Video clips and close-up of König supercharger kit

[500AMM]

Hello.

Upon request from members, I‘ve put together some information on my ’92 supercharged 6.0 AMG. This is aging technology, although todays supercharging hasn’t evolved that much in principle. This kit was installed back in 1996 by König-Specials in München, and it remains more or less as installed. I was on phone with Walter König prior to purchase of the car, and he told they’ve done only a few installations on the 036. They turned the pistons to lower the compression and “reprogrammed the ECU” to accommodate the A/F ratio and ignition timing. I have no details on what that ECU tweak implied.

The supercharger sounds a bit noisy due to my tiny camera, but it's not that screaming in reality. The fan is also blowing on the camera mic. The supercharger makes a "grinding" noise on idling, which worried me a lot when I inspected the car during purchase/pick-up. Later on is this confirmed to be normal by experienced people. König-Specials used the largest Albrex supercharger in their kits and the boost is 0,35 bar (5 Psi). It is driven with a toothed Gates belt. It is mounted an additional idle roller on top of the belt, which is not so common on similar kits from the same time period. This roller increases the contact sector on the supercharger pulley and enhance the grip and prevents belt slipping, and extend the belt lifetime of course. The tensioner roller is mechanical, but the solution and bad access makes it a real PITA to adjust, I guess I'll modify that at some point. You'll notice some belt wandering on the crank pulley on quick revving. The crank pulley and the tensioner roller has leading edges, and I'm quite sure the belt would derail if that wasn't present. About midway in the first video, I hold the engine at 3000 RPM for some seconds, everything runs smooth and the whining from the supercharger is acceptable. Towards the end I do some quick revs to 5.500 RPM

I don't have any exact numbers on it, but a sales ad following the documentation says 580hp and 780Nm. König-Specials has done supercharging on several M119 powered cars, and the 6.0s where listed to pull 520hp/730Nm. Walter König told all their installations has ran very well, and some of them has passed 100’ km without problems. That presupposed periodic maintenance, and the most crusial is to keep control of the cooling and oil temps. Due to the low boost in a big displacement, along with the M119 proven durability, it is a reliable and long lasting tuning. Later on it’s fitted an air/air intercooler on my car, so theoretically it could have the power stated in that sales ad. But again – I cannot confirm the numbers above, but it’s a good chance it still puts well above 500hp on the crank. I bought the car back in October 2007 and put approx. 6000km on it since then. In present moment it’s gone 88’ km with the supercharging, and it runs amazingly well after all these years!


Enjoy!



Viedo #1:
[video=youtube;Ehh_qb7FG14]

Video #2:
[video=youtube;Zy896jLfZwc]

 

[500AMM]

Some more pics.

The big blue unit looks like an airfilter box, but it's a cover only. The airfilter is shoehorned in close to the charger behind the headlight. The finish is not up to my preferences, with hose clamps pointing in all directions etc...but the whole shit works very well!

It is an additional water cooler inside the left wing, that's where all those crossing pipes are running. A remote oilcooler sits inside the right wing in front of the wheel. Behind the front spoiler is the tiny air/air intercooler, which is quite small for a 6.0 engine IMO. I guess a watercooled intercooler would be a better solution.

For the crank house breathing they have used an OE Mercedes-Benz cyclone filter which works great and keep the charger inlet dry and clean. The flusher can is replaced with a plastic bag type with integrated flusher motor. I've never seen that before but it works fine. It's located behind the ECU, and I don't find that as the most ideal location, so it will likely end up in the trunk at some point.

 

[Jelmer]

finally!

Thanks, what a sight to behold. How one can own such a beast and only drive 5000km with it in so many years is something I don't understand - I would drive it daily

Do you have a different radiator, by the way? I know you seem to have a fan that's made of plastic and not aluminum like ours, but it's also sitting much closer to the radiator than it is with me.

 

[500AMM]

finally!
Thanks, what a sight to behold. How one can own such a beast and only drive 5000km with it in so many years is something I don't understand - I would drive it daily

Well, I should gladly driven more with it, but the life didn't go the right way for some years. But I hope to get it registered this summer.

Do you have a different radiator, by the way? I know you seem to have a fan that's made of plastic and not aluminum like ours, but it's also sitting much closer to the radiator than it is with me.

I'm not sure about the radiator, but the fan is an other type of plastic.

 

[Randy Crooks]

That's a beautiful looking job but I'd be concerned about that noise,it seems to have an impeller touching metal somewhere.Are those blowers overdriven (Are there gears inside?) if so and they're straight cut gears that could make that sound but if not that doesn't sound right.

 

[500AMM]

That's a beautiful looking job but I'd be concerned about that noise,it seems to have an impeller touching metal somewhere.Are those blowers overdriven (Are there gears inside?) if so and they're straight cut gears that could make that sound but if not that doesn't sound right.

Randy, many thanks for the comment.

These chargers are overdriven with a gear ratio inside. On the Albrex it is a small belt, not cog wheels. Vortex uses the same configuration too. I underline that the sound is not that sharp in reality as on the video, and it hasn't changed over the 5000 km I've driven.

I haven't opened the gear housing, but I've inspected the compressor thoroughly and it is no bearing play, no axial movement, no interference between the impellers and housing, no visual imbalance. So to my understanding it is nothing wrong with the compressor. If you listen midway in the first clip when the engine runs at 3000 RPM, it sounds like the sharp sound is almost gone. But it is not gone, it has reached a frequency too high for the human hearing, just like a jet engine. However, I pay quite some attention to the sound in the charger. It's not many to ask for help on this, so it must be a self learning life, so far so good.

If you want a silent radial compressor you should consider an ASA; http://asasc.com/ They have a elegang design and they even have a freewheel solution. But I'm not sure how much boost they give and the range on them.

Cheers

 

[Jim]

The sound is not that sharp in reality as on the video, and it hasn't changed over the 5000 km I've driven.

I haven't opened the gear housing, but I've inspected the compressor thoroughly and it is no bearing play, no axial movement, no interference between the impellers and housing, no visual imbalance. So to my understanding it is nothing wrong with the compressor.

Arnt, Thanks for the interesting Post. Your camera seems to make good high resolution pictures.

You could do a frequency analysis to identify what is causing that noise. I think it should be possible to do the analysis from the sound track where the engine speed is known.

May be not worth the effort as you say it sounds worse on the Video and has not changed over 5000 km.

 

[500AMM]

Arnt, Thanks for the interesting Post. Your camera seems to make good high resolution pictures.

You could do a frequency analysis to identify what is causing that noise. I think it should be possible to do the analysis from the sound track where the engine speed is known.

May be not worth the effort as you say it sounds worse on the Video and has not changed over 5000 km.

Yes, that tiny pocket camera do in fact make good macro photos. I use it a lot, especially if I can't see due to access problems, just snap some photos and it's much better to plan blind jobs.

I have grown on the noise over the years, but I shall send these video clips to both Conrad Gruber (Albrex) and König Specials and hear their opinion.

Cheers

 

[need2speed]

Beautiful Arnt, thanks for sharing!

 

[500AMM]

Beautiful Arnt, thanks for sharing!

Thanks Dean.

It was pity you missed the test drive when you were over here in March, you were just ONE hour away from it, Dean...

 

[need2speed]

Yes, too bad the timing didn't work out for either of us :-( Still, if Norway gets decent snow in March some year, I may be back!

 

[Mikemcnair]

Amazing, and inspirational.

What additional things were needed for this additional power? Did you drop compression? Injectors? Plugs?

Ive not had a vehicle that I didn't turbo or supercharge in the past 15-20 yrs, so as a new 500E owner I am looking closely into forced induction. While I prefer a turbo, it appears these cars take better to a supercharger kit (as that's all I see on these cars)

What engine manegmet are you using also?

Thank you in advance for your reply, and what a beautiful setup you have!

-Michael

 

[J-Sauce]

I don't think it's necessarily because these cars "take better to a supercharger" that they are more often seen, but because remote turbo was not developed at the time most of these kits were designed. Also, it seems easier in general to just remove the reserve tanks and mount a supercharger than to find room elsewhere for a turbo. In race application (out of the w124 chassis) the M119 was indeed turbocharged. I think V8 cars in general are better supplemented by turbochargers since they already have great low end power, and the turbo will improve the upper range.

 

[Alpina]

the M119 was indeed turbocharged. I think V8 cars in general are better supplemented by turbochargers since they already have great low end power, and the turbo will improve the upper range.

I agree ,,, in the States many LSx owners are turbocharging their cars with STUNNING numbers

 

[500AMM]

Amazing, and inspirational.

What additional things were needed for this additional power? Did you drop compression? Injectors? Plugs?

Ive not had a vehicle that I didn't turbo or supercharge in the past 15-20 yrs, so as a new 500E owner I am looking closely into forced induction. While I prefer a turbo, it appears these cars take better to a supercharger kit (as that's all I see on these cars)

What engine manegmet are you using also?

Thank you in advance for your reply, and what a beautiful setup you have!

-Michael

Hello Michael.

Excuse me for my higly overdue response, sorry. (I'm slowly coming back on the board again.)

The additionals is mainly a supercharger kit from König Specials, used on the R129 and W140, plus some custom made parts due to the very restricted space in the W124 engine bay. The kit uses the largest radial supercharger from Albrex, mainly due to the product relability. The pistons are turned down to reduce compression, and the ECU is reprogrammed to add the extra soup. I have no information about the ignition, but the original parts are kept in place, so I guess it is stock.

J-sauce posted a good point about the M119-engines inherent properties, and adding more top end power due to the allready good low end torque they have. But I think turbo versus supercharger is more a practical issue on the 036. The engine bay is packed, and the exhaust turbo is a hot process while supercharging is a cold process, and it is enough heat under the hood already so supercharging suits fine. Radial superchargers do also work more like a exhaust turbo by giving more top end power compared to screw compressors. And it has never been developed any alternative screw compressors for the M119 anyway.

I've only heard about one twin turbo M119 engine in Sweden, said to produce 800hp, but I've never seen it and have no information about it. Maybe our swedish members know something? Should be nice if someone develop a remote turbo set-up for the 036. I guess a standalone EMS (engine management system) have to be used since the stock ECU wouldn't cope for more than max 600hp.

As for the König set-up, they seem to leave Mercedes at the moment, only left over items for sale there now. But I guess the Albrex set-up is still available since all jobs there are on request anyway.

Cheers

 

[Taxi Driver]

"I've only heard about one twin turbo M119 engine in Sweden, said to produce 800hp, but I've never seen it and have no information about it. Maybe our swedish members know sometning? Should be nice if someone develop a remote turbo set-up for the 036. I guess a standalone EMS (engine management system) have to be used since the stock ECU wouldn't cope for more than max 600hp".

Hi arnt, yeah a long long time ago I once spoke to the owner a Finnish guy living in Sweden, I would not even call that a 500E even if it started its life that way, butchered as it was with only one mindset, fit two big turbos any which way you can, quite high almost at header level, wonder if ever he ran w the hood on. Went like Hell yes for some time and I guess he managed to do a core meltdown in all of the pots! Heard the car is on the moon or somewhere in orbit.

No, turbo arnt, aint serious in anyway, on the other hand as I was thinking when yesterday I w the 500E chased a Porsche 4door don't even remember what they call them, on the highway to Stockholm, if ony I had had my 6liter I would have scared the shit out of him, AND if that does'nt do the job I would like to have a mechanically driven turbo under my belt, thank you very much, I think you gave the idea.

We have to have more from you on this issue, make it a sticky maybe, anyone. I think, from 6liter only step left is this kind of superch. Several years ago I looked into the possibility to hide a Lysholm Sweedish screwcharger but there is no room under the manifold/airbox so the König or the likes, way is the cheapest route to 100hp more,,Roger

 

[ccwan]

Hi all,
I'd like to share my R129 SL500 fitted with the Konig Special 6.0 Supercharge kit.

 

[Jlaa]

Hi all,
I'd like to share my R129 SL500 fitted with the Konig Special 6.0 Supercharge kit.
View attachment 191834

Very nice! 6 liters with boost! Is this in HK maybe? Is the last picture in front of a hotel at Pacific Place …. maybe? The Jaguar/Daimler
in the pictures is totally giving off HK vibes…

 

[gsxr]

Wow! That's on a later R129 with ME 1.0 injection. Does this setup retain the original Bosch engine management (ME 1.0), or does it have an aftermarket engine management system? Also, do you have any dyno data, or acceleration performance data from a GPS-based meter?

BTW, @ccwan - welcome to the forum!