SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Spent $6,400 w/Renntech for Upgrade - BYE BYE RENNTECH!

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Old May 1, 2007 | 08:44 PM
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Spent $6,400 w/Renntech for Upgrade - BYE BYE RENNTECH!

I did the ECU and TCU upgrade with Renntech, $6,400. I instructed my dealer today to reflash both units to stock.

Personal OPINION - Experience was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!
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Old May 2, 2007 | 01:54 AM
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Stephen,

What happen if i might ask?


Adam
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Old May 2, 2007 | 01:59 AM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
I did the ECU and TCU upgrade with Renntech, $6,400. I instructed my dealer today to reflash both units to stock.

Personal OPINION - Experience was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!
Im very interested to find out what happened as well?? Please tell so we can cautious ourselfs for future purchasing.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 04:27 AM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
I did the ECU and TCU upgrade with Renntech, $6,400. I instructed my dealer today to reflash both units to stock.

Personal OPINION - Experience was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!
welcome back but this is not helpful info at all, please let us know more about your experience please
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Old May 2, 2007 | 07:06 AM
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we have done renntech 600 flashes and not had any problems. Should a problem have occured, renntech will take care of it. What the heck was the problem?
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Old May 2, 2007 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
I did the ECU and TCU upgrade with Renntech, $6,400. I instructed my dealer today to reflash both units to stock.

Personal OPINION - Experience was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!
This is the first negative opinion I have read on the upgrade of the TT V12, so I would like to hear more detail. However, I do agree that if you are dissatisfied that you should contact Renntech to see what they can do to resolve this.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 01:53 PM
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The 6400 dollar question

Seriously
Does a ECU/TCU flash go for $ 6400.00 @ Renntech ?

I was thinking pully and ECU flash when my warranty goes adios next year
on my SL55.

But for that much money I will go to Tahiti for a week and take the kids too.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 03:03 PM
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No Power

The power is gone from where it used to be, according to the dealer, the intercooler pump is operating properly, and they can see no problem with anything. I emailed renntech about suggestions of what else to look into while the car is at the dealership, but it was blown off. Tired off messing with it, so having it put back to normal and tested to see what it puts down then.

I also asked the tech if the ECU had been reflashed due to some update or anything and the answer after looking at the service records was NO.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 04:29 PM
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Thats good to know because I wanted to do renntech upgrades soon but if they cause problems then forget that.....I put the renntech lowering module in a month ago but no problem but I was going to engine upgrades but never mind now.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
The power is gone from where it used to be, according to the dealer, the intercooler pump is operating properly, and they can see no problem with anything. I emailed renntech about suggestions of what else to look into while the car is at the dealership, but it was blown off. Tired off messing with it, so having it put back to normal and tested to see what it puts down then.

I also asked the tech if the ECU had been reflashed due to some update or anything and the answer after looking at the service records was NO.
Stephen,

Who did you talk to @ Renntech? Honestly, there could be a lot of reasons why power is gone.

I am sure there's a misunderstanding. Hartmut has been taking good care of his clients for years now.

Last edited by AdamG@NorCal; May 2, 2007 at 05:00 PM.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by bltserv
Seriously
Does a ECU/TCU flash go for $ 6400.00 @ Renntech ?

I was thinking pully and ECU flash when my warranty goes adios next year
on my SL55.

But for that much money I will go to Tahiti for a week and take the kids too.

Yes, with free updates every time when it gets accidentally reflashed by the dealer.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 08:00 PM
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So you say....

Originally Posted by AdamG@EuroElites
Stephen,

I am sure there's a misunderstanding. Hartmut has been taking good care of his clients for years now.
So you say, but I would have to disagree.

I emailed him directly with the car being at the dealership, received the read receipt on the email, but not a thing after that.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 08:21 PM
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Stephen,

Ok. Thank you for your explanation.
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Old May 2, 2007 | 08:55 PM
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stephen,

did you try to call them?
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Old May 3, 2007 | 12:21 PM
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Above and Beyond

Above and Beyond the current problems, the other disappointment was that the car never put down the numbers that RENNTECH clearly states in all of it's brochures. Maybe I shouldn't expect to get what people advertise. The part of the transaction that matched the brochure was the amount of my charge to my credit card. That was right on.

When I contacted them about the issue I also asked what else can be done to get the most performance out of the car. So I was giving them the opportunity to help me figure out what is going on since my power is equal to what the car puts out stock and then show me other things available to take it even further.

My plan is to search for another RELIABLE alternative.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:27 PM
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Stephen,

Do you have a dyno before/after the upgrades?


Adam
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:29 PM
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renntech

Did they refund your money ?
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:38 PM
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No

Originally Posted by cnterline
Did they refund your money ?
No I didn't even give that any thought, basically it is just money thrown away. Just a losing situation for me.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:40 PM
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I have

Originally Posted by AdamG@EuroElites
Stephen,

Do you have a dyno before/after the upgrades?


Adam
I have one done after the upgrade, which was low, and another done at the Renntech office, and the last one we didn't even print out it was like a stock run. I will get them and post them soon.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
I have one done after the upgrade, which was low, and another done at the Renntech office, and the last one we didn't even print out it was like a stock run. I will get them and post them soon.
How did the one done at Renntech turn out? Was it different than the others?
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Old May 3, 2007 | 03:54 PM
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It was

Originally Posted by JackStraw
How did the one done at Renntech turn out? Was it different than the others?
It was higher at Renntech, but with the other two that were done I was right there next to the machine so I saw the actual run on the screen, when I was there I didn't see anything but a printout when they were done with the car. I know they added a run which I was told was a standard SL600 before any upgrade, it wasn't my run, just something they added to the graph.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 04:30 PM
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Ugh, that sucks Stephen. I feel responsible too as I was the one that pushed you towards RENNtech.

Sorry about that Stephen, if I had known they would try to pull something like that and not fulfill their end of the promise, I would've never suggested RENNtech. They've had a decent track history as far as modding other TTV12's go but if customer service isn't satisfactory then I know I won't be reccomending them to others.

Is it completely out of the question if they can compensate you or anything? It'd be a shame if they left things as is.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenK
I did the ECU and TCU upgrade with Renntech, $6,400. I instructed my dealer today to reflash both units to stock.

Personal OPINION - Experience was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!
That sucks Stephen. I wonder what the cause is for your car not making the power. I have 2 renntech SL's and they definitely make more power than stock. The SL600 renntech was faster than the SL65 stock, but now the SL65 renntech is faster than the renntech SL600.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 04:49 PM
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All I WANTED

All I WANTED is what I paid for, when I went there I think last year, after looking at the car for a couple of MINUTES I was told the INTERCOOLER PUMP was bad, I just had them get one and install it instead of going back to the dealer and driving back to South Florida, even after that the power was still lower than I was told it would be. I understand each engine is a different piece of equipment, but if they advertise a figure it should come out to it or very close.

I also noticed this last time that even the instructions to get the car in dyno mode was difficult, the press the reset button 3 times and the arrows, etc.. didn't work right, but after a little messing around was able to get it.

I don't recall seeing the car lower itself previously on the dyno as speed increased, but this last time it was obvious.

After finishing the dyno, putting the key back in the ignition and starting the car did not put it back into normal mode as it did in the past. After a few attempts it finally did.

The guy who ran the shop told me the car downshifted to 2nd gear from 3rd on one of the attempts, car was in M mode.

I personally don't have a lot of mechanical knowledge, I have to rely on the companies I deal with for that.

For those who like the upgrade, I am GLAD it works for you and hope you continue to enjoy your car.

Last edited by StephenK; May 3, 2007 at 04:59 PM.
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Old May 3, 2007 | 05:08 PM
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damn stephen sorry about the issues with RennTech. There is alot about that company that people dont know and its only a matter of time......

Did your car dyno low stock?
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