AMR VS JB4
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 369
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From: IA
2018 C63s Coupe 2016 C450 DAILY
AMR VS JB4
2016 C450 bare stock
I’ve researched both tuners, AMR ECU TUNE is a little on the pricey side IMO but results seem nice. I’m not very familiar with JB4 and I tried to research as best as I could and found gains to be inconsistent so looking for honest opinions/experience with either tune.
if you had to choose between the two, which would you go with and why?
Thanks in advance
I’ve researched both tuners, AMR ECU TUNE is a little on the pricey side IMO but results seem nice. I’m not very familiar with JB4 and I tried to research as best as I could and found gains to be inconsistent so looking for honest opinions/experience with either tune.
if you had to choose between the two, which would you go with and why?
Thanks in advance
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 323
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From: Central Florida
'15 C400 and '15 ML350
I have JB4 and im very happy with it. You will see similar times with both. AMR or flash tune will be more set and forget. JB4 is more customizable and also allows you to log and check for codes. JB4 is also the safer option (piggyback in general is safer than a flash).
There is a lot of info on different flash companies and JB4.
Lot of opinions and snakes in the water, do you own research and be careful with where the information is coming from. For example flash company XYZ runs/moderates a popular facebook group so you will see their company heavily promoted and others removed or blocked.
Edit:I have no connection with any vendor or reseller. Just an enthusiast trying to help.
There is a lot of info on different flash companies and JB4.
Lot of opinions and snakes in the water, do you own research and be careful with where the information is coming from. For example flash company XYZ runs/moderates a popular facebook group so you will see their company heavily promoted and others removed or blocked.
Edit:I have no connection with any vendor or reseller. Just an enthusiast trying to help.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 241
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From: Colorado
2019 C43 AMG Coupe
JB4 over AMR. Here's why: https://mbworld.org/forums/c450-c43-...ck-turbos.html
Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 164
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2016 C450 AMG
AMR is the way to go IMO. Personally I have tested two different piggybacks on my C450 and the AMR tune I got is simply better. Never tried JB4 but it seems alright based on forum feedback. Everyone has their own opinion about it all, and mine is that no piggyback is better than a high quality reflash tune. I'd rather not rely on extra hardware that only fools the ECU for altering boost/timing/fueling. If that hardware were ever to fail some day, then what? At least with a reflash it is all hard coded to the ECU, no fooling necessary.
People are entitled to their opinion about AMR and there is a lot of bashing recently... but their tune is a great one regardless of their opinion .
People are entitled to their opinion about AMR and there is a lot of bashing recently... but their tune is a great one regardless of their opinion .
Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 241
Likes: 71
From: Colorado
2019 C43 AMG Coupe
Not sure why you are sharing this thread as it is not relevant nor does it show any facts or data. The link to that thread is in accurate and just shows someone who has never used the product or services stating their opinion.
Their are draggy results not only on the AMR Performance blog (www.amrperformance.com) but also multiple on the @amrperformance instagram.
Their are draggy results not only on the AMR Performance blog (www.amrperformance.com) but also multiple on the @amrperformance instagram.
1. OP didn't ask for data. He asked for opinions. This is mine.
2. I'm really not at all interested in their draggy results. What does interest me is their lack of transparency and their censorship. That speaks volumes.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Simi Valley, California
2018 C63 Sedan
Check our FAQ for a few of the differences: https://www.burgertuning.com/pages/faq
Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 132
Likes: 27
2017 Mercedes C63s
Depends on what you're looking for, you want more performance gains? Go with AMR. Remember that JB4 cannot add burbles or pops unlike AMR. Both companies are great, just depends on how much you want to spend and how scary you want your car to be.
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Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Simi Valley, California
2018 C63 Sedan
There are a few things the JB4 can't do like burbles but it will get you close on power and can be removed/resold down the road. If under warranty or lease the flash maps can never be fully removed even if flashed back to factory so that can also be a considerable factor.
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Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
The resale factor of the JB4 is a tic for you often overlooked. Not only is their system a fraction of the cost of permanent flash, you can get the majority of your money back if you get rid of the car. No one will give you $2k more for your flashed car vs. a stock example.
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2013 Nissan GTR Black Edition, 2017 Mercedes C43 AMG
I completely agree with Allan. It does indeed depend on what you are looking for.
There are hundreds of thousands of parameters in the ECU that can be touched with software and not by a piggyback. A piggyback cannot alter ignition timing, cam timing, speed limiter, torque limits, failsafes, etc. All it does is focus on boost, which will it give it a slight gain? yes, however, it is not fully optimizing the car to its full capability.
AMR offers a sleek touchscreen handheld that allows you to:
- Choose between 6 pre loaded maps
- Receive free updates
- Save on re-tuning fees due to the maps provided
- Unmarry/Uninstall from the vehicle and re-sell in the future
Again, it all depends on what you are looking for (nothing against piggybacks or any other products, these are all just facts). With AMR, you are getting a full ECU upgrade that gives you up to 100hp AT THE WHEELS with the option of financing and return of investment in the future. Even if it is slightly more expensive, it is a bargain and a half.
There are hundreds of thousands of parameters in the ECU that can be touched with software and not by a piggyback. A piggyback cannot alter ignition timing, cam timing, speed limiter, torque limits, failsafes, etc. All it does is focus on boost, which will it give it a slight gain? yes, however, it is not fully optimizing the car to its full capability.
AMR offers a sleek touchscreen handheld that allows you to:
- Choose between 6 pre loaded maps
- Receive free updates
- Save on re-tuning fees due to the maps provided
- Unmarry/Uninstall from the vehicle and re-sell in the future
Again, it all depends on what you are looking for (nothing against piggybacks or any other products, these are all just facts). With AMR, you are getting a full ECU upgrade that gives you up to 100hp AT THE WHEELS with the option of financing and return of investment in the future. Even if it is slightly more expensive, it is a bargain and a half.
.. more than once.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Mercedes and BMW
Just providing my input strictly on my tune. As some have stated, I wanted full alteration of a tune. I recall back in the early 90s during my import days, HKS had FCON piggyback and I was deciding on that until I bumped into a Japanese tuner in SOCAL. He explained everything to me and I went with a full tune. He liked the FCON but he stated what AMR Matt said above. The choice is yours but I like a full invasive tune.
In terms of cost, I came from the old school days where a full exhaust was 1200-1500 for a mandrel exhaust and maybe 5-10whp gains. So when I started researching tunes, I noticed tune pricing for 100whp gains resonable IMO. Today's computers are so much more sophisticated. Therefore the tunes including the piggybacks, have to be too. However, tunes have much more to navigate with all the sensors.
In terms of cost, I came from the old school days where a full exhaust was 1200-1500 for a mandrel exhaust and maybe 5-10whp gains. So when I started researching tunes, I noticed tune pricing for 100whp gains resonable IMO. Today's computers are so much more sophisticated. Therefore the tunes including the piggybacks, have to be too. However, tunes have much more to navigate with all the sensors.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: IA
2018 C63s Coupe 2016 C450 DAILY
Thank you to everyone that contributed to this thread. I really appreciate everyones input. I have some thinking to do and will update once I've decided which route to go. Thanks again!
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 697
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From: Taiwan
GLC43, X P100D, S P100D, CT200H
2016 C450 bare stock
I’ve researched both tuners, AMR ECU TUNE is a little on the pricey side IMO but results seem nice. I’m not very familiar with JB4 and I tried to research as best as I could and found gains to be inconsistent so looking for honest opinions/experience with either tune.
if you had to choose between the two, which would you go with and why?
Thanks in advance
I’ve researched both tuners, AMR ECU TUNE is a little on the pricey side IMO but results seem nice. I’m not very familiar with JB4 and I tried to research as best as I could and found gains to be inconsistent so looking for honest opinions/experience with either tune.
if you had to choose between the two, which would you go with and why?
Thanks in advance
Go download the Dragy App. You will see that the a lot of the JB4 tuned C43s on the 1/4mile leaderboard. Most of the JB4 C43s trap anywhere from 11.5-11.8@116-118mph with JB4 alone.
My GLC43 had a JB1, before JB4 was available, and I did 12.7@109 with 2 additional passengers and bad tires in 70% humidity.
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Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Arizona
2016 C450 AMG
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
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Acura TL-SH, among others
Thank you 18Bora. These people are talking about things that they definitely don't understand. For any of the unaware, 18bora is one of the fastest, and has been for a long time. A good BMS piggyback custom tune is pretty well on par with even flashes, and they did it first. There are things they don't and can't control, but they've been safe and supportive, while delivering up to 1+ seconds faster in the quarter mile.
If you add a downpipe, without a cat, you'll need a flash. If you add turbos, or do things that need serious fuel, you'll need a tune. Even then, the JB4 provides value. It's more than just a "slight gain", and it has been for a while. Even when things aren't going well, such as the facelift, they kept working to figure out what was going wrong. The end result wasn't the JB4, it was the new MB hardware being unwilling to hold boost like the old platform. Since then, they've fixed it and numbers look comparable.
If you add a downpipe, without a cat, you'll need a flash. If you add turbos, or do things that need serious fuel, you'll need a tune. Even then, the JB4 provides value. It's more than just a "slight gain", and it has been for a while. Even when things aren't going well, such as the facelift, they kept working to figure out what was going wrong. The end result wasn't the JB4, it was the new MB hardware being unwilling to hold boost like the old platform. Since then, they've fixed it and numbers look comparable.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 410
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2020 GLC 63
Here's the bottom line: Unless you're racing for money, pick whatever tune you feel more comfortable with.
Lately the roads are empty and almost everyone wants to showoff.
The day before, I had a Julia Quad catch up to me and wanted to run. I was doing around 50mph when we both hit it. We were side by side until I backed off around 100, I didn't want to miss my exit.
Similarly yesterday, a blacked-out debadged model3 caught up and wanted to run. From around 50mph, the Tesla immediately jumped by a nose, but I was able to reel him back and slowly gain on him. A little a head, we ended up at a red light next to each other. I timed the light where I was able to quickly double foot it with out allowing him to take the jump. We were even in first, but he gained about a foot when my car shifted into the next gear, but I gained it back +some, by 3rd gear I was a nose a head of him and slowly gaining. We called it off mid 4th when he was 1/2+ car behind and falling back.
Here's another one from a few months back
https://mbworld.org/forums/c450-c43-...ml#post7921139
All on Map2 and 93 octane.
Lately the roads are empty and almost everyone wants to showoff.
The day before, I had a Julia Quad catch up to me and wanted to run. I was doing around 50mph when we both hit it. We were side by side until I backed off around 100, I didn't want to miss my exit.
Similarly yesterday, a blacked-out debadged model3 caught up and wanted to run. From around 50mph, the Tesla immediately jumped by a nose, but I was able to reel him back and slowly gain on him. A little a head, we ended up at a red light next to each other. I timed the light where I was able to quickly double foot it with out allowing him to take the jump. We were even in first, but he gained about a foot when my car shifted into the next gear, but I gained it back +some, by 3rd gear I was a nose a head of him and slowly gaining. We called it off mid 4th when he was 1/2+ car behind and falling back.
Here's another one from a few months back
https://mbworld.org/forums/c450-c43-...ml#post7921139
All on Map2 and 93 octane.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 353
Likes: 114
From: North Jersey
c43 Amg coupe
I've had both on 17 and 18 c43 coupes. Nothing against AMR but I prefer the JB4. The performance gains... ease of install and removal...and reliability can't be beat. Much better bang for the buck and the fact that it can be sold after you're done with the car is an additional bonus.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 352
Likes: 48
From: in a van down by the river...
2020 C43 sedan(hers), 2021 Porsche 992 TurboS(his)
I've had both on 17 and 18 c43 coupes. Nothing against AMR but I prefer the JB4. The performance gains... ease of install and removal...and reliability can't be beat. Much better bang for the buck and the fact that it can be sold after you're done with the car is an additional bonus.
I just hope it's been updated to work optimally with facelift specs.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 827
Likes: 152
From: Simi Valley, California
2018 C63 Sedan
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 352
Likes: 48
From: in a van down by the river...
2020 C43 sedan(hers), 2021 Porsche 992 TurboS(his)
I ordered from Mike at N54 Tuning in Mississauga Ontario the following
2015+ C-Class Mercedes-Benz JB4 .. P/N 201GPW2O94
plus Blue tooth connect kit
plus USB Cable
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 827
Likes: 152
From: Simi Valley, California
2018 C63 Sedan
https://www.burgertuning.com/product...8b18cf59&_ss=r
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 197
Likes: 27
From: Tejas
2016 C450 AMG, 2005 C230 Kompressor
Did you pull the trigger?
Stock C450 here before I just received and installed the JB4; night and day with map 2/3 running 93 oct. Still playing with the maps (tunes), logging, and driving difference/experience. Feels like a new car, much stronger, and plentiful in power.
Stock C450 here before I just received and installed the JB4; night and day with map 2/3 running 93 oct. Still playing with the maps (tunes), logging, and driving difference/experience. Feels like a new car, much stronger, and plentiful in power.
