how can i tell if my cl65 has an ecu flash?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 6
From: SIN CITY
CL65
how can i tell if my cl65 has an ecu flash?
just picked up my cl65 last week. owner said he had not touched the car performace wise at all, i am the 3rd owner. i know the speed limiter on the car is 156mph. went out and did some runs last night in the car and hit over 160 a few times and tapped 170. is there any other way i can tell if this thing has a tune on it? can someone read the computer? i know these car hit 550rwhp with an flash so i guess i will dyno it next week
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
speedo is optimistic.
i will not be surprised if real speed is 155-160 and 170+ is indicated.
a portable gps would be far more accurate.
there is no objective way for the user to determine if the car has been reflashed.
i will not be surprised if real speed is 155-160 and 170+ is indicated.
a portable gps would be far more accurate.
there is no objective way for the user to determine if the car has been reflashed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,146
Likes: 1
From: L.A., CA
'08 M5, '10 Land Cruiser
I've seen an indicated 173 on my speedo and HUD. I'm attributing this to part lazy limiter and part speedo inaccuracy. My car was bought new, no tuning.
Dealer may be able to run diagnostics or reflash to stock, but I'd be wary of that unless you know your service manager.
By the way, congrats on the car- awesome engine, luxury and brakes.
Dealer may be able to run diagnostics or reflash to stock, but I'd be wary of that unless you know your service manager.
By the way, congrats on the car- awesome engine, luxury and brakes.
Last edited by Carl Lassiter; Nov 17, 2009 at 02:05 PM. Reason: typo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
BMW ≠ Mercedes so your observation isn't really helpful in this case.
Back to the O.P.:
1st: Mercedes speed limiter is, unlike e.g. BMW speed limiter, stricly tacho based. Limited to 156 mp/h (250km/h) means just that: You hit the speed limit on the tacho and the acceleration show is over, no matter what the deviation tacho/real-speed is.
2nd: Your running up to 170 mp/h most likely implies a removed speed limiter. To be sure you could pull some more. In theory your 65 should be able to hit 200 given enough runway.
3rd: A removed speed limiter most likely implies a flashed ECU (either that or it's an official speed delimiter done by AMG, or a star diagnose wizzard). But it doesn't tell anything about a possible performance remap in said ECU.
Conclusion: The ECU might be tampered with to remove the speed limit. But that doesn't imply performance mods.
Illustration: My SL55 is oficially delimited yet I have no performance mods. I've seen 190+ mph on the speedo driving on the Autobahn with standard performance.
Concluding: Your speedo observation tells nothing about any performance mods.
Hope this helps.
Back to the O.P.:
just picked up my cl65 last week. owner said he had not touched the car performace wise at all, i am the 3rd owner. i know the speed limiter on the car is 156mph. went out and did some runs last night in the car and hit over 160 a few times and tapped 170. is there any other way i can tell if this thing has a tune on it? can someone read the computer? i know these car hit 550rwhp with an flash so i guess i will dyno it next week
2nd: Your running up to 170 mp/h most likely implies a removed speed limiter. To be sure you could pull some more. In theory your 65 should be able to hit 200 given enough runway.
3rd: A removed speed limiter most likely implies a flashed ECU (either that or it's an official speed delimiter done by AMG, or a star diagnose wizzard). But it doesn't tell anything about a possible performance remap in said ECU.
Conclusion: The ECU might be tampered with to remove the speed limit. But that doesn't imply performance mods.
Illustration: My SL55 is oficially delimited yet I have no performance mods. I've seen 190+ mph on the speedo driving on the Autobahn with standard performance.
Concluding: Your speedo observation tells nothing about any performance mods.
Hope this helps.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 5
From: South FL & NYC
Your worst nightmare...
Best bet is a dyno...but most important your torque readings. My 65 dynoed 570 without a flash...it had cut outs, trunk reservoir and no cats & filters so that may be a bit skewed if just looking for HP. A well tuned 65 should see upwards of 700rwtq. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 53
From: Maryland
'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
It is HIGHLY unlikely that someone in the US delimited their 2005 CL65 but left the ECU alone in every other regard. Unlike Europe, we don't have an Autobahn with unrestricted stretches of highway. People here first look to increase the performance of our 65s...the delimited top speed is just a peripheral bonus. I would imagine that in Germany, it is a very different psychology. There AMG owners can get "delimited" software directly from AMG to better stretch their car's legs on the Autobahn...additional performance is not a primary goal.
Tom
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 53
From: Maryland
'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
Tom
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
And thanks for judging me uncordial and dismissive.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,704
Likes: 28
From: 20854
new balance
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 0
From: OC, SoCal
08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
Tom's comment was 100% fair (and your defensiveness shows you may realize this)...look up the definition of "uncordial" and it is the perfect fit to your response....highly doubt you speak that way and dismiss people trying to help like that in everyday life, the anonymity of mbworld brings out the rudeness in people and it's a shame to see it so often
also, please expand on "the technical differences," between the MB and BMW speedometer tachs...not that it much matters at this point...
-Rob
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
...look up the definition of "uncordial" and it is the perfect fit to your response....highly doubt you speak that way and dismiss people trying to help like that in everyday life, the anonymity of mbworld brings out the rudeness in people and it's a shame to see it so often
also, please expand on "the technical differences," between the MB and BMW speedometer tachs...not that it much matters at this point...
To the OP; sorry for all the fuss. I hope there is some useful to-the-point information between the (un)cordial discussion...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 53
From: Maryland
'14 E63S & '14 Audi SQ5
Defensiveness? You must be kidding. I was merely being polite not to step on anymore sensitive toes. And yet I did...
So, now I'm not only being uncordial and dismissive, but also rude? The sensitivity is extraordinary in today.
How about you look it up on the internet yourself? I'm somehow not in the mood anymore to inform anybody but the OP in this topic, so -with your kind permission- I won't bother. Besides, as you so truthfully stated; it doesn't really matter much at this point.
To the OP; sorry for all the fuss. I hope there is some useful to-the-point information between the (un)cordial discussion...
So, now I'm not only being uncordial and dismissive, but also rude? The sensitivity is extraordinary in today.
How about you look it up on the internet yourself? I'm somehow not in the mood anymore to inform anybody but the OP in this topic, so -with your kind permission- I won't bother. Besides, as you so truthfully stated; it doesn't really matter much at this point.
To the OP; sorry for all the fuss. I hope there is some useful to-the-point information between the (un)cordial discussion...
I am just glad you weren't too sensitive to our comments and react like a child who picks up his marbles and runs home...
Tom
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 6
From: SIN CITY
CL65
BMW ≠ Mercedes so your observation isn't really helpful in this case.
Back to the O.P.:
1st: Mercedes speed limiter is, unlike e.g. BMW speed limiter, stricly tacho based. Limited to 156 mp/h (250km/h) means just that: You hit the speed limit on the tacho and the acceleration show is over, no matter what the deviation tacho/real-speed is.
2nd: Your running up to 170 mp/h most likely implies a removed speed limiter. To be sure you could pull some more. In theory your 65 should be able to hit 200 given enough runway.
3rd: A removed speed limiter most likely implies a flashed ECU (either that or it's an official speed delimiter done by AMG, or a star diagnose wizzard). But it doesn't tell anything about a possible performance remap in said ECU.
Conclusion: The ECU might be tampered with to remove the speed limit. But that doesn't imply performance mods.
Illustration: My SL55 is oficially delimited yet I have no performance mods. I've seen 190+ mph on the speedo driving on the Autobahn with standard performance.
Concluding: Your speedo observation tells nothing about any performance mods.
Hope this helps.
Back to the O.P.:
1st: Mercedes speed limiter is, unlike e.g. BMW speed limiter, stricly tacho based. Limited to 156 mp/h (250km/h) means just that: You hit the speed limit on the tacho and the acceleration show is over, no matter what the deviation tacho/real-speed is.
2nd: Your running up to 170 mp/h most likely implies a removed speed limiter. To be sure you could pull some more. In theory your 65 should be able to hit 200 given enough runway.
3rd: A removed speed limiter most likely implies a flashed ECU (either that or it's an official speed delimiter done by AMG, or a star diagnose wizzard). But it doesn't tell anything about a possible performance remap in said ECU.
Conclusion: The ECU might be tampered with to remove the speed limit. But that doesn't imply performance mods.
Illustration: My SL55 is oficially delimited yet I have no performance mods. I've seen 190+ mph on the speedo driving on the Autobahn with standard performance.
Concluding: Your speedo observation tells nothing about any performance mods.
Hope this helps.
