Brabus B20.2 - Has anybody actually got one?
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2017 C200
Brabus B20.2 - Has anybody actually got one?
I am about to pull the trigger on the Brabus B20.2 ECU upgrade kit. After researching all the options (ECU re-flash & other tuning boxes) I decided to go the expensive route to preserve the MB warranty and be able to tell myself I have a Brabus (sort of)
I can't seem to find any actual documented evidence that anybody has done this with their C200 and if they felt the expense was worth it.
So I'm putting it out there - has anybody done this to the C200 petrol and if so was it worth it?
I can't seem to find any actual documented evidence that anybody has done this with their C200 and if they felt the expense was worth it.
So I'm putting it out there - has anybody done this to the C200 petrol and if so was it worth it?
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 225
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2018 E300 Sport:Current 2015 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport- Gone.
I am about to pull the trigger on the Brabus B20.2 ECU upgrade kit. After researching all the options (ECU re-flash & other tuning boxes) I decided to go the expensive route to preserve the MB warranty and be able to tell myself I have a Brabus (sort of)
I can't seem to find any actual documented evidence that anybody has done this with their C200 and if they felt the expense was worth it.
So I'm putting it out there - has anybody done this to the C200 petrol and if so was it worth it?
I can't seem to find any actual documented evidence that anybody has done this with their C200 and if they felt the expense was worth it.
So I'm putting it out there - has anybody done this to the C200 petrol and if so was it worth it?
Cheers!
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2018
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2017 C200
So I went ahead and had the Brabus kit installed and I am 100% happy with the results. The 2.0 petrol engine now pulls cleanly through the rev range and I no longer feel the car is under powered. I especially like the fact the car is now pretty unique (in the UK) and slightly set apart from the fleets of C Class diesels on UK roads at the moment. The kit seems to have unlocked power between 4000 - 6000 rpm, it actually continues to accelerate rather than just giving up and making more noise.
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 225
Likes: 21
2018 E300 Sport:Current 2015 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport- Gone.
So I went ahead and had the Brabus kit installed and I am 100% happy with the results. The 2.0 petrol engine now pulls cleanly through the rev range and I no longer feel the car is under powered. I especially like the fact the car is now pretty unique (in the UK) and slightly set apart from the fleets of C Class diesels on UK roads at the moment. The kit seems to have unlocked power between 4000 - 6000 rpm, it actually continues to accelerate rather than just giving up and making more noise.
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
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Mercedes C200-AMG-Line Prenium pack
Brabus C200
So I went ahead and had the Brabus kit installed and I am 100% happy with the results. The 2.0 petrol engine now pulls cleanly through the rev range and I no longer feel the car is under powered. I especially like the fact the car is now pretty unique (in the UK) and slightly set apart from the fleets of C Class diesels on UK roads at the moment. The kit seems to have unlocked power between 4000 - 6000 rpm, it actually continues to accelerate rather than just giving up and making more noise.
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
The only downside is the slightly addictive nature of tuning. I'm now looking at a piggy back unit for my other car and have already looked into the Brabus exhaust setup (which is super expensive!)
Outcome - Brabus B20.2 Kit is expensive but worth it (for the C200 anyway)
To Shandy77:
I have also been toying with the idea of installing the Brabus kit for my petrol C200 for sometime. The high cost and low 0-60mph improvements makes it a difficult decision. It seems other companies like Superchip offer much more significant power increases for a fraction of the cost. The downside is potential MB warranty issue although those sellers claim the remap is not visible during routine service & repair by MB.
Out of interest how much did your Brabus upgrade cost? Also do you feel the actual improvements in real world driving is better than the relatively modest 0.5sec reduction in 0-60 time? My main complaint with the C200 is that it feels strained when pushed hard, especially during brisk overtaking. Does the Brabus kit remove this feeling? Also does the kit change the engine noise in anyway or reduce the rough noise at higher revs?
Or do you find you have to rev the engine less during overtaking say at 40mph or 70mph?
would much appreciate your comments, thanks.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Toronto
2022 E53 AMG
I have the Lorinser Tune in my C450 AMG which is tuned to the C50 now. Yes, it kinda sucks on gas, it's always fast and my foot loves it most of the time. I also looked in the Brabus tune but decided I would do something different. So far, I'm the only Lorinser W205 in Canada that I know about. Most people ask me this question. " What's a C50?" I just smile, tell them and they still look confused.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2018
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2017 C200
To Shandy77:
I have also been toying with the idea of installing the Brabus kit for my petrol C200 for sometime. The high cost and low 0-60mph improvements makes it a difficult decision. It seems other companies like Superchip offer much more significant power increases for a fraction of the cost. The downside is potential MB warranty issue although those sellers claim the remap is not visible during routine service & repair by MB.
Out of interest how much did your Brabus upgrade cost? Also do you feel the actual improvements in real world driving is better than the relatively modest 0.5sec reduction in 0-60 time? My main complaint with the C200 is that it feels strained when pushed hard, especially during brisk overtaking. Does the Brabus kit remove this feeling? Also does the kit change the engine noise in anyway or reduce the rough noise at higher revs?
Or do you find you have to rev the engine less during overtaking say at 40mph or 70mph?
would much appreciate your comments, thanks.
Onto the performance...Did the Brabus kit turn my C200 into a C63s - no it didn't, not even a C43. But it did transform the engine feel and performance for what it is. I no longer feel it's being held back. The issue you describe higher up the rev range was something that I felt too. I read on a forum that the C200 has an option that says something like "restricted engine performance" - this stops the engine from thinking it's the higher powered c250 petrol (not available in the UK but has the same engine). It was clear to me the engine was being held back by the software and the Brabus kit 100% solved that issue. It feels quicker than a 7 second car, and spins cleanly through the rev range up to the red line.
I'm sure a traditional ECU remap would have achieved the same if not better performance results, but for me, I wanted the safety net of the ECU remaining intact in it's stock form (for the reasons above).
As for the sound it makes....hmmmmm jury is out on this one. The car does sound a little better but this could be because it's run in now (I've had it since new) or my ears have just got used to it. It certainly doesn't sound bad when it revs out. From what I understand this units are quite high compression which contributes to the almost diesel like noise at idle. It's no v6, but it's not that bad.
Overall I am very happy with the performance, it should have been the car Mercedes made in the first place and looking at the face lift C300 where the performance figures are remarkably similar to my car, they must have thought so too.
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Mercedes C200-AMG-Line Prenium pack
Sounds great
The upgrade wasn't cheap but Mercedes-Benz Brooklands gave me the best price (including fitting) of all the Brabus dealers in the UK. I would estimate it was 40 to 50% more expensive than a normal ECU remap. However I wasn't just taking performance gains into consideration....when you account for residual value of the vehicle and potential warranty issues I thought it was money well spent.
Onto the performance...Did the Brabus kit turn my C200 into a C63s - no it didn't, not even a C43. But it did transform the engine feel and performance for what it is. I no longer feel it's being held back. The issue you describe higher up the rev range was something that I felt too. I read on a forum that the C200 has an option that says something like "restricted engine performance" - this stops the engine from thinking it's the higher powered c250 petrol (not available in the UK but has the same engine). It was clear to me the engine was being held back by the software and the Brabus kit 100% solved that issue. It feels quicker than a 7 second car, and spins cleanly through the rev range up to the red line.
I'm sure a traditional ECU remap would have achieved the same if not better performance results, but for me, I wanted the safety net of the ECU remaining intact in it's stock form (for the reasons above).
As for the sound it makes....hmmmmm jury is out on this one. The car does sound a little better but this could be because it's run in now (I've had it since new) or my ears have just got used to it. It certainly doesn't sound bad when it revs out. From what I understand this units are quite high compression which contributes to the almost diesel like noise at idle. It's no v6, but it's not that bad.
Overall I am very happy with the performance, it should have been the car Mercedes made in the first place and looking at the face lift C300 where the performance figures are remarkably similar to my car, they must have thought so too.
Onto the performance...Did the Brabus kit turn my C200 into a C63s - no it didn't, not even a C43. But it did transform the engine feel and performance for what it is. I no longer feel it's being held back. The issue you describe higher up the rev range was something that I felt too. I read on a forum that the C200 has an option that says something like "restricted engine performance" - this stops the engine from thinking it's the higher powered c250 petrol (not available in the UK but has the same engine). It was clear to me the engine was being held back by the software and the Brabus kit 100% solved that issue. It feels quicker than a 7 second car, and spins cleanly through the rev range up to the red line.
I'm sure a traditional ECU remap would have achieved the same if not better performance results, but for me, I wanted the safety net of the ECU remaining intact in it's stock form (for the reasons above).
As for the sound it makes....hmmmmm jury is out on this one. The car does sound a little better but this could be because it's run in now (I've had it since new) or my ears have just got used to it. It certainly doesn't sound bad when it revs out. From what I understand this units are quite high compression which contributes to the almost diesel like noise at idle. It's no v6, but it's not that bad.
Overall I am very happy with the performance, it should have been the car Mercedes made in the first place and looking at the face lift C300 where the performance figures are remarkably similar to my car, they must have thought so too.
Thanks for the reply. That’s very informative and answers lot of the questions I had. I am glad to hear you are very pleased with the upgrade.
I was not expecting a C43 performance, but something close to petrol C250 & C300 saloons sold in other markets outside UK or the CLA250 sold here. Sounds like this upgrade brings it close to the performance of these models.
After what you said I think will go ahead with the Brabus upgrade. Also likely to use MB Brooklands as that’s the closest Brabus installer to me.
Thanks !
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,246
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W205 2015
I have bought one and installed it on my C200 W205. What a great German quality product. I can see W205 on their website but no W202.
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Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 3
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C200 Coupe (205 series)
The upgrade wasn't cheap but Mercedes-Benz Brooklands gave me the best price (including fitting) of all the Brabus dealers in the UK. I would estimate it was 40 to 50% more expensive than a normal ECU remap. However I wasn't just taking performance gains into consideration....when you account for residual value of the vehicle and potential warranty issues I thought it was money well spent.
Onto the performance...Did the Brabus kit turn my C200 into a C63s - no it didn't, not even a C43. But it did transform the engine feel and performance for what it is. I no longer feel it's being held back. The issue you describe higher up the rev range was something that I felt too. I read on a forum that the C200 has an option that says something like "restricted engine performance" - this stops the engine from thinking it's the higher powered c250 petrol (not available in the UK but has the same engine). It was clear to me the engine was being held back by the software and the Brabus kit 100% solved that issue. It feels quicker than a 7 second car, and spins cleanly through the rev range up to the red line.
I'm sure a traditional ECU remap would have achieved the same if not better performance results, but for me, I wanted the safety net of the ECU remaining intact in it's stock form (for the reasons above).
As for the sound it makes....hmmmmm jury is out on this one. The car does sound a little better but this could be because it's run in now (I've had it since new) or my ears have just got used to it. It certainly doesn't sound bad when it revs out. From what I understand this units are quite high compression which contributes to the almost diesel like noise at idle. It's no v6, but it's not that bad.
Overall I am very happy with the performance, it should have been the car Mercedes made in the first place and looking at the face lift C300 where the performance figures are remarkably similar to my car, they must have thought so too.
Onto the performance...Did the Brabus kit turn my C200 into a C63s - no it didn't, not even a C43. But it did transform the engine feel and performance for what it is. I no longer feel it's being held back. The issue you describe higher up the rev range was something that I felt too. I read on a forum that the C200 has an option that says something like "restricted engine performance" - this stops the engine from thinking it's the higher powered c250 petrol (not available in the UK but has the same engine). It was clear to me the engine was being held back by the software and the Brabus kit 100% solved that issue. It feels quicker than a 7 second car, and spins cleanly through the rev range up to the red line.
I'm sure a traditional ECU remap would have achieved the same if not better performance results, but for me, I wanted the safety net of the ECU remaining intact in it's stock form (for the reasons above).
As for the sound it makes....hmmmmm jury is out on this one. The car does sound a little better but this could be because it's run in now (I've had it since new) or my ears have just got used to it. It certainly doesn't sound bad when it revs out. From what I understand this units are quite high compression which contributes to the almost diesel like noise at idle. It's no v6, but it's not that bad.
Overall I am very happy with the performance, it should have been the car Mercedes made in the first place and looking at the face lift C300 where the performance figures are remarkably similar to my car, they must have thought so too.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
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Mercedes C200-AMG-Line Prenium pack
Brabus
It certainly made that car more punchy and engine noise improved slightly too ( Less diesel grumbling noise) Feels more torque at all speeds.
It’s not dramatic, but definitely an improvement. Don’t expect it to turn a C200 or C220d into into a C43 !
I think it feels possibly more like swapping the engine to the next one up in the line up. ( maybe taking a C220d to C250 or C300d level)
Fuel economy same or slightly improved.
Last edited by N710; Apr 3, 2023 at 12:58 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 101
From: Belgium
W205
i can't recommend such things... nothing beats an ECU mapping designed for your car. And yes every single car is different.
Mine costed some 800 euro and took a full day to remap but i have a nice hp & torque curve, don't come near the limits of the car and don't have any turbo lag compared to before the tune.
Mine costed some 800 euro and took a full day to remap but i have a nice hp & torque curve, don't come near the limits of the car and don't have any turbo lag compared to before the tune.
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Mercedes C200-AMG-Line Prenium pack
i can't recommend such things... nothing beats an ECU mapping designed for your car. And yes every single car is different.
Mine costed some 800 euro and took a full day to remap but i have a nice hp & torque curve, don't come near the limits of the car and don't have any turbo lag compared to before the tune.
Mine costed some 800 euro and took a full day to remap but i have a nice hp & torque curve, don't come near the limits of the car and don't have any turbo lag compared to before the tune.
it also kick in only when the engine temperature and other parameters meet the required limits, so safe to use on car without causing any undue wear and tear. The Brabus upgrade that boost power works safely with rest of stock car set up (gear box,brakes, suspension etc) without the need for any additional upgrades. So does not impact car’s longevity and reliability. (more important as car gets older)
Other company ECU upgrades may cause premature wear and tear on other components in car, reducing car long term reliability.
I currently own a AMG C43 and that certainly feels faster, but then the rest of the car has been upgraded to cope with extra power & torque.(My previous car was a Brabus tuned C220d AMG line)
I certainly think Mercedes approved upgrade like Brabus is the way to go if you want peace of mind, value reliability and don't want to worry during servicing/ engine repairs. When it comes to selling or part-exchange there is no concerns and it actually increased its value (a bit) and desirability (a lot). I know as I part exchanged my Brabus C220d for C43. (I kept all the original Brabus mod certificates which helped sale)
Downside, it’s expensive!!
Is it worth the money, probably not! But that can be said about most aftermarket upgrades and modifications!
Last edited by N710; Apr 3, 2023 at 01:55 PM.
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,246
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W205 2015
The Brabus upgrade is an engine power upgrade kit that is approved by Mercedes so does not interfere with warranty or servicing, which is why I went for it.
it also kick in only when the engine temperature and other parameters meet the required limits, so safe to use on car without causing any undue wear and tear. The Brabus upgrade that boost power works safely with rest of stock car set up (gear box,brakes, suspension etc) without the need for any additional upgrades. So does not impact car’s longevity and reliability. (more important as car gets older)
Other company ECU upgrades may cause premature wear and tear on other components in car, reducing car long term reliability.
I currently own a C43 and that certainly feels faster, but then the rest of the car has been upgraded to cope with extra power & torque.
I certainly think Mercedes approved upgrade like Brabus is the way to go if you want peace of mind, value reliability and don't want to worry during servicing/ engine repairs.
Downside it’s expensive !
Is it worth the money, probably not. But that can be said about most aftermarket upgrades and modifications!
it also kick in only when the engine temperature and other parameters meet the required limits, so safe to use on car without causing any undue wear and tear. The Brabus upgrade that boost power works safely with rest of stock car set up (gear box,brakes, suspension etc) without the need for any additional upgrades. So does not impact car’s longevity and reliability. (more important as car gets older)
Other company ECU upgrades may cause premature wear and tear on other components in car, reducing car long term reliability.
I currently own a C43 and that certainly feels faster, but then the rest of the car has been upgraded to cope with extra power & torque.
I certainly think Mercedes approved upgrade like Brabus is the way to go if you want peace of mind, value reliability and don't want to worry during servicing/ engine repairs.
Downside it’s expensive !
Is it worth the money, probably not. But that can be said about most aftermarket upgrades and modifications!
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Posts: 10
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From: Sweden
C300 coupe 258hp Eqboost MY 2021
Im intreseted i
I have the Lorinser Tune in my C450 AMG which is tuned to the C50 now. Yes, it kinda sucks on gas, it's always fast and my foot loves it most of the time. I also looked in the Brabus tune but decided I would do something different. So far, I'm the only Lorinser W205 in Canada that I know about. Most people ask me this question. " What's a C50?" I just smile, tell them and they still look confused.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Sweden
C300 coupe 258hp Eqboost MY 2021
