Bokx_350

MKB has an ECU tune that they claim that will add 38 hp to a w204, bringing the c300 to 265hp and the c350 to 306hp.

Has anyone tried this?
Does anyone have any previous experience with MKB?

I'm really thinking about this update, but will like to research as much as possilbe before doing it.

AMGTestDriverNJ

Its $3400

Bokx_350

No its not. Its $2500... you could even get it for $2000.

phranksmbz

wow 3400? just buy a supercharger

phranksmbz

where?

Bokx_350

Here is the email they replied when an other meber asked about a GB.

I would like to clear up that I'm not trying to start a GB, just see if anyone has any experience with MKB.


> The group buy requirement would be as follows:
> 1. Minimum of 10 people price would be $2000 (plus
> shipping) per upgrade.
> 2. Less then 10 people but at least 5 people the price
> would be $2200 (plus shipping) per upgrade.
> 3. We would need to determine who would be responsible to
> collect the funds.
>
> Let me know your thoughts.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Daniel Bird
> President
> MKB North America
> "Your Drive is our Dream"
> Email: Danielb@mkb-power-NA.com
> Phone: 888-503-3663

benggolf

Hmmm, interesting. I'll be keeping an eye on this.

junkfoodz

More FYI....

Let me address the questions you asked.

1. I agree that others have only gotten small gains from their tuning. I can't speak to that. I can tell you what we have and to make the MKB point even clearer all you need to do is look at the 2009 SLK350. Mercedes was able to pull more horsepower from the same engine that is in your car and their numbers are very close to MKB's.

2. MKB doesn't offer refunds.

3. ECU will need to be sent to our North American office in Washington State. Our process involves us pulling all of the base files and the actual tuning for each ecu is done in Germany.

4. Our North American office is just that an office as we are building install partnerships throughout North America.

5. Yes, if the ecu were to be re-flashed with an update by the dealer will will do a re-flash upgrade at no charge. We will also incorporate all the new updates that the dealer installed into our re-flash so that the ecu will have the most up to date files from Mercedes as well as MKB.

Best Regards,

Daniel Bird

junkfoodz

with a price like that i'm a bit skeptical..."u go first, no, u go first, I know!! lets get MIKEY" hahaha

if i plan to do this, i'll shoot u an email. 306HP for 2k is not bad at all...

rb23lb

ya if it works... some one needs to do it, then dyno to findout...

i am in once it is proved

FrankW

MKB's fairly reputable in MB tuning. if it works awesome. pretty soon when other tuner learns this they will look into it and adapt.

rb23lb

so are these guys smarter than all the engineers at Mercedes Benz?

If this symple, non hardware, ECU mod could provide such drastic results, why wouldnt Mercedes want to do this so they could sell a car that would totally dominate the class???

doesnt make sense to me...

FrankW

even with 306hp the w204 doesn't dominate crap. anyone who doesn't agree that the E90 335 is the king of sport entry luxury/sport sedan segment is either lying or in denial.

why would MB do this and not that? one word: MARKETING.

phranksmbz

Let me ask this, what if i bought a new ecu for my car. Can i just send that to a tuner and then just swap it out with my original ecu? or does it not work that way?

Bokx_350

Hummm.... Here is a quote from an SLK 350 review:

"The size of the ('09) SLK350's 3.5-liter V-6 is unchanged, but extra power comes from a higher compression ratio, new intake manifold, modified valvetrain and higher engine rev limit."

Full review: http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/au...08_slk.article

What do you think? Is it the same engine as the C350?

epiphone3

same basic architecture with new pistons, valve train, intake manifold, and software. It is an engine with a significant update.

MKB's claim that they can get the entire gain with just software is BS in my opinion.

rb23lb

ya EXACTLY... seems like a bunch of BS hype from this tuner... How could SOFTWARE give you a higher compression ratio, new intake manifold, and modified valve train???

racetested

They better offer a money back guarantee for the price if the power is not made. My problem at the moment with dealing with long distance ECU tunes is this car is very new and so far so good but it is suspect to having issues being the first year of a new model.

At least a more local tuner is easier and cheaper to get re-flashed again if the dealer does touch the ECU. Keep in mind that you may never have an issue but if you do need to ship it's at least another $100-150 by UPS to Europe and at least a week or two down time.

phranksmbz

Here is what i got from their MKB North America president:

Summery: Told him that i have a 2009 c300 and wanted to know details on the cost, gain, and warrenty.

Reply:

Thank you for your inquiry into MKB Performance products for your C300. Our ECU upgrade will increase HP to 256, the price is $2400 which includes the return shipping of your ECU back to you. The upgrade is started at our North American location (Vancouver Washington), the actual files are transmitted to Germany, as each upgrade is mapped specifically to the car and the vin. MKB North America warrants the ecu only for a period of one year. Also if your C300 has to have a Mercedes upgrade that results in the ecu being re-flashed by your dealer, we will re-flash your ecu at no charge.

My Response: +38 hp gain? Wrong!!!
Try +28 because the c300 is 228hp.
If this is acurate then i might just consider Speed Invtn.

Bokx_350

On their webpage it is stated that the C280 (which is the same as the C300 in US) will increase to 265hp.

One of them must be a typo since 256 and 265 are very alike.

I would write him back to clarify.

phranksmbz

You're right ... he made a typo but damn if its true and they can gaurentee that much of a jump (shoot, or anything near it), we need to get down on a group buy.

Im trying to find out more info on the 1 yr warrenty they provide. Will keep you posted.

wblynch

So, for $2400 you can modify your C300 to have (optimistically) almost as much HP as a C350.

But a C350 only costs $2460 more than a C300 with auto and P1. (retail, 2008 prices)

Wouldn't it make more sense to get a C350 with more power and still have your warranty?

phranksmbz

i have c300 4matic, we all know that there is no c350 4matic. Boo

whkento

Also, the 350 isn't offered in all markets. In Japan, it jumps from the 300 to the 63.

FrankW

move to Canada and you can buy a C350 4matic. lol