SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: TCU upgrade?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 162
Likes: 2
From: Stockholm, Sweden
SL 600 640bhp/1000Nm
TCU upgrade?
I'm considering doing a TCU upgrade.
But I have a few questions:
1, Who make these upgrades and who is consider to do the best job?
I know IngenereAMG on this board makes them but I suspect Kleemann, Renntech and more do them.
2, What is the price for such a upgrade?
3, Is there any danger of doing this upgrade?
I have already done the ECU upgrade so I have about 740ft-lb of torque. Is there a risk that the gearbox will fail with that amount of torque and quicker shifting and holding the gears longer?
4, Will the upgrade make faster gearshift and so on even when driving normally? Or is it only when driving aggressively? I don't want it to hold the gears when I commute to work.
5, How much improvement will there be in lets say 0-60 times? Or is it only useful on the track?
6, Last one. Since I live in Sweden it will not be possible for me to swing by a local store in the U.S. to do the upgrade. So I suppose I will have to take the TCU out and ship it to the tuner? Is the TCU a separate box or is the tuning done in the ECU?
Either way, the ting I have to ship, is it hard to remove?
6b, last last one... If the tuning is done in the ECU will there be a risk that my ECU upgrade is over-written or deleted?
Thanks for any input!
But I have a few questions:
1, Who make these upgrades and who is consider to do the best job?
I know IngenereAMG on this board makes them but I suspect Kleemann, Renntech and more do them.
2, What is the price for such a upgrade?
3, Is there any danger of doing this upgrade?
I have already done the ECU upgrade so I have about 740ft-lb of torque. Is there a risk that the gearbox will fail with that amount of torque and quicker shifting and holding the gears longer?
4, Will the upgrade make faster gearshift and so on even when driving normally? Or is it only when driving aggressively? I don't want it to hold the gears when I commute to work.
5, How much improvement will there be in lets say 0-60 times? Or is it only useful on the track?
6, Last one. Since I live in Sweden it will not be possible for me to swing by a local store in the U.S. to do the upgrade. So I suppose I will have to take the TCU out and ship it to the tuner? Is the TCU a separate box or is the tuning done in the ECU?
Either way, the ting I have to ship, is it hard to remove?
6b, last last one... If the tuning is done in the ECU will there be a risk that my ECU upgrade is over-written or deleted?
Thanks for any input!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
I can answer some of those questions.
1. We do a TCU upgrade that will help you take advantage of the extra power of your ECU upgrade.
2. We charge $2K for a TCU tune when its done individually, but offer package pricing with the ECU/TCU combo
3. We have done 60 or so TCU's and there have been no gearbox failures. But keep in mind if you are going to abuse it, it is probably not the best for longevity.
4. It quickens the shifts, especially when driving hard. I haven't noticed any real change when driving normally. Keep in mind that these are still adaptive and will adapt to your driving style. In a normal commuting situation, I haven't sen the cars holding gear and not shifting.
5. Since the shifting is quicker, there will be a slight improvement.
6. The TCU is a different brain from the ECU. You can remove it fairly easily. We walk our people through the process all the time.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
1. We do a TCU upgrade that will help you take advantage of the extra power of your ECU upgrade.
2. We charge $2K for a TCU tune when its done individually, but offer package pricing with the ECU/TCU combo
3. We have done 60 or so TCU's and there have been no gearbox failures. But keep in mind if you are going to abuse it, it is probably not the best for longevity.
4. It quickens the shifts, especially when driving hard. I haven't noticed any real change when driving normally. Keep in mind that these are still adaptive and will adapt to your driving style. In a normal commuting situation, I haven't sen the cars holding gear and not shifting.
5. Since the shifting is quicker, there will be a slight improvement.
6. The TCU is a different brain from the ECU. You can remove it fairly easily. We walk our people through the process all the time.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
I don't know much about this stuff in detail. I do know, that since I had my TCU upgraded by AMG with their Speedshift Plus (and had an AMG LSD installed) the car is a lot more spory when I want it to.
By tuning the TCU and the throttle response the feel of the car can get much faster than it actually is.
And since "perception is reality", it will be faster.
By tuning the TCU and the throttle response the feel of the car can get much faster than it actually is.
And since "perception is reality", it will be faster.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 19
From: Kuwait
CLS55 2006, CLS 63S 2015
I don't know much about this stuff in detail. I do know, that since I had my TCU upgraded by AMG with their Speedshift Plus (and had an AMG LSD installed) the car is a lot more spory when I want it to.
By tuning the TCU and the throttle response the feel of the car can get much faster than it actually is.
And since "perception is reality", it will be faster.
By tuning the TCU and the throttle response the feel of the car can get much faster than it actually is.
And since "perception is reality", it will be faster.
thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
That was actually pretty simple: I called them, made an apointment, and dropped off the car.
I almost have the entire 030 PP installed. When I'll be finished everything but the so called Nürburgring ABC Suspension + the speedshift will be done.
Check the attached PFDs for more info on what can be done by them.
I almost have the entire 030 PP installed. When I'll be finished everything but the so called Nürburgring ABC Suspension + the speedshift will be done.
Check the attached PFDs for more info on what can be done by them.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Lotus Elise SLK55
I do not recommend doing the TCU upgrade. IMO, your best option is powerchip, which raises your hp to around 600 without the TCU upgrade. There have been numerous transmission failures with the TCU upgrade. This thread is a good read:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/229113-tunning-horrific-nightmare.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/229113-tunning-horrific-nightmare.html
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
I do not recommend doing the TCU upgrade. IMO, your best option is powerchip, which raises your hp to around 600 without the TCU upgrade. There have been numerous transmission failures with the TCU upgrade. This thread is a good read:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=229113
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=229113
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
CLS55, S550
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 2
2007 S600
I'm not an expert on this at all, but it looks like if you get an ECU upgrade then a TCU upgrade would be mandatory in order to distribute that additional power in a way not to damage the tranny and engine.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 8
From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
[QUOTE=IngenereAMG;2645177I can answer some of those questions.
1. We do a TCU upgrade that will help you take advantage of the extra power of your ECU upgrade.]
Is a quicker, for instance, 60-100 mph to be expected after one of those?
Or perhaps garanteed even..?
Easy to tell the difference?
Have you done any tests on your TCU (SL600)?
Is there the same TCU that applies on both 55 and 600..?
1. We do a TCU upgrade that will help you take advantage of the extra power of your ECU upgrade.]
Is a quicker, for instance, 60-100 mph to be expected after one of those?
Or perhaps garanteed even..?
Easy to tell the difference?
Have you done any tests on your TCU (SL600)?
Is there the same TCU that applies on both 55 and 600..?
