Trying Powerchip ECU Re-Flash for my E550
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 917
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From: Manassas, VA
10 Cayenne GTS, 07 Porsche 911 Turbo
Trying Powerchip ECU Re-Flash for my E550
I'm interested in more HP for my 07 E550 4Matic so I called Powerchip in CA (1-800-495-0777) to see what they offered. They can re-flash my ECU with a net increase of 22 HP and 23 pounds of torque. According to Powerchip I'll see the biggest gain in throttle response at mid-range RPMs as opposed to WOT where they measure their net increase. Has anyone tried to re-flash their ECU using Powerchip or Renntech or (?), and was it worth it i.e. did you notice any performance improvement/s, throttle response, etc.? I'm inclined to try this as the price the quoted me as a satisfied returning customer is very good, the 2-day turn around time is fantastic, and IMHO they produce a quality product. BTW, their programming does not affect my 4Matic or 5-speed transmission. And with the just announced government approved Ethanol increase from 10% to 15% per gallon I'm concerned that I might be losing some performance. Powerchip said a 5% will not affect my car but I'm still a little concerned. Anyone care to comment?
Last edited by LOVEMYBS; Oct 14, 2010 at 01:14 PM.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 221
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From: Socal
MB
What about the guys at Eurocharged Performance?
Have you contacted Jerry@Eurocharged to see what he has to offer on your E?
I see many satisfied comments from the C63 AMG section. I am not sure what he has on the E550, seems their their # of gain is pretty close with PC from my reading.
Have you contacted Jerry@Eurocharged to see what he has to offer on your E?
I see many satisfied comments from the C63 AMG section. I am not sure what he has on the E550, seems their their # of gain is pretty close with PC from my reading.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,057
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From: SWFL
E55, E320 CDI , CLA250, Jag XJ Supersport
HOw about SpeedtuningUSA?
There's a big thread in the CLK forum https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...g-usa-ecu.html
with a video at the end vs. a stocker.
Price seems good.
There's a big thread in the CLK forum https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...g-usa-ecu.html
with a video at the end vs. a stocker.
Price seems good.
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From: Philadelphia Suburbs
2002 C32, 2007 E550 4matic
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From: NOMAD
EQS AMG, E53 AMG, GLE63s
im just assuming 60HP lol...he does mostly high end cars like ferraris, lambos so i guess he knows what he is doing lol....philly is only 1.5 hours away so we can meet up...thinkin bout doing mine
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I've had a few shelf tunes on my E500 and it's just not there. MB has done an amazing job of squeezing every ounce of HP/TQ out of the M113 platform. There's a reason they had to go to the 550 engine. Tune only on an E500 will net you 15-20 HP/TQ. Anyone telling you different is blowing smoke. I barely saw 50HP with:
Headers
2nd cats removed
Resonator removed - replaced with x-pipe
E55 AMG Exhaust
Custom dyno tune
The E550, with a 93 octane tune, is capable of gaining the same ~20 HP/TQ bumping it up to a tick over 400HP and 415TQ
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Oct 18, 2010 at 11:22 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 917
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From: Manassas, VA
10 Cayenne GTS, 07 Porsche 911 Turbo
I've used SuperTuningUSA in the past (M5 and CLK55) and was not impressed with their ECU re-flash. IMO I don't think it made any difference.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: SWFL
E55, E320 CDI , CLA250, Jag XJ Supersport
Not to sound like Donnie Downer, but there's no way your tuner can get 40HP out of an E500 tune, even on 93 octane. This is coming from someone that has one of the more performance modded E500, on this forum, minus supercharger and nitrous.
I've had a few shelf tunes on my E500 and it's just not there. MB has done an amazing job of squeezing every ounce of HP/TQ out of the M113 platform. There's a reason they had to go to the 550 engine. Tune only on an E500 will net you 15-20 HP/TQ. Anyone telling you different is blowing smoke. I barely saw 50HP with:
Headers
2nd cats removed
Resonator removed - replaced with x-pipe
E55 AMG Exhaust
Custom dyno tune
The E550, with a 93 octane tune, is capable of gaining the same ~20 HP/TQ bumping it up to a tick over 400HP and 415TQ
I've had a few shelf tunes on my E500 and it's just not there. MB has done an amazing job of squeezing every ounce of HP/TQ out of the M113 platform. There's a reason they had to go to the 550 engine. Tune only on an E500 will net you 15-20 HP/TQ. Anyone telling you different is blowing smoke. I barely saw 50HP with:
Headers
2nd cats removed
Resonator removed - replaced with x-pipe
E55 AMG Exhaust
Custom dyno tune
The E550, with a 93 octane tune, is capable of gaining the same ~20 HP/TQ bumping it up to a tick over 400HP and 415TQ
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Honestly, if I knew then what I know now, I'd have left it alone or sold it and purchased an E55 instead. The price per HP on the 500 motors, isn't worth it in my opinion. For instance, a $1000.00 ECU tune for my E500 netted me 20HP/TQ, while a $1000 ECU tune for my SL600 netted me 60HP/100TQ.
$1500.00 headers netted me another 20HP/20TQ....maybe. By the time you add intake and exhaust work, you talking thousands for relatively minor gains.
You're better served to sell and pay the difference for a stock W211 E55. Those cars are so cheap now, there's really no reason to even buy an E500 anymore, IMO.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: NOMAD
EQS AMG, E53 AMG, GLE63s
benzorama was right....i went to get my tune from what i said earlier the guy said it would add 40HP but than i went to get it done...hes like you will get around 20 so not worth it!
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Manassas, VA
10 Cayenne GTS, 07 Porsche 911 Turbo
Not yet. I can't have the car down for three days this month due to Xmas and, I don't want to use my Black Series with Corsa racing tires in these abnormally low freezing temperatures in NoVA (no grip/traction/should not be used in temps below 40 degrees). I'll reflash the ECU in January when good weather is forecast with normal temps for at least four consecutive days. I'll post when it's done.
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2006 E320 CDI 235 hp 420 ft tq
I had my Land Rover done by Power Chip and could tell the difference, better mileage more power. I think my gain was 22 hp as I recall.
Everything was great,,,, wait for it Until Ethanol came along I lost power and mileage so I took the Power Chip out and put the OEM chip back in and it ran about the same.
I would make sure that they have worked ethanol into the program.
The program I have was most likely a old one and at the time I was going with bigger heads. cam , intake so off to the UK to have the ECU done to work with all the other goods.
My CDI I had done by Upsolute, I ran my last diesel with them over seven years with out any problems.
The only thing Upsolute did not do that I wanted was remove the top speed limiter of 130 mph, I get to run mine on a track every once in a while, I picked up 35 hp and 50 tq all for $450 USD.
Everything was great,,,, wait for it Until Ethanol came along I lost power and mileage so I took the Power Chip out and put the OEM chip back in and it ran about the same.
I would make sure that they have worked ethanol into the program.
The program I have was most likely a old one and at the time I was going with bigger heads. cam , intake so off to the UK to have the ECU done to work with all the other goods.
My CDI I had done by Upsolute, I ran my last diesel with them over seven years with out any problems.
The only thing Upsolute did not do that I wanted was remove the top speed limiter of 130 mph, I get to run mine on a track every once in a while, I picked up 35 hp and 50 tq all for $450 USD.
