boosting1bar

Took the GT down to Renntech a couple weeks ago and had the R1 package installed. The R1 includes filters, downpipes, BOVs and tune. First impressions when I got it were that Comfort mode doesn't sound particularly different than it did before. Cruising up and down the interstate anywhere from 65-110mph there's no drone at all. That was a big deal for me and on my S63 coupe previously the downpipes had added a marginal little bit of drone, not the case here. In C mode the added power is readily apparent but the drivability of the car on a day to day difference is no different. Very very rarely I've noticed the tranny will hold the gear just a touch longer then jerk into another gear like it remembered it wasn't supposed to do that. Only happened twice in about 2500 miles and it was early on and none in probably the last 2000mi.

On to S mode. S mode drives like S+ did previously. Aggressive fuel curves, aggressive shifting and a lot more power on tap all the time. There is a bit more noise as the car is generally a gear down. Honestly I never really drove in this mode previously and don't really drive in it now.

S+ mode is pretty crazy now. Very aggressive power delivery, very aggressive shifting. It's much more like a full on race mode. With the exhaust open there is a LOT of noise and a lot of backfiring on decel and downshifts. I end up driving in this mode a lot with the exhaust closed because it still sounds incredible and cuts down on the backfires a bit. Occasionally I'll open it up and punch it in downtown and the sound echoing up the buildings is pretty amazing.

General impressions...I guess the biggest difference of course is that there's no shortage of power any time now. In C there's still a little stutter as it doesn't downshift so aggressively but better than it was stock. In the higher modes the turbo lag is more noticeable now but only because once they spool the car takes off like a rocket and just pins you to the seat until you let off. Pulls like a freight train through all gears. The BOVs are a matter of personal preference. I personally don't mind them, they're not really a high pitched woosh like a lot of the Japanese cars. It's a much lower pitched rush of air that sounds like a downward vented rush of excess boost instead of that high pitched attention getter. Hard to explain without hearing it to be honest.

All in all I'm very happy with the results. Dyno results were 615hp/630tq. They did the entire install and dyno tuning in a day and car was spotless when I got it back like I'd expect. I specifically bought a GT with the options I wanted knowing I'd be taking it down to them and have exactly the car I wanted for less than I would've spent on a GT-S. Again personally, I don't like the pop up rear wing and wanted the OEM aero kit. Glad to answer any questions if anyone has anything. Once the weather clears a bit I'll do a couple proper videos with in/out car mic'd so you can get an idea of sound.

CAracer

Great results, thanks for posting. Just curious, what does a package run?

boosting1bar

Around $9300 installed with the dyno runs

CAracer

Not bad considering all the work performed and the final results. Thanks

300blackout

Thanks for the feedback!

Here's an honest questions for you guys with mods like this and a tune. What do you plan to do should you need to bring in your vehicle for a warranty issue or when it comes to smog inspections?

I'm tempted to go with downpipes and a ECU tune, but the thought of dealing with the dealership for any warranty issues and smog inspections is holding me back.

sonystyle02

I've brought the GTS in for:
- Replacement of exhaust system due to rattling valves
- Windshield wiper fix (wouldn't reset all the way down and stayed in windshield view)
- Service A

I haven't had any issues from the service team though YMMV.

emericr

Unless it is a major failure and Corporate needs to get involved and look at your ECU, the local dealer should not care about warrantying your vehicle as they get paid to do it.
Thanks for the review. It is pretty amazing what a tune will do on forced induction cars.

boosting1bar

It's worth asking you dealer but a number of dealers are Renntech friendly and are even Renntech dealer/installers. My dealer is, I just planned to be going by Renntech and know some folks there anyway. I talked briefly with the Renntech specialist at my MB dealer just to confirm and he said basically they just treat it as they would if it were unmodified and warranty stays intact. If there were to be some issue directly related to the downpipes or whatever it would probably be an issue, but they told me if I had the stuff installed there or directly at Renntech my warranty remains intact.

guynamedsean

My dealer sells and installs renntech. I was surprised. They are an Autonation Dealer. My salesperson told me when I bought the GT and is the.... ( I am quoting from his card...) "The AMG Product Specialist", whatever that means.

JSwan724

But as we have brought up in earlier conversations, if the car needs a factory software update while it is in for a service, wouldn't the Renntech update be overlaid??

Also, what about resale/trade in? Does the owner disclose the Renntech update which "could negate the remaining factory warranty" or not?

RENNtechHQ

In that case, just send the ECU to us and you'll get a free re-flash

AMG 17GT

Careful on this. Renntech was treated like this in past, and it could mean that dealer would step in if warranty was declined.

BUT, when the driveshaft issue came up, a guy in Atl had his tuned car at a strip with slicks and shaft broke loose and they initially denied coverage until it happened a few days later and they did inspection on all Carr and covered it.

Reality is that these 1/2 liter cylinder blocks are supposedly bomb proof. And if factory is running 600 hp in 2018, they would be hard pressed to prove that tune caused the damage as that is their burden.

And them " telling you " means ahem nothing. Ask them to write it on invoice and they will probably decline.

Patric

I have your tune. Are you implying we don't need to have you flash the stock factory tune back in before we take it to the dealer? Or does it not matter if the dealer reflashes over your tune, just send it to you later?

Thanks

rscholl

Looks and sounds great. What were your before and after rwhp numbers out of curiosity?

RENNtechHQ

Correct, there is no need to go back to stock before you go to a Dealer.
If you go to a Dealer for any kind of work (warranty or not) and the Dealer flashes an updated software on your ECU, the RENNtech tune will be gone.
If that happens just you send the ECU to us and we will flash your tune back on the ECU at no charge.