e320 cdi brabus d6 (ii)

[Fayiz]

Hello! I hope everyone is well and in good health, especially during this corona outburst...

I know some of you had been following my journey, from the car not starting to some sbc / abs issues along the way, thankfully everything was pretty much sorted, tbh the exact reason for the car to have stopped starting is still unknown, specialist said could've even been something along the lines of carbon build up, so did manage to get it running eventually after carrying out a service too while it was just sitting there... Had the SBC pump changed after that... So yeah, everything has been pretty much sorted on the car...

Upon taking it to one of the local specialists, before the whole corona outburst, I was informed that the car does indeed have a brabus tuning chip, which is one of the first things I looked out for after purchasing the car since it was mentioned in the ad however I knew how rare they are on these inline 6 3.2 engines... (2004) I presumed that it didn't have one, since I know they're usually wired up with a connector hooked up to each injector, however it's different in this case... I was informed by the specialist that it's alternatively wired up to the ecu and hidden under the fuse box in the engine bay... and apparently it's a correct alternative way of it being wired up?

I was just curious if there's any tests I could perform myself to know if it's in working order rather than just getting it on a dyno... the car does seem pretty quick, but I wasn't exactly sure if that's because it has a custom exhaust, which I assume does make them a little quicker? or if the brabus box is operational too... does anyone have any experience with them? do they tend to improve mpg too as other tuning boxes? I tend to ask since my older estate, s211 which as a 53 reg, which I believe have better mpg since the engine isn't the EU4 model as my current car, also had a tuning box, and it would return atleast mid 50's on a motorway journey, but I've mostly seen around high 40's, early 50's so far, which I'm assuming is stock? Would be great to know if they affect mpg too or not, or maybe its just not in working order... I do believe there is still some work that needs doing to the car, related to the brakes, along with wheel alignment, which I'm hoping should give a few mpg extra..

Kind Regards,

 

[Fayiz]

anyone? I do apologise... I assume the amount of detail I went into must have pushed away some members lolz... to keep it nice and short..

I was informed that the car has a brabus d6 (ii) tuning box hidden under the fuse box, which I believe is a rare beast on these IL6 engines... When I bought the car, it was indeed listed as brabus chipped, but after searching under engine covers etc... I didn't go by this... since some of you may be aware, they're usually wired up with harnesses going to each injector...

However upon getting some work done by a specialist, I was informed that it has one, hidden under the fuse box, and directly wired to the ecu? this was new to me since I believe they're usually wired up to the injectors, fuel system...

So I was mainly curious if, this is an alternative way of wiring them up? and if it should be working?

and if there's any way I can determine if the chip is functional, (without getting it on a dyno straight away)

The car does seem pretty quick as I've mentioned, but I'm not sure if this means the chip is functional, or it's an after effect of the custom quad exhaust on the car...

Kind Regards,

 

[bob6600]

Not too familiar with the wiring of these but as the ECU does control the fuel, it may be the way these are wired in. Have a look at this

http://www.zen104526.zen.co.uk/brabus/D6%20Fitting.pdf

 

[350cls]

Our s211 l6 320 CDI feels quick haven't a clue if it is tuned or not. 214k now and still pulls like a Locomotive . Such capable engine.

 

[Fayiz]

Not too familiar with the wiring of these but as the ECU does control the fuel, it may be the way these are wired in. Have a look at this

http://www.zen104526.zen.co.uk/brabus/D6%20Fitting.pdf

Cheers mate, much appreciated, I was informed at the time that it's all wired up correctly to the ecu, however I was more curious in terms of whether there's any kind of tests I can carry out at home to determine whether it's functional or not, without getting the car up on a dyno... (atleast for now...)

Our s211 l6 320 CDI feels quick haven't a clue if it is tuned or not. 214k now and still pulls like a Locomotive . Such capable engine.

I previously had a high spec 7 seater estate, which was fitted with a fuel rail tuning box already when I bought it... that was also pretty quick, and used to return mid 50's on a run easily, which was without completely considering economy...

the current saloon I have seems quicker for sure, but returns mostly mid - high 40's on a run which had me more curious as to whether the brabus box is working or not...

 

[Doodle]

So I was mainly curious if, this is an alternative way of wiring them up? and if it should be working?

IIRC the D6(3) unit for the v6 has a lot more connections to make, the version for the IL6 is a less complex loom (it's been 10 years since I wired up mine, so this is a bit hazy).

In fact, here's my post on it - Brabus D6 (II) instructions | Electronics and Audio

and if there's any way I can determine if the chip is functional, (without getting it on a dyno straight away)

Not really. I *think* there may have been a green LED on the box when active, but this is really vague recollection.

 

[kid-jensen]

Lookup the Autocar 0-60 time and add a second to allow for the testers not having to worry about breaking it.

If you can beat that time, it's safe to assume the Brabus box is doing its job. Don't forget, you will have to stall the Torque Converter to get anywhere near the Autocar time.

It's not realistic to expect an improvement in MPG with a tuning box fitted and used for it's intended purpose!

 

[Fayiz]

IIRC the D6(3) unit for the v6 has a lot more connections to make, the version for the IL6 is a less complex loom (it's been 10 years since I wired up mine, so this is a bit hazy).

In fact, here's my post on it - Brabus D6 (II) instructions | Electronics and Audio



Not really. I *think* there may have been a green LED on the box when active, but this is really vague recollection.

cheers mate, if only it wasn't hidden under the fusebox lolz... could've perhaps checked for a light, I assume it's hard to get to them in this case? since ofc I wasn't present when the specialist had removed the fuse box or whatever to gain access to it...

also referring to your post, "Fuse connected to #62 in the fusebox." does the brabus box connect to a fuse too? or I may have misunderstood... just curious..

Lookup the Autocar 0-60 time and add a second to allow for the testers not having to worry about breaking it.

If you can beat that time, it's safe to assume the Brabus box is doing its job. Don't forget, you will have to stall the Torque Converter to get anywhere near the Autocar time.

It's not realistic to expect an improvement in MPG with a tuning box fitted and used for it's intended purpose!

tbh I never timed the car, but it did indeed seem quick, like, I've seen acceleration videos of other e320 cdi's, and also come across some that my friends owned, they seemed sluggish in a way compared to mine, but I didn't know whether this comes down to my custom exhaust that the car came with, or if the brabus box is indeed operational, since I mentioned that my previous estate was returning much better mpg, and it also had a tuning box... but ofc not as quick as the saloon...

 

[Doodle]

cheers mate, if only it wasn't hidden under the fusebox lolz... could've perhaps checked for a light, I assume it's hard to get to them in this case? since ofc I wasn't present when the specialist had removed the fuse box or whatever to gain access to it...

also referring to your post, "Fuse connected to #62 in the fusebox." does the brabus box connect to a fuse too? or I may have misunderstood... just curious..

From memory, the box is powered by a piggyback fuse connector.

 

[Fayiz]

Thought of giving it a try to get to the brabus box underneath, to check the connections... unplugged the 2 connectors from the ecu, but stuck at unplugging the esp module next to it, does anyone know the procedure of removing it?

Thanks!

 

[Fayiz]

Found this, was a bit of a surprise! never seen this version of them? Anyone have any info?

 

[Fayiz]

Must be pretty rare? I've seen the normal ones, the rectangular ones...

 

[Fayiz]

Would anyone know if they're known for improving economy too? or are they simply power based? and how much could I expect to sell it for?

Kind Regards,

 

[Doodle]

Can't say I've ever seen one like that. Is that really a serial port screwed to the top of it?

EDIT - I've googled for about 20 minutes now, and the *only* images I can find that matches is on a Polish eBay-style listing from 2 years ago. Sorry OP, but I suspect this may not be a genuine Brabus unit - I honestly can't see them providing a bespoke wiring loom that matches the factory connectors etc, and then resorting to a 50p serial port held on with self-tappers on the unit itself.

 

[Fayiz]

I also found it to be rather unusual... however I did manage to get some results upon searching the part number

what do you guys reckon? a fake brabus box? and yeah, it was all hooked up and also had wires going to the ecu... (with tape around them) I was curious as to what the model would be of the original d6(ii) the rectangular one, since 211-736-00 is for the v6, although the merc specialist did claim that they're very rare and not often seen...

 

[Doodle]

It's the correct part number for the D6(II), so they've at least gone to the trouble of looking it up to fake the sticker. Wires going to the ECU rings serious alarm bells, there's no connections to be made there. The loom should be cloth taped, identical in appearance to the factory wiring.

Yes, they're fairly rare but there's masses of contemporary pictures etc. for reference.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

From reading this forums, it seems like Brabus are pretty good about getting back to customers with these boxes - you could just get in touch with them and ask.

 

[Fayiz]

Mercedes Brabus D3 Tuning Box ECU Chip W203 C Class W210 E Class C220 E220 CDI | eBay

For vehicles with the OM611 CDI engine.

www.ebay.co.uk

Found this... Seller has shown a mercedes invoice too, very similar to mine, ofc mine is the D6 though, so I assume it's a genuine box? perhaps even more rare though?

 

[Fayiz]

From reading this forums, it seems like Brabus are pretty good about getting back to customers with these boxes - you could just get in touch with them and ask.

Cheers mate, emailed them and they got back to me saying the following,

'Dear Fayiz,

The tuning box within the pictures is an original BRABUS article, article-number 211-636-00.

Attached the installation guide and the data sheet for this performance-kit type.'

Seems like the method of ecu fitting was correct too...

 

[kid-jensen]

Fascinating and historic stuff, but if it was working so well, why are you removing it?