Hey folks,

So I've been lurking on the forums for a bit now. I did a search for "2016 C450 tuning" and most of the info is outdated or maybe not relevant. Didn't want to start another tuning thread but.....

I wanted to get the JB4 with the BMS but I'm in damn Disney *** California . The JB4 website says they don't sell or ship to Cali. I came across Dinan Sports performance tuner on this forum. It seems to be compatible with my needs. I'm not trying to do 1/4 mile. My C450 has only 72,000 miles. All stock. I was going to go for the Amrytix exhaust but for the price , I think it sounds good already. The other drivers look over every time on the Decel. However I do like to mod everything I get my hands on.

I'm really only going for a bit meaner sound and a bit more grunt. +40 HP for 275$ from the Dinan would suit me well. My question is how does that work with smog and service. Granted I'm still in warranty (plus extended because the dealer instead of trying to find an issue , just added a few hundred miles incase something happens. So stupid)

Remember I'm in CA . I'm also interested in the MST performance CAI (MB-C4301) not for the gains engine wise but more for the sound. I don't really drive her since I have my GSXR , so I do baby the Benz constantly.

Any suggested threads to hijack or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Researching a bit more I think I'll pass on the MST intake. I did send Dinan an email and found some videos explaining the product. I think it won't hurt . I'm going full send on it now.

EDIT AGAIN: I found an ECU tuning company in my area I will be setting up an appointment with them for all my questions and needs. Maybe a MOD will move this to New member area.

I cannot stress enough that I would go with JB4 from BMS over Dinan, unless cost is the issue. If the only thing holding you back is the CA part, then go with JB4 over Dinan. there's multiple ways to get it in CA. You can get it through a 3rd party distributor (I used Xtreme Powerhouse www.x-ph.com for my air intakes but would have worked just as well for JB4, great communication from that place and was the same price as direct from BMS), or as I did, get one used in CA (cheaper).

Also, with air intakes, I'd go with BMS. My understanding is MST due to the shielding doesn't actually make much sound. Both are also not really cold-air... BMS does have a heat shield but air temps are the same if not worse than without unless I'm on the move in which case they're better. MST I believe uses metal or something for the airboxes so it keeps temps colder for about 10 seconds before it turns the heat shield into an oven (this is what I've read, I've never owned MST).

If you go with flash tune, I went w/ Eurocharge and it's been awesome. Jerry and the rest of his team have been phenomenal from day one. they still answer my stupid question months later. Oh and the car runs a 3.30s 0-60 (C43 though..)

Honestly ya it was the CA issue mainly on the tuning. I'll see what these guys at the tuning shop say. I want to make sure I don't have any issues before the tune. Don't expect to have any though. I decided to stay away from the MST intake.

The only reason I considered the JB4 was because it's a piggy back system and I'm still in warranty.

While we're not allowed to ship the MB_C JB4 to CA as it's not CARB approved yet it's by far the best tuning solution out for the platform.

Check your PM.

I bought both the JB4 and BMS intake on Ebay. There are some vendors on there that will do it; it will just take longer because they'll have it shipped to them first, and then ship it to you. pm me if you want more info.

Go with AMR tune, It will pass smog. Piggyback tunes need to come off for smog, and the DINAN claims 40 hp but I felt nothing with it. The car only increased boost every great now and then, it was worthless.

How many of you guys with a tune use 93 octane ?

Just be aware flashing voids your warranty and/or lease, even if flashed back to factory later. Not everyone is willing to take that dive.

The same goes for JB4. Let's not mislead people, any tune is detectable and will void warranty. Whether or not the dealership decides to gather your ECU logs for analysis will depend. This seems likely to only be the case in something like a blown engine where it is around $20k to replace.

How are you certain that a piggyback is detectable from ECU logs on the C43 platform. I keep hearing you guys say this over and over, but I am suspecting that this is a mistruth being perpetuated. Do you have proof or is it something you have read.

Having used Xentry and also aftermarket diagnostics from Launch and Autel, I find no access to “ECU logs” in the memory of any sort. You can make a log of the drive links, but the computer has to be connected while driving and you start logging.

Can you verify your source of information?

No one is going to endorse warranty fraud. If you break it, you should pay to fix it. But technically speaking if the ECU or vehicle was aware of the JB4 it would be stuck in limp mode. For the JB4 to work the ECU can see no trace of it and not be aware it's making more than the factory boost, torque, and load levels.

This is a myth usually spread by flash tune sellers who want to try to negate the easy detection of flash tunes by claiming everything is detectable. When in fact, while flash tune are easily detected even when flashed to factory later, I've never heard of a JB4 on the platform being detected.

Yes, I agree, a complete myth. Piggybacks work within the confines of normal operating parameters for the ECU. Fault memories or DTCs only set into memory if a parameter goes out of mode6, other than that I don’t see that any logging takes place.

Let me be clear, I don't have hard proof of this, but if you do a search on the forum you'll find history of it being talked about and this not just in the c450/c43 section. Once I've joined the Mercedes groups I've done my research when looking for tunes, and came across this information being talked bout like it was common knowledge. Truthfully being new to Mercedes I went along with it.

I'd like to ask you the same, do you have proof that it does NOT exist? Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not there. It makes sense if there are drive logs that Mercedes can access for further diagnosis. If it does exist, why wouldn't it exist in all Mercedes ECU's? If it doesn't exist why hasn't anyone proved that either?

BMS - I've never seen or heard of any reputable flash tuners mentioning this, or any tuner for that matter in any of my research. Do you know of any that I don't? Let's all speak with facts at this point while we're at it.

There is no memory in the architecture of the ECU that will hold past running parameters unless they are out of mode5 or mode6 values and a DTC is set. This is common to almost all ECUs being used today.

Well said.. now I'm not an expert on this by any means, but perhaps there's some hidden logic encapsulated/ encrypted behind something? Something unique with Mercedes programming in the ECU. That's my thought on it.

Anyhow let's not make this discussion convoluted with any of my impulsive thoughts, it's pointless. Unless there's hard proof it's still going to be considered a myth to me I suppose and I'll continue with that mindset.

What I'm getting from this is that flash is detectable and the piggy is 'ultimately' detectable. BUT ONLY if the tech is digging into the logs and detecting foul play. Regardless they both can comprise the warranty in the long run. Which one is easier to detect IDK. I'm taking the risk regardless.

But a flashed ECU I would have to flash back to stock if I ever wanted warranty work done. Or maybe not. Depends if the problems are related.

I asked the tech at Benz if I had a custom exhaust installed would it void my warranty. He said "Well not necessarily " Obviously if I had an exhaust problem than they would have to treat it out of warranty (as opposed to no spark i.e.)

I'm guessing same with ECU or Piggy back. But how the piggy backs are marketed it's more of a put it on and take it off deal? Like if I take it off the car drives as stock? That would probably be what I'm looking for now. I wouldn't want to flash back to stock for a repair. Unless I get all the hook ups and flash myself. But over flashing, over time has done bad sh*t to some things I used to flash. But I mean over time and flashing , over and over and over. Could of been coincidence. But none the less

There are no logs in the engine ECU so there’s really nothing that you could “dig” out. It isn’t a “black box” with logged telemetry, and doesn’t even have mileage info stored so how could it?

Before anyone questions the statement about mileage info in the ECU, let me say first that on Mercedes Benz cars in general, and specifically on the C43, the mileage info is only in the instrument cluster and the ignition switch, unlike other Makes like BMW, Porsche, Audi, etc.

So I ended up putting in the Dinan Sports tuner. Call me cheap or whatever. But the price point for my needs worked out. I definitely feel it on my 'foot dyno' . The throttle response is so much more accurate. I feel the extra bit of pull. My 13 year now he feels it on his butt dyno. And the smile and look on his face is worth it enough.

It is wonky to connect to the bluetooth but it works. You have to be patient though. Had it installed 1 week now. So far no issues at all. But I did make sure I meticulously tackled the steps to install it. Race mode also works. The response is EVEN more accurate. I did test it on 91 but I can tell it's dialed in. The pulls to 60 from 0 were lots faster. All in all I'm content for the time being. Something to play around with.

I was hoping it would take away the hesitation from the roll thrus down low but not really. I've adjusted myself for that but it's very disappointing that it's there.

I was thinking about the dinan as well, because I’m not gonna race the car or anything lol. I have the MST installed and I love it. They redesigned the original so it’s not totally enclosed, but the vents up near the hood shoot cooler air into the MST box keeping it cooler anyway. I can totally feel the difference. I would highly recommend it over the BMS, considering it’s sucking the same hot air the engine is letting off, it’s getting more air, but it’s cooler. Dinan is a super reputable company, I figured they’re mods would be great. Does the pedal feel better? The pedal response in these cars is awful!

We have the exact same car. Except your deck lid spoiler.

I gotta get a nice lip like that. And you have the lit up emblem. But as far as the pedal response...it's a whole lot better. I feel the pull as soon as I hit the gas. The only thing that is still there is the lag when you don't make a complete stop. Usually down low in 1st and 2nd gearing. I just use the paddle shifter though when I expect not make a complete stop.

Pretty disappointing. Also, I thought the speed limiter would have been bypassed with a piggy back, but it's not. Eventually I'll get a ECU tune.

I'm also going to try the MST intakes.