Maverick1975

I took my ML63 into the service department of my dealership because the engine had started to ping..again. Anyway they had not had the car since Feb or so of this yr when the car stated pinging the first time. The dealer's computer told them that an ECU software upgrade was available for the ML63 (dont know when it came out but must have been since feb/mar 08) and the first thing they did before they even drove it to see if it was actualy pinging was flash the ECU with the new software. I told them to thump the proverbial **** out of the car when they tested to see if it pinged and they said no noise. LUCKILY when i came to pick it up and test drove it myself not only was the pinging gone completely but the feel of the car (ie the acceleration) was dramatically improved, and the engine tone/exhaust sounded different to my ears. Whether it was the negative effect of the pinging on the power of the engine. the effects of the new ECU software, or probably a combo of both i am not sure, but the car drives like a dream come true. I highly recommend anyone with an ML63 check with their dealership asap and get the software upgrade that is available.

I am not sure how it works overseas but in Australia, the service department is not routinely informed of software upgrades until a car is brought into the dealer and they log it in their system and MB computer informs them that there is an ECU upgrade available. You would only know if there was an upgrade available if you took your car to them specfically, they dont inform you unless you bring the car in for whatever problem you might have. Even if they do it on one ML63 they dont bother letting any other owners know until the car is taken to the service department (or else they would spend their whole time ringing benz owners arranging servicings for ECU flashes, or so my service manager told me!) I suggest everyone take their ML63s to service department asap and get the ECU flash. It has made a very tangible difference to the feel of the car in my case that is for sure.

If anyone remembers that feeling they had when they first bought the car, picked it up and drove it out of the showroom, then you will know how i felt picking my car up from service this week, a smile a mile wide as i put into M mode and took the revs out to 4000 in 1st before punching into 2nd and hearing the engine scream, it was like christmas all over again!! man i love this car!!

pepboy1

What country are you in? Does it matter with regards to getting the update.?

Maverick1975

i am in sydney australia, and what do you mean "does it matter" i dont understand your question?

pepboy1

Well, for instance, we have a top speed regulator in the software in the US to keep the car from going over 150 MPH. So, it may be that they would not provide this patch in the US, perhaps it is country specific.

I am going to ask my service rep at MB about getting a software upgrade and seeing what she says.

Maverick1975

We are speed limited here in aust as well, i was more meaning the sense of acceleration and power, notthe top end speed. I can feel a definite improvement and i really recommend you check it out with dealer. The engine software i have now is not the same as when i first bought the car. While ist a bit subjective i guess, it feels a lot better to me, takes no time at all to do and, best of all, its free!!

pepboy1

I heard from my service rep and she responded with the following:

There is nothing I could find in relation to pinging. There is only possibly updated software but with a check engine light concern.


Any suggestions as I would love to do this if available.

BalboaIslanddud

pepboy1, who did the software? Warranty voided?

pepboy1

No one has done the software, it is factory equipped. Just inquiring about a software upgrade from Mercedes available at the dealer.

Ausmbtech

There is a software upgrade or patch for various control units every month (and sometimes more often), whether you need it or not is another question. If the patch is safety related or MB feel that it is neccesary to inform owners then they will. Most changes are to fix specific problems if a customer has a specific complaint, we don't just upgrade software regardless. Some software patches aren't available to dealers unless we have a specific fault, then the software is sent to us for the specific car (for very infrequent and specific faults).
You can't check if there is later software unless you check what version software is currently installed with a SDS, sometimes the software is ok but the codings need to be changed.

I would question that it wasn't driven first before the upgrade to confirm that it indead was pinging and that the software rectified the fault. I would never start repairing something that I hadn't TRIED to replicate first.

Maverick1975

I agree, i was surprised when they did not test drive it immediately to see what i was on about before attempting a rememdy. Apparently they hooked it up to their computer of whatever they do and the first thing it said was upgrade the software. After they did that they drove it and couldnt hear any pinging. I still cant here any pinging. I am scrupulous about using 98 octane fuel and this is the second time it hs pinged in about 10 months. I struggle to understand why the pinging has come bak becuase the first time they fixed it they made some cimputer adjustments (didnt talk about a software upgrade though) to the ignition timing or something. Why would pinging "come back" to an engine that had already been fixed via software/computer adjustment. If any MB tech person could tell me this i would love to know. I drove a piece of crap Jeep Chrysler Ltd for 2 years and it never pinged once!

pepboy1

You put 98 octane in your car regularly? Our premium octane here in california is 91 octane, that is what goes in my 2007 ML63 and it has never pinged once.

Maverick1975

98 octane only as recommended by manufacturer and dealer.

Ausmbtech

Even with 98 octane it can ping a bit especialy on hot days (over 28-30C) like we've had here over the last few weeks (Im in Sydney too) and sitting in traffic. The inlet air temps get quite high which doesn't help the pinging at all.

The newer software does help (also for the M272 and M273 engines), but I'm much more surprised at not even attempting to confirm a fault before trying to rectify it, that is not exactly how MB want their techs to be working. 98 octane is really all that should be used on any MB petrol engine in Australia (just BP, Shell, Mobil. No Caltex or no-name)

As for why it has started pinging again, as much as you may think you drive it pretty hard these engine really need to be allowed to rev hard under high load and temps to keep any carbon buildup to a minimum. Once the carbon has formed then it's much more likely to ping. The later non-supercharge 55 engines were really bad if not given a good run every now and then. They used to make a heavy knocking noise like a rod bearing was shot. This noise was actually the carbon buildup on the top of the piston hitting the cylinder head. We see heaps of carbon buildup problems on all models, 4 cyl supercharged (M271) are pretty bad and quite a few V8's especially in S class because they are less likely to be revved/driven hard.

I hope you take your soon to be delivered C63 to Eastern Creek track days once you've picked it up, you'll love the handling and how easy it is to drive fast! I try and get out there every few months in the C43 and a mates E55, I can't get enough of it!

Maverick1975

How come you recommend against the using Caltex Vortex 98?? Whats the difference between that fuel and Shell Bp etc??

Ausmbtech

They are all 98 octane, but I've found that the caltex fuel still tends to ping a bit.
I've also found that the Shell 98/v-power doesn't work too well with carbie engines. I've no idea why, it just doen't, but it's fine for injected engines.

The catex diesel is absolute rubbish too in australia, 5 times the sulfur of other big brands.

Maverick1975

I'd love to head out to Eastern Creek, have never been there. How much is it and how often do you get out there??

ekelly

I just brought my 2008 ML 63 in for routine service. I live in the NY area. the dealer told me there were two "open campaigns" on the car. One had to do with a weld on the trailer hitch. The other was a software upgrade for the rear computer. Those were his words. I didn't ask for specifics. I've never had a pinging problem and the car performed the same before and after the software upgrade.

kokanee

Australia and Europe use RON for octane. North america uses (RON + Mon)/2.
This results in the same fuel in Europe having a 4-5 point higher rating. So 98 in europe is like 93 in Canada and USA. There is an ECU flash available. I had an odd problem where the engine would lose power at high rpm, then back to full power over and over. It was like a bucking bronco. Really nasty on the drive train. The computer actually recorded this fault acording to the dealer. So they did an ECU flash with newer software and problem solved.