Power increase?

[Niks]

Are there any basic tweaks or modifications that can be done to a M104 3.2 to give more power without having to go down the turbo route? Im really impressed with its power and torque delivery, its very addictive! Just wondered if there is something more that can be done.

 

[carat 3.6]

Dose your engine have the air pump fitted?

 

[Niks]

Is the air pump for AC? If so, yes

 

[carat 3.6]

No not the ac pump, the air pump lives by the alternator on the drivers side of the engine, has a small metal pipe leading up into the cylinder head.

Looks like this...

 

[Niks]

Im not sure, I'll have to check it in the morning. What is its function and how will that effect the power? I presume your implying about removing it or something?

 

[carat 3.6]

Yes, removing it will give you an increase in power. It's function is to do with the emissions, it pumps clean air into the exhaust ports. Boilde can tell you more about the pro's and con's of removing this.

A few other ideas would be to remove the cat from the exhaust, fit a decent backbox (like a remus part), fit a k&n pannel filter in the airbox, and if your engine has the old cast exhaust manifolds change them for the latter stainless steel items.

It can get pricey if you want to go further than the above mods....

 

[Niks]

That would be interesting to know the pro's and con's of removing it.

Isn't it illegal to remove the cat as its required for MOT purposes? I have an original AMG backbox on it. Do you have any recommendations or links for stainless steel manifolds?

I appreciate your suggestions

 

[carat 3.6]

Do your manifolds look like this:

Or this:

As for the cat, the way round the mot problem is to weld the outer casing of the cat over a straight peice of exhaust tube.

 

[Niks]

The latter

 

[carat 3.6]

The latter

In that case you allready have the better manifolds fitted. You could get some tubular, equal length manifolds made up but it wont be cheap.

 

[d w124]

Why did you go from a 2.8 to a 3.2 I`ll never understand!!Something like this would have been the way to go Mercedes C36 AMG 1995 3.6 Spares Repair | eBay

 

[walsi]

Why did you go from a 2.8 to a 3.2 I`ll never understand!!Something like this would have been the way to go Mercedes C36 AMG 1995 3.6 Spares Repair | eBay

Poor bugger, how unlucky can you be

Martin

 

[Niks]

Why did you go from a 2.8 to a 3.2 I`ll never understand!!Something like this would have been the way to go Mercedes C36 AMG 1995 3.6 Spares Repair | eBay

Don't worry, there's always a sensible reason

 

[carat 3.6]

Something like this would have been the way to go Mercedes C36 AMG 1995 3.6 Spares Repair | eBay

It still can be, throw in some bit's from an old bmw m5, a remapped ecu, and your good for 350hp

 

[d w124]

It still can be

After him buying a wiring loom for his 3.2 engine I think he`s gona have to stick with what`s there

 

[d w124]

Don't worry, there's always a sensible reason

Which is why I gave up giving you advice you had a donor 320 and did not even swap the brakes

 

[Niks]

The 3.2 is not going anywhere

Oh no I totally forgot about the brakes, no wonder my car doesn't stop as good as it used to. Maybe because of a big brake kit on the way.

 

[millo777]

A few dumb additional questions.

I'm assuming from the comments that the car will still pass emmissions tests without the cat? perhaps just a tank of shell V power and an Italian tune up required?

Re the secondary air pump, I'm assuming these weren't fitted in all markets and MB have part numbers for belts to fit car without these? This is actually more related to my w140 which has a fault code for one of the secondary air injection pumps and I'd rather take them both off than replace the faulty one, though any extra power/economy on the w124 is welcome.

 

[d w124]

Going OT here Nick but just wondered if this was any good to you Mercedes C E S Class 91-00 Steering Wheel Black Leather Wood Wooden Part Worn | eBay

 

[Niks]

A few dumb additional questions.

I'm assuming from the comments that the car will still pass emmissions tests without the cat? perhaps just a tank of shell V power and an Italian tune up required?

Re the secondary air pump, I'm assuming these weren't fitted in all markets and MB have part numbers for belts to fit car without these? This is actually more related to my w140 which has a fault code for one of the secondary air injection pumps and I'd rather take them both off than replace the faulty one, though any extra power/economy on the w124 is welcome.

From what I know regarding the cat, cars which originally came with cats from factory and were removed at a later date, need to have them put back on again for an MOT test, otherwise its an automatic fail? Don't quote me on that, but thats what I have heard, I stand to be corrected though.

I don't have a clue about the air pumps, it was news to me when I read about it yesterday. A member called Bolide could shed some more light on it if he comes across this thread, as I am very interested to know the pro's and con's of removing it.