I've gone from Chevy to Mercedes and dont' know what to do!

1954 Views 19 Replies 9 Participants Last post by bensitto, May 6, 2003

UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · Mar 31, 2003

Just sold my 2001 Super Sport Camaro and bought a 2003 C320 Sport Sedan.

Now when it came to tunning and all that good stuff with the Camaro i'd say i was pretty knowledgable

Now with the 'cedes I am kind of like....what do I do now. With the Camaro there was a plethora of BPU's (basic power upgrades or "bolt ons"--dont know if you call them that too) like K&N filters, Air Lid, MAF sensor, throttle body and those kinds of things. Now when i lift the hood i cant even see the engine! and woudlnt dare touching it myslef.

I mean i figure after i tint the windows the next thing would be exhaust (been looking at Eisenman, Brabus, and a few others...opinions and sound clips would be great). And then I was looking at all the tunners (Brabus, Lorsinger, and what not). I really liked Brabus and i emailed them asking about a tunning package they have that would bump the HP to like 235 or something and they said it would be like 4-5K. I mean a 20 hp upgrade could be done for a few hundred dollars.

Basically, after tint and probably exhaust, where do I really go from there?

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JimB

· #2 · Mar 31, 2003

Hi UCSB! Congatulations on your new purchase C320 Sport Sedan I too is..

in the process of acquiring one, but I have to wait a little longer because mine is special order , due to Bi-Xenon and Tele-aid option. Do you mind e-mail me how much did you pay on yours and what pkg. and option you've got on your new toy?.
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and lastly Welcome on this board[

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UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 31, 2003

the fine print

Camaro WAS...
2001 Black SS(ram air) with white racing stripes ("Berger" style), stock 335 hp/350 ft lb, SLP exhaust, K&N filter, LS1 motorsports air lid, Granatelli MAF (mass air flow) sensor, Tbryne ported and polished MAF housing, Borla y pipe, leather, tint, fully loaded

NOW...
2003 C 320 Sport Sedan. Brilliant silver. Ash inserts. C2 package. 5 spd auto. 6 changer. 7 spoke style B. Pretty much everything i wanted, didnt like the dark leather so thats why i opted for insersts and really didnt have time to order the car or i would have got the illuminated door seals but thats something i can order later, like headlights and chrome lamp rings and stuff. total sticker price came out to just a hair over 40, but family does a lot of business with Stahl Mercedes in Monterey so they kicked it down to like 37

JimB

· #4 · Mar 31, 2003

thanks for the quick response....$37K is a very good price..

Mine about the same.... close to 38K due to Bi-xenon and Tele-Aid. Thanks man, I can't wait to get mine.[

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UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 1, 2003

i know you are looking at this

post has over 30 views but only 1 person commented. Cant anyone give insight on the tuning questions i had?

JimB

· #6 · Apr 1, 2003

yeah ucsb. i think you and I is the only member at this time;-(

to tell you the thruth "C" site isn't much traffic like ML or SLK, I been on this board for quite sometimes now but I haven't read anyone who upgrade their 320 to increase power. I don't think tuning for our engine is not available yet..unless you will go for the Rentech, or Lorinser or even Brabus, but IMHO I won't do it first I'm old to do those thing I'm not young anymore, secondly it going to cost me arm and legs....just my .02 cent[

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intakex

· #7 · Apr 1, 2003

wait are those prices out the door? what packages did you guys get? mine was an alabaster ...

wait are those prices out the door? what packages did you guys get? mine was an alabaster white/charcoal c4, c2, and cd changer. msrp was $39995. before disclosing how much i got it for, can you guys please state?

JimB

· #8 · Apr 1, 2003

OK, mine is Bordeux Red + C2,C4,CD and Teleaid for...

a little over 38K + CA tax and license.

UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 1, 2003

Re: wait are those prices out the door? what packages did you guys get? mine was an alabaster

wait are those prices out the door? what packages did you guys get? mine was an alabaster white/charcoal c4, c2, and cd changer. msrp was $39995. before disclosing how much i got it for, can you guys please state?

packages and stuff listed above. msrp was just over 40 and only paid a hair over 38

paquito

· #10 · Apr 1, 2003

Just a humble question ...

If you like Camaro-style tuning ... why on earth did you buy...

Just a humble question ...

If you like Camaro-style tuning ... why on earth did you buy a Mercedes sedan?

While both certainly have their attractions, I couldn't imagine any two concepts which are farther apart.

My two bits: drive the car for a while and wait with optical add-ons until you're sure you still want them (most of them would depress the re-sale value of the car).

As for engine tuning - keep away from cheap 20 HP upgrades ("chip tuning"). All they do is void your factory warranty.

Furthermore, in Europe they tell you that "chipped" engines require high-octane fuel, which is n.a. in NA. I drive my (unchipped) 240 on 99 octane fuel and get about the same (marginal) power gain as with a chip.

My best recommendation: try to love the car as it is. Or go for some classy rims - that can easily be reversed if you change your mind later.

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UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 1, 2003

ahh the camaro

I got the camaro for my 17th bday and now that I am apporaching 19 i decided i'd rather do a lil bit of luxury so i got the benz...i wanted a CLK but i have to wait till i am 21 i guess. not complaining about the car at all...i am just trying to get more info about the different tunnign worlds.

paquito

· #12 · Apr 1, 2003

OK, I get you. I didn't realise you were that young.

In Europe we haven't reached that...

OK, I get you. I didn't realise you were that young.

In Europe we haven't reached that standard of living yet (I got my first Benz at 52, and couldn't have afforded one (new) before I crossed the 40 line, although I wasn't doing that badly - but cars are also much more expensive over here, with taxes and all that).

I suppose you won't be happy with the car as it is. But take it easy, nevertheless. If you want to switch to a CLK in two years, you'll need to sell this car, and that would be difficult with rallye stripes and the like.

Your best bet for exterior changes is AMG - costly, but available also on regular models and therefore valued by second-hand buyers. Other top brand tuners like Carlsson, Brabus & Co. should also be appreciated by younger drivers.

And, again, don't waste money on cheap aftermarket engine fixes: they'll do not much more than void the warranty (and if your engine happens to die prematurely - not necessarily because of the chip, but you won't be able to prove that - it would really cost you a packet).

A K&N filter should do no harm to the car, but you won't feel the difference either.

Small changes like 17'' rims or a sports exhaust system would do no harm either, but you already got them with the sports package.

I suppose I can't really help you there. But enjoy the car - it was a superb choice!

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UCSBmercedes

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 2, 2003

happy....very

I am very happy with the car even as is. I would be content leaving it like so (save having non tinted windows, i HATE it when a car doenst haven tinted windows). But yah i am well aware that I am not going to have the power which my SS used to unleash

I am going down to New Port Beach which isnt too far and talk to Brabus and see what kind of thing they could do with their body package and maybe some slight tunning....nothing like the 400hp i had in my baby

lorinsercclass

· #14 · Apr 2, 2003

This is what you do. Since you are in the so cal area, you can hit up . They sell an und...

This is what you do. Since you are in the so cal area, you can hit up evosport.com . They sell an underdrive pulley kit for only 599-it adds like 10-12 HP. If you can afford more go for a Kleeman supercharger, I believe it is like 8K w/o install but you will have a HUGE HP gain. Add a nice exhaust and you pretty much are set performance wise. I wouldn't mess w/chips-seems to um, complicated. Make sure you add wheels and a kit though. And don't forget a Euro Comand-which is factory nav and enables you to watch dvd while your car is in motion. Add a C32 brake upgrade-just a tad bit smaller than the Brembo kit(but made by same company). Dude I can go on and on. Here is one thing though. Take your times w/the mods. I did everything in like 3 months(but I've had the car 4 2yrs), and I feel like I kinda sucked the fun out of it too quick. One of the only things left for me to do are the exhaust and supercharger. But either way enjoy your car man. At 20 you will be pimping around SB in a MERCEDES, fixed up or not!! If you need anything else give me a holler.

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hawaiibenz

· #15 · Apr 6, 2003

there are a couple of tuning firms in socal too...

Aside from Brabus in Newport, there is also Dazz Motorsports www.dazzmotorsports.com (Baldwin Park) CEC www.cecwheels.com (Century City) along with Wheel Power www.wheelpower.com (Huntington Beach) and Sprewell Racing www.sprewellracing.com (San Gabriel... old Dazz location) that carry big names like Lorinser, MAE, Brabus, AMG, Remus, Supersprint, Brembo... etc etc etc...

hawaiibenz

· #16 · Apr 6, 2003

ah...

By the way, I'll be in SB for Bimmerfest this upcoming weekend [

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Oh, and another "young un" on the forum... nice... I'm 19...

pokerface x

· #17 · Apr 6, 2003

i wonder how the blue tinted windows look when aftermarket tints are added [?][?][?]

...

i wonder how the blue tinted windows look when aftermarket tints are added [?][?][?]

..also remember to get moleskin liners for your windows or else the hardplastic will scratch the tint.

paquito

· #18 · Apr 7, 2003

Re:
i wonder how the blue tinted windows look when aftermarket tints are added [?][?][?]

i wonder how the blue tinted windows look when aftermarket tints are added [?][?][?]

They might look like the question marks above, if you combine them with green tints. Maybe you can get something which is just dark (i.e. charcoal).

I envy you for all the sunshine you get in SoCal. [8D] No need for additional tints over here.[|)]

Drew

· #19 · Apr 7, 2003

Depends on what sort of tint...

i wonder how the blue tinted windows look when aftermarket tints are added [?][?][?]

..also remember to get moleskin liners for your windows or else the hardplastic will scratch the tint.

I've seen aftermarket blue tint added and it matches the windows very nicely.

Moleskin is just about impossible to find in Vancouver, BTW. 3M Trimline in Vancouver claims to have done many MBzs without moleskin without any problems. I can't find anyone who has experience with it here, so I guess I'm going to have to take a chance.

bensitto

· #20 · May 6, 2003

If you are looking for more HP you'll need mad $$

KLEEMANN and RENNTECH
Have serious upgrades available. if all you need is 235HP you might want to go with a new airbox and exhaust. If you are looking for 250HP add a chip.

Here's a pic of mine. The Eisenmann made a difference. I felt more power right away after getting it installed. New airbox is next for me but don't know which one to go with...

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