AMGeez

Let's all try to buy it for $3k as a dealer installed option and see if they react to the demand in a sensible way.

CPBRI

Let us know how they respond.

JeffDL

i'll take a tune for less $$. good luck though.

AMGeez

But if they could sell a couple thousand and we keep our warranties, that would be a win/ win.

black-clk500

They don't want us to keep our warranties.
They'd rather show us the door when the M156 grenades due to the "alledged" cam/lifter defect--"oh you got a tune, fu<k you pay me."

Just my .02--good luck, keep us posted

AMGeez

It is probably a tough sales environment. To realize $3-$6m in revenue for something they've already developed (the ecu programming) might seem like a damn good idea.

cyberorth

Every ECU sold, every flash and reflash done has to be approved by MB(USA). Read some of the tech bulletins and you see how strict MB is with any type of work dealers do on these cars.

Carac

Aye, getting that way with most cars. Read an article once where they said there were 4-5 people in the world that understood certain aspects of the engine management and electrical systems in the M3. When a car comes in with a related problem, the tech simply sends the diagnostic data to BMW HQ where one of the few people respond with a fix to try. If it doesn't work they send other suggestions. It requires no independent thought or understanding of the system, they simply implement suggestions. It's similar with the GT-R where they have that roaming tech team that comes in when the computer's can't figure out what's wrong.

late_bloomer

I want amg tune under warranty

DuaneC63

Certainly a win for us but not so much for them. After market tuners cannot afford the hours of real world testing that the factory can. Hence the factory cannot be sure no matter how dilligent the tuner is, if his product will not cause ill affects over a long period of time resulting in unexpected warranty repairs. The sales price of a MBz has it's estimated warranty cost down to a science and untested parts makes this analysis invalid. While AMG was independent MBZ would honor AMG modified cars as they had gone through an expensive complete certification process with MBZ. AMG had a manufacturers license in Germany and issued it's on DIN #. While several US companies have also made these arrangments (Roush for example), the German thought process does not lead them in this direction. They paid a significant sum for AMG and don't want to allow the aftermarket to duplicate the performance of a P31 option for a fraction of the cost.

As much as I am attracted to the duplicate ECU option, since a dealer has to sync it up, it opens up a can of worms (like why do you need to buy a new ECU in a car that is still underwarranty)

JM

Just got an engine replaced and almost at my own expense.... They will try anything to void your warranty.

AMGeez

All good reasons why it has to be an official, sanctioned tuning program from mb USA. They agree to treat the vehicles upgraded with p31 ecus just like any other p31 car they've sold (under the proposed arrangement). It's kind of like getting a second chance to have a large group of customers elect to install a pricey factory option. Attractive for every body. If they sold 1,000 upgraded ecus at $3,000 each, that's a lot of dough.

JM

3 million dollars to them aint a lot of money, thats the thing.

They made it exclusively for P31 and they will keep it that way.

gthal

I wonder if a non P31 without the hardened internals would have an issue with the P31 tune? That would be their excuse not to offer it if I were them even if it weren't a valid concern. Also, I thought the increased power of the P31 was not just from a tune but also engine components from the SLS. Maybe the tune wouldn't have a huge impact

I will be shocked if anyone convinces a dealer to do this.

JeffDL

exactly. there's other stuff besides ecu tune to a p31 package. if you want p31 sell car and buy different one. only option.

emericr

I agree with most that this is very unlikely MB would agree to do this. Keep us informed.
Jeffield: May I ask what happened with your car? I thought an engine like ours was insanely expensive.
Many of us have tunes and this is the first I hear that our C63 engines may not be able to take the extra power.
Can anyone also expand on the "alledged" cam/lifter defect? First time I hear about it.

gthal

Do a search for "cam defect Mercedes" on Google and you will find a ton of information. I don't think threads that deal with it here last long.

I wonder if the "hardened internals" of the P31 package address or correct this issue?

hhughes1

All of the non C class 63's of the past few years have had 500+ horsepower with the exact same internals as the non P31 C63's.

Selling a factory backed software upgrade to P31 specs, essentially a fully sanctioned tune would generate decent income but may create animosity with the customers who paid full retail for a P31 package and did not have this choice when purchasing. They are also sensitive to the perceived need to differentiate the upper echelon AMGs but that is now solved with the 55TT.

CELLryuu

lots of very good points.

i have only one thing to add. someone eluded to having to send off for info when the computer doesnt now how to fix something. very true. shoot, at the dealership i go to, they dont even know what p31 is. i was actually worried that they were going to accidentally flash the ecu to non p31 when i found this out. but now ive learned that the encoding in the ecu is read by the computer and no matter how incompetent the servicer is (and trust me.....they dont know s|-|it without that computer) they cant flash it any other way than the way it came.

black-clk500

All I can say is there is a lawsuit that alledges a design flaw in the metallurgy used for cams/lifters that causes excessive wear to the cams resulting, potentially, in BOOM! That's all I can say before the IB and AMG henchmen come get me

Negative sir. I wish they did, I'd have a few less gray hairs on my head.
According to my window sticker, it reads "AMG lightweight forged pistons, lightweight connecting rods, revised crankshaft, new engine management."

Nothing about cams or lifter mentioned.
The best advice people have given is to use 5W40 Mobile1, the dealers will use this on our cars anyway--there's endless debate on whether this does much, I won't go into it here--there is another MB forum with all this info, MBW is not the end all be all guys

ZephyrAMG

+1. I think that the way MOST of us drive these cars we will NEVER see any of these issues. Granted we actually drive them and put the engine through its motions and not just garage queen it. BlackCLK I think you have a great car and wouldn't let it worry you or keep you up at night. Let your kids be the ones that give you gray hair

gthal

I'm sure the non P31 engine could handle the tune as you suggest. I guess what I should have said is I would have to believe the upgraded internals would have some impact on the power output. Therefore, maybe just the tune wouldn't get the same results. Per Mercedes' website ... "Mercedes-AMG also offers the AMG Development Package, which gives the 2012 C63 AMG Coupe a total power output of 481 horsepower. This optional package uses forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshaft adopted from the Mercedes-AMG SLS gullwing model."

From what I have read in reviews, this also allows the engine to rev more freely, etc. Anyway, I have no idea what impact the internal changes would have on power but I can't imagine they would not have an impact in addition to the tuning for the P31.

black-clk500

Thanks Zephyr, I don't know if I can agree with the garage queen statement, my car is babied quite a bit, but when she comes out, she always gets a full workout I've never even used the wipers on it, hahaha, I just can't believe I have 4200+ miles on the clock that fit my criteria for driving weather!

My kids are still a little young to give much headache, when my son or daughter wants an M3 some day, that will cause stress.

ZephyrAMG

True true.....I fear two things, the day a boy comes knocking on the door for my daughter, and the day my son wants a 400+hp car....

AMGC60-3

A big plus one on that!!!