Hi guys,

I haven't posted anything here for a long time. Now I would like to share some recent experience of my second c-coupe. My car is sitting in MB for ECU upgrade due to unstable idling when steering wheel turning to the extreme left or right (usually happens in parking lot). I could feel my car has a sudden shake at the time the steering is in my far left or far right. Visually, the rpm drops near 450 and goes up again. Unfortunately, this brought me into an embarrassment in a parking lot after the engine stalled. Many people were starring at me there.

Okay back to my story. The dealer initially planned to boost up the idle a bit to compensate the idling hestiation. Next day, when I cold-started my car, the idle jumped up and down near 1000 to 2000 rpm. I could also smell something from the exhaust. I believe it was something wrong in Gas/Air ratio, and the fuel did not completely get burned up. Then the dealer said they gonna upgrade my computer (ECU software) as an updated version has released. Yesterday I received a call from the dealer, and they said they have problem in updating my ECU. Does anyone know anything about the new ECU for 03' C230?

Hopefully I got a new 03' C230 for my loaner, only 39km milage . This loaner has the sunroof added, and I can hear a loud squeaking noise from the roof. (that's why it is a loaner). Anyway, compare with mine, I feel this loaner has better torque in low-end and louder S/C noise too. I hope my upgraded ECU can improve the overall performance of my car.

 

I have a feeling this thread is going to have a lot of views, and then bring a lot of disappointment to those looking for performance chips.

Well, about your problem, I know it is hard on the power steering to turn the wheel to the extremes. This is why you get a noise when you turn it all the way. But I don't know if this can cause an effect on the rpm of the engine based on stress on the power steering pump or something like that. But I certainly don't think it should make the car stall. I hope someone more technical than me can comment. I really don't even know what gets stressed in the power steering, I have just been told that it's not good to turn the wheel to the extremes.

 

yea, right! It is no good to turn the steering to the extremes. However my car did stall once when I parked. It is an issue I need to concern as well as MB has to find some ways to address this problem.
I hope this ECU upgrade won't disppoint the folks who want to chip unless this upgrade can officially boost up more HP and torque:p .