jg 368 48

i have a 99 rx300 awd
what's the best way to add more power to my car? i was recently beat by an x5 in a race, and i wanted to add more power to my rx300. i used autos.msn.com and found that my car has 220 horsepower with a 0-60 time of about 9 seconds. the x5 i raced has 290 horsepower with a 0-60 of about 7-8 seconds. what should i do without spending a ton of money? thanks

Lexmex

X5s are beatable, I have beaten several. Keep in mind that a lot depends on the driver. There are some vehicles that on the road or on the track that my RX300 should not beat (even though it is modified). Basically, one has to have *****.

Best place to start for power is with the exhaust, mainly a direct flow muffler. Several CL RX300 members have done the Rod Millen exhaust, but I started out with a simple APC muffler.

TunedRX300

I echo Lexmex's recommendation, quick bolt-ons such as muffler, light weight rims, and intake improve your time. I have used 20 wieght synthetic oil and got a slight power improvement, especially when before the engine reaches operating temperature. Also get SUN Hypervoltage and Hyperground, small improvement as well, dyno proven.

zombie

iTrader: (1)

did you race the straight 6 or v8 x5? i raced a v8 x5, before my mods, and lost...really bad.

sgv_bum

i raced a 3.0 and 3.3 i won .. it really depend on the driver. like what lexmex said if you got *****. the x5 cant handle fast turn and from what i notices those cars cant handle fast lane changing to much bodyroll on those cars. i raced a 4.4 before i was on back of a$$ the whole time....couldnt get raid of me due to the fact he was scared of changing lane or pushin it i exit the freeway with the x5 guy roll down his window asked me what kind of car are you driving i said rx300 v6 he was like wtf your on my A$$ the whole time .. i said nice race but your gonna have a v8 learn how to drive it i made him look stupid cause hes the one that pick a race with me his girlfriend was laughin at him the whole time when i said that ...... you can beat a x5 it depend on the driver if he got ***** to hang with the other drivers..

Lexmex

First, let's take a look at the X5s

Based on the 2006 model year

3.0, 225 HP, V6, 4696 pounds
4.4, 315 HP, V8, 4927 pounds
4.8, 355 HP, V8, 5016 pounds

My 1999 RX300 AWD, 3900 pounds, 3.0L and 220 HP

The 4.8 is one mean machine. My neighbor has one and I have been pleading with him to bring it up to the track (even offering to race it myself). It really does fly.

I have easily ripped the 3.0s on the highway and have tangled with a few 4.4 versions that got killed on account of poor driving on the part of their owners (like I said if you got ***** you can win if you have to move the steering wheel any bit). I cook a few things like Honda Pilots (that are suppposed to be faster than a stock RX300) not only on mods, but a few got beat by more than a second because of poor reaction off the light at the track.

That is why I have been encouraging all of you that bracket racing at the track is where you can win some $$$ as the RX300 is a perfect vehicle for this.

Just like what sgv_bum has been mentioning I love looking at the drivers of other supposedly faster SUVs and I just toy with them. Remember the line in the Fast and the Furious, "you never had your car?" This is a very true statment.

Over the years TunedRX300 and I have come up with some great recommendations for adding power to the RX300 and it would be best to do a search, but ask us if you have any questions.

You do not need to spend and arm and a leg to do it either.

jg 368 48

i completely agree with it does have a lot to do with the driver...i think it was an x5 4.4. how much does the SUN Hypervoltage and Hyperground add to your car? a noticeable difference? is there an approximate HP gain that you are supposed to see? an increase in 0-60? any info would b great :-). also, how hard is it to change the exhaust? how does that help (i dont know too much about this stuff)?

Lexmex

Well, I get the sense that the Hypervoltage would be the first thing to get compared to the Hyperground. A little more kick. I have seen some claims this units (both of them) can get up to 15 hp in some cars (older ones), but I actually believe probably around 7 hp combined (both units) at the highest rpm, maybe in some cars 10. I still think buying an Optima Red Top is the first thing to get.

Depending on what kind of exhaust you are going to get, it comes down to either a welding torch or a wrench. I think with the Rod Millen exhaust that a few members have, no welding was needed, just taking off some bolts and putting the new muffler on. The thing you need here is a direct flow muffler, so that there is less restriction and more exhaust flow, thus more power.

My exhaust mods which can find on page of my RX300's homepage below were welded in and I still pass the emissions down here even with just one high flow cat.

jg 368 48

how much work does do the exhaust thing? about how much? (i wouldnt b doing it myself) how much horsepower would it add?

Lexmex

Well, how much hp depends on the setup. I can't put a precise number on the hp for a direct flow muffler (and I have seen a lot of numbers that strike me as way too high like 20 hp), but I can tell you that when I ran my RX300 stock, fastest I could do at my track was 19.2 in the 1/4 mile (I am at higher altitude so I know it sounds strange), but the APC direct flow muffler I put on helped me crack into the 18s with an 18.9 (my fasest is now a 17.931) and I race at the same track every weekend.

It should definitely be the first modification to do. Putting in a K&N air filter or a short ram air intake like the Weapon-R secret intake won't nearly do as much as the direct flow muffler.

It would not take too much work, even for an exhaust shop to do.