ECU re-mapping

[Metalmangler]

Hi, I am new to this forum, I guess this topic has already been covered before. I have a few questions regarding chip tuning or remapping, are they he same thing or different? I have enquired at my local MB garage about the Brabus chip, but got a quote for £1650.00, which seems a bit steep. I contacted someone who would do remapping of the CPU, when I asked how it might affect my warranty he said it was un-detectable. The car is about 6 months old, E220 auto estate. It's a little bit sluggish compared to my previous car. I was not too sure about it being un-detectable, so I called another re-mapper and he said he would not recommend it for a nearly new car as if there were any engine problems that would be the first place that MB would look. So I have some confusing advice. Can anyone shed some light? Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

 

[Blue Moon]

Call PCS. They are a forum sponsor. Or MSL, ditto

 

[Metalmangler]

Thanks. I found MSL but could not find PCS. Can you give me a bit more detail?

 

[Del80y]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/memb...r-service-mercedes-specialist-portsmouth.html

 

[sjmaxwell]

Or Paul and Andrew at Eurocharged who are Watford based.

 

[Jeremy A-H]

I can second the recommendation for Eurocharged, having visited them yesterday!

 

[BFT]

No such thing as an undetectable remap! The guy who offers that clearly knows duck all about how a rewrite of the ECU works, how's it affects flash counters, how the data is changed so probably knows nothing about the maps that are changed!

Steer clear!!

Give me a car with an undetectable remap and I can point out with MB Star or a universal diagnostic tool how it is mapped.

My point is.... It is detectable if you know what you are looking for. Mercedes if they wish know what they are looking for.

 

[kjb1]

I would go with a plug in box here on a car still in manufacturer warranty. They are much better these days but you pay for what you get:

dtuk offer a twin channel boost and furl rail box cpu controlled for around £365, this can be removed easily for warranty purposes etc.

 

[KeithJG]

Not looking for trouble but don`t understand why this is written publicly for all to see about a remap and warranty!!....if it is untrue...

Also knowing what computers are who is to say that the ECU has not saved any information from the removable tuning box?.......desktops and laptops do!... if fact anything with an HDD!

Don`t forget ECU`s are adaptable!.....it should know that something has been connected.


For what a warranty stands for my Independent Specialist had a case for engine damage and Brabus equipment was fitted...it turned out that only the Brabus fittings were under warranty and not the engine damage they had caused!

........................................................................................

 

[BFT]

Everytime you unplug the rail pressure connector to plug in a tuning box it logs a fault.....

 

[kithands]

Just checked my Brabus warranty for the D6S in my e350 am estate. Any consequential damage to engine or drive train is covered by MB.

 

[kjb1]

Everytime you unplug the rail pressure connector to plug in a tuning box it logs a fault.....

I disagree, power down the car completely in sleep mode etc,or battery disconnect, then unplug sensor, re install everything before powering up, the car will be none the wiser.

A lot of this is hear say, show me actual proof of this logged fault.

 

[geraldrobins]

Apart from being fraudulent, what if you break down and have to be towed to the dealer? How do you manage to power down etc?
Bit unlikely I agree.

 

[kjb1]

Really?? In the whole time you wait for tow vehicle you could not disconnect a tuning box whilst battery disconnected etc?? wouldn't take me long I know that. The dtuk box also comes with a loom which allows you to disconnect the box and install a blanking plug. Not that I would use it anyhow, but nice to know its there.

 

[Lee C63]

There seems to be loads of threads with these questions lately.
At the end of the day the old saying goes .... If you do the crime you do the time.
So if you want to keep your warranty then don't tune.
If you want to tune then you "run the risk" of the warranty being worthless....if they go to the lengths to prove it has been "tampered with"
I tuned mine "extensively" and knew that the warranty would be worthless..... I also know if something fails, it's my fault and I have to pay to have it fixed......simples

 

[geraldrobins]

Really?? In the whole time you wait for tow vehicle you could not disconnect a tuning box whilst battery disconnected etc?? wouldn't take me long I know that. The dtuk box also comes with a loom which allows you to disconnect the box and install a blanking plug. Not that I would use it anyhow, but nice to know its there.

Thanks for that. Sounds feasible.

 

[BFT]

I disagree, power down the car completely in sleep mode etc,or battery disconnect, then unplug sensor, re install everything before powering up, the car will be none the wiser.

A lot of this is hear say, show me actual proof of this logged fault.

Yes indeed you power down the car completely fine no logged fault.

But I've not seen people do that and it isn't in the last instructions I read.

But seeing as you disagree there is a few points in 'some' tuning boxes that say play with the 'programs' until you hit limp mode and back it off. Or to get more power etc.

When you hit limp mode it triggers a fault code.

Some people can clear them some can't.

We can sit here for ages and talk about what if's and how's and why but as Lee says, you do the crime you do the time.

There are many ways to get around warranty, all i'm trying to point out is just as there is a tuning box fitted and removed, if not done properly or you play with it fault codes can be logged. And a OBD Bluetooth adapter can't always delete them or see all modules to do so.

 

[BFT]

Just checked my Brabus warranty for the D6S in my e350 am estate. Any consequential damage to engine or drive train is covered by MB.

Correct. Hence the price tag.

 

[BFT]

Really?? In the whole time you wait for tow vehicle you could not disconnect a tuning box whilst battery disconnected etc?? wouldn't take me long I know that. The dtuk box also comes with a loom which allows you to disconnect the box and install a blanking plug. Not that I would use it anyhow, but nice to know its there.

But equally to bear in mind if you are in an accident it sticks out like a sore thumb and equally a blanking plug leaves the loom there which any technician which isn't picking fluff from his bum is gonna spot

Pros and cons of all solutions, none are completely warranty proof.

MSL fit tuning boxes, many of them for certain customers who request them so don't think we are against them!

 

[markjay]

There may be a way around the manufacturer's warranty issue, but how do you deal with the insurance issue?

Keeping in mind that in case of a serious crash (even if not your fault) you will not get the chance to remove the tuning box before police arrives on the scene (and if you did, it might be considered an offence).


Your options are to either declare it to the insurer but not to MB, or to not declare to either.

Neither is exactly risk-free.