity to race both cars from +_ 100mph (160km/h) and I find that my Merc then has the edge. From 160km/h to the restricted topspeed of 250km/h the Merc is more superior. Both 330i's then have to slipstream in order to stay with me. If I weave a bit to shake them, they cant stay with me.
The main reason (in my mind) is the fact that the C320 weighs in at 1590kg as apposed to the 330i at 1420kg. The other reason could be gear ratios. The C320 has an extremely long 3rd and 4th gear. When the 330i kicks over into 5th, the C320 is still in 4th gear!!!
So...the main question is?
How does a C320 overcome these handicaps - without any extensive mods????
I have been toying with the idea of a modding my C320 but I dont want the car to become a full-on racer. I still want that V6 purr and that silky smooth ride.
This pulley kit still baffles me a bit (we dont have such kits available in South Africa). The fact that you could underdrive the crank by fitting a larger and lighter pulley makes sense. But surely the trade off is weaker power/steering efficieny and a lower than spec charge rate???
The chip - I dont know so much. Only 1 company will commit and gaurantee a minimum improvement of 35Bhp with a pulley kit and chip. None of the other guys are confident enough to even commit to qa minimum improvement - all they keep saying is "Each car is different". If that where the case, then the money back gaurantee is useless. Cos if you chip your car and pick up ONLY 5Bhp, imagine what would happen if you tell them you want your money back. The tuner could easily turn around and say, "Sorry, your car is better than it was before - so no refund."
I was also told by our local exhuast tuners that removing the CAT is not advisable. They reckon the CAT acts as a silencer and that removing these will cause the system to sound hollow and obtrusive.
Have you guys ever tried high pressure fuel regulators. Afterall, we are still running fuel injection - in my 10 years experience tuning the 4 pot Vauxhall 2L 16V units, high fuel pressure instantly boosts power by at least 5%. Once you have more fuel, more ait makes sense and then a K&N filter will be more justified.
Or - maybe my C320 is a dud!!!
Has anyone else raced a 330i with their C320/CLK320??????
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Nizaam Karjieker - Turbo6
Email: nizaam@abnoba.co.za or nizaamk@webmail.co.za
01 Merc C320 Auto Elegance - White
91 Opel Monza CD16V - Maroon
05 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Trend - Black
97 Suzuki RF400R - Rossa Red (For Sale)
Well Blue, although some might think we're in the bush, all our dealers offer free carwashes for as long as you own them.
Even the local Ford dealer I bought my wife's little Fiesta 1.4 Hatch from offers free car washes ;)
So how does your C230k compare with a 325i? Our C230k only comes out as a coupe and that is on par with the E46 325i. I've seen them at the track too, its a close fight.
MB discounts a lot more than BMW or Audi. Here, the C230K Sport Sedan and the BMW 325i run about the same list price but I got over 20% off my Benz and BMW/Audi would only discount about 5-8% and that was before they introduced the new Bimmer, now you can probably not even get 5% off. BMW only offers a coupe on the higher end models like the 645i. MB stopped importing the coupe so the only low end euro coupes are from Audi/VW. Also, when I say free car wash, I mean a full service wash any time, any day, not a service wash. Here only MB does that, most others do a service wash except my Chevy and Chrysler dealer.
What you can't make up with performance you make up with price or perks, that's all I'm saying. I know I can get a faster Audi turbo, just throw a chip in it and I'm up 30-40hp. But to answer your original question, a similarly equipped old C320 vs an old 330i should be pretty close. They did have a performance option in the later years that added another 15hp to the 330i. He has a manual, if used properly he will beat your automatic. You can add a evilsport pulley kit for about 10-12hp in the mid-range and possibly an ECU mod with higher octane gas may buy you another 10hp. Filters dont' seem to do much for that car so I wouldn't bother. It already has 2 intakes with 2 filters, I don't think you can improve intake flow to make a difference. Another change you can make is go with very light weight 15" wheels with light racing rubber. Discard any excess weight, spare tire, jack, anything in the trunk, rear seat, passenger seat, antyhing you can get rid of will make you car faster. It's not about comfort, it's about winning.....
I wanted to get some simple inexpensive mods that would see a total big gain.
This pulley kits definitely sounds the way to go as it frees up extra HP to the rear wheels which would have been wasting turning the alternator, aircon and steering pumps. Definitely gonna get that. All it is - is a light and larger diameter main crank pulley with a different size belt. That shouldnt be too difficult to get.
The filters I believe will compliment the chip and the decat system.
I got my hands on a C32 system which is slightly freeier flowing and an OEM fit straight bolt-on upgrade. Then I plan on decatting the system - I dont want to pick up excessive exhuast boom.
One the mods are done, a quick remap using the existing hardware from Upsolute (at least their is a local guy here in SA that could accomodate me) should ensure that I have the edge over the Beemers.
I am quite surprised that nobody has had a go with a 330i yet [?]
My wife has an 05 C320 coupe automatic (one of only 50 sold in the coupe's last year of production in the US)and I ran a new 330i on the freeway. We started at about 60mph and went up to about 100mph and I steadily pulled away from him right from the start.
The C320 coupe is a great handling car due to its design and the staggered wheels with fat tires but it is not a rocket ship due to its HP to weight ratio. Don't get me wrong the 3.2 engine is ample power but the C class coupe and its sister 3.2 sedan are not light vehicles.
Pullies chip and exhaust will not be worth all that much difference, you need to add a S/C to really make it hurt BMW's and Audi's in its same class.
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00E55AMG for fun
Daily driver is a Land Cruiser
600hp 69 Bonneville Convertible for summer fun
wife drives a 05 C320coupe
Honda Valkyrie, 600 Grizzly ATV, Cub Cadet 1500
Okay, I also pullaway from them once in 5th gear. But if we stand dead still, 1st and 2nd I edge them maybe a bonnet but all the otehr gears they arfe stronger. Much stronger. Then 5th gear, almost at 130mph+, then she wakes up again. I need to improve that 3rd and 4th gear.
The C320 coupe will run a 330i. Gauranteed. It doesnt weigh as much as a sedan. As for the SC route, I dont want to over-do it. Otherwise I might as well have nought a C32, the prices are slowly dropping due to C55 demand. I still rate the C32 a better all-rounder myself. I have a buddy with a 200mph C32. He's car is fitted with upgraded pulley kit, a chip of some sorts and makes in excess of 400Hp on the wheels. Engine is stock and SC is stock. This car totally annihilates a worked M3, a worked M5 and even pisses on its bigger C55 and E55 siblings...and to top it all off, his older brother drives an E55 as well. He plans on doing a chip and pulley kit soon to show little bro what E55 is capable of. They reckon a modest 600Hp on the rear wheels is easily achieved!!!!
Well, I think I know what to do already - seems nobody has taken this route yet, so I will keep you guys posted as to what the best mods are on the C320 Auto.
I know that the C230 coupe weighs more than the C230 sport sedan, I would imagine that the same holds true for the v6. Add the 70 or so pounds for the pano roof and the coupe is definatly heavier.
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