E300 Turbo Diesel Estate

[ibosscat]

My E300 has been chipped so for a diesel is now quite a quick car. My problem is roundabouts and fast cornering. My Merc agent informs me that all springs / shockabsorbers are in good state. What can I change to improve road holding without loosing the ride quality.

 

[clive williams]

My E300 has been chipped so for a diesel is now quite a quick car. My problem is roundabouts and fast cornering. My Merc agent informs me that all springs / shockabsorbers are in good state. What can I change to improve road holding without loosing the ride quality.

hi Bosscat,

Our E320CDI Avantgarde Estate is also chipped and I have said in the past has ponderous handling. The handling especially and the grip has been significantly improved with the fitment of the Ultrac tryes (see separate thread). When I get a chance I will investigate the state of the front rollbar bushes, then on to the rest of the car to tweak it to respond better. I'm not expecting anything particularly agile as its not that sort of vehicle. Keep us briefed and I'm sure that we can come up with some cost effective solutions.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[jberks]

On the chipping front chaps - any of you informed your ins co?

Just wondering as I tried to ask mine how they felt but everyone I spoke to or mailed turned out to be too thick to understand the concept. I sent urls, screen shots and detailed explanations to their questions but it was clearly too complex for their puny brains and they just went quiet. Presumably my insurance co uses the same HR policies as the Inland Revenue - namely, never employ anyone who has the vaguest understanding of what your customer is doing. that way they can pontificate and use inbecilic arguments against you without the stress of feeling guilty.

I came to the conclusion that if I did chip it, I'd just keep quiet. How did you fare - or didn't you?

 

[clive williams]

On the chipping front chaps - any of you informed your ins co?

Just wondering as I tried to ask mine how they felt but everyone I spoke to or mailed turned out to be too thick to understand the concept. I sent urls, screen shots and detailed explanations to their questions but it was clearly too complex for their puny brains and they just went quiet. Presumably my insurance co uses the same HR policies as the Inland Revenue - namely, never employ anyone who has the vaguest understanding of what your customer is doing. that way they can pontificate and use inbecilic arguments against you without the stress of feeling guilty.

I came to the conclusion that if I did chip it, I'd just keep quiet. How did you fare - or didn't you?

You've met my insurers! I finally explained that the chip was a TuV (where's me umlaut??) approved fuel optimisation unit fitted primarily to enhance fuel efficiency. Now that did confuse them and they gave up.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[clive williams]

J Berks,

Have you checked the claims for your motor? If memory serves the improvement is much less than on our straight sixes. Must be that the later engines are more efficient.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

J Berks,

Have you checked the claims for your motor? If memory serves the improvement is much less than on our straight sixes. Must be that the later engines are more efficient.

Clive

I have just been onto the Superchips website.

The straight 6 320CDI gets +32bhp and +62Nm of torque.
The V6 320CDI gets +37bhp and +70Nm of torque.
The straight 5 270CDI gets +34bhp and +117Nm of torque.

Sorry Clive but the 270 seems to get the BIGGEST improvement with a huge jump in torque, although quite how the drivetrain is supposed to handle a 30% increase in torque I haven't a clue.

Damn, they don't list figures for the 270/316CDI Sprinter ;-)

 

[Bolide]

My E300 has been chipped so for a diesel is now quite a quick car. My problem is roundabouts and fast cornering. My Merc agent informs me that all springs / shockabsorbers are in good state. What can I change to improve road holding without loosing the ride quality.

This is a topic that has been debated at length and there are as many opinions as there are possible solutions

It's possible to reduce the amount of body roll, and hence make the car seem to handle better, by uprating the anti-roll bars, the springs or both. But the amount of roll, and the rate at which the car rolls, is dictated by the weight, suspension travel, spring & antiroll bar rates, tyre sidewall flexibility, roll centre and the way you approach corners. It's not an easy task to "improve" a standard suspension setup. Normally you just push the compromise away from comfortable towards less comfortable

If there's a stiffer setup offered on your car (you don't say what model it is) then I thnk that'd be the first thing to explore. That and/or stiffer antiroll bars would be what I'd look at. Thicker ARBs give less roll at the expense of a choppier ride across lateral ridges and increased understeer

You might find that the best investment would be a few hours with a really good instructor. They could show you how to make the car ride flatter by changing the way you drive

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[jberks]

I have just been onto the Superchips website.
The straight 5 270CDI gets +34bhp and +117Nm of torque.

- yes it's rather tempting!

Sorry Clive but the 270 seems to get the BIGGEST improvement with a huge jump in torque, although quite how the drivetrain is supposed to handle a 30% increase in torque I haven't a clue.

I assume that the 270 5 speed box, diff etc are pretty much the same units as the 320, in which case as this gives the 270 the same performance as the 320 and I'd be ok. I guess if you drove like a nutter something may give earler but hopefully its all built to handle it.

 

[ibosscat]

E300 Diesel

Many thanks for suggestions;Answers to some of the replys:
1] The model of the car is the Avantgarde
2] Yes insurance company know but I dont make a big thing of it.
3] My driving pattern should be okay as I do Hot Rod Racing as a hobby
4] What are these Ultrac tyres? I have been in the Motoring trade along time but not heard of these?
5] I suppose at the end of the day I am fully aware that its not going to go round roundabouts like a sports car, but it would be nice to have abit of improvement.

 

[clive williams]

I have just been onto the Superchips website.

The straight 6 320CDI gets +32bhp and +62Nm of torque.
The V6 320CDI gets +37bhp and +70Nm of torque.
The straight 5 270CDI gets +34bhp and +117Nm of torque.

Sorry Clive but the 270 seems to get the BIGGEST improvement with a huge jump in torque, although quite how the drivetrain is supposed to handle a 30% increase in torque I haven't a clue.

Damn, they don't list figures for the 270/316CDI Sprinter ;-)

Sprint,

According to the manufacturers of our chip - PSI Powerbox the uplift is guarranteed to the following figures:

IL6 gets +42bhp, +45Nm
V6 3.2 gets +25bhp, +62Nm
V6 2.7 gets +20bhp, +45Nm

They also state that generally the figure can be expected to increase by anoth 8bhp PLUS there is a setting on the unit to give an additional 7bhp. This unit is one of the few TuV approved and therefore is not an unsubstantiated mickey mouse unit.

The increases that are quoted are well within the capability of the transmissions found in these cars. Usually, the concerns start when the torque increase is ~50% and the use of the vehicle requires this figure fairly frequently. A road car is not normally in this catagory. Remember also that the overall logevity of the engine and drive train components are similarly affected and how long they last is directly related as to how they are driven.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[clive williams]

.........................
Damn, they don't list figures for the 270/316CDI Sprinter ;-)

Figures for your Sprinter using a PSI Powerbox are:

156bhp +29bhp, 330Nm +50Nm

the link for you is: www.dieselchiptuning.com

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Juddian]

Hi bosscat. I know they are different susp. wise but georgeous's 124 coupe used to roll a lot, if she was in front of me (driving like the devil to keep up she's Greek) it was very noticeable and spoiled an etherwise excellent car. We fitted 17'' wheels with hi quality tyres and hey presto unbelievable change, no roll astonishing cornering capability. We have since done similar to the rest of the fleet and all good. Obviously the ride is harder but you cant have it all, also i now run winter tyres during the harsh weather, no wheelspin no skidding amazing. Hope this may be some help. Brian