Anybody have any experience with the Renntech ECU? With install it looks like it'll be about 4K. Seems a little steep if you ask me.

 

me too, thats why I got a piggy back. Im installing it in a few days

 

You'll have to let me know how it goes. Which piggy back system did you go with? I'm relatively handy but I'm nervous to work on my new car.

 

Where are you located Tsos?

 

I'm in Evansville IN which is southern Indiana.

 

http://www.rebellionautomotive.co.uk


the best piggy back

 

from what i heard all these upgrades come from the same company.

Renntec offers theirs for $3500. same one from brabus is $10,000

 

Tsos, if you can get me your ECU I Will give you a promotional price on the PP-Performance tune. Below is the dyno of a car we performed the tune on. The car is on stock exhaust + stock Downpipe as well.

 

^ I've been hearing that rumor for years.

 

I would love to get more info so that we can add your tune to our list of mods on our site classcbenz.com feel free to email me seth@c450amg.com

 

Looks like some good #'s. How difficult is it to remove the ECU to send to you?

 

You won't like answer...

 

That's what I was afraid of. Wouldn't want to wreck my new car. Sometimes it's easier to pay someone to do it.

 

Hey I just purchased a Renntech ECU Mod and purchased a separate ECU to have sent out so I can have programmed to my VIN# and switch between them is need be. I have the 2016 c63s so for the money and reputation 3K is not that bad considering 601HP and 657Tq with no other mods. New ECU was like $1100-ish to me it was worth it and is Merc dealer overwrites it can send it back to Renntech for reflash .....or so I'm told. My ECU is coming from Germany as we speak and will then be sent to Renntech. Now I'm looking to upgrade rear tires from 265 to 275 and going Michelin Sport Cup2. I'm researching rims now too. I was wondering is 285's would fit but 275 wont throw off traction control as are only 3 dia larger and want to keep them at least flush with fender. I'll post an update in a coupe weeks. I'd avoid the piggy back system, these cars are not cheap so shortcuts just to save a grand is not worth the risk IMO. For me anyway.

Cheers

 

Piggybacks have been used for years with no adverse effects on many other platforms... JB4 on the F80/F82 M3/M4 is by far the most popular tune, and no one has blown an engine because of that piggyback -- if anything, it's only exposed a huge flaw in the S55 engine (the crankshaft hub spinning on a handful of M's with too much torque).

I understand the reasoning for purchasing an extra ECU, but the headache of swapping them out between dealer visits kind of defeats the purpose -- the amount of labor required to access the ECU for a swap or re-flash is ridiculous.

I do agree that an ECU flash is a much better solution to a piggyback, but until a tuner comes out with a handheld OBD-II flasher, I'm not interested because of the above reasons.

 

Understood. The second ECU is so that I'd also have one if I have to send one back to Rentech etc. or run into issues. I'd only swap it in extreme circumstances. But if dealer were to wipe it with a re-flash I'd have to send it back anyway so that's a pain as Id want both the FW and the Renntech so even with me having a second ECU is not full proof but still lesser of the evils of sorts? Especially if I were to need to do a recall or major warranty claim. It also helps that I have a lift in my garage. Its like $200 labor I believe to swap out an ECU according to my sources anyway. Once they program new ECU to my car VIN I'd likely perform my own future swaps. We'll see I guess? Trust me I'm fine if second ECU ends up being redundant insurance : )

In regards to to the piggy back systems I'm not knocking them and looked into them with all my cars at one time or another. Having weighed all the pros and cons for this particular car I decided to go the route I did. It was a hard trigger to pull I assure you given the price of new ECU on top of Renntech price. Figured car costing what it did helped in my decision making. Still in the end is crazy added power for the $$$$ and now just need to get that power to the ground and not just sit and roast tires.

 

Intercooled: I think you are misjudging some of the members of this forum. I for one could afford the ECU flash but, unlike you I saw absolutely no need to do it.

Lets start off with the labor.. If you have a mechanic who will drop the entire front end or transmission and put it all back together for $200 then you have the deal of the century.

The biggest issue for me is that once you take the entire car apart I feel it never goes back together the same way they did it at the factory. Maybe I am being paranoid and silly, but there are so many little sensors and connectors and if even one breaks then the parts costs go up. Then the cost and risk to do it again to swap out the ECU back to factory.. not for me.

The gains you achieve compared to the piggyback are negligible in my opinion. Some people will argue that even a 1hp gain is worth it but, in my opinion the piggyback offers 95% of the bang for 1/4 the buck and ease of install and removal.

If I was going to change downpipes I would agree that the ECU is mandatory to eliminate the CE light.

If they could do the ECU flash with a handheld and not have to disassemble the car I would also consider it. But, for what you need to do in order to flash the ECU and the risks associated versus a piggyback, I wouldn't even consider it.

My 2 cents.

 

CT-AMG you are not being silly at all. It's obvious AMG did not want this ECU being dug out of a new car....

 

I'm 100% with you. I think for sure I'd go with renntech. If Mercedes trusts them and are at their dealerships then it's probably a pretty safe bet. How hard was it to remove the ECU? Having another one in case is not a bad idea

 

It's not hard, just time consuming. You have to drop the tranny and take off one of the engine mounts to get to the ecu.

 

Could it be that the ECU is placed where it is because the turbos
are now in the V?

Just a lay man's opinion.

 

Missing the good old days when I went under the dash of my 86 Monte Carlo SS and pulled the factory chip out and replaced with a tuned chip. Fifteen minute install!

 

CT-AMG You have valid points / concerns. I'm not judging MB members I assure you; apologies if it came across that way. I'm just a car guy like the rest of us here. Full of opinions, and very much value the opinions of others who own the same car.

I'm new to AMG c63s W205, which why I'm letting the professionals handle it. Guess I'm stressing over car having 87K sticker felt better going with RennTech and working with Mercedes specialist on the install. Just like I tend to go with AMS for my GT-R. Its just a piece of mind comfort thing?

In the world of car mods we all struggle with making what we think and hope is the right decision and likely even lose sleep over it

Perhaps I posted here prematurely due to excitement and will gladly post updates of my experiences good and bad. I'm seriously considering down pipes and may as well have it all done same time and out of the way.

As for labor, I paid $700 to have original ECU removed and new one paired up to VIN etc. (Ideally updated FW if not already done by Factory)? Remove from pairing install and send out to RennTech overnight to be programmed and overnight-ed back and installed. I'm not exactly sure of any real significance of me wanting to keep my original as OEM untouched as they could of just as well send out my OEM one and just keep the second as insurance only if needed have it paired do at time of need? Probably could of save $1500. Also not sure if Renntech can program new ECU having not been paired to VIN yet? That just might be policy to tie to VIN? I'll have to call them myself with some of these questions. maybe change up my execution route as long as there are not repercussions. At my age the weighted value leans heavy toward piece of mind and back out plan and or redundancy. Just how I'm wired.

That being said aside from all these initial efforts I ask for future (what if needed) swap pricing and was quoted $200-ish. I'll see first hands whats involved but as of right now this is uncharted territory.

 

No it's quite obvious by now they've located it purposely where it is at its most difficult to get to - to deter tampering with it, so far it seems to have worked as only those "really keen" to go the remap route are taking it.

Hopefully in future some tuners will have developed a hand held OBD port upload option

 

once the program is installed, how does the race mode work since I don't think they are tuning the TCU??