Credit crunch modifications

[Wheelsofsteel]

Hi to you all! I'm new to the club and if I'm regurgitating old threads, then do forgive me.
I recently acquired 1996 W202 C180 (auto, of course). I've already upgraded the wheels to 17" AMG'S with 245/45/17 tyres. My predicament lies in the fact that performance of the car feels what can only be described as asthmatic on acceleration. Do any of you have any ideas what modifications I can consider to improve the acceleration .....remember don't want to get my pants pulled down by my insurance company. Help!!!!!!!!!

 

[NW_Merc]

Hi to you all! I'm new to the club and if I'm regurgitating old threads, then do forgive me.
I recently acquired 1996 W202 C180 (auto, of course). I've already upgraded the wheels to 17" AMG'S with 245/45/17 tyres. My predicament lies in the fact that performance of the car feels what can only be described as asthmatic on acceleration. Do any of you have any ideas what modifications I can consider to improve the acceleration .....remember don't want to get my pants pulled down by my insurance company. Help!!!!!!!!!

You could invest in a 'Sprint booster' that may help. Doesn't modify your engine but gives it a better throttle response. Alot of members have them on here.

 

[Will]

Hi there and welcome

You might want to check those tyres sizes - they sound too big for a W202.

Should be a 40 profile with a 245 tyre on a 17" rim (ie, 245/40/17) or 225/45/17.

You're best of really enjoying your car as it is, and if you feel the need for more performance, upgrading to a larger engine at a later date. Unfortunately the C180 isn't going to offer you very much in terms of performance (it's the smallest engine offered for a W202), so bearing in mind the price of these cars it'll be much cheaper and more sensible to trade up to something like a 230 Kompressor model for not a lot more cash in the future.

Just enjoy it for now and see how you go

Will

 

[Big_Jon]

I think you are very limited with the 1.8 lump, I had one come in as a p/x in esprit trim and it was lethargic to say the least.

My advice, as previously mentioned, would be to go for a C230 Kompressor, I have a sport (auto) and it is very quick considering the weight of the car.

Mine is a '99 and has done 157,000 miles now, still drives as new and cost me the laugahably cheap sum of £875 from the auction.

Dont know the mileage etc on your but even if its a bit leggy its going to be worth enough to get you near a decent Kompressor.

The only negative is insurance, I am 29, with no points, and if I wasnt on my trade policy the cheapest I could insure mine for was £1400

 

[gina2201]

The only negative is insurance, I am 29, with no points, and if I wasnt on my trade policy the cheapest I could insure mine for was £1400

Really? I'm 23, 3 points and a(small) accident Fully compfor £500! for a 99 C230k.

I would agree and go for a bigger engine, I've had 3 w202's now, first a c200 which was ample, and was an auto, but after having a c230k manual, first was a 1996, sold that and now have a newer one. I found mine on good old ebay, for a good price

 

[Big_Jon]

Problem for me gina is that the minute I say I am a car dealer, they load the premium like nobodies business.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Really? I'm 23, 3 points and a(small) accident Fully compfor £500! for a 99 C230k.

Thats because your a woman, we have Man tax!

 

[Big_Jon]

Thats because your a woman, we have Man tax!

Sexism it is, pure sexism, lets start a revolution

 

[grober]

Buy a "sleeper" that's a car that somehow has got under the insurance radar or one that's popular with "safe motorists" so has a good insurance claim record against it. Unfortunately they tend to be pretty "uninteresting" on the surface. Some of the turbo SAABS come to mind--- indecent " in gear" performance for the money and with the threatened demise of the parent company they'll will be giving them away.

 

[Smiley]

Hi to you all! I'm new to the club and if I'm regurgitating old threads, then do forgive me.
I recently acquired 1996 W202 C180 (auto, of course). I've already upgraded the wheels to 17" AMG'S with 245/45/17 tyres. My predicament lies in the fact that performance of the car feels what can only be described as asthmatic on acceleration. Do any of you have any ideas what modifications I can consider to improve the acceleration .....remember don't want to get my pants pulled down by my insurance company. Help!!!!!!!!!

swap it for a c280 - completely different car and power delivery.

 

[aziz]

my advice is dont tuch any thing under bonet unles u will find some 1 whom knw wat hes doing ...bcoz iv learn from my x190e some 1 massed and cost me alot ...now i have c230 k sport and 190e 2.3 cosworth....

 

[stwat]

my advice is dont tuch any thing under bonet unles u will find some 1 whom knw wat hes doing ...bcoz iv learn from my x190e some 1 massed and cost me alot ...now i have c230 k sport and 190e 2.3 cosworth....

Can someone please translate that, as im totally lost???

 

[lynall]

Someone touched his car who didnt know what they were doing and buggered it up.

I would say first stop step and i know its boring is a good service, but if its been serviced recently you wont notice much if any difference.

I have always said if you can notice your car is better after a service you have left it to long between services.

Air filter and new plugs and leads will give the most but unless old ones totally dead you again wont notice much difference.



Lynall

 

[Adam230K]

Really? I'm 23, 3 points and a(small) accident Fully compfor £500! for a 99 C230k.

I would agree and go for a bigger engine, I've had 3 w202's now, first a c200 which was ample, and was an auto, but after having a c230k manual, first was a 1996, sold that and now have a newer one. I found mine on good old ebay, for a good price

thats so unfair... i'm 23 with 4years ncd protected, no points and 1 accident (protection took the hit) and i pay £610...

 

[Adam230K]

Hi to you all! I'm new to the club and if I'm regurgitating old threads, then do forgive me.
I recently acquired 1996 W202 C180 (auto, of course). I've already upgraded the wheels to 17" AMG'S with 245/45/17 tyres. My predicament lies in the fact that performance of the car feels what can only be described as asthmatic on acceleration. Do any of you have any ideas what modifications I can consider to improve the acceleration .....remember don't want to get my pants pulled down by my insurance company. Help!!!!!!!!!

Hi and wlecome to the forum,

If your insurance etc cant stretch a 230k, trade in for a c200, it isn't a ferrari but it is a better option than the 180 and slightly more fun too.

 

[Wheelsofsteel]

Cheers for all of your advice guys. As I've just shelled out on new rims, maybe I will upgrade to a kompressor, then. Thanx!
I'll keep te wheels though

 

[Dieselman]

Are the new rims either larger diameter or heavier the the previous ones, if so they will remove even more performance from the car.

 

[Wheelsofsteel]

Hi there and welcome

You might want to check those tyres sizes - they sound too big for a W202.

Should be a 40 profile with a 245 tyre on a 17" rim (ie, 245/40/17) or 225/45/17.

You're best of really enjoying your car as it is, and if you feel the need for more performance, upgrading to a larger engine at a later date. Unfortunately the C180 isn't going to offer you very much in terms of performance (it's the smallest engine offered for a W202), so bearing in mind the price of these cars it'll be much cheaper and more sensible to trade up to something like a 230 Kompressor model for not a lot more cash in the future.

Just enjoy it for now and see how you go

Will

Yeah, sorry my mistake. That should have read 205/45/17. Cheers for the advice!

 

[SilverSaloon]

thats so unfair... i'm 23 with 4years ncd protected, no points and 1 accident (protection took the hit) and i pay £610...

you're mods on your car probably push up the premium?

 

[Will]

Yeah, sorry my mistake. That should have read 205/45/17. Cheers for the advice!

205/45/17 is too small!

Will