I am looking for to buy modification parts for my 1993 500E from one place as a complete package. I don't mind to pay commission or premium but i want everything to be compatible. Its too complicated to get all from differences sources and
1. ECU chip (Renntech, Brabus, or modern programmable like VEMS / ECUMaster) with adaptable complete EFI system.
2. Cold-air intake & larger airbox snorkels
3. Exhaust headers and Full stainless 63.5 mm dual exhaust, H- or X pipe
4. Cams (AMG E60 or custom 268/260°)
5. Ported heads & high-flow valves
1. ECU chips make
zero power. Full stop. Ignore the RENNtech claims for chip/airbox power gains, those are 100% BS.
2. The stock airbox already is a cold air intake. Changing anything will make
zero additional power.
3a. Headers make
almost zero power and are a colossal waste of money. On a 6.0L engine, they may be worth single digit gains, like +5hp.
3b. Same with dual exhaust and H/X/Y/Z pipes.
ZERO gains. The stock exhaust is not a restriction on a 6L engine, and certainly not on a 5L.
4. Cams could make a little power. Maybe 10-15hp? MAYBE. Look into Dbilas and Hagmann regrinds. The ROI is pretty terrible here.
5. See #4 above. Even
worse ROI. Very small gains on a 5L engine. Big intake valves can help a 6L engine though.
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, offers what you are looking for above. The main reason is, Mercedes did a damned good job getting the most out of the 5.0L engine in stock form. Chips, intake, exhaust will get you almost nothing... meaning it would take a dyno to find the tiny gains, and you would
never feel it from the driver seat (except the placebo effect). No respectable tuner will sell what you want. Now, you might find a shady shop that tells you what you want to hear so they can lighten your wallet to the tune of $20k+ while returning maybe +20hp at most, with little to no gains in torque. Any reputable shop will tell you up front what I just wrote above. If they say anything else, run away. You've been warned.
Yes, cams and porting will add some power, but the cost will be insane. It is a ton of labor to pull the heads, then port/polish, and possibly even more $$$ if you want larger intake valves. The regrind cams may require different valve springs (more cost), and modifications to the lifters due to the reduced base circle. I think there's a reason none of the regrind camshaft vendors show dyno graphs before and after... they don't want you to know how small the gains are. I'd estimate cams, valves, and porting could cost you $10-$15k out the door and might get you 15-20hp at best. Up from ±325hp (stock 93 engine with '92 "WOT" LH module), to maybe 340-345hp (same as AMG E50 rated power), with hopefully no loss in torque.
If you want serious power, you need a 6.0L engine build. THAT will make a real difference. It's a huge increase in torque and you feel it every time you hit the throttle at low RPM, along with a healthy HP gain at high RPM also. Contact VÄTH Automobiltechnik GmbH to inquire about 6L conversions in EU.
Search the forum for past discussions on ALL of the above. There are old threads which go into much more detail. If you currently have a stock 1993 LH module, swapping to the 92 module will get you 10-12hp or so, from 315 up to 325-327hp. This is dyno proven (
click here). Don't expect much seat-of-the-pants gain, though... it only improves dragstrip performance by about 1 tenth ET and 1mph trap speed.
