I've never ever posted such threads before, but after what happened to me I feel compelled to share my bad experience with Eurocharged that my fellow forum members and enthusiasts should know about.

I recently purchased my C63 from a friend who already had purchased a V7 Eurocharged tune for it.
The car being on LTH and no cats, the startup bark and cold start were extremely loud, so I contacted Jerry at Eurocharged requesting a new tune with a "Cold Start Delete".

Jerry replied that since I am not the original owner of the car/tune, I will have to pay a $400 "transfer fee" to my name so he can fulfill my request, and will include 1 free re-tune (which is normally $35 per re-tune). I agreed to pay for a new license, or "transfer fee" whatever you want to call it, as this was the right thing to do and I wouldn't have asked my friend, the original owner to do it for me.

I then explicitly asked Jerry to confirm that my request is achievable before proceeding, and I quote:
"Just before I proceed, can you please confirm that what I’m looking for is achievable. The important item is that initial startup bark, so I would like to confirm that it can be muted".

To which Jerry replied:
"I can do it, but it may take a few reflashes to get it (no charge)."

I then proceeded to pay the $400 transfer fee per his request. Jerry then sent me one single tune that didn't disable the cold start.
Fast forward two months, and Jerry still hasn't fulfilled my request. His last reply was, and I quote:
"Yes, currently awaiting a test car so I can log the file and see what is going on"

After patiently waiting for over 2 months, I emailed Jerry telling him that unfortunately I cannot wait for him anymore and that I would like to cancel my order and get a refund after failing to deliver.

Jerry refused to issue a refund claiming that the "transfer fee" is non refundable and that he would only issue a partial refund for the re-tune.
I filed a Paypal claim and lost the case for whatever reason, but that doesn't make this right. Anyone with the slightest bit of brain and ethics can see that's outright wrong.

Painting this order/payment as two separate purchases is a severe misdirection. Bottom line is I requested a tune, and was charged $400 for it. They can spin it whichever way they want but the fact remains that I'm now $400 out of pocket with nothing to show for.

 

Sounds a bit sketchy to be honest. So the $400 tune that's been labelled as a transfer fee is non refundable..? And he's only going to partially refund the $35 "re-tune"? Gee, thanks I guess.

Honestly I was going to EuroCharged for my C55 tune, but now I have concerns. Keep us posted on how they handle this! And for the love of God, make sure your correspondance is shared (if someone starts flaming or arguing).

 

I had a similar experience a few years ago although for a lot less money. My wife had complained about the startup bark being a bit too loud in the morning with the secondary cat delete and I requested a tune to remove the startup roar removed.. Jerry charged me $35 at the time for a retune file and sent me a cold start delete which doesn't remove the startup bark, it just removes the high idle which is not what i asked for, maybe it was just a misunderstanding at the time, but he would not refund even though I did not get what I asked for and he said removing the startup bark was probably not possible but would continue to test. I didn't really care about the 35 bucks so let is slide.

Cold start delete and the startup bark are not the same thing and he very specifically told me that he could not remove the startup bark on February 7th, 2017, so if you specifically asked for that and didn't just ask for cold start delete then he sold you something that he cannot provide.

 

In my case he delivered neither. Both the high idle (which lasts around 20s) and startup bark are still there. His tune made absolutely no difference and I sent him a video of that after asking for it:

You Tube

I specifically asked for both the cold start delete and the startup bark, and I made sure to confirm that this is achievable before proceeding, to which he said yes. He delivered neither.

 

Love the shotgun bang start everytime my beasts wakes up. That look you get when you start it in a parking garage and 5 alarms go off with a quick rev to 4k.

 

Ya me too would have hated it if he managed to turn it off anyway!

 

You paid for a transfer/tune. Now you don’t like it. Seeing how there is no way for EC to verify that you’re removing the tune permanently, it sounds to me like their stance is fair. You’re the one who lost patience and asked for a refund, even though Jerry was upfront and told you that it would take a few tries to get it right. Not his fault that you can’t wait.

 

What's to like or not like? This isn't subjective. Either the cold start is deleted or it's not. The car already had a V7 tune that was paid for. This was simply a re-tune with the sole request to delete the cold start and startup bark. It either works or it doesn't, it's as simple as that. So your argument is moot.

As for being impatient, how is 2 months not waiting long enough? Where are those "few tries" Jerry talked about? He sent me just one tune that didn't work, and that was it.

I'd like to see you paying $400 for a cold start delete and waiting for 2 months with no results or solution in sight.

 

Based on what you're saying and what he told you, it's even worse than I thought. I paid $400 for this "transfer fee" after he confirmed that he can do it, and when he failed to deliver, he offered to refund just $35.

 

You asked for the cold start delete. You got it.
Then you asked for the startup bark delete, he said "I can do it, but it may take a few reflashes to get it (no charge)." and "Yes, currently awaiting a test car so I can log the file and see what is going on"

What’s the problem? Give the man some time, he already told you - prior to purchase - that it’s going to take some time and he needs a test car.

You’re flaming a guy who already communicated precisely with you, all because you lost patience. This isn’t his fault. It’s yours for not managing your own (unreasonable) time expectations.

 

Your car sounds great, however I don't think there is a way to truly get rid of the initial startup bark. I remember reading that the cold start delete only deletes the high idle. When I had to leave my house at 5am, I would just throw it in reverse or drive immediately to drop the RPMs, if need be you can do this while you wait for your tune to get sorted out.

 

You have a big heavy V8 with a starter motor that spins much lower than idle. The initial RPM spike is from the excess fuel dumped in. You can't really avoid that.

 

You obviously don't want to read. I didn't get anything. Cold start wasn't deleted.
I'm done explaining myself to you.

EDIT:

Again, he never said that. He only said it might take a few reflashes. That absolutely doesn't mean sending just ONE tune in a 2-month period, and I got nothing from it.

 

You are also arguing a point that Jerry himself indirectly admitted to not delivering by offering to refund the re-tune fee. It's that "transfer fee" that he decided to hold hostage that I have a problem with.
I am not here to "flame" anyone, I don't do that. I'm just stating facts. When you fail to deliver, you refund. Plain and simple.

 

Thanks! But with a newborn baby and complaining neighbors, I had to cave in.

 

”Cold start delete” and “removing startup bark” are two different things entirely. Read above. You think you got nothing because you’re confused on the difference. 100% you got the “cold start delete”, which does nothing to eliminate the startup bark. See the Jasonoff post just above.


Did you get the tune transferred, along with a new “cold start delete” map (which by the way just deletes the high start idle), along with a handheld so you can switch maps? If so, you got exactly what you paid the “transfer fee” for.

It sounds like he’s trying to help you. Did you try picking up the phone?

 

I know they are two different things, and I asked for both PRIOR to ordering. I didn't get the cold start delete either.
Let me explain to you what a cold start is. It's a high idle combined with ignition retard that helps heat up the cats quickly for emissions purposes. It's that rough rumble you hear for the first 20s or so. Both the rumble and high idle are still there. Cold start is still EXACTLY the same as before, so don't be 100% sure.

So again, no cold start map was delivered. As for the handheld, I already had that and it was already paid for before. That "transfer fee" was for a new license in my name since I purchased the car with from a friend.
To clarify, I had no problem with that "transfer fee" had he delivered what he promised.

But you can't lure people into paying a $400 "transfer fee" by making them believe that you can do what they are asking for, and then offer to refund only a very small portion of the fee when you fail to deliver.

Yes, I did pick up the phone and call them. I don't see how he's trying to help me when he only sends one tune that does nothing and then makes me wait for 2 months with no ETA or solution in sight.

 

They also like to offer you a discount on a new tune for your next car when they can't deliver what you currently paid for. Atleast you're recouping $35 better than a discount on a product you're already not happy with, that they think you'll buy again. lol. I've seen quite a few that rev up to 2500rpm on cold start and it's pretty horrible. It's really great to rev your engine nice and high before oil temps are warmed up.

 

BLKROKT... Always putting his negative 5c into most comments on this forum. Sorry mate but every time I see you comments I think keyboard worrior.

 

No amount of tuning will fix your issue. You're catless LTH... if the baby and neighbors are complaining you need to change your hardware.

Waiting for a test car takes time.

The fee is standard. You essentially bought into getting a tune at half price. EC is also pretty reasonable some things just take time and get lost. You can delete whatever you want, your car is going to be very loud no matter what you do unless you swap out LTHs or find a way to put cats and resonator back in.

 

I don't see why he couldn't remove the cold start high idle. Are you sure the provided tune loaded properly? No canbus errors etc?

The initial bark would be pretty much impossible to remove so I assume that's what he was waiting for, a loaner to tinker with. Confirming both could be done was extremely optimistic. I'd hope he didn't just say that to lure the sale.

 

I'll reword what others have said.

Jerry has been great to me for years and always delivered, usually in hours, not even days.

I would propose you just work with him and give it time. Your hardware situation is not a quiet car set up.

Your car sounds great by the way. You have an AMG, not a Tesla. Be proud of a little rumble.

 

I'm lucky to have EC down the street - and have used EC atx for all the hardware - they've both been nothing but great to work with.... that said, I'm not sure there is a way to quiet the initial rev level...... mine varies a bit with temp but like you with LTH's and some missing cats it's snarly.....moreso I think due to the E85 pops, but then it settles in after 20 secs or so. I added an Akra catback and it's now all but perfect for my needs- deep and exotic sounding - and when you get on it - there isn't that rasp that tends to be there....

Have you tried calling him ? He and the team always responded to a voicemail or took my call....

Should you connect with him - I'm happy to get my car over for him to use as a test case......

E

 

I'm a little perplex about your issue. Tune or not, isnt cold start a feature of any car? By design, it is there to get the internal components ready to be driven? Why would you want to disable that? Seems your mods is the cause of the loudness. Simple, but a resonator back on and you will reduce the noise in the morning.

As for the $400. It is a tittle transfer fee. You got incurred the charge when you told EC that you are the new owner of the car and wanted their software to be modified, which means you are paying for the software rights in that vehicle installed by EC. You could approach the issue now with negotiating a refund with a deal that you remove their software from your car completely.

 

So far, you have five (5) likes regarding your comment. Blkrot, any comment back?