How risky are these after market tunes from VTech, OETunning or RENNtech

Beyond voiding the MBZ warranty, how significant are the dangers to the engine/cylinder heads?

 

Id fathom to say there is minimal risk here. MOst if not all of the TT tunes with the new 63 engine keep the boost where the stock PP cars run. The internals of the block can withstand more hp and tq along. The MCT tranny while not as efficient as a PDK tranny on a Porsche TT has a high TQ load threshold.

Im sure more will chime in with more in depth answers than what I have stated.

And this goes without saying, there is always an increase risk in engine or mechanical failure when modding a car's performance outside of the factory levels. How much risk? Thats the uncertainty but I love modding my cars and I also carry the mentality that I might have to "pay to play" when I do mod.

I think alot of the modding has to do with the car. While Ive always been comfortable modding my Benzes (W211 E55- heavy, CL65 tune, E63 tune), I have always been more comfortable in modding my Porsche Turbos- 996TT, 997TT, 997.2TT... the way they are built just gives me the "bulletproof" feeling even moreso than the AMG's.

 

What vic said. Honestly alot of the validation comes from Mercedes tuning history on the 65tt cars. Mercedes really doesn't have a history of under engineering their cars regarding performance.

 

I had the same questions when having my ECU tuned in my brand new car by Vtech. They assured me that the dealer would not be able to tell the car was tuned with their diagnostic software. I've already had one trip to the dealer and of course the tune was undetected. I have a friend that's a tech for a benz dealer in Missouri and he called me to assure me he was also unable to detect a tune on a RENNtech modified benz. All good news for those of us concerned about our warranty

Vtech also told me that despite the significant gains their tune is extremely safe. There's actually more room to turn up the wick if wanted
One thing that sold me on the Vtech tune is they told me if the dealer ever flashed the ECU back to stock (it happens) then they would re write the ECU free of charge. That along with the awesome price had me sold!

 

I had a Kleemann ECU tune on my C63 since 2009. The dealership knows and they don't care. I just tell them to not reflash it and it's fine. Nobody has ever threatened me with warranty issue and the like. As somebody else said, the tune only brings it to what MB already does with other models having the same engine (C63 becomes like the other AMGs without PP, a CLS without PP becomes like a CLS with PP).

 

Not meant to hijack but if I ordered a CLS63 would a "tuner" be able to turn up the PSI to that of a CLS63 PP? Like a minor tune?

 

j

Absolutely! This V-tech tune would do that for you.
http://www.4-tecperformance.com/inde...oducts_id=1930


It's the exact tune I used to achieve these results with my car last night
https://mbworld.org/forums/cls55-amg...ml#post5012370

 

This V-tech tune is awesome but a bit extreme...I would be interested in a minor tune. To bring it more in line with the PP.

 

I'm not sure if Kleemann does the cls but Renntech does.

 

Actually, the V-Tech stage 1 tune I'm running is very mild. It doesn't increase boost over the 18.8 psi of the stock PP package. It's very much in line with tunes offered by other companies such as Renntech.

I'm sure if you contacted V-tech they can do a custom tune for you that's even milder than that of their stage 1 tune

 

I just checked into it and V-Tech does have a tune that upgrades non PP cars to the same tune that the factory PP has. A lot cheaper price too!

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Performance Package Tune

This tune is to upgrade non AMG Performance Package cars to the Performance Package tune. If you have any questions please use the "contact us"...
$1,498.00

 

I wonder how much you can really take advantage of the additional HP from these aftermarket performance tunes. I have a 2012 CLS63 with the "base" engine and if you run it in S+ it is an absolute screamer where the only concern is maintaining traction and not smoking the tires. It absolutely rockets from any speed if you hit it hard. If you are not going to race the car it is difficult for me to understand how you can practically use more than 518HP!

 

You can never have enough hp - just make sure you have the ability to transfer it to the ground.

LSD and feather throttle helps out---- plus if you are in a rolling race Id always want more hp.