AMGTTV8

I know it's been discussed a million times, but all of us, me included put a lot of heat on MB about this issue.

I had a few more "strings" at my disposal and am happy to say that something has been done...

We finally got a notice today that there is a software update available for our cars - addresses limp mode and engine overheating.

Would have had my car flashed today but unfortunately I had a little run-in with this weekend so there was no need for me to rush my car through the shop...on a side note, Forgestar wheels are amazing...one of the strongest wheels I have ever seen. Let me just say that they survived hell this weekend....

So, I can't speak to the effectiveness of this solution, nor what it does, but am certainly thrilled that Mercedes has stepped up to the plate and at this point in time, and done something to try and resolve it.

Attached is a photo of the bulletin email my SM got this morning - there aren't any reference numbers, but I'm sure that with just a little digging, your own respective stores will be able to figure it out.

Hope this brings some much needed relief to a lot of you.

The response on their part is good; let's just hope that it actually works.

Cheers!

HoozyerdaddyC63

Thanks for the good news.

Just one thing, the image is missing. I would definitely like to see this TSB since mine does run on the hot side and has gone into limp mode on more than one occasion.

late_bloomer

+1 on the TSB.. no image.. This wouldn't help ppl with tunes would it? Maybe tuners can see what they changed if the file was uploaded to them?

m0v30v3r

This ^

GrnLantern

+1

In for more details.

Thanks for posting!

AMGTTV8

here you go....

as to the questions on tunes, have no idea how this will impact them, if at all...

Swoody

Yeah, hopefully the tuners that are regulars here on the board will chime in as to if this is something they can incorporate into our tunes as an "update" and/or is this something that will have to be done at the dealership and will it affect existing tune??

CoolBDPhenom03

Biggest question right there. That basically determines if I do this or not.

Sincity

How does a SW change resolve the issue other than raising the threshold (I assume)? The car still runs hot.

CoolBDPhenom03

I think the point that was made in the other thread is that the temp limits are conservative, so if you hit those limits, the car goes into limp mode. This update would raise those limits to a higher, but still safe range so that limp mode would be avoided until you hit that new ceiling that's established.

AMGTTV8

Either that or they start using the auxiliary oil cooler sooner, to drop overall temps in all operating conditions...

at the end of the day, applying the SW update and figuring out what actually happens will be the determining factor.

CoolBDPhenom03

Yeah, raising the tolerances does only so much. I'd like to hear from the track folks to find out how much of a difference this makes.

SaphGreyC63

Anyone have any updates on this?

I have a service appointment tomorrow and called ahead and they told me they dont have any updates like this. Anyone have any codes or update numbers to give to the dealer?

rage2

The C63's with MCT's at the Performance Tour in Vegas had the software upgrade installed. We were still able to get the car to go into limp mode after a few laps in 22C weather.

SaphGreyC63

That's not comforting. On the bright side I didn't buy my car for the track. On the downside when I do track it (once in a blue moon) its going to be very embarrassing when my car has to sit out for a bit.

rage2

I used S+ mode, ESP off (AMG says TC kicking in adds heat to the transmission fluid temps) and it kicked it at the end of the second lap 1 corner before the pits. The guy after me had it kick in at the end of lap 1 so he limped it back for the rest of the second lap. Switching to C did nothing, it was just stuck in gear and had no power.

It seems to only affect the C63. The SL63, E63 and CLS63 had the MCT as well, and I drove those cars just as hard. On the E63 Wagon I had an instructor with me in the lead car, ESP was on, and I had room to push even harder pulling away from everyone. The instructor thinks it had to do with having clean air, but that doesn't explain the SL and CLS running fine in traffic.

GrnLantern

I hear stuff like this, and I wonder... How do people get the 70+ laps that they're getting out of their cars? And what about the AMG Driving Academy days.

What kind of voodoo magic are they using?

LAMB09

I just did the Driving Academy at Fontana, the white 12' c63 Coupe I was driving went into limp mode on one of my laps. They have giant fans cranking, only on the C63's, while the cars sit on pit road. They are pointed at the lower passenger side bumper grille. But that car's temp was pretty high at the time it went limp.

Case1906

Not only has AMG not fixed the problem but it seems to be a more extreme issue for the MCT cars. Sad.... Please keep updates on software fix coming.

motoman

So what temp is indicated on the gauges during this limp mode?

2012C63AMG

I live in a desert and have yet to get the car to go into limp mode, and I feel like I drive the crap out of this car everyday.... Did the AMG driving academy it was 70F outside, no issue with any cooling on the cars.... Are you using the transmission as a brake? I have tried when it was over 100F outside doing a bunch of 0-80-0 runs over and over for about 20 minutes and never hit limp mode, I could even feel the heat from the transmission on my right leg from the tunnel..

What temps put the car in limp mode?

AMGTTV8

well I had this software update loaded on my car the other day and to be honest, it didn't do anything to get rid of the heat problems.

Shifting was slower, seemed to be less power and I went back to the original factory tune shortly thereafter..

Wish it had solved the problem but it is unfortunately still running hot.

SaphGreyC63

Based off of what I can say from my own driving habits, I only see the temps shot up is in S+ mode. I don't use manual often enough to tell but in C it never goes about 230. When S+ is in use and I get a little spirited it shoots up to 245, usually when I see that I back off.

Hopefully we can get a fix.

2012C63AMG

I have been up to the 250's and still never hit limp mode. Usually around 240 the fan for the oil cooler goes on, its quite audible. I think my max temp I was ever able to get it up to was like 254 or so, but I will keep trying. (I also have a tune so I know I am putting more strain on the transmission)

I recall my 2010 would normally be 215F readout, my new one normal is 220F. The only thing I can think of is could it be possible that the temp sensors have variance that some are reading higher than others thus triggering limp mode?

lap time

Hi, just to share RESULTS with my factory ecu update recently -

I have the same high engine oil temp. problem (if drives harder, it easily reaches above 130 C (265 F). If drives "hard" it reaches 135 C (275 F) and if don't slow down, it will go to limp mode). Street driving and outside temp reads 22 C (45 F).

Previously, I took my 2008 C63 (ecu + complete exhaust) to track (with F1 style front bumper to improve cooling but still no use), I could only do 2 laps every time before overheating problem occur when outside termp. is also similar 22 C (45 F). Of coz, the standard of "driving hard" may vary from one to another, but the point is it sucks when C63 has such poor engine oil + trans oil cooling design where as M3 doesn't.

Same case with my 2012 C63 now (stock w only 2nd cat. deleted), after recent ECU update at Benz service center targeting at resolving this problem, immediately I notice slight improvement (with similar "driving" style on same road, it appears to take longer for engine oil to reach above 130 C (265 F), but it still reaches 135 C (275 F) but my feeling is not as "easily" as before or as quick with outside temp. at 18C (37 F).

Conclusion - Benz ECU update improves an already very "bad" situation, but it is still "bad"!! Problem is still unsolved and this makes those who ocaasionally take their cars to track with HARD driving feel like they should have got themselves other cars instead. At least this is what I feel.