Mercedes-Benz E320 eco-mod
 

Hello to all!
I have just inherited a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 4-Matic station wagon, as my first car as I have just recieved my liscense.
My goal is to double the fuel efficiency it is currently gettin, because I don't even think it gets 20... and it only takes premium!!
I am buying a scan gage so I can see the MPG's I am getting, but I want to know of some modifications that I can make to get better MPG's. I will be taking of the emblem, and possibly getting a new grille, but I do not think this will about to much, and my mother (who is the owner of the vehicle) will not allow me to make any external modifications.
If anyone has any knowledge of how I can accomplish my goal, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!
My email is jamessilva17@gmail.com, so feel free to e-mail me.
thanks a lot

Hi -

Nice car - my grandpa had the sedan, same vintage. Nice car to tool around in.

But that's a tall order, doubling the fuel economy. Sounds like you don't have a baseline yet, so that would be the first step.

The car probably has a fuel economy computer. A ScanGauge will give you more to work with and will help most when it comes to refining your driving, which is the quickest path to the biggest savings right off the bat.

As for mods, have you seen our list?

65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com

Which wheel and tire combo does it have and is the exhaust on here stock?

yes, the exhaust is stock and the wheels are some stock 7 spokes or something.
ur g-pa had a pretty decent car! (minus fuel rating)

Stock these should get around 22-24 highway i believe I have a Mercedes Master mechanic that my dad takes his benzes too out here I'd suggest deleting the Secondary cat and resonator, it'll have a little more sound to it but it will be less restriction. should help your fuel economy a bit too and save weight. Keep the primary cats and stock rear muffler since it is still your mothers car.

I'd also suggest michellin hydroedge tires and inflate them to 40 PSI . Also if you can find a german mechaic in your area that does well with mercedes have them "Eco" tune your car for fuel economy, you should be able to get 30 MPG out of that car with just a few minor mods

Domman, for the same reason a high flow air filter is useless for mileage, so is a performance exhaust. If you are driving for good fuel economy, you are never pushing that much horsepower through your pipes and therefore don't need to reduce restrictions that really aren't there at lower flow rates.

EPA for the car is 18/25. Getting low 30s (in summer) shouldn't be too much of a problem. I find that its fairly easy to get ~30% above highway EPA in any vehicle just by driving sensibly. Definitely check out the 100+ hypermiling tips to get some ideas on driving techniques to use. Chasing down 40 mpg will be a lot harder though. Good luck!

Yes this is true but if the car is NOT EVEN getting 20 MPG as he said when the car is capable of more than that stock that means he's oviously driving it hard > Not neccesarily all the time but everynow and then everyone likes opening the taps a little bit Especially when you're young:D

Besides these factory Mercedes exhaust are HEAVY Just deleting the resonators and putting an x pipe on my dad's 1986 mercedes 420SEL it saved 30 pounds , the reason i said to do this was purely for the fact of saving weight. Which after a while pays off slowly with gas

huh. I'll keep that in mind.
As far as external mods go, I tried taking off the top storage bars that go down the length of the roof, but they are not designed to be taken off, so I am going to look further into that. Also since i have the STATION wagon, and not the sedan version, I don't think its rated for 18/25, though I will think about taking it to a buddy of mine to fiddle with the exhaust a little.
thanks

cool cool tell me how it works out man

sure
 

haha, will do man, I'll hopefully start work tomorrow.

Air up the tires to highest allowed on the sidewalls. Drive it slow and gentle like a grandma. Find a job where you commute 50 miles each way, and can drive 40 mph without stopping or slowing down.

OK, the last one is a joke.

But the first two are not. Drive slow and gently, plenty of air in the tires. With the auto trans, it is unlikely that will double the fuel economy without doing major surgery. Even then, doubtful.

Good luck though. Every little bit helps.

troy

Weight reduction, in the car, also helps get back those MPG's.

Totally dudes. When I finish the tank I'll out up my MPG estimation.

and thanks by the way.

Sweeet can't wait to hear what you do to it

Good luck with it by the way

Dang... I took out my Benz today and it only got me.... 20 MILES PER GALLON!
:( This is upsetting, though I was stuck in horrible traffic.
Hmmm... Fuel Economy says with current gas prices it'll cost me at least $3.36 just to drive the 25+ miles to my school. Again this sucks!
I would seriously appreciate some more advice on things to do to the engine to increase efficiency because I don't think I will be ale to afford driving it much longer! :(
I don't think I'm very interested in taking apart my exhaust system Domman because that would mean more air-pollutants, no?
I'm going to consider buying a scan gauge, deleting the front emblem and getting a flatter grille for aerodynamics and looks, and I'll see how that goes, though I'll have to ask my mother first!
Thanks everyone

No actually, If you delete the secondary cat .. Yes that will increase air pollution a bit however the resonator and muffler have nothing to do with your smog. you can run straight pipes all the way back from the cats (hypothetically speaking) and it'll still be as clean as through regular mufflers. your cats do make the car cleaner however so if you're concerned about polluthion then don't delete the secondaries

huh... thanks man, that's interesting. I'll check that out.
Maybe I'll add some golf-ball like indents on my car to reduce drag and improve efficiency. Just saw it on myth busters and it improved the efficeincy on a Taurus by 11%! hahaha

haha i love that episode .. you could always try washing and waxing it too according to them:thumbup:

PLEASE!!!!
don't make recommendations that have ABSOLUTELY no validation or proof behind them.
Straight pipes!!!!! no!!!!!!
this isn't some pos American under engineered car. There is a symmetry and balance to top end cars. THese manufacturers (MB, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi) don't just throw the lowest common part on and say '''ok, that kinda works". FACT: on both the INFINITI Q45/M45 forums NOONE has successfully used a CAI or K&N filter. Why? because some much engineering went into the V4K.5L and the two cars. FACT: while several have added aftermarket exhaust (cat back) NONE have claimed better performance in HP or MPG only that they like the new sound or like the new look.
FACT: the VK4.5L (in 2002) made 340 hp. that is a 272 cubic inch V8
compare: Chevy corvette 5.7 L (2004) made 350 hp that is 350 c.i.
Ford Mustang 4.6l (2002) made 252 hp that is 280 cubic inches.
I realize this is a public forum and you are entitled to your opinion BUT you are not entitled to make flippant and random recommendations

Please re-read the post that Christ made to you concerning the difference between FACTS and random unsubstantiated claims. AND UNTIL YOU RUN AN A-B-A TEST on your own personal mods DO NOT RECCOMEND THEM.

Dude you obviously didn't read my post at all I NEVER told him to throw straight pipes on the mercedes . I drive mercedes myself that would be obnoxious and horribly unclassy. His question was about AIR POLLUTION . If you know anything about exhaust you know that what i said was absolutely true if you delete the secondary cats your pollution from the tailpipe aka Emissions WILL go up you want lower pollution keep the cats but changing the muffler won't make a difference in pollution get a grip on yourself dude

FACTS: the station wagon is rated at 18/25mpg. so what. it's what you can do that really counts.
the 3.2 liter makes 221 hp and the wagon weighs 3600 lbs.
It's not a lot of HP per the weight but it is a lot of hp for the engine. which means it's effeicent. The wagon has a 3.07 rear ratio. not great for MPG but not bad.
stock tire is 215/55/16. it has a diameter of 25.4".
If you run a 225/60/16 you'd be at 26.7" OR a 235/60/16 you'r be at 27.1". both those tires will fit the stock rim and SHOULD clear the bottoms of the strut in front. BUT if you just replaced the 2 rear tires, you should be able to pick up 1.5 to 2 mpg om the road. Because it will lower the RPMs at hwy speeds. You MIGHT notice a little slower start but I really doubt it.
Pull the full sive spare uot and put one of these in the trunk:
it's tire sealer and an air pump. $20 at Big lots
http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v.../mpgq45147.jpg

:eek:

lol...your grandfather will turn over in his grave!!!!

He'd be happier if you "wax on.....wax off" and just make it slick as heck!!!:thumbup:

haha that was my idea

This is really a sweet ride:
If you do a grille block, do it from the backside......mom wont see it!!!!

http://img1.netcarshow.com/Mercedes-...umbnail_01.jpg


I am pretty sure that MB has some underbelly panel but i bet they are not smooth

Look under the front bumper. A $25 investment in some coroplast would smooth the front.

take a look at my post:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...eld-10880.html

So since I have started driving my car, I have been getting around 25 MPG, when it's rated for 23. This is not super impressive, but i think the damage on it is is keeping it. The front right half of the bumper came off after a family member backed out from a big chunk of ice in a parking lot. There are also a few dents from run ins with deer and an angry father! When I get everything fixed, the MPG's should improve, and for now I will attempt to purchase install some of those "green" HID's, and I wonder what that will do...