Just thought I would share with you the results of my digging for reasonable priced performance parts for the 500E.

Renntech have just lowered their prices and now offer a chip for $650, and a carbon fibre airbox with K&N's for $950 and Muffler and ASR defeat are still pricey at $1790 and $985 respectively.

PAD offer cheaper items $250 (chip), $650 (airbox) and $475 (ASR defeat), but they are not as proven and the airbox is an exchange item. They also have a Remus muffler for $950.

AMG in Canada have a chip for $550 and airbox is $965, rear muffler is $2374.
(I have used an exchange rate of 1.45)

I wonder if any of the other rabid owners have any opinions on which are the best to go with. I'm leaning towards AMG because of the resale value, although the cheaper PAD ASR switch (because its unseen) makes sense.

David Hendy
'92 500E 59,000 miles

The AMG tune may be a bit more mild than the Renntech version but its quality is certainly top notch in any case. What kind of gains and other features does the AMG tune provide? I'd go for the AMG chip and the AMG airbox (I would assume a chip/airbox matched set tune would help that much more...) and skip the rear muffler all together. To get real gains you would need to do the whole exhaust system. Tuner exhausts are gawd-awful expensive. Since you have a 500E and want to tune the exhaust I'd get in with Lou N. and give his solution a try. You'd probably end up paying the same for a complete system that is tuner quality for what AMG/Renntech wants for just a cosmetic muffler. When it comes to ASR defeat, I might just try PAD. Just make sure it integrates with not only the stock parts, but the tuner gear as well. (can't think why it shouldn't, but there can always be annoying little "suprises" as complex as these cars are...)

Hope this helps...Lee

PS if you have a G-tech, some brass gonads, and some good/flat/deserted road you could order all 3 of the chips and test out which is the fastest. (then utilize the money back guarantee on the other two) We'd be happy to publish your results...

Lee

AMG say that the chip and airbox are worth 25hp, about the same as Renntech.

David Hendy

Jeez, do you think you'd even FEEL 25 hp? Doesn't sound like much for the cost...but hey, every little bit counts I suppose...

------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

Hopefully that is 25HP accross the board of the (way more than 25HP) power/temp variation that those cars are infamous for. Technically, 25HP is approx 7% of the 500E's 322 (rated) HP. That should be enough for a tenth or two. It would be interesting to see how the new engine management software deals with temp. Doubt they'd be able to help but if they could THAT would be a worthwile mod...

Hope this helps....Lee