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C250TD tuning

Doodle

Doodle

MB Enthusiast
Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
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Echo Beach
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KTM 1290SAR, Superb 365 wagon
I've been reading up on the experiences of Jimmy and the other members in regarding to tuning diesels over the past few months, but am still undecided, and seeking insight from this knowledgeable user base. I'll try not to ramble too much!

Currently I see 2 options - Tuning boxes and remaps.

In terms of tuning boxes, it seems that both the TD Performance and Tandem Tuning boxes are well received and effective. However, this still strikes me as a crude way of doing things, although given that the 250 engine is a fairly crude lump in the grand scheme of things, this may not be a problem

However, I am looking towards the more sophisticated remapping or rechipping options, as they are more properly tuned to the engine instead of just adding a "fudge factor". In this arena I see several retailers:

Superchips - expensive, but with a long history. I know Jimmy had this done latterly to his C250, but never found out how he got on with it.

ChippedUK - offering a similar package (about 30hp and 50lbft increase), but for under half the price (£200). However, I am hearing mixed feedback on them. The company has a good reputation on the BMW forums, but seems to attract much flak and slagging off from other places (dare I say it, the Max Power brigade?)

Tuning Concepts - German website, but they have a rep in the Midlands. Seem to offer the best gains, and seem to be generally well received, although I've only really heard of them in the Smart and BMW areas. Not sure of price yet. EDIT - Just heard back from Simon, their rep. £250 all in, or £300 if he comes to me

VanAaken - have a long history in tuning diesels. Shame they couldn't be bothered to get back to me after my initial enquiry.


Anything I've missed (probably loads)? Does anyone have any experience or advice they can share to help me along here in my pool of indecisiveness! :crazy:
 
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I was thinking of doing my 3 lit lump I have been thinking of TD tuning that's a piggy back with the 3 positions .....I would be interested in a chip but I was under the impression one could not be fitted ...or was that serial port tuned ????? in my caravan mag there are a few adverts for boosting power
 
Mark, your 300 will be in the same boat as mine, most places say they cannot remap it via the diagnostics port, but are still able to do the earlier method of changing the chip.
 
Well, given the price and what I've read on Tuning Concept (admittedly largely in German) I think they'll be getting my custom. Time to see what the results will be.

Mark, their website reckons about 225hp and 385Nm of torque for the E300TD. The website price is the same as that for the C250, so I imagine Simon will charge a similar lower amount for the job.
 
Hi

Keep us up to date on what you go for and the results. At £250 it is tempting

230K
 
To all.

Before you chip your diesels consider two things.

1. Check with your insurance company if there will be a loading (there will), or if they will cover you at all.

2. Especially if towing be careful of EGT going too high and causing problems ranging from blocked cats, warped exhaust manifolds or even melted pistons.

If modifying the fuelling you need to fit an EGT gauge for safety.

I would probably go down the route of getting more air into the engine before increasing fuelling.
 
i new there was a reason or two for not doing it :D

thanks dieselman
 
Good points there Dieselman.

Point 1 I've already discussed with the insurers.

Point 2 is something I shall be looking to monitor once the work is carried out, although I suspect it may be more difficult than I would like, which may hijack the plans slightly. I am aware that I should get clouds of smoke if it is overfuelling badly (which is liable to cause high EGT), this is something that I will not accept and would cause me to have everything put back to normal.

In terms of getting more air in, what did you have in mind? Just to compare against what's already been done.
 
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You need to know the state of affairs before you modify the fuelling, as it may be close to the maximum EGT even before any more fuel is added.
Fit an EGT guage and a boost gauge.

To keep the temperatures down you need more air passing through the engine so think about any restrictions such as the awful exhaust manifold and the restrictive exhaust.
After that uprate the turbo and intercooler.
Any restriction on the exhaust side can be measured using a pressure gauge and on the intake side by a vacuum gauge or boost gauge, at different parts of the inlet tract.

By gas flowing the existing turbo housings and manifolds you will see a flow increase with no more boost.

Your readings would be very interesting.

Rather than using a tuning box you could probably achieve a similar effect by "adjusting" the control rack short circuit ring inside the pump.
If the short circuit ring is moved in teh retarded direction then the rack will be advanced causing more fuel to be added against ECU measurements.
Just a thought.

Also how much of a loading was there for the insurance?
 
Hmm...that's getting a little more serious that I was intending. That's the sort of work I do on my weekend cars, I had something something simpler for the C250 as I only want a little bit more oomph for everyday use.

Exhaust & manifold are on the list, but only when the original exhaust dies (probably another year or so).
Uprated turbo is unlikely until this one wears out, although I had given thought to a larger intercooler as Mercedes have kindly left a whacking great space for it! :D
Gauges - not quite sure how that'd go with the rest of the interior!

I'm looking at a rechip rather than a simple tuning box, so hopefully it will be a little more accurate and result in less overfuelling.

Insurance were surprisingly co-operative, it's only about an extra 30-40 per year, which didn't seem too bad.
 
Quite possibly, it was something I was going to do when the exhaust died, and I had a stainless one made to replace it.

However, I may have to put this on hold, I really ought to finish the half-done audio project, and the SL now needs a new wiper motor by the looks of things. Fear not, I'll be back to this one in a few months time.
 
DolphiN Tech said:
Tuning Concepts - German website, but they have a rep in the Midlands. Seem to offer the best gains, and seem to be generally well received, although I've only really heard of them in the Smart and BMW areas. Not sure of price yet. EDIT - Just heard back from Simon, their rep. £250 all in, or £300 if he comes to me
Click to expand...

Upsolute used to have a rep in the Midlands called Simon who was a mobile operator. Same guy I bet.
 
Different surname, and a little further north I think.

The Tuning concept rep is called Simon Hall, and he lives near Walsall.
 
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