ECU Tune, the real discussion...


Dyno numbers are just that.....numbers. They don't tell the whole story but do do give you some very interesting data.

Excellent, informative thread Brian!
Interesting study, thank you for putting in the effort and look forward to seeing the graph overlay.
AFAIK, only a mere handful of C63s have run multiple vendors' tuning on the same vehicle. Those that have, and have tried MHP's C63 tuning, seem to have the best objective dyno and track results with MHP's product(s). Not sure how that puzzle piece fits into this particular picture, however. 
I frequently enjoy your posts, but have to disagree with this one.
In essence, I read Brian's original post as "We tested 4 different tunes, on 4 different cars - same dyno, operator, and 91 octane. Results for all 4 were basically neck-and-neck; our conclusion - tuning results on 91 for C63 is essentially identical, indepenent of tuner chosen." c63beastdriver's post in essence is saying "well, my experience with having 3 different tunes, same vehicle, same dyno, operator, etc. paints a different picture - all three were quite a bit different in measured output; my conclusion - tuning results will vary, based on tuner chosen."
Neither is unbiased in the strictest sense - Brian's company is a vendor for 2 of the 4 tunes tested; c63beastdriver is a vendor for 1 of the 3 he tested (although apparently not at the time of the testing - which is important to consider). That said, I feel both are presenting honest, objective findings without being "salesy" - but I realize reading something as "salesy" or not is certainly subjective.
OT - you're at approx. 600 bhp? That's, what, 500 rwhp on a DJ? That's insane.
I vote for you to create a "Silver Dragon Build Thread" and post/link everything there, chronicling the evolution of your beast... it's hard to keep up otherwise. 
This echo's what I have said all along. In tuning, the ones that push development make mor gains early. But as time passes, all the tuners get to the same place. There is no trick to tuning. If you can get control of the ECU correctly, you can only manipulate so much. A proper tune will yeild roughly the same results from anyone.
So early in development of a car, companies that are true developers will have the advatage. This is why we use Powerchip as they co-develop with us early in a car's life cycle. There are other tuners that do the same, but PC is who we have used for 8+ years now.
Late in a life cycle (which is where we are now with 63) everyone else will catch up. Especially with some tuners taking a "look" at other tuners files (which is a reality in this game). At this point it comes down to support and comfort with your vendor.
There are a lot of good vendors out there, so customers certainly can choose who they are most comfortable with.
We like working with PC as they always keep developing and owners can get updates for the life of their ownership for just a re-flash fee! Or if they upgrade to headers, they just have to pay the difference in the two files, not buy a new file to start with.
We have been dealers for other tuning brands, and quite frankly, PC has just been the most reliable and attentive.
Josh can certainly attest to this as they spent a lot of time on his car!
Again, good work Brian! Testing is always a welcome to this site and it is a shame that more don't do it!
thanks
Brad
By the way Brian, if you're going to sell Kleemann, you may want to spell it correctly
I also was certainty surprised with my results considering I went into this blindly and had no idea that I would even end up here posting the results. I was after all and still am very new to this forum and certainly new to “tunes” on an already fast car. I mean really how much faster can a tune be on a 451 hp car?
I started out doing my research using this forum and only after weeks of discovery; and calling/emailing different vendors did I finally pull the trigger. Note: I did not contact the final vendor until after trying the other 2 products first. I did this because the final vendor did not have as many users using their product as the other did. I went with the bigger guys instead because I was not familiar with Vendor M.
So I finally decided to go with Vendor K’s product. Once I got the flash I went to the dyno and I was not happy with the results. I do have a post dyno done to get a true delta. I did not get the results that were posted on their website or what I was told I should get. After a few days of complaining and talking to the vendor they finally agreed to return.
The second flash from Vendor R seemed more promising. Once I got the tune I did the normal break in and then off to the dyno. I did get better results from the dyno and the felt a bit faster and more responsive shifting etc. The dyno numbers showed gains over the previous vendor but not what I was told I should get. To this day I’m still trying to get my full refund.
Both vendors said there flashes were done correctly and they both reviewed their internal audit files to make sure and also checked with the programmers.
The last tune provided exactly what I was expecting. Call this Vendor M. The delta gains between STOCK and Vendor M was 66rwhp and 24rwtq.
These are real numbers and all done on the same dyno with the same operator.
Summation:
Stock Numbers: 357hp & 360tq
Vendor K 393hp & 367tq
Vendor R 411hp & 367tq
Vendor M 424hp & 384t
There are owners on this site that have had GREAT success with other vendors and I have nothing against anyone else’s products or results.
I did not test these products with any intentions of becoming a distributor of the products however I was impressed with the gains and advertised results so I figured I would spread the word.
Bottom Line: You can’t go wrong with any vendors ecu tune as long as YOU are happy with the results!
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
C63 - M156 V8 AMG
Increase in performance to 405 kW (551 HP) at 6800 rpm, 645 Nm at 5100 rpm
modification:
Modified engine management with readapt ignition map and injection map, incl.Vmax delimiter.
http://www.mkb-tuning.de/content/en/...prod_gruppe=11
By the way Brian, if you're going to sell Kleemann, you may want to spell it correctly

http://www.dragtimes.com/Mercedes-Be...ag-Racing.html
C63 - M156 V8 AMG
Increase in performance to 405 kW (551 HP) at 6800 rpm, 645 Nm at 5100 rpm
modification:
Modified engine management with readapt ignition map and injection map, incl.Vmax delimiter.
http://www.mkb-tuning.de/content/en/...prod_gruppe=11




, lets just say that is nearly .250 off the pace of the current 63 N/A e/t record.
Shame you have to announce your results with such a divisive tone????
I really don't understand why you feel the need to demean the results of others to elevate yours??
Last edited by hhughes1; Dec 28, 2009 at 02:25 PM.
Last edited by jrcart; Dec 28, 2009 at 02:55 PM.


it would have rubbed me differently, but I'll take you for your word about the intention of the message. There is no reason for all of us to be in different camps based upon who is supplying our parts. You can be happy with Evosport just like I am with my MHP/Kleemann hybrid and others probably are with Renntech etc. Honestly, I think the attitude of the vast majority of the members is very supportive these days even in the 55K vs 63 conversations. I would like to see more updates from your campaign and if you have anything else to throw away I will PM my address.
I also was certainty surprised with my results considering I went into this blindly and had no idea that I would even end up here posting the results. I was after all and still am very new to this forum and certainly new to “tunes” on an already fast car. I mean really how much faster can a tune be on a 451 hp car?
I started out doing my research using this forum and only after weeks of discovery; and calling/emailing different vendors did I finally pull the trigger. Note: I did not contact the final vendor until after trying the other 2 products first. I did this because the final vendor did not have as many users using their product as the other did. I went with the bigger guys instead because I was not familiar with Vendor M.
So I finally decided to go with Vendor K’s product. Once I got the flash I went to the dyno and I was not happy with the results. I do have a post dyno done to get a true delta. I did not get the results that were posted on their website or what I was told I should get. After a few days of complaining and talking to the vendor they finally agreed to return.
The second flash from Vendor R seemed more promising. Once I got the tune I did the normal break in and then off to the dyno. I did get better results from the dyno and the felt a bit faster and more responsive shifting etc. The dyno numbers showed gains over the previous vendor but not what I was told I should get. To this day I’m still trying to get my full refund.
Both vendors said there flashes were done correctly and they both reviewed their internal audit files to make sure and also checked with the programmers.
The last tune provided exactly what I was expecting. Call this Vendor M. The delta gains between STOCK and Vendor M was 66rwhp and 24rwtq.
These are real numbers and all done on the same dyno with the same operator.
Summation:
Stock Numbers: 357hp & 360tq
Vendor K 393hp & 367tq
Vendor R 411hp & 367tq
Vendor M 424hp & 384t
There are owners on this site that have had GREAT success with other vendors and I have nothing against anyone else’s products or results.
I did not test these products with any intentions of becoming a distributor of the products however I was impressed with the gains and advertised results so I figured I would spread the word.
Bottom Line: You can’t go wrong with any vendors ecu tune as long as YOU are happy with the results!






