Mercedes-Benz E320 eco-mod

[jasilva]

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

[MetroMPG]

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

[Domman56]

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

[jasilva]

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)

[Domman56]

Originally Posted by jasilva

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

[Daox]

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!

[Domman56]

Originally Posted by Daox

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

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

[jasilva]

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

[Domman56]

cool cool tell me how it works out man

[jasilva]

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