W210 320cdi Tuning Boxes

[jon_viola]

Hi,

I've been reading up on this and looked at various options. Could anyone recommend me a chip for my car? Are any of the boxes offered on ebay any good- such as:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Are there any to avoid generally?

Many thanks

Jon

 

[GordonTarling]

Most of the lower cost boxes seem to simply raise the rail fuel pressure, without consideration for much else. Whilst they work to a degree, the one I tried made the car smokey and not very pleasant to drive. IMHO, a Brabus tuning box or a proper ECU remap is the only way to go.

 

[Paddcomp]

I've used a company called Dragon Performance (or MrHoot) for a diesel tuning box for my C220 W203, which works well with no increase in smoke. I'd previously used the same make on a 1.9TDI VW, although this did increase the smoke when floored.

They used to have a shop on ebay but as is the way these days seem to be out of business. I got mine for about £150 about 18 months ago.

I would recommend a good make of in-line tuning box that actually offer remaps, as some of the very cheap ones are merely a resistor to fool the engine into cold start mode. The Brabus seems to get recommended as you can keep your warranty, but at £1200 you could spend more wisely I think.

 

[Geoff A]

I've got a plug-in box from DMS going spare - sold my W210 E320Cdi a few years ago and took the box off it......... Had the car on the rollers once just to prove its worth and it lifted the standard 197hp up to about 225hp and improved my fuel economy too. Let me know if you're interested

 

[jon_viola]

Pm sent!

 

[Geoff A]

Jon, I don't have a high enough post count to send/receive PM's yet. :-(

 

[skemball]

I have a Van Aaken 'box' fitted. Doing tests with it connected and disconnected it definately gives the engine more urgency - but with a bit of smoke, not too much but enough to soot up the rear valance over a few thousand miles (i dont wash mine every week)

 

[ringway]

I have a Van Aaken 'box' fitted. Doing tests with it connected and disconnected it definately gives the engine more urgency - but with a bit of smoke, not too much but enough to soot up the rear valance over a few thousand miles (i dont wash mine every week)

I seem to remember Maddog (member here) using a Van Aaken box with success on his 2000 W210 320cdi estate. With a free flowing exhaust and no cats, low 7s 0-60 was achieved IIRC.

I would always prefer a custom re-map though and no matter what tuning is applied you should take into account the mileage of the car and if it will withstand the extra torque etc.