OK. I understand where you're coming from. I was there a while ago too. I did it all one step at a time.
There are two vendors you need to know when dealing with Crossfires: NeedsWings (
Performance auto parts & aftermarket auto accessories for your car, specializing SRT4, Crossfire SRT6, SLK32, C32 AMG, VR-4) and Eurocharged (
www.eurocharged.com). There are other vendors, but these two are the best.
The first thing you want to do is get a cold air intake (CAI). You have three basic options for a CAI:
NeedsWings Single-Sided CAI ($450)
Mercedes SL55 Intake (buy the parts of the Merc SL55's intake and install them - I have no idea how much they cost.)
And build your own. (This is usually cheapest, and the performance is directly related to your know-how and ability to fab up parts. Most people can't do this.)
The second thing you want is a pulley. There are a couple options here.
Code3 Pulley - cheapest, but manufacturer went out of business and they are hard to find (used to list for $650)
178mm pulley - (from NeedsWings $970)
181mm pulley - (from Eurocharged $800)
185mm pulley - (from Eurocharged $1000)
(Just so you know, Eurocharged has a sale right now on the 181mm and a tune for $999 - that's a very good price!)
Lastly you will want a tune. Realistically, you have two choices here:
Eurocharged - $600
InMotion - $350 or $500 (one is a canned tune and one is a custom tune)
If you have the cash right now ($1449) get the trifecta: NeedsWings Single-Sided CAI and the 181mm pulley/tune combo deal.
If not, then get the CAI first. Enjoy it. You'll notice the added power and the cool supercharger whine right away.
Then get the pulley. You'll notice another immediate boost in power.
Then get the tune. You won't notice a huge boost in power like you did with the pulley, but you'll notice it. And you'll notice how it just keeps on pulling as you accelerate.
With those three things you'll have one hell of a car. Of course, you can always add more. But since you said you're on a limited budget, I'll leave it at that.
