W208 Engine Tuning ? Opinions from you wise people

[flango]

Hi Guys

Just got back off my hols and I am now into sorting SWMBO A8 and my W208. Just fitted 2 x sports cats to the A8 today on the rolling road tomorrow where I hope it will be the right side of 450 bhp and complete, so now onto my W208

Mods to be carried out over next few days, sport cat & new exhaust to fit, designed by Reigel Motorsport in Germany (DTM car tuner & exhaust suppliers) and built out of T304 stainless by a company in Sheffield.

Brabus brake discs (Cross drilled & grooved) Front and rear + OMP Pro pads and Goodridge stainless steel hoses.

So now to the serious mods I would like opinions on. As you probably all know there is little you can do to mapping an early W208 and what can be done has been done and car is currently running 231 bhp with the Brabus tuning kit. My thoughts now are as follows and to go back to old school tuning so the only way to screw some more power out of my humble 4 pot is to do some cylinder head work so I think it's time to port and polish the head,bigger valves and more aggressive cam. I have been talking to a few companies on this and it is possible and they think we can end up some where near or just over 250 bhp, so I currently have 3 options.

1. Cheapest option get the work done by Reigel Motorsport (DTM tuners) in Germany by shipping them a new head (which I have) they will do the work build up and ship back.
2. Same work done by Cosworth in UK but about 21% dearer than option 1.
3. Same work done by Brabus in Germany but 34% more expensive than option 1.
4. Don't bother with the head work leave it as it is.

So I would like to know what you wise people think

 

[BlackC55]

I would get the head work and cams done and then a more efficient intercooler. Re-locate the MAF too so it is nearer the throttle housing so is more responsive. Better thermal efficency gains good HP with forced induction.

And don't forget the ex manifold.

 

[flango]

I would get the head work and cams done and then a more efficient intercooler. Re-locate the MAF too so it is nearer the throttle housing so is more responsive. Better thermal efficency gains good HP with forced induction.

And don't forget the ex manifold.

Cheers Ollie

Car already has a bigger Brabus Intercooler from the K1s tuning package it has, not thought about relocating the MAF though thats a cracking idea, thanks for that. Exhaust manifold is also Brabus from the original build, I was tempted to change it, but it is still mint so thought I'd save a few pounds without compromising performance. Exhaust was full Brabus too but they no longer do one for my model year, Remus do a back box which is the same as Brabus but nothing in between, hence me getting riegel motorsport involved.

Will keep you updated on Mods, tempted to go with reigel motorsport for the head work, they have been top notch to deal with

 

[BlackC55]

..... The next step is some better management and possible some larger injectors if needed. Depends if their duty cycle is maxed out with the additional mods. The boost can be pushed up a little too. I know the bottom end will handle it. You may have to play with the comp ratio though. Then it gets ££

What about throttle boddies? Now there is an idea!

 

[flango]

..... The next step is some better management and possible some larger injectors if needed. Depends if their duty cycle is maxed out with the additional mods. The boost can be pushed up a little too. I know the bottom end will handle it. You may have to play with the comp ratio though. Then it gets ££

What about throttle boddies? Now there is an idea!

mmm like you say money can soon run away with mods! I think you are bang on better management is the key, question is, is it worth it on this car or should I get something more modern later and play with that. With the new head they reckon I am just within the limit of the injectors.I had assumed the bottom end could handle it as everyone said they are bomb proof

Throttle bodies, mmm as you say theres an idea

Hope the floor is going well

PS Love the pulleys BTW

 

[flango]

MOD update

OK this morning I have the opportunity to try the W208 on a test track, now I know the exhaust is not optimum and our remapper has some work to do on the ECU but it will be interesting to see where the car currently sits.

I will be using the Dynolicious App which you can see here LINKY although I appreciate it is not as good as a rolling road it does give surprisingly good results as confirmed by the media and tuners, from experience it always gives 3- 4% lower than a dyno run.

Last time I ran the W208 it turned in 226 bhp & 0 - 60 mph 7.1 secs, that was on Dynolicious on the Dyno it came out at 231 bhp

So we'll se how it goes this morning and I'll post back the results

 

[camerafodder]

Hi Guys

Just got back off my hols and I am now into sorting SWMBO A8 and my W208. Just fitted 2 x sports cats to the A8 today on the rolling road tomorrow where I hope it will be the right side of 450 bhp and complete, so now onto my W208

Mods to be carried out over next few days, sport cat & new exhaust to fit, designed by Reigel Motorsport in Germany (DTM car tuner & exhaust suppliers) and built out of T304 stainless by a company in Sheffield.

Brabus brake discs (Cross drilled & grooved) Front and rear + OMP Pro pads and Goodridge stainless steel hoses.

So now to the serious mods I would like opinions on. As you probably all know there is little you can do to mapping an early W208 and what can be done has been done and car is currently running 231 bhp with the Brabus tuning kit. My thoughts now are as follows and to go back to old school tuning so the only way to screw some more power out of my humble 4 pot is to do some cylinder head work so I think it's time to port and polish the head,bigger valves and more aggressive cam. I have been talking to a few companies on this and it is possible and they think we can end up some where near or just over 250 bhp, so I currently have 3 options.

1. Cheapest option get the work done by Reigel Motorsport (DTM tuners) in Germany by shipping them a new head (which I have) they will do the work build up and ship back.
2. Same work done by Cosworth in UK but about 21% dearer than option 1.
3. Same work done by Brabus in Germany but 34% more expensive than option 1.
4. Don't bother with the head work leave it as it is.

So I would like to know what you wise people think

Seems a lot of trouble to go to Ian for 20 horses. Are there any other alternatives that might yield a better return?

 

[flango]

Seems a lot of trouble to go to Ian for 20 horses. Are there any other alternatives that might yield a better return?

Nope, I'm hoping and pretty confident when I have finished that it will be running 270+ bhp which will be 77 horses up on the standard car giving a performance increase of 40% but I will be happy with anything the right side of 250 bhp and a significant decrease in 0 - 60 mph time

 

[flango]

Well here's the data and I am well chuffed 257 BHP :bannana::bannana::bannana:
Get the exhaust and map done and 270 BHP looks to be in sight

Acceleration

0-10 MPH:​

0.68 sec

0-20 MPH:​

1.48 sec

0-30 MPH:​

2.57 sec

0-40 MPH:​

3.52 sec

0-50 MPH:​

4.63 sec

0-60 MPH:​

6.24 sec

0-70 MPH:​

7.65 sec

0-80 MPH:​

9.37 sec

0-90 MPH:​

11.70 sec

Elapsed Time

60':​

2.37 sec​

@
27.7 MPH

330':​

6.30 sec​

@
59.0 MPH

1/8 mi:​

9.43 sec​

@
79.9 MPH

1000':​

12.12 sec​

@
92.6 MPH

1/4 mi:​

14.45 sec​

@
90.5 MPH

Miscellaneous




Max Speed:
96..9 MPH
Max Acceleration:
0.72 G's
Peak Horsepower:
257 HP


Generated by Dynolicious

So thats 60 BHP up on the standard car and 1 second off the 0 -60 mph time. I reckon the exhaust wiil give another 3 bhp and the map up to 10% on top of that

 

[Adam230K]

Very good!

This car is a manual right? If it is i'm sure I can jump in and get it in under 6 seconds..!!

Be aggressive on the clutch dumping and see if you can get it lower!

 

[flango]

Very good!

This car is a manual right? If it is i'm sure I can jump in and get it in under 6 seconds..!!

Be aggressive on the clutch dumping and see if you can get it lower!

You are right I'm been a little cautious as the head, cams, valves are all brand new so I'll give them a little chance to bed in before giving it full beans.

Yes it's manual and to be fair I'm not really dumping the clutch as I normally would so not to stress the new components.

I reckon it will be North of 270 BHP and sub 6 seconds when I've done

Which will make it quicker than the 430 V8 :bannana:

 

[flango]

Quick update

Car now back from exhaust centre new larger back box fitted to maintain torque and has quietened the car a little but it still has a nice growl.

Going to do the paint correction this weekend get her waxed up and shes ready to go and run the new set up in, will then get the remap done and put it on the dyno at the end of the month and see where we sit.

Will also run the dynolicious app so you can see what difference an optimised exhaust makes.

Will also post some pics of the bake upgrades etc..

Also diamond cut alloy wheel repaired, was dark when I got it back so not has chance to photograph it properly yet but will do at the weekend.

Will update further later