dubaudi

So, I'm slowly starting to give in to the temptation of getting an ECU tune. MY biggest concern is my warranty. I'm absolutely paranoid of having some major engine issue and getting denied warranty because of the ECU flash.

So my question is this. Is it possible to get a second ECU, flash and tune that, and then install your original for trips to the dealer for service? Has anyone done that or is it even possible?

dodger63

Not possible Ecu is vin coded

dubaudi

Darn...I was hoping there would be a way.

C63 Guy

Actually it's totally doable. There's a forum member that's done it, but I don't remember who. They're not cheap, though.

Josh

jacob502

"Xtyper" and I think If i am not mistaken "Mthis"

C63 Guy

Yep, that's right. Thanks.

Josh

propain

I believe its possible. There are ways....


Its fine for bringing the car in for service and not have the dealer see it and flash over it. Thats about it.

The bad side is that if you have engine failure and swap the other ECU in before bringing to the dealer the failure wont show up on the codes and they will know you messed around. They will deny your claim and possibly void your warranty.

If you tune your car you are voiding your warranty. Plain and simple. Will some dealers turn the other way? Sure, for minor engine probs and cheap repairs that dont get the attention of the MB rep. Anything big like a tranny failure and the MB rep will be all over the car and they will deny your claim if you are tuned. MB knows people tune the C63 and look for it if you bring the car in with engine, tranny probs.

Dont let that scare you. A tune will VERY rarely break your car if you get one from a good tuner.

lunarx

If you want to buy an ECU, check GenuineMercedesParts.com
http://www.genuinemercedesparts.com/...RAIN%20CONTROL

They show $1248 on their website.

I have bought some other parts from them and they are cool Georgia guys offering real good prices.

izzyAMG

On my Evo, using COBB tune. They have a device so you can switch from stock to mod and reverse. So there is no option for that with the mercs?

dodger63

Yes duel Ecu is totally possible, but cheating mb info fixing a blown motor or trans when they no you have 2 ecu's probably will not work

C63 Guy

Good point. I thought you meant swapping between 2 ECUs wasn't possible, which was strange coming from you...

Josh

xtyper

Yep, it's totally doable. Just make sure your tuner knows how to do it, as I've had some good and bad experiences in the past attempting this. I can already tell you it's no problem for Kleemann, OE Tuning, and ACG San Diego.

Good luck.

Saeedg48

from my understanding, if the tuner is smart enough they won't increase your top speed or redline. the car has a computer that monitors "top scores". if you go over max rpm or max speed the car will log it and save it in the car as ghost codes. the one and sometimes only way the dealership can tell if your ecu has been re-coded is by reading these ghost codes.

so bottom line go with a tuner who knows what they're doing!

dodger63

Thanks sorry for confusion I have seen hagi do it 100 times, with the vin coding I don't think it matters how smart the tuner is, mb puts you vin in the cumputer 2 Ecu's pop up I wish u luck, it might be better going the levity way at that point and see what happens instead of commiting insurance fraud

Merc63

I did exactly this. I ordered my ECU through a dealer I dont get service at.. I had it programmed there to my car. I then took that ECU and had it tuned and kept my stock ECU.

Every time the car went to the dealer, I plugged in the stock ECU.

How can they prove you even used the secondary ECU? all you have to say if you have it sitting at home and never used it yet or you decided not to use it all together.


This is exactly what I did for 3 years. I have had warranty work completed on the engine, Cam adjusters were noisy and I had a lean code as well where they changed the purge valve out and eventually the intake manifold gasket.

Obviously there are risks associated with doing this. Its not a full proof system.

dodger63

I'm not an authority on this but there has been discussions anlbout the Ecu loging if its been unplugged or not and there I think is a milage counter in it also?? Im sure your claims weren't big enough ti warrent an inveatigation. Just saying care full they are smarter then that

Merc63

I can ask my tech friend if there is anything in his software at the service department that can monitor that... Ill report back what he says...

dodger63

Like I said I have no first hand knowledge about these things I've heard.. and am assuming the rest

skokkosis

i've heard great feedback from OE's tune and Eurocharged's (the one i currently have) i do not know how OE is with reflashing and such, but someone here may give us some more info how they are with their reflashing, as for eurocharged, they allow for free reflashes for any upgrade you get, or for any time you need to detune back to stock, assuming before a service for someone who is paranoid, i've gone to merc. about 3 times now with a tune, and my exhaust setup, haven't had anything told to me, give i have not had any problems, just a tune i am pretty positive you won't have any problems and if i'm not mistaken most of them are highly undetectable.

NS_C63

Its is possible.

Buy a second ECU and get someone to do a complete BDM backup
and clone the new ECU.

Merc63

Tech says that he's seen nothing that would suggest two ecus being used when working on my car... But he said that doesn't mean it's not there, he said just with his software he couldn't find anything.

dubaudi

I agree, I know the tuners are great at what they do and I highly doubt that a good tune would actually cause any engine problems, but there's always the chance that something could still go wrong...that's what I worry about.

propain

No reason to look. Blow the motor or tranny and MB gets a big fat bill. They will send a rep to investigate the car before they authorize the fix on their dime and the rep knows exactly what to look for. Swapped ECU's, tunes ect.. Anything odd that stands out.

If you blow the motor its going to blow at some serious high RPM. You swap out the ECU and bring it to the dealer. The ECU will have no current record or code of the failure. Claim denied.

Like I said, If you dont want your warranty voided for an oil change and to not have your tune reflashed the second ECU is great. Also give for running multple tunes and switching between them. IE, Race file and pump gas file.

_AMG_

There is a device which plugs into your OBDII port so you can switch between tunes.

Davo81

yeah? what, where and how much?!