Ntrigued

Has anyone actually tried the Vath ECU mod for the C250?

I've read numerous discussions on Burger and TMC, but I have not seen one C250 who has the Vath piggy back installed.

I have a quote from Vath direct for 1,170 EUR, which translates to $1,563.46 shipped to Hawaii and I am trying to justify the cost.

Knightmare69

Not really, from what I heard, Vath has horrible after sales support.

Ntrigued

Considering the amount of press they have received I thought at least one person would have tried the upgrade. They do have a reputation for producing great products.

I guess I'll be the first.

Spd Racr

If you end up getting it, let us know your thoughts on it! Theres not enough information on a lot of these piggyback tunes so you're impressions would help us out!

metalgear84

I will prefer don't touch the ECU... these cars are sensitive... but i also curious of the outcome

AusMB87

No idea about Vath, but I sprung for the Carlsson C-Tronic unit with the intercooler and did a big write-up about it

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...0cgi-tune.html

Ntrigued

The order shipped today. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Knightmare69

Yes, and please let us know what is included in the kit along with pics if possible.

Ntrigued

To keep you all updated, the package was returned to Vath on Friday(22nd of August) because it did not contain my phone number. The package shipped out of Germany on Friday (22nd of August) and arrived in California yesterday. Today, I get a call from a customs broker saying duty is due in the amount of $41, and must be paid before it can continue to Hawaii. I'm hoping it arrives before the weekend!

Knightmare69

Awesome, please take pics and document as much as you can. What does your tuning package consist of? Just the piggyback or also an upgraded FMIC like AusMB87?

Ntrigued

Just the piggyback for now, it was just too much money for the FMIC or the fuel cooler. I had a hard time justifying the price for the piggyback unit, but since I made a few dollars selling my C300 I figured I'd give it a shot.

Knightmare69

I'm still on the fence about the fuel cooler. Been trying to find reviews on it.

AusMB87

Waste of money IMO.

You see them on race cars because the smallest increase can mean win or lose for those guys.

Fuel coolers are really aimed at naturally aspirated engines from my understanding. When you already have air being compressed and then passed through an intercooler, a fuel cooler is really not going to make a difference. Especially on a low volume engine like ours.

All it does is create a fractionally cooler, denser intake by spraying cold fuel into it. Kind of like methanol injection. Ours are direct injection so I really don't know what Vaeth expects to get from it...

Ntrigued

The package arrived late Friday, and I installed it Saturday morning. The installation was straightforward and the instructions were just enough to complete the install correctly. I did a few test runs, and it is a noticeable difference. The car breaks loose if you punch it on a turn, and it even slips the tires a bit from a dead stop. I also noticed the program might change the shift points as you are able to hold a gear past the beginning of redline. I didn't test top speed, but did notice both a low end and top end pull much different from stock tune.

Ntrigued

The guys a Vath threw in a chrome plate for the rear of the car along with the package. I'm still deciding if I am going to stick it on.

Knightmare69

So it's only hooked up to intake manifold and....can't really see but throttle body or boost sensor? Seems miniscule for so much money, TMC connects to 4-5 sensors I believe.

Ntrigued

Intake manifold and boost pressure are the two and they both have separate piggy back units.

AusMB87

Hmm, the Carlsson unit slips between the ECU and it's connector, effectively extending the top of the ECU