Just last month the engineers at German tuning house Väth, released details of their supercharger upgrade for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Well they must have got bored after tuning the 6.2-litre V8 to output 523 kW, so now they’ve given us a bi-turbocharged version of the more modest Mercedes-Benz E500.
With the V50S tuning package, Väth have taken a stock E500 and added updates that offer more power, improved handling and a few cosmetic tweaks to identify the car as something a little special. First off, the engine has been given a reprogrammed ECU, a new air-intake system, a sports exhaust system and the electronic speed limiter has been removed so that the benefits can be fully enjoyed. The Väth tuned E500 develops 380 kW (up from 300 kW) and 810 Nm of torque (up from 600 Nm), with Väth quoting a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h. Those are essentially E63 AMG figures in an E500, which begs the question, what have Väth done to the running gear to keep the car on the straight and narrow?
Well, over and above the engine changes, the list of upgrades also includes a heavily revised brake system. The front brake discs have been replaced with 390 mm units paired with 6-piston calipers, while new brake linings, racing specification brake fluid and steelflex brake hoses have also been added. The wheels are Väth’s own 20-inch design, with 245/30 profile tyres in front and 285/25 at the rear. In terms of suspension, Väth chose to stick with the standard Airmatic suspension system, but has upgraded the electronic control module to include additional settings.
Cosmetic enhancements include a new, carbon fibre, front spoiler, a debadged grille, and a carbon fibre rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler. Inside, a leather-covered sports steering wheel is optionally available with carbon fibre or wood trim and a new speedometer has been added, which stretches to 360 km/h.
In Germany, the cost of the Väth V50S upgrade is €32 250 excl. VAT, which is roughly R340 000. Here in South Africa the Mercedes-Benz E500 sells for R899 000, while the E63 AMG rolls off the showroom floor at R1.25 million, meaning a conversion like this one would make little financial sense.
