Best option for SL400 remap/tuning?

[adm]

Hi All,

I recently bought a 2014 SL400 (W231) car and want to have it tuned. I haven't had a car tuned for many years now, so am just positing to see what options there are available at this point in time.

I see companies such as Superchips, TDI tuning, Rhino remaps etc all claim good stage 1 gains for my car, but wonder if any are better than others. Most seem to offer a box to flash the ECU, which is an OK approach.

On my bikes, I get them individually dyno tuned by a competent tuning tech, but this doesn't really seem to be an option here, or if it is, I haven't found somebody yet. I'd prefer a custom map rather than a "canned" map if possible, but if not, then canned will do.

Anyway - are there any companies that come recommend? And equally, any to avoid? I am in Surrey by the way....

Thanks in advance,

Al

 

[AMGeed]

I'd give MSL performance and GAD a call and ask what options you have.

Site Offline

mslperformance.co.uk

ECU Remapping | Car Tuning | 2wd/4wd Rolling Road | Essex

Car tuning, ECU Remapping, specialists in Engine ECU Tuning. London, Essex and beyond for ECU Remapping & Car Engine Tuning. Equipped with a 4wd rolling road.

gadtuning.co.uk

 

[adm]

Thank you. I have messaged both....

 

[kcsun]

I second that, MSL or GAD, and on a downer, check with your insurance company before rushing in

kc

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Despite having my reservations about them previously, I think I’d go with GAD at this point.

 

[adm]

I spoke with Will at GAD and have the car booked in for tomorrow. Yippee!

They say they will do a full diagnostic check on the car first, then a baseline dyno run followed by the actual tuning itself on the dyno, then a final test drive. Should take about 2 hours all in and at a reasonable price too.

So it will be a nice drive over to Burnham on Crouch in the morning, followed by an even nicer drive back home a few hours later.

I'll also have a chat with them about exhaust and air filter upgrade options. I don't know if there is much benefit to be had here, but on my bikes I normally fit a freer flowing exhaust system and air filter - and normally upgraded cams as well. All that said, the SL400 goes quite well already and with an extra gob of HP and Torque from tomorrow, I should be very happy with it. But I am an inveterate tinkerer and cannot leave well enough alone...

 

[NJSS]

How much enhancement are you going for?

What did your insurers say? Any increase in premium?

Good luck

NJSS

 

[Red C220]

I had a 2015 SL400 tuned by these people. I chose them over all the other regular suggestions as they specialised in the MB 400 series engines and had the ability to produce what I wanted, which was more drivability, more torque with less emphasis on headline figures.

It transformed the car on comfort mode. The extra torque meant it stopped hunting for gears and drove much smoother.

I also didn't want pops and bangs so they were left out.

Road Rage Performance – The south easts most trusted euro tuning company

roadrageperformance.co.uk

 

[adm]

How much enhancement are you going for?

What did your insurers say? Any increase in premium?

Good luck

NJSS

Ummm.....I haven't spoken to the insurers yet.

But on the enhancement, GAD won't quote hard and fast numbers, saying that it is what it is when it's done, but they did say probably somewhere around the 400 to 410 BHP range up from 333 or whatever it is now. And also to expect another 100nM or so of torque.

We will see what the dyno says tomorrow....

 

[adm]

I had a 2015 SL400 tuned by these people. I chose them over all the other regular suggestions as they specialised in the MB 400 series engines and had the ability to produce what I wanted, which was more drivability, more torque with less emphasis on headline figures.

It transformed the car on comfort mode. The extra torque meant it stopped hunting for gears and drove much smoother.

I also didn't want pops and bangs so they were left out.

Road Rage Performance – The south easts most trusted euro tuning company

roadrageperformance.co.uk

That's pretty much what I want as well. In particular, I want comfort/eco mode to be a bit more snappy and lots of torque across the range as far as possible. The BHP number will be what it turns out to be...

I do quite like the odd pop and bang though....

 

[AMGeed]

Ummm.....I haven't spoken to the insurers yet.

Be prepared for your insurance company to refuse to insure the car. It's a faint possibility.
Enjoy that extra torque

 

[ToeKnee]

Be prepared for your insurance company to refuse to insure the car. It's a faint possibility.
Enjoy that extra torque

When I was exploring the idea of mapping my SL I spoke to my insurers who flatly refused to cover the car if I went ahead with the work. I had to wait til my renewal date before I could go ahead, so my advice is speak to your insurers first?

 

[BTB 500]

As above some companies simply won't cover modified cars so definitely best to check. You don't want to be driving home uninsured.

If you're involved in a claim that's significant enough for them to send an engineer out to inspect the car they *will* check for a remap ... this has been standard practice for decades (my ex F-I-L was chief motor engineer for a household name insurance company and managed their UK engineer network).

 

[ALFAitalia]

Not saying it does not happen but I have never seen that happen......and it certainly did not happen when I totalled my bike...in fact he did not even mention the full race Akrapovic pipe....and they never checked when my wife tried to kill her Merc with two deer!

Edit.....I'm not suggesting in any way that you should not inform your insurance of course.

...but maybe one day someone will mention a mod of some sort on this forum WITHOUT someone saying about insurance within a dozen posts like all the posters are too stupid to realise!

 

[ToeKnee]

Not saying it does not happen but I have never seen that happen......and it certainly did not happen when I totalled my bike...in fact he did not even mention the full race Akrapovic pipe....and they never checked when my wife tried to kill her Merc with two deer!

Edit.....I'm not suggesting in any way that you should not inform your insurance of course.

...but maybe one day someone will mention a mod of some sort on this forum WITHOUT someone saying about insurance within a dozen posts like all the posters are too stupid to realise!

Reading this post, you either did tell the insurance company about your exhaust change in which case the engineer wouldn't mention it as it's already on the policy, or you didn't tell them so you're the kind of person who is "too stupid to realise" that you need to.

 

[ALFAitalia]

The honest answer is that Id only had the bike two days and not got around to it....i had mentioned it on my previous bike and since virtually every bike id had was fitted with aftermarket pipes it slipped my mind......absolutely no excuse but there you go and no harm done. My current insurers don't care about any after market exhaust as long as its E marked and legal volume......they say it no different to someone getting an exhaust from kwikfit or who ever.....that's a non gen exhaust....so should you declare that as a mod?....of course not. I ......but since the exhaust played no part in the accident I guess and it was someone else's fault he didn't care and the bike was way too mangled to run and hear how loud it was!!.....may have been different if I was responsible. Lesson learned.

NOTE....this claim was 11 years ago.....probably not as strict back then.

 

[fabes]

Is your the 3.0L or the 3.5L SL400?

If the 3.5L, you may find your stock figures are already a 'little' above the book 333bhp (and torque) with 3.5L owners reportedly seeing closer to or in excess of 350bhp (and increased torque over 'book')

When Mercedes reverted to the 3.5L they dialed back the twin turbos else it would have been stepping on the toes of the halo AMG brand '43 cars.
But is seems that in some cases, or perhaps all, they didn't or couldn't turn them down enough to only be at 333bhp

GAD will do a decent before and after so if you're a 3.5 TT SL400, you might have a nice surprise.....

Please do let us know

 

[BTB 500]

If the 3.5L, you may find your stock figures are already a 'little' above the book 333bhp (and torque) with 3.5L owners reportedly seeing closer to or in excess of 350bhp (and increased torque over 'book')

When Mercedes reverted to the 3.5L they dialed back the twin turbos else it would have been stepping on the toes of the halo AMG brand '43 cars.

A bit like the R129, where the V8 SL60's power output was under-stated to avoid upsetting buyers of the more expensive V12 SL600

 

[BoristheBounce]

Is your the 3.0L or the 3.5L SL400?

If the 3.5L, you may find your stock figures are already a 'little' above the book 333bhp (and torque) with 3.5L owners reportedly seeing closer to or in excess of 350bhp (and increased torque over 'book')

When Mercedes reverted to the 3.5L they dialed back the twin turbos else it would have been stepping on the toes of the halo AMG brand '43 cars.
But is seems that in some cases, or perhaps all, they didn't or couldn't turn them down enough to only be at 333bhp

GAD will do a decent before and after so if you're a 3.5 TT SL400, you might have a nice surprise.....

Please do let us know

Now I'm confused, I thought the 2014 SL400 was a 3.5 Single turbo giving 302 bhp, the 2015 was a 3.0 twin turbo giving 333bhp and in 2016 the facelift 3.0 twin turbo pulled 362bhp?

I have a 2015 model which is 3.0 twin turbo and 333bhp.

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi All,

I recently bought a 2014 SL400 (W231) car and want to have it tuned. I haven't had a car tuned for many years now, so am just positing to see what options there are available at this point in time.

I see companies such as Superchips, TDI tuning, Rhino remaps etc all claim good stage 1 gains for my car, but wonder if any are better than others. Most seem to offer a box to flash the ECU, which is an OK approach.

On my bikes, I get them individually dyno tuned by a competent tuning tech, but this doesn't really seem to be an option here, or if it is, I haven't found somebody yet. I'd prefer a custom map rather than a "canned" map if possible, but if not, then canned will do.

Anyway - are there any companies that come recommend? And equally, any to avoid? I am in Surrey by the way....

Thanks in advance,

Al

Hi , I would have loved an SL400 but getting out of the car would be problematic for an old man.

My C207E400 has the M276 3.5 litre engine and I use Shell V Power when I fill up the car. The cars fuel consumption does improve on long runs.

Engine out put figures I have read that the torque value are much higher than Mercedes claim but the bhp values are edging towards 350 bhp.

What I have found don't drive the car to hard when cold because the gearbox oil take time to war up.Allow 15 minutes and the gear changes are seamless from my experience.

What ever you decide just enjoy your car