Piggyback Tune
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Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 98
Likes: 14
AMG GLC43
Piggyback Tune
well, been going back and forth on an ECU tune bs. Piggyback. Hoping to not void my extended warranty, I’ve decided to go with a Racechip GTS Black. Figure I don’t really need this and it was about half as much money to give up only 30 hp. Anxious to see what kind of difference it makes on the car
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 70
Likes: 7
From: SE Wisconsin
GLC 43
well, been going back and forth on an ECU tune bs. Piggyback. Hoping to not void my extended warranty, I’ve decided to go with a Racechip GTS Black. Figure I don’t really need this and it was about half as much money to give up only 30 hp. Anxious to see what kind of difference it makes on the car
Are these pretty much just plug n play?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 98
Likes: 14
AMG GLC43
Yes, pretty much. A little less power that a full ECU tune but completely reversible. I am a bit cynical about tuning my ECU and then not having the option of undoing it shy of a full reflash, which is expensive and time consuming.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 133
Likes: 18
Flash tune for sure will have warranty issue if anything goes wrong with the car or a new OEM ECU update that could overwrite the tune. than needs to start allover again! Also hard to resale flash tune!
Personally I will stay with piggyback when my car still under warranty, until the warranty ran out, than resale the piggyback and do flash tune and some other major mod if I still had the car. Thats what I do on my M3 and 500 Abarth! For new car or lease cars I will never mess around with warranty! Many piggyback tune is very good, and they do give some performance gain for a small amount of money. Unless the person wants to go full stage 2 or more, bigger turbo etc... than the flash tune is the way to go. than again, these mods will kiss your warranty goodbye!
Personally I will stay with piggyback when my car still under warranty, until the warranty ran out, than resale the piggyback and do flash tune and some other major mod if I still had the car. Thats what I do on my M3 and 500 Abarth! For new car or lease cars I will never mess around with warranty! Many piggyback tune is very good, and they do give some performance gain for a small amount of money. Unless the person wants to go full stage 2 or more, bigger turbo etc... than the flash tune is the way to go. than again, these mods will kiss your warranty goodbye!
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 34
Likes: 8
'17 MB C43 Sedan
Flash tune for sure will have warranty issue if anything goes wrong with the car or a new OEM ECU update that could overwrite the tune. than needs to start allover again! Also hard to resale flash tune!
Personally I will stay with piggyback when my car still under warranty, until the warranty ran out, than resale the piggyback and do flash tune and some other major mod if I still had the car. Thats what I do on my M3 and 500 Abarth! For new car or lease cars I will never mess around with warranty! Many piggyback tune is very good, and they do give some performance gain for a small amount of money. Unless the person wants to go full stage 2 or more, bigger turbo etc... than the flash tune is the way to go. than again, these mods will kiss your warranty goodbye!
Personally I will stay with piggyback when my car still under warranty, until the warranty ran out, than resale the piggyback and do flash tune and some other major mod if I still had the car. Thats what I do on my M3 and 500 Abarth! For new car or lease cars I will never mess around with warranty! Many piggyback tune is very good, and they do give some performance gain for a small amount of money. Unless the person wants to go full stage 2 or more, bigger turbo etc... than the flash tune is the way to go. than again, these mods will kiss your warranty goodbye!
That is actually incorrect. The software updates from the dealer do not effect the tune at all. I am stage 1 tuned and I have never had any issues. They also had a couple updates for my car that did not effect my performance (was expecting it to, but thankfully it didn't lol). The problem with piggybacks is that they manipulate ECU signals (basically lying to it) to increase boost by a small percentage. This is not a safe or adequate way to improve performance and I would highly recommend committing to a full ECU upgrade.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 98
Likes: 14
AMG GLC43
That is actually incorrect. The software updates from the dealer do not effect the tune at all. I am stage 1 tuned and I have never had any issues. They also had a couple updates for my car that did not effect my performance (was expecting it to, but thankfully it didn't lol). The problem with piggybacks is that they manipulate ECU signals (basically lying to it) to increase boost by a small percentage. This is not a safe or adequate way to improve performance and I would highly recommend committing to a full ECU upgrade.
Piggybacks. I researched Race Chip thoroughly and given the number of platforms they support and their years in the business, lack of reported issues and positive reviews, went with what I think is the best option for me at this time. If I get my ECU tuned and want to reverse it, I have nothing to show for it. If I have the piggyback, I likely could resell and go from There. Again, I have been educating myself for months, we’ll see how I feel a mo Th or two after I put it on my car...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 133
Likes: 18
That is actually incorrect. The software updates from the dealer do not effect the tune at all. I am stage 1 tuned and I have never had any issues. They also had a couple updates for my car that did not effect my performance (was expecting it to, but thankfully it didn't lol). The problem with piggybacks is that they manipulate ECU signals (basically lying to it) to increase boost by a small percentage. This is not a safe or adequate way to improve performance and I would highly recommend committing to a full ECU upgrade.
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 690
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From: GA
X3 M40i
well, been going back and forth on an ECU tune bs. Piggyback. Hoping to not void my extended warranty, I’ve decided to go with a Racechip GTS Black. Figure I don’t really need this and it was about half as much money to give up only 30 hp. Anxious to see what kind of difference it makes on the car
That being said, I get bored easily and the need for speed itch always resurfaces it's ugly head. So, I am currently looking at purchasing the Eurocharge V3 ECU tune to go with my downpipes. Threefirs over on the c43 forums has this ECU tune and his convertible C43 (which weighs 50lbs more than a GLC43) is running 3.6-3.7 0-60. That's pretty fast. Now, for the GLC43 I know aerodynamics play a factor but if the the convertible C43 can get those times then, I can't imagine we can't be that far off. Mike's custom downpipes add an extra 40hp, not sure how it's distributed through out the powerband but the GLC43 can become a rocketship.
I will be doing this mod after my first service in April.
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 34
Likes: 8
'17 MB C43 Sedan
AMR Performance. I could not be happier with their product and customer service! I highly recommend checking them out, especially for the 43 platform. No one has done the amount of research and development that they have and it truly shows with their results and accomplishments.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
GLC 43
You can't go wrong with either RaceChip or BMS Jb1 at the moment, for piggy-back. I can tell you that first hand, with the BMS Jb1 really transforms the GLC43.
That being said, I get bored easily and the need for speed itch always resurfaces it's ugly head. So, I am currently looking at purchasing the Eurocharge V3 ECU tune to go with my downpipes. Threefirs over on the c43 forums has this ECU tune and his convertible C43 (which weighs 50lbs more than a GLC43) is running 3.6-3.7 0-60. That's pretty fast. Now, for the GLC43 I know aerodynamics play a factor but if the the convertible C43 can get those times then, I can't imagine we can't be that far off. Mike's custom downpipes add an extra 40hp, not sure how it's distributed through out the powerband but the GLC43 can become a rocketship.
I will be doing this mod after my first service in April.
That being said, I get bored easily and the need for speed itch always resurfaces it's ugly head. So, I am currently looking at purchasing the Eurocharge V3 ECU tune to go with my downpipes. Threefirs over on the c43 forums has this ECU tune and his convertible C43 (which weighs 50lbs more than a GLC43) is running 3.6-3.7 0-60. That's pretty fast. Now, for the GLC43 I know aerodynamics play a factor but if the the convertible C43 can get those times then, I can't imagine we can't be that far off. Mike's custom downpipes add an extra 40hp, not sure how it's distributed through out the powerband but the GLC43 can become a rocketship.
I will be doing this mod after my first service in April.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Likes: 21
From: Vegas and Vancouver, BC
.
You can't go wrong with either RaceChip or BMS Jb1 at the moment, for piggy-back. I can tell you that first hand, with the BMS Jb1 really transforms the GLC43.
That being said, I get bored easily and the need for speed itch always resurfaces it's ugly head. So, I am currently looking at purchasing the Eurocharge V3 ECU tune to go with my downpipes. Threefirs over on the c43 forums has this ECU tune and his convertible C43 (which weighs 50lbs more than a GLC43) is running 3.6-3.7 0-60. That's pretty fast. Now, for the GLC43 I know aerodynamics play a factor but if the the convertible C43 can get those times then, I can't imagine we can't be that far off. Mike's custom downpipes add an extra 40hp, not sure how it's distributed through out the powerband but the GLC43 can become a rocketship.
I will be doing this mod after my first service in April.
That being said, I get bored easily and the need for speed itch always resurfaces it's ugly head. So, I am currently looking at purchasing the Eurocharge V3 ECU tune to go with my downpipes. Threefirs over on the c43 forums has this ECU tune and his convertible C43 (which weighs 50lbs more than a GLC43) is running 3.6-3.7 0-60. That's pretty fast. Now, for the GLC43 I know aerodynamics play a factor but if the the convertible C43 can get those times then, I can't imagine we can't be that far off. Mike's custom downpipes add an extra 40hp, not sure how it's distributed through out the powerband but the GLC43 can become a rocketship.
I will be doing this mod after my first service in April.
Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 178
Likes: 41
Mercedes Benz C43 AMG
That is actually incorrect. The software updates from the dealer do not effect the tune at all. I am stage 1 tuned and I have never had any issues. They also had a couple updates for my car that did not effect my performance (was expecting it to, but thankfully it didn't lol). The problem with piggybacks is that they manipulate ECU signals (basically lying to it) to increase boost by a small percentage. This is not a safe or adequate way to improve performance and I would highly recommend committing to a full ECU upgrade.
AMR Performance. I could not be happier with their product and customer service! I highly recommend checking them out, especially for the 43 platform. No one has done the amount of research and development that they have and it truly shows with their results and accomplishments.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Roslyn, NY
2016 AMG GTS & 2018 AMG GLC 43 SUV
racechip tune not working
I purchased the GTS Black unit for my 2018 GLC43. I just installed it and the car won't run with it attached. Followed the troubleshooting directions, reconnected factory lines, car works fine. Reconnected unit and car won't run. No error or engine icons on the dash, unit is powering up.
When I disconnected the unit with the RC cables still attached and inserted the plug into where the unit gets attached, the car started but the engine light came on.
I have an email out to RC....hopefully they will be able to fix the problem. Anyone have any suggestions or experienced this themselves?
Thanks.
When I disconnected the unit with the RC cables still attached and inserted the plug into where the unit gets attached, the car started but the engine light came on.
I have an email out to RC....hopefully they will be able to fix the problem. Anyone have any suggestions or experienced this themselves?
Thanks.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 697
Likes: 104
From: Taiwan
GLC43, X P100D, S P100D, CT200H
I purchased the GTS Black unit for my 2018 GLC43. I just installed it and the car won't run with it attached. Followed the troubleshooting directions, reconnected factory lines, car works fine. Reconnected unit and car won't run. No error or engine icons on the dash, unit is powering up.
When I disconnected the unit with the RC cables still attached and inserted the plug into where the unit gets attached, the car started but the engine light came on.
I have an email out to RC....hopefully they will be able to fix the problem. Anyone have any suggestions or experienced this themselves?
Thanks.
When I disconnected the unit with the RC cables still attached and inserted the plug into where the unit gets attached, the car started but the engine light came on.
I have an email out to RC....hopefully they will be able to fix the problem. Anyone have any suggestions or experienced this themselves?
Thanks.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Roslyn, NY
2016 AMG GTS & 2018 AMG GLC 43 SUV
Thanks for your reply WSS. Here's an update:
After reconnecting the RC unit and cables everything seemed to run fine except for the "check engine light" that came on.
After a few trips, the light went off. However, I wasn't really feeling the extra power with the unit in Sport and my car in Individual (with mostly sport settings). I changed the RC unit to Race and the car left in Individual and now I could feel the quicker acceleration...nice!
I'm still not convinced that all the gremlins have been worked out. The app seems to work so-so....sometimes it connects, sometimes it is in an endless search. I've seen the RC unit not start-up when the car gets powered up but this morning it did...I'm hopeful, in time, these things more or less sought themselves out...ha...
It's only been three days, but if the unit can provide the power I've experienced...consistently, without flaws, it will be well worth the money.
BTW, if anyone is interested in purchasing one, I found a coupon on-line that gave me 15% discount ($127) off the unit and app that was accepted by RC (although the coupon said RC Ultimate on it).
After reconnecting the RC unit and cables everything seemed to run fine except for the "check engine light" that came on.
After a few trips, the light went off. However, I wasn't really feeling the extra power with the unit in Sport and my car in Individual (with mostly sport settings). I changed the RC unit to Race and the car left in Individual and now I could feel the quicker acceleration...nice!
I'm still not convinced that all the gremlins have been worked out. The app seems to work so-so....sometimes it connects, sometimes it is in an endless search. I've seen the RC unit not start-up when the car gets powered up but this morning it did...I'm hopeful, in time, these things more or less sought themselves out...ha...
It's only been three days, but if the unit can provide the power I've experienced...consistently, without flaws, it will be well worth the money.
BTW, if anyone is interested in purchasing one, I found a coupon on-line that gave me 15% discount ($127) off the unit and app that was accepted by RC (although the coupon said RC Ultimate on it).
