Tuning risks?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 72
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2012 CLS63, 2015 GL63
Tuning risks?
I will be picking-up my 2012 CLS 63 soon, and am considering ECU tuning, but want to understand the risks, if any.
Would a tune void any of the engine or powertrain warranty? Any way to avoid that if a tune is done?
Also, are there any risks with what I assume would be increased stress on the engine and/or overall powertrain?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks...
Would a tune void any of the engine or powertrain warranty? Any way to avoid that if a tune is done?
Also, are there any risks with what I assume would be increased stress on the engine and/or overall powertrain?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks...
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 221
Likes: 4
2012 CLS 63 AMG
I will be picking-up my 2012 CLS 63 soon, and am considering ECU tuning, but want to understand the risks, if any.
Would a tune void any of the engine or powertrain warranty? Any way to avoid that if a tune is done?
Also, are there any risks with what I assume would be increased stress on the engine and/or overall powertrain?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks...
Would a tune void any of the engine or powertrain warranty? Any way to avoid that if a tune is done?
Also, are there any risks with what I assume would be increased stress on the engine and/or overall powertrain?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks...
I researched it thoroughly and have learned that with the vtech tuning the dealer has no clue that the vehicle was even tuned. I verified this as my car had been to the dealer since the tuning and was hooked up to their diagnostic equipment and no questions were asked
Despite the huge gains from my vtech stage 1 tune the tune is relatively mild and retains reliability. These biturbo engines are extremely detuned from the factory
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2012 CLS 63 AMG
From what I'm told none of these tunes are detectable by the dealer.
I have a good friend that's a Mercedes tech at a dealer in Missouri and he called me up last week to tell me they had a RENNtech S65 in the shop and they were unable to detect it had a tune with their diagnostic equipment
I have a good friend that's a Mercedes tech at a dealer in Missouri and he called me up last week to tell me they had a RENNtech S65 in the shop and they were unable to detect it had a tune with their diagnostic equipment
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From: Denver, CO
'09 SL Black, '12 ML63, '13 SL63, '14 E63 Wagon, '14 458 Italia
I'm pretty sure that most tunes are easily detectable, but the vast majority of service appointments just don't look for tunes. If something comes in for an oil change, the mechanic gets his marching orders & changes the oil. Even if the OBDII is hooked up to diagnose an issue, a good tune probably won't result in any messages that would appear as faults.
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From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Im sure there are boost measurements that the dealer, if they chose to scrutinize, would show increased pressure.
My Porsche dealer and GTR dealer can easily tell that Im on heavier boost but they are my friends so they dont care
My Porsche dealer and GTR dealer can easily tell that Im on heavier boost but they are my friends so they dont care
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3-five-five/ TUNDRA/ 07 997 cab
+1, all tunes are detectable to some degree. Depends on the warranty claim and how far they want to dig to deny it.
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09 335i 03 CLK55 AMG
It will be detectible by the dealer and any tune could potentially be a problem with warranty and like emoving said if there is any problems it depends what they want to 'blame' it on. But in terms of worrying about your turbo's popping or anything you don't have to worry. Its not like chipping k03s on a B5 S4.
Last edited by AMGJared; Jan 1, 2012 at 08:31 PM.
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Member
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2012 CLS 63 AMG
I stand corrected then. I guess if they really wanted to dig they would determine the car was tuned, but nothing blatantly pops up on the diagnostic equipment stating the car's been tuned when they hook it up to the diagnostic equipment.
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09 335i 03 CLK55 AMG
Haha the way you worded that made me laugh. Imagine the screen was all of a sudden like TUNE! TUNE! TUNE ALERT! O0o0o0oh your in trouble! TUNE! TUNE!
Former Vendor of MBWorld
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AMG
The tune itself is not detectible by your dealer. Other data is logged ie Top Speed, Boost, High rpm, etc. Standard diagnostic equipment does not read this and it is not protocol for a dealer to pull up this information on normal service visits.
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2012 CLS 63 AMG
This is the same thing my tuner has told me and my friend who is a tech at a Merc dealership said they were unable to detect that there was a RENNtech tune on a car with their diagnostic equipment
Former Vendor of MBWorld
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AMG
Thanks very much for your input on this. It makes me feel better about having a tune
This is the same thing my tuner has told me and my friend who is a tech at a Merc dealership said they were unable to detect that there was a RENNtech tune on a car with their diagnostic equipment
This is the same thing my tuner has told me and my friend who is a tech at a Merc dealership said they were unable to detect that there was a RENNtech tune on a car with their diagnostic equipment
Thread Starter
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2012 CLS63, 2015 GL63
Thanks all - appreciate the input. I will probably end-up driving it for a while "as is", and then consider a tune later, though that would seem to be inevitable. At least driving it stock for a while will give me more appreciation for the incremental power when I do get it.
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
does anyone else wonder why the engines come to 'detuned'?
does anyone else wonder if MB secretly owns every single little tuning company(maybe without said comapines knowledge) so they can bank even more!?
it's not that far fetched is it??
does anyone else wonder if MB secretly owns every single little tuning company(maybe without said comapines knowledge) so they can bank even more!?
it's not that far fetched is it??
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Chicagoland
12 CLS63
Only a few of us "nuts" actually tune these cars and can't stand have anything less than the optimal performance out of them. 
Not saying there's collusion between the competitors...but I'd find that conspiracy theory more likely than them owning the aftermarket tuners.
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From: Orlando FL
2010 ZR1 2011 JGC Overland 2013 ML63 on order
The boost on the performance pack (18.8 psi) and the boost on the Renntech tune are the same. The majority of the power increase over the PP car comes from tweaking the torque mgt settings and other stuff like that. No additional boost to the motor.
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AMG
There is more to it that adjusting "limiters" you look at the different dyno charts to see who really accomplishes this and which "tunes" hit a "ceiling"..
