[OLD THREAD] Some W124036 Mods

[gerryvz]

12-01-2008 02:57 PM #1
need2speed

Join Date: Dec 2008

Posts7

Just to start things off, here is a list of mods to my car. Anyone contemplating similar items feel free to ask questions, and those with experience please share!
Dean

1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 W124.036

Mods:
K&N air filters
Timevalve Y-pipe
Middle-east spec OE cat-delete straight pipe (124 490 19 20)
1992 LH-Jetronic module with WOT enrichment (014 545 17 32)
EVO II 17x8.25 aluminum rims (B6 647 00 84)
Goodyear F1 all season 245/45-17 tires
Garmin III+ GPS w/windshield-mount antenna
H&R lowering springs (29855)
Bilstein Sport front struts (V36-0365)
MB Silver Arrow 334x32 front calipers (001 420 99 83/002 420 00 83)
Silver Arrow 300x22 rear calipers (129 423 03 98/129 423 04 98)
Cryo-treated Silver Arrow cross-drilled rotors (129 421 23 12/129 423 05 12)
WRXtra stainless brake lines
Renntech swaybar
AMG aluminum pedals (HWA 124 300 00 01)
Aussie Max-Plus keyless remote
Cool Harness radiator fan relay
Osram Hyper halogen 70/65w bulbs
RDM TEK 5mm shortened rear lower control arm
RDM TEK front adjustable camber plates
Euro-spec OE oil cooler (140 500 00 00, yet to be installed)

Diane and I enjoy Open Road Rallying (ORR) and have competed twice in the Silver State Classic, once in the Nevada Open Road Challenge and most recently in the 2007 Pony Express 130 near Reno. Our top speed was a GPS-measured 157mph.

Race equipment:
Roll bar, Guyon Racing custom 4-point bolt-in
Halon 3lb fire extinguisher
IO/Port camera mount and helmet hooks
Recaro SRD racing seats
Wedge Engineering seat adapters
G-Force open-face helmet
G-Force 5-point harness with cam release
Speed Sport nomex 1-piece racing suit and gloves
Simpson nomex racing shoes and socks
Dana Design CarbonX underwear
OZ Racing Futura 17x8.5 3-piece rims
Michelin Pilot Sport 245/45-17 tires
​

http://500eboard.com/forums2/editpost.php?p=23&do=editpost


12-01-2008 05:57 PM #2
battlecat714

Join Date: Dec 2008
LocationOrangeCounty|LosAngeles

Posts3

wow, great mods. Any pics?
​

 

[500 DXB]

Hey Gerry this is great stuff above and I wanted to ask you a few questions on the below:

Mods:
K&N air filters - you find a good increase in HP maybe 2-3hp?
Timevalve Y-pipe - what is this and any benefits from it?
Middle-east spec OE cat-delete straight pipe (124 490 19 20) - as my car is based in Dubai I would love to run a system like this. Can you give me more details on it?
H&R lowering springs (29855) - does this affect the ride quality much, plenty of speed bumps here so trying to keep my springs standard
Renntech swaybar - a worthwhile investment?
Aussie Max-Plus keyless remote - is actually would be really important to me as the infra red on my car needs replaced and factory has stopped making the system any more details on it would be fantastic, thanks and best regards

 

[gerryvz]

Hopefully Dean (Need2Speed) who wrote that can answer those questions.

It's been debated whether the K&N air filters add HP. I do not believe they add a measurable level of HP. I prefer factory/stock filters. No maintenance required.

The Timevalve Y-pipe very likely adds a couple of HP due to less restriction. It also adds a throatier sound and reduces vehicle weight by a little bit.

No experience with the cat-delete straight pipe.

No experience with lowering springs on the 036 (though I do have experience with Eibach lowering springs on my 560SEC).

RENNtech swaybar - no experience (yet).

Aussie Max keyless remote - I've heard great things about this product, very easy to integrate and effective.

Hopefully Dean can add some color commentary.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

K&N air filters - you find a good increase in HP maybe 2-3hp?

Expect zero power gain and you'll receive it.

Timevalve Y-pipe - what is this and any benefits from it?

This replaces the middle muffler (resonator), worth 0-3hp maybe, mostly it just drops about 15 lbs in weight (click here).

Middle-east spec OE cat-delete straight pipe (124 490 19 20) - as my car is based in Dubai I would love to run a system like this. Can you give me more details on it?

Don't expect any power gain from this either, at least not with a 5.0L engine, click here for photos.

H&R lowering springs (29855) - does this affect the ride quality much, plenty of speed bumps here so trying to keep my springs standard

Personally I wouldn't lower the car at all (other than perhaps a few mm by using thinner spring pads), but this is a personaly choice. I had H&R's on my '92 and ended up removing them, and re-installing the stock springs. Took months to find someone to take the H&R's off my hands.

Renntech swaybar - a worthwhile investment?

It does reduce body roll up front noticeably, but could result in understeer if you drive the car hard and/or take it on the racetrack. I have one on my '94 and I do like it though. Spendy at $600 USD...!

Aussie Max-Plus keyless remote - is actually would be really important to me as the infrared on my car needs replaced and factory has stopped making the system any more details on it would be fantastic, thanks and best regards

The factory no longer makes the IRCL syste? Bummer!! Aussie Max-Plus website link below:
http://mbkeylessentry.com/ordernow.html

 

[Jelmer]

Slightly off-topic, but is there an alternative to the Aussie Max-Plus kit? It states on the site "Sorry ..... NO convenience control is not supported.", which makes it a no-go for me.

 

[gsxr]

Slightly off-topic, but is there an alternative to the Aussie Max-Plus kit? It states on the site "Sorry ..... NO convenience control is not supported.", which makes it a no-go for me.

Not sure I understand... could you explain what you mean?

 

[Jelmer]

Well, I have no remote locking at the moment, so I'm looking around to see what's available. I do want the remote locking to engage the convenience control system. In other words: when I press the "lock" button, I want it to close the windows and sunroof.

The Aussie Max-Plus kit doesn't do that; so then I'd prefer to keep using the key

 

[gsxr]

Ah, I see. I dunno, on most of my cars, the factory "convenience" system isn't very convenient, it almost never works (i.e., it won't roll up all the windows, nor roll them down, when you hold the key to lock or unlock position). Other than swapping the main control unit (which didn't fix the problem) I haven't seriously tried to find the problem, but it affects at least 3 of my cars... very annoying.

 

[Jelmer]

Ouch, that sucks. My previous alarm system *did* engage the convenience system properly. It felt really awesome to walk away from the car, press the remote, see the lights blink and see the windows go up and the sunroof close up from a distance Too bad that alarm system is toast....

 

[gerryvz]

Can't you just get another new / more modern alarm system and splice it in to the connections that the old system used ?!?

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Jelmer]

I'll ask, but judging by the stack of cables they pulled out, none of the wiring is still there. And besides, I don't care much for an alarm system, I just want to be able to open/close the doors remotely

 

[gerryvz]

I still think your best bet is going to be to get an alarm. Just don't connect the alarm functions is all. There may even be some types of keyless entry systems out there that are basically de-featured alarm systems.