Was checking out vividracing .com and saw they had a ud pulley kit for the Mercedes Benz C240/320. I know that our car has the same engine as the 320 so I was wondering is it worth the $360. Says gains are around 12hp.

 

We have this kit on our car and have sold it in the past. For the retail price I'd say no. IF you can find a used set in the 250-300 range then yes. They are a pain to install and you can spend the 360.00 on much better mods for the money.

 

Did you notice any gains while using it.

 

I don't mind sounding stupid so I'll ask.

What the heck is an underdrive pulley ? What does it do to an NA to give it 12 HP?
My first guess would be that it spins the accesories slower!?! If so... what do you give up?


roadster with a stick

 

this is the text from the site.

Evosport Under-Drive Pulley Kit Performance Mercedes C240/320 2000+

Engineered not only to be the best pulley kits on the market, but to provide the best compromise between performance and reliability for your MB Specifically, we have designed them to underdrive the water pump, power steering pump and alternator*. We do not believe it is safe to change the crank pulley due to the potential harm to the crank. These kits provide 10%-20% overall reduction in driving your car's systems and have been dyno tested to provide up to 12hp gain!

*Alternator pulleys - we offer two kits, one for the performance minded individual and one for the serious audiophile. If you have a significant additional load on the alternator from aftermarket audio amplifiers, you will not want to underdrive the alternator. Thus, we simply lighten that pulley rather then underdrive it.

Fits Mercedes W203 C240/320. For Performance.

vividracing.com

 

I agree that it will definatly make more power but I'm tossing up between the Evo pully kit or the AMS crank pully, I'm not sure which one will make more power!

 

I have underdrive pulleys and there is a small noticeable difference - mostly at the top end (you will need a new belt). However, I think a crank pully would be a better buy - I think you'll see a smidgen quicker acceleration (I think you can still use the same serpentine belt with the crank pulley).
However, if all you have is $500 (equivalent to pulleys & installation) to spend then I suggest an ECU tune - see TVT Design for that (they've just done mine and their customer service is top-notch).

Regarding the crank pulley - do a search on this forum - somebod posted a thread about an MB with a badly installed crank pulley - that scared me from installing one.

 

Seems like a decent gain for under 400. One of these kits and a CAI and you will be around 240-250 range not bad for less than $800.

 

Just pulleys and a CAI will not get you upto 240-250 range.
Pulleys may state 12hp, and a CAI may state 10hp - but these are usually based on a stock engine, so when you combine the two mods you do not get 12(pulley) + 10(CAI), you may get 12 + 6 or 10(CAI) + 8(pulley) depending on which is done first.
ex: If you install the pulleys one week you may see 12hp, then a week later you install the CAI you may only gain an additional 6hp - NOT 10hp as stated by the CAI information.
When you combine all the mods the result is not the same as the individual parts state.

 

Ok then 230 range which isnt that bad.