2003 E55 ECU flash...another mad owner!

[Cory @ Kleemann]

Originally Posted by vader Cory...can you confirm that you can re-flash to a pre-recall program ? PM is fine if it makes more sense. I can indeed, however, I need to know the specific software number your car was built with, which can only be found at the end of original the EPROM file. MB doesn't use the same software in all E55's- there are probably 7-8 different software versions from 2003 to present. I can guess based on production date, but I may not get it right.

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[mclarenm8d]

Subjective stuff, so I may be off-base or fooling myself, but having the ABC "performance" setting on with ESP off seems to have given the car more punch. I've always suspected that having the ABC performance setting on did more than just change the suspension behaviour ... but I could be off-base.

I haven't yet tried back to back roast the tires with ABC performance on versus roast the tires with ABC performance off.

Do you guys notice any difference with engine response with your supension setting adjusted to more aggressive settings?

[saveur]

OK, just to be clear, this reflash/power loss issue is only affecting the 03-05 cars, or is all across the board up to the current '06/07 E55K? I have an 06, but now am wondering wether I should deny all ecu-reflashing offered by the dealer....

[chiromikey]

regardless of what models appear to be affected, i would deny any ecu flashing from now on until i knew exactly what it does, especially after this problem.

i get the feeling that half the time mb doesn't bother telling customers until after the fact. many people bring their car in for something and then get the, "oh by the way, we did this ______ while your car was here".

the other problem is that mb holds it over your head with "if you want your car to remain under warranty, _____ work has to be done".

[BENZGal]

Originally Posted by saveur

OK, just to be clear, this reflash/power loss issue is only affecting the 03-05 cars, or is all across the board up to the current '06/07 E55K? I have an 06, but now am wondering wether I should deny all ecu-reflashing offered by the dealer....

Dealer in Santa Barbara told me that they got a memo to flash all 03-05's and 06 models with an 05 build date. I don't know if that is true? I have a feeling that the 06's built this year already have the new software? Who the hell knows?

[JLP]

06 E55's which were built in 06 don't require the update. As another poster stated if you have any outstanding recall work to be done MB will not do any warranty work until the car gets updated.

[VegasAMG]

Originally Posted by Fikse

how many here at be at 65MPH and spin the tires?

my stock E55 ran 12.07 @ 116.3 MPH, and I can't spin the tires at 65MPH.....

I back him up with the tire spinning thing. The streets here in Vegas are full of dust, it never rains here. My buddies SL55 WILL spin the tires enough to fishtail the car at 65mph here in Vegas.

NOW, in California forget it, the car feels like it is on slicks in California.

Mark

[x-tian-230k]

Cory You have a PM.

Originally Posted by CoryU

Actually, MB is currently using 3 different versions of the "new" software in USA cars. Two of them are being used in most E, SL, CL, and S55's. The other is being used exclusively in the G55. There seems to be no indication or reason for using these three "different" versions, and I've not seen any pattern regarding which cars get which software, with the exception of the G.

It is very possible to load the original software the car was built with, but not by an MB dealer, simply because they don't read and save the OE software before doing the re-flash. They simply write over the OE software.

So, why are they reflashing? The air pump in these cars stays on for 120 seconds after a cold start to help light-off the primary catalysts. These air pumps are notorious for going bad after 3-4 years (some fail far earlier than that), and MB is tired of replacing them under warranty. The "main" purpose of this reflash is an attempt to get the air pump to last longer. They are also replacing the relay with one that triggers at a higher voltage as well. As for the decrease in performance most are experiencing, that secret lies with MB.

As for the SCN coding- that has nothing to do with this. The SCN code is what marries a specific ECU to a specific car, and tells it what equipment the car is built with, emissions equipment, engine, etc. Only when a NEW ECU is installed must it be SCN coded. The SCN code is specific to VIN number, not EPROM files. Furthermore, it is not possible to install a used ECU from one car into another for permanant use.

[enzom]

Originally Posted by saveur

OK, just to be clear, this reflash/power loss issue is only affecting the 03-05 cars, or is all across the board up to the current '06/07 E55K? I have an 06, but now am wondering wether I should deny all ecu-reflashing offered by the dealer....

Just to be clear - my 05 was reflashed, but I do not believe that it has caused any power loss on my car. I can still spin the tires at will with the ESP off, and the car still pulls pretty hard. I will take it to the strip when we start getting into the 60's again to confirm that it is still a low 12 second car.

If anybody wants to organize a rental at Atco or E-town, let me know.

[enzom]

Originally Posted by enzom

Just to be clear - my 05 was reflashed, but I do not believe that it has caused any power loss on my car. I can still spin the tires at will with the ESP off, and the car still pulls pretty hard. I will take it to the strip when we start getting into the 60's again to confirm that it is still a low 12 second car.

If anybody wants to organize a rental at Atco or E-town, let me know.

Managed to get to Englishtown last night. Ran a 12.20 @ 115.83 on a 70 plus degree humid night. Don't think that the reflash had any negative effect on the car.

[David Joor]

Enzom - What tires are you running? That is just an amazing time, would love to hear how you launch your car.

[WayneE]

Originally Posted by enzom

Managed to get to Englishtown last night. Ran a 12.20 @ 115.83 on a 70 plus degree humid night. Don't think that the reflash had any negative effect on the car.

I'm going to the track on Monday, I'll also post results on a post-flash 2006. My car seems to run fine, blows the tires away, blah, blah. It will be warmer Monday than when I ran my 12.1, but I should at least run .20-.35.

[Lady Wolf]

Originally Posted by Fikse

how many here at be at 65MPH and spin the tires?

my stock E55 ran 12.07 @ 116.3 MPH, and I can't spin the tires at 65MPH.....

Hello all,
Wolf and I were commenting on this in Las Vegas this weekend. We NEVER get spin here in Los Angeles but every time we take the E55T to Las Vegas we get a ton of wheelspin at almost any speed. We assumed it was because the roads are possibly made of a different material plus the dust. All I know is you get a lot of tire spin on the same car in Las Vegas that you don't get in Los Angeles.