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ECU Tuning question

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Old Mar 11, 2015 | 08:36 PM
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Drives an 08 CLK 550 cab, 2013 E350 sport 4matic, 08 Malibu V6
ECU Tuning question

Anyone have their car tuned by OE tuning https://oetuning.com? Their website says CLK550 HP gains are 32HP and tq is 27lbs. Thoughts? Is that possible? and at $395??

And for those of you who have had their V8 CLK ECU tuned, will 20+ HP tune increase be noticeable?
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 12:29 AM
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My ECU tune was done by Kleeman and I installed their headers at the same time. I could, and still do, notice the 40-50hp gain.

You should notice 20+. Depending on how attuned you are with the car's performance, I think even 10hp is noticeable.

Several members of the forum have gotten OE tunes, or at least talked about it.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 10:38 AM
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CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
Originally Posted by Fatz
My ECU tune was done by Kleeman and I installed their headers at the same time. I could, and still do, notice the 40-50hp gain.

You should notice 20+. Depending on how attuned you are with the car's performance, I think even 10hp is noticeable.

Several members of the forum have gotten OE tunes, or at least talked about it.
Don't those require you to remove both primary cats?
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 10:58 AM
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Those are pretty standard gains for the 550s, if you're calculating something like a 20% loss. I have no experience with OE Tuning, though (good or bad), but- obviously- would rather you bought my tune.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by megacrazy
Don't those require you to remove both primary cats?
Usually the long-tube headers do require the removal of the primary cats, yes.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 11:02 AM
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So the majority of the gains will be from that. Plus there will be no way to get the car inspected anymore if you live in a state that does the usual computer scan.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by megacrazy
So the majority of the gains will be from that. Plus there will be no way to get the car inspected anymore if you live in a state that does the usual computer scan.
Not at all. On a turbo car like the 600s or 65s the cats are a huge restriction. We're at about 410-420 HP (crank) with just the ECU and drop-ins. Removing the cats on these cars is probably only 10-15 at the wheel (it feels like more with the sound, though). Honestly, I'd skip it- too many emissions/resale hassles.

Last edited by Speedriven1; Mar 12, 2015 at 11:07 AM. Reason: Added the thing about the sound.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 11:13 AM
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CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
Originally Posted by Speedriven1
Not at all. On a turbo car like the 600s or 65s the cats are a huge restriction. We're at about 410-420 HP (crank) with just the ECU and drop-ins. Removing the cats on these cars is probably only 10-15 at the wheel (it feels like more with the sound, though). Honestly, I'd skip it- too many emissions/resale hassles.
Yup, that's exactly what I was saying. There's a little power to be had but the emission hassles are simply not worth it.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by megacrazy
Don't those require you to remove both primary cats?
The primaries are replaced by "hi-flow" (200 CEL) cats.
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Old Mar 12, 2015 | 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by megacrazy
Yup, that's exactly what I was saying. There's a little power to be had but the emission hassles are simply not worth it.
I guess the "hassle" factor depends on where you reside. I've had to go back to the installer twice; once due to a coding error in the ECU and then again after I replaced everything in the exhaust except the 2 feet of pipes between the cats and the center channel (replaced the cats as well because they were blown).

The emissions test here are done via the OBD connection. I just went through this years session a couple weeks ago.

Regarding the hp gains; 10-15 at the wheels is significant, considering the loss with these cars is closer to 25% than 20%. So 15hp at the wheels is about 5%

I do agree that if resale value in the larger market is a key criteria, you shouldn't go "a changing" things such as cats, differentials, etc with aftermarket products. Resale is not a big item for me. (I think I may need to change the name of my car from CLK550 to something with my initials in it.... )
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Fatz
I guess the "hassle" factor depends on where you reside. I've had to go back to the installer twice; once due to a coding error in the ECU and then again after I replaced everything in the exhaust except the 2 feet of pipes between the cats and the center channel (replaced the cats as well because they were blown).

The emissions test here are done via the OBD connection. I just went through this years session a couple weeks ago.

Regarding the hp gains; 10-15 at the wheels is significant, considering the loss with these cars is closer to 25% than 20%. So 15hp at the wheels is about 5%

I do agree that if resale value in the larger market is a key criteria, you shouldn't go "a changing" things such as cats, differentials, etc with aftermarket products. Resale is not a big item for me. (I think I may need to change the name of my car from CLK550 to something with my initials in it.... )
Which headers do you have specifically? Did you install extenders for the O2's or was it all done in the tuning? Do you throw a check engine light at all and do you use a separate tune to pass inspections? In NJ you can't just turn off the system or the codes in the tune. The computers know what your car is supposed to have...ie cats...so it will fail anyway.

As far as gains 10-15whp is barely at the 'yeah I notice something' limit. Combine that with 2500$ and emission hassles and yeah....but hey if you're having no issues I just might have to duplicate your setup
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 01:00 PM
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I have the Kleeman header kit for the M273. The cats are installed into the first section of the downpipe (before the elbow). The O2 sensors are installed. Next time I'm under the car I'll take a pic.

I do not throw any CEL, nor do I do anything to the setup before emissions inspection. When I had it retuned, it was after changing everything in the exhaust except the headers and downpipes. The car threw a CEL but not for the exhaust but the CPS - it cleared but still kept it logged and therefore the OBD showed "not ready" during the emissions test. I had the tuning checked while having the CPS issue repaired and it was out of whack, so it was retuned.

On my comments on the 10-15hp: First of all, the headers may allow as much as 25hp at the crank when combined with the ECU tune, which is also about 25hp. You're going to lose 25%-28% of those numbers between the crank and the wheels. The Kleeman supplier on this forum can (and I assume will) dump some real data into this conversation.

I'm not pushing any mods. Just put smoked led tails on my car - awaiting 3rd brake led - $400 when done - 0hp gain at the wheels......... "Just the facts Ma'am"
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Old Mar 14, 2015 | 12:28 AM
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None for now
I want to tune my car but am worried about tuning a car that is 10 years old with almost 100K on the clock. BTW OP if I ever tune the car, it'd be OE Tuning.
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Old Mar 14, 2015 | 02:31 AM
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yeah! That would make one think at least twice. I'm at about 77K miles now and had the performance work done at about 25K miles and 2 years of age. When I did it I told myself this would be "my car" for at least 4-5 more years. That was 5.5 years ago.
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Old Mar 14, 2015 | 02:36 AM
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None for now
I'm keeping my car I know that but I'm just worried about tuning a non-AMG.
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Old Mar 14, 2015 | 04:04 AM
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That engine probably doesn't know what badge is on the rear...... tuning will just get more of what it has to give, without changing pulleys, cam shafts, intake, etc.. If more is what one wants from it.

Unless the next C63 looks like the new S coupe, I'm good for another 3-5 years...
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Old Mar 15, 2015 | 06:33 PM
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None for now
Yeah I'm always hesitant with aftermarket stuff lol

My next car would probably be a W204 C63 coupe and I know the aftermarket support for that car is pretty strong.
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