C350 CDI Brabus chip

[c63chris]

Someone helpfully pointed out that there is a Brabus chip for the C350 CDI playing straight into my obsession with shiny things I've done a search on the forum so sorry if this has been covered before but has anyone done this with a C350? Seen a couple of threads on C320. Also if I get the dealer to fit it do I still have to declare to the insurance company or can I call it standard Mercedes parts My local dealer came in it £1600 but offered to move on price straight away so trying to do a bit of research rather than just diving straight in

 

[Simon_M]

You need to declare it, it only added about £100 to my CLS and they seemed to forget about it after the first year.

 

[wilsodg]

which engine do you have - the later 265hp or the one that is around 230?

It's probably best to get the dealer to fit because then you are covered by the warranty. I've got a D6S on an E350 - still getting used to it. The increase in torque is nice, but to get the power you have to be in Sport or Manual, and I'm finding that to really get most out of it you are better off in M mode because S tends to hold it in gear too long (to about 4k revs) and it sems to perform best if you change up at 3.5k.

On insurance, make sure they appreciate it has a proper Merc part number and is being fitted by the dealer. They did not want to touch it if it was a re-map, but as a pucker 'performance pack' the premium went up 70ukp which was much less than I feared.

 

[Ds7]

Hi c63chris,

Do you have any further info on this chip please? Did you get it fitted in the end? I am also very interested in possibly getting it fitted to a c350 cdi (265hp) so would appreciate any additional info you (or anyone else) can provide.

Also, what dealer did you go to?

Thanks in advance
DS7

 

[wilsodg]

Look on the Brabus website for info. Cost seems to be around 1700 fitted by a dealer. Maybe you'll find one to do for less. It takes 1-2hrs for dealer to fit, depending upon how thorough a job you want doing with positioning of the box and routing the wiring loom. If fitted by a dealer, you'll get a form to sign which protects your MB warranty. What more to say? It increase power by 18% in mode M&S and torque by about 11% in all modes. It doesn't affect economy much - likely you'll see a reduction of 1-2 mpg if you drive similarly. The car is adequately powered anyway for most day-to-day use so you'll not get to use the extra all that often but the torque is noticeable.
Any dealer can fit one. Some editions of the CLS have them fitted as standard, and it looks like the new CLS Station Wagon has a model with it.

 

[Ds7]

Thanks Wilsodg.

Very useful info. Was under the impression that the mpg increase was a bit more significant than that. Hmmmm... More thinking time needed.

My local dealer also quoted me £2k!

 

[David C]

As a Mercedes-Benz dealer I can confirm the retail price fitted is around the 2k mark.
I've had one fitted to a demonstrator and it does make a difference the fuel economy didn't change at all. The biggest increase I noticed was the torque increase.
Some dealers will do it for less if they have had the part physically in stock for a while.
As you can probably guess with this price we don't sell too many and surprisingly the profit margin isn't what you'd think it would be due the wholesale cost from Brabus being so high.
Is it worth it? That's up to you...

 

[wilsodg]

Was under the impression that the mpg increase was a bit more significant than that. Hmmmm... More thinking time needed.

My local dealer also quoted me £2k!

Don't expect the mpg to increase, and don't try to justify it on that.
My dealer charged me (iirc) about 1700 because I was having some other stuff done but they commented after that it took a lot longer to fit than they envisaged.

 

[Peter DLM]

I've heard of it being installed by dealer for £999.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I don't know where dealers get a two hour fit from; I did mine in 30 minutes and I have trouble putting one foot in front of the other on some days.

 

[David C]

Peter,
There is a different chip for each engine and some are as low as 1000 for older cars or 4 cylinder models. I'd love to justify the price but even I can't....

 

[c63chris]

Hi c63chris,

Do you have any further info on this chip please? Did you get it fitted in the end? I am also very interested in possibly getting it fitted to a c350 cdi (265hp) so would appreciate any additional info you (or anyone else) can provide.

Also, what dealer did you go to?

Thanks in advance
DS7

Hi no haven't had it fitted yet. I spoke to Lookers, Mercedes Gatwick. I like the idea of extra power but £1600 is a lot. Mine is a 2012 model so has 265hp which is good but no where near the C63 I had before. Going to give it a few months to see if I really want the extra power.

 

[wilsodg]

I don't know where dealers get a two hour fit from; I did mine in 30 minutes and I have trouble putting one foot in front of the other on some days.

As I said, depends on how tidy and whether you follow the Brabus/Merc instructions or just lob it in there, and also I guess, the car type. For my 212 E class, it goes inside the car behind trim in the drivers footwell, then the leads go up under and through the main fuse box (requiring partial removal), and are integrated with the main loom round the front of the engine bay and back to the engine along with the main loom. I've seen pics where some fit it inside the engine bay and it is visible with wires. You could do that in 30 mins easy. I don't know why they say to fit inside the passenger compartment now (more difficult to steal, or cooler operating environment perhaps). If you want everything warrantied then I guess it needs to be per the book.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

^^ the dealer labour time of two hours is the same for the W211, W204, etc etc

The person that bought my Brabus box was quoted £500 to fit it by a dealer!!!

Between us we fitted it to his W204 in around 30-40 minutes...

 

[MonkeyJug]

Bump.

Pick up my C350 Estate Sport Plus on 1st September. So excited. Never owned (or thought I'd own) a Merc, but fell in love with the black at the dealers, complete with red seatbelts!

I've upgraded to the AMG Handling Package, and was wondering, would that have any effect on the Brabus kit? Is it still viable to have both?

 

[Cigano]

Having a brabus box fitted to my w211 2008 e320 cdi sport on monday , Merc Specialist quoted me an hour to fit it
Cant wait tho

 

[Mavster]

You will love it, my CLS has the extra power and everyone new that sits in the car comments on the impressive and smooth torque wave when accelerating. No smoke from the exhausts either

 

[astamir]

Hi guys

Does anyone knows what model chip box would I need for my 2003 w211 320cdi estate?
Thanks