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I'm fortunate to live in Metro Atlanta, where Pressertech is located, so yesterday I took my 2005 SL 55 for an ECU Optimization, Stage 1. The difference in throttle response, torque & horsepower increase and general drive-ability are incredible. Let's face the fact that our SL 55's are reasonably powerful to start with but now my car has transitioned into a truly fast car. Todd Presser & Scott Anderson were very accommodating in person and I'm sure they are the same for those people who need to use overnight delivery services. I can attest to the fact there was quite a pile of outgoing packages for other lucky people's Mercedes. I'm not sure I'll go back for Stage 2, but I'm not taking it off the table today!
I have not done anything else to the engine. My car is a very low mileage, <30k on her. I may do pully, inner cooler, cooling pump upgrade but I'm really happy the way it is.
For just c. $625 Pressertech purports to add 37 horsepower and 89 (!) lb-ft of torque by simply reprogramming the engine ECU. To me, that seems like terrific value for money, but I presume something is being sacrificed to achieve those gains.
For just c. $625 Pressertech purports to add 37 horsepower and 89 (!) lb-ft of torque by simply reprogramming the engine ECU. To me, that seems like terrific value for money, but I presume something is being sacrificed to achieve those gains.
MB tweaked the engine for 07 and 08 model sl 55's and their output increased on paper about 5%. My particular stock 08 dyno'd at 445 hp and 503 lb ft tq at the rear wheel.
These results infer the hp and tq numbers published by MB for the last 2 model years were way low relative to what the motors actually delivered. In other word easy gains were there to be had in the first place.
MB tweaked the engine for 07 and 08 model sl 55's...
Those model years have larger throttle bodies for improved breathing, so software played little or no role in performance gains. Moreover, in comparison to the Pressertech mod, the gains were minor: 17 horsepower and a meager 15 lb-ft of torque.
I would recommend doing the ECU tune and a TCU tune(this helps a lot) with just a 83MM pulley. You'll get some nice noticable gains and not break the bank. Just crawl under your car(in front of the passenger side front tire) and make sure you have the bosch intercooler pump 010(if not replace that to).
This setup will be about as safe as you can be besides stock but give you a nice solid 50HP or so. There is nothing in this set up outside of a messed up tune that would ever cause damage to your car.
Those model years have larger throttle bodies for improved breathing, so software played little or no role in performance gains. Moreover, in comparison to the Pressertech mod, the gains were minor: 17 horsepower and a meager 15 lb-ft of torque.
If you think a car rated 510 HP/530 lb ft TQ,at the flywheel will produces 445 HP and 503 lb ft of TQ at the rear wheel then I can't help you. The fact is the 07 and 08 SL55 models were way more powerful than the published numbers by MB.
The question remains un-adressed: what, if anything, is being sacrificed to achieve these gains. .
Unless the gains are measured, via a before and after dyno, then it's just marketing hype. I don't believe for 1 minute different chip code will increase an AMG built V8, supercharged engine, by nearly 70hp. Sorry, show me the actual dyno charts (from the same dyno, at the same DA) and then I'll convert to that kool aid.
Not interested. I'm simply trying to discern what is being sacrificed to achieve the horsepower and torque gains that Pressertech, Renntech, and others are inarguably achieving by remapping fuel and ignition settings.
I've sent Pressertech an email and will relay their reply to this thread.
Did you ever hear back from Pressertech? Here's what I got from them regarding Stage 1 & 2 tune for a 2005 R231:
...Mercedes left so much power on the table. In addition to the power gains you will also notice an increase of 3-7MPG.
We increase the rev limiter, remove the speed limiter, optimize the boost pressure, optimize the fuel/air and timing maps to achieve the most efficiency possible. All while still modifying within the safe margins of stock components.
The process is very simple and does not require any tools and we do not need the car present. You will simply unplug the ECU from under the hood (It is dead center towards the rear, on top of the engine, it’s the metal heat sink poking through the plastic cover) and ship it to us. We guarantee a 24 hour turnaround time but if the ECU gets to us by 10:30AM (please let us know in advance of you plan to do this and we can add your tune to the schedule), we can overnight it back to you for next day delivery.
Unless the gains are measured, via a before and after dyno, then it's just marketing hype. I don't believe for 1 minute different chip code will increase an AMG built V8, supercharged engine, by nearly 70hp. Sorry, show me the actual dyno charts (from the same dyno, at the same DA) and then I'll convert to that kool aid.
I don’t understand your obvious animus about ECU tunes, but the data, as well as the anecdotal evidence is clear: HP increases of around 70 are common and the owners acknowledge a substantial increase in performance. Dyno testing before and after the tune, conducted on the same day and same dyno are available on Renntech and Pressertech websites as well as on many YouTube videos. Yes, of course MB left plenty of power on the table. How else would a mere software change garner such hp increases!? These companies ALL give MB the credit for overbuilding the motors. And yes, getting that hp out of the closet and into the engine is easy, if you’re a software geek. Even if you’re not, you can just buy it. $2800 from Renntech and $1425 from Pressertech.
I have no hate toward ecu, or for that matter, tcu tuning. I’ve done both on an Australian built Holden Commodore, and when coupled with long tube headers and a custom cold air intake, achieved significant, measurable improvements (nearly 65 hp and Tq increase). This is an LS3 naturally aspirated V8 introduced in the early 2000’s and used extensively in the Corvette thru model year 2013.
My skepticism is whether the same results are achievable with a tune only. I don’t think so but I hope I prove myself wrong. And to do so I’ll get a flash from one of these firms, take my car back to the same Dyno and see what she puts down. I’ll publish the results right here for all to see and comment on.
I would recommend doing the ECU tune and a TCU tune(this helps a lot) with just a 83MM pulley. You'll get some nice noticable gains and not break the bank. Just crawl under your car(in front of the passenger side front tire) and make sure you have the bosch intercooler pump 010(if not replace that to).
This setup will be about as safe as you can be besides stock but give you a nice solid 50HP or so. There is nothing in this set up outside of a messed up tune that would ever cause damage to your car.
I have had the exact same 83mm pulley and tune, nothing else for over 2 years on my E55. I too was very impressed with the seat of the pants improvement. I am now trying to work out what happened to cause this. Any EXPERT opinions on what could go wrong would much appreciated. I am loath to install another motor without determining the cause. As I have had no information that a tune could go bad, I won't be naming the tuner.
I have had the exact same 83mm pulley and tune, nothing else for over 2 years on my E55. I too was very impressed with the seat of the pants improvement. I am now trying to work out what happened to cause this. Any EXPERT opinions on what could go wrong would much appreciated. I am loath to install another motor without determining the cause. As I have had no information that a tune could go bad, I won't be naming the tuner.
Who knows for sure what caused it. Canned tunes many people have zero issues with them and every once in awhile you get a failure. Now was it the tune or just bad luck, who really knows. Everyone will blame the other.
Anyone doing mods to the car and adding a tune it would be wise to have someone knowledgeable look at the stats(ie:AFR's) throughout the rev range of the car and make sure it's all in line. At least then if the engine goes boom you at least know it was probably mechanical failure at that point. Going mild with 83MM pulley is literally putting hardly any extra stress on this motor and I'd be shocked if its related to that on any level. My guess is it was just bad luck/mechanical failure and would've happen regardless or a bad tune(but no way of knowing that now). Running the car hard quite bit and tune slightly off over time can be a ticking time bomb. Always good ideal to take the car to a place that can load the new tune to the car and run it on the dyno to make sure it's all dialed in for your specific car.
I have no hate toward ecu, or for that matter, tcu tuning. I’ve done both on an Australian built Holden Commodore, and when coupled with long tube headers and a custom cold air intake, achieved significant, measurable improvements (nearly 65 hp and Tq increase). This is an LS3 naturally aspirated V8 introduced in the early 2000’s and used extensively in the Corvette thru model year 2013.
My skepticism is whether the same results are achievable with a tune only. I don’t think so but I hope I prove myself wrong. And to do so I’ll get a flash from one of these firms, take my car back to the same Dyno and see what she puts down. I’ll publish the results right here for all to see and comment on.
How’s that, fair enough?
yes, that’s certainly a fair way to answer your question. However, if by “naturally aspirated” you mean “non turbocharged”, then I suspect that your initial premise is correct: you won’t see much change in hp. Since a very large part of the tune is dedicated to increasing turbo boost, I’m in agreement that there’s little to be accomplished, other than depleting your wallet. However, I’m neither an expert nor a clairvoyant, but those people at Pressertech are. Have you called them? It’s a small shop and Scott has been more than accommodating to me. I’d suggest you give them a call, if you haven’t already. In fact, this thread is something they should read.
They tuned th3 ECU for my clk 55, which is te same motor minus all the Kompressor upgrades. Definitely made a difference, they said +30HP and TQ and it may not be exactly that but sure made a difference.
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Pressertech Stage 1 ECU Optimization
