Blog

Air Intake

Replace or Upgrade Ripped Factory Air Intake Tubes

There are some options shipped, and I’m sure can be fabricated, that either seek to upgrade the air intake tubes or replace the Mercedes units which can get ripped. One option is using VRP or similar air intake tubes.   Take this a step further by using wrapping the aftermarket metal […]

Performance

AMG Turbo Swap M157 to M278

One way to upgrade power on a (non-amg) M278 is to retrofit AMG turbos into the M278 engine. People on MB World report they bolt up directly and just need a tune to work and also routing of liquid cooling. One issue to anticipate is the M157 turbos have coolant […]

Performance

Pulley Upgrade Supercharged / Kompressors

One popular method of increasing performance on Supercharged cars is using a smaller pulley.  The smaller gearing increases the boost provided by the supercharger.  I remember my Dad changing out a SC pulley on a 4.0 or 4.2 SC Jaguar Engine. Nearly every aftermarket tuner offers smaller pulleys. UPD suggests […]

Dynaudio woofer installed in a mercedes benz
Electronics, Stereo

Upgrade Mercedes Stereo

Mercedes out of the factory in the USA come with fairly good stereos.  They can be upgraded but there are two different philosophies: Theory of Constraints Find the issues that hold back the factory system and address them. Replace Front Woofers In this method which, isn’t a bad way to […]

CLS63S is a popular Mercedes to tune
Mercedes Models

Most Popular Mercedes to Tune

While I argue every modern turbo Mercedes may be a great tuner car, for example a 2013 or 2014 GL 450 can be tuned to nearly 500HP from it’s factory detuned 350HP as it is a very similar set up to the GL 550. That being said, there are some […]

Mercedes Coolant Overflow from Overflow Tank Cap
Cooling

Cooling Upgrades

As Mercedes shifted into forced aspiration engines cooling became an issue intake air temperature (IAT), heat soak, and more were only exacerbated by tuning. Tuning Superchargers or Turbocharged engines often looks at increasing the amount of compressed air into an engine.  Compressing air, as we know physics today, will always […]

Cold Air Intake Riser Cold Air Charge Kit
Air Intake, Performance

Cold Intake Air Spacers

You may have heard about UPD air intake spacers, or Cold air intake (CAI) spacers, or VRP air box risers.  Let’s answer three top questions about them. What are they? In various Mercedes engines the air intake is actually fairly good, especially when blessed by tuners such as brabus.  However, […]

Road Trips

Road Trip DC to Hilton Head Island

In this current time, an escape, a drive, along the coast is therapeutic. The miles are no longer a chore, but a welcome cinema of life where we have choice at each stage. I took my son Jonah to Hilton Head Island for his 6th birthday.  He loves to swim […]

Car Shows, Lifestyle

St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance 2019

There were some beautiful cars, weather, and scenery at the 2019 St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance.  Here are a few pictures of Mercedes I took.  As I fumbled with my cell phone camera I over heard two of the Mercedes Owners discuss they still drive their cars.