Tuner Customer Service reality check
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 0
From: So.Ca.
E55
Somebody need to take a very close inspection of the crank snout for damages,then I would put a dial indicator on the end of the snout and turn it 360deg to check for excessive run out.That right there should give you an idea of if the crank is bad or not.
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
08 E63
Jangy -
My other half read your original post the day your issue happened and based on your statement that Greg's was loose but not as much as yours, he said that it sounds like the installer did not have the right tool/installation for the bolt and depending on how it came off there could be crank damage. It may be worth having a second set of eyes other than Creative look at your car regarding crank damage and then Greg's car or one of the others for proper installation. This is not laying blame on Creative but letting you cover all basis.
My other half read your original post the day your issue happened and based on your statement that Greg's was loose but not as much as yours, he said that it sounds like the installer did not have the right tool/installation for the bolt and depending on how it came off there could be crank damage. It may be worth having a second set of eyes other than Creative look at your car regarding crank damage and then Greg's car or one of the others for proper installation. This is not laying blame on Creative but letting you cover all basis.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 88
Jangy,
Did you do both pulley and ecu? I got confused with all the madness on the thread. I hope it gets worked out. If just pulley how did it perform before the issue? And if both pulley/ecu how was it?
Good luck!
Did you do both pulley and ecu? I got confused with all the madness on the thread. I hope it gets worked out. If just pulley how did it perform before the issue? And if both pulley/ecu how was it?
Good luck!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 6
ML550
Of course, the flip side is that for the price Renntech charges for their $125 in materials and labor pulley, you'd think they would include a new crank bolt with the pulley. It's not like it would undermine their net profit margin on the product or anything.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 3
Mercedes Benz
From what I hear the fastest cars are broken in carefully not those beat on from day one. That is what I was told by a MB and software tuner who will go unnamed =). He builds cars for these ultra rich oil vendors and said that they just race the living daylights out of their cars and he always breaks the cars in himself (slow for 1200 miles) before delivering them to the customer and that his cars are always the quickest. Just what I was told.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Mine had only pulley. I will get it all situated and dyno'd before getting the ECU. It felt AWESOME with just the pulley. Much more low end and all the way through. It was even barking between first and second, and then this all happened!!
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Actually no it was broken in very carefully and oil changed every 3-5k.
From what I hear the fastest cars are broken in carefully not those beat on from day one. That is what I was told by a MB and software tuner who will go unnamed =). He builds cars for these ultra rich oil vendors and said that they just race the living daylights out of their cars and he always breaks the cars in himself (slow for 1200 miles) before delivering them to the customer and that his cars are always the quickest. Just what I was told.
From what I hear the fastest cars are broken in carefully not those beat on from day one. That is what I was told by a MB and software tuner who will go unnamed =). He builds cars for these ultra rich oil vendors and said that they just race the living daylights out of their cars and he always breaks the cars in himself (slow for 1200 miles) before delivering them to the customer and that his cars are always the quickest. Just what I was told.
I agree fully. I have always broken mine in very religiously and I do have a freak!!
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
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
2003 E55 K1
Staying stock
That confirms it for me, I'm staying bone stock. I've had too many bad experiences in the past modifying my old muscle cars and they weren't anywhere near as complicated as our E55's.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 1
From: orange county, ca
2006 E55
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Generally the pulley mod should not lead to such issues.
And do u accept paypal?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 0
From: So.Ca.
E55
I am not going to discount what happened with Jangy here but there are many individuals who have modded their cars (55k) and had no issues. I am speaking just about the E55's alone but there is also the S's, Cl's, SL's, G's and the CLS's as well. Remember this is just one issue with a enormous amount of posts. I have nothing to gain by anyone modding or not modding their cars but I would never have a stock 55 engine after getting mine done. Modding or not, these are great cars.
Generally the pulley mod should not lead to such issues.
Generally the pulley mod should not lead to such issues.
Understand that this is just my opinion but I do believe that the problem Jangy has had is due to inproper install,not the pulley itself.On the good side of theis ordeal is that the installer is not turning his back on it,he seems to be right there trying to take care if this problem.That speaks alot too me.Hopefully the crank is ok and he doesnt get stuck with an enormous repair bill in the end.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
'14 ML BT
435 at the wheels is perfectly believable, 545 at the wheels - not so believable.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to provide my own experience/data because I'm too cheap to take the depreciation hit that AMG's suffer in the early years.
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
2004 E55 AMG
I agree that James and Creative do step up when issues occur, however their choice in resolving problems isn't always what is best for the customer. In this case I would no longer have them do the analysis or any future R&R of any engine component.
I had an issue with them last year regarding a SEVERELY mishandled suspension installation that damaged components on my M3. I will not go through the intimate details publically, but they did "fix" the problem (fix being a loose term) but it was not to my (or any of yours, I guarantee) satisfaction. I deemed it a lost cause to pursue any legal action, considered it a failed experiment and swallowed the cost of the repair of the damaged components on my car by a honest to God BMW tech.
I had an issue with them last year regarding a SEVERELY mishandled suspension installation that damaged components on my M3. I will not go through the intimate details publically, but they did "fix" the problem (fix being a loose term) but it was not to my (or any of yours, I guarantee) satisfaction. I deemed it a lost cause to pursue any legal action, considered it a failed experiment and swallowed the cost of the repair of the damaged components on my car by a honest to God BMW tech.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
04 E55
Jangy,
You want good faith work from RENNtech but there is NOTHING they can do. They dont have an obligation to resolove a mistake buy your installer. If they had installed the pulley on your car they would be responsible for the installation process. The buck stops there.
As for the dyno specs, you need to let these cars be driven before you get real power figures for the ecu and pulley upgrades. Throwing the car on the dyno to quickly is not the ideal course of action. You went out on a test run with your buddies before your ecu was done and your ecu was trying to learn how to deal with more boost and maybe was not running an ideal fuel map and the same goes for the cars with the ecu upgrade.
Get all the cars working correctly, and then do a dyno run two weeks from now and I bet all cars will be where they should be on power. You need to look at the delta value from stock to modded not car to car.
You want good faith work from RENNtech but there is NOTHING they can do. They dont have an obligation to resolove a mistake buy your installer. If they had installed the pulley on your car they would be responsible for the installation process. The buck stops there.
As for the dyno specs, you need to let these cars be driven before you get real power figures for the ecu and pulley upgrades. Throwing the car on the dyno to quickly is not the ideal course of action. You went out on a test run with your buddies before your ecu was done and your ecu was trying to learn how to deal with more boost and maybe was not running an ideal fuel map and the same goes for the cars with the ecu upgrade.
Get all the cars working correctly, and then do a dyno run two weeks from now and I bet all cars will be where they should be on power. You need to look at the delta value from stock to modded not car to car.
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 247
Likes: 1
From: West Palm Beach, FL
2016 S550 designo Magno Cashmere White (Matte Finish)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 6
300ce
..........it is probably more accurate to say that some MB dealers are Renntech installers. Unlike the impression that frquently gets pushed in this forum, this is not unique to Renntech. Some MB dealers such as Atlanta Classic Cars are authorized Kleemann installers.
........Further, the above does NOT in any shape or form mean that Mercedes Warranties Renntech parts and products. Your Warranty is with the manufacturer of your car, not your dealer. Having a friendly dealer does help, but in the event of a major failure Mercedes sends a regional rep to come and inspect your car. Don't count on that regional rep joining your local Renntech or Kleemann fan club.
Ted
Last edited by Ted Baldwin; Jan 31, 2007 at 02:51 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 13
From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Yeah, it's totally a dealer call.
North area Benz dealer takes a swing at cha when mention mods. South side (my guys) try to talk you into doing the heads. Love those big lugs.
North area Benz dealer takes a swing at cha when mention mods. South side (my guys) try to talk you into doing the heads. Love those big lugs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
'07 Porsche 997TT
..........it is probably more accurate to say that some MB dealers are Renntech installers. Unlike the impression that frquently gets pushed in this forum, this is not unique to Renntech. Some MB dealers such as Atlanta Classic Cars are authorized Kleemann installers.
........Further, the above does NOT in any shape or form mean that Mercedes Warranties Renntech parts and products. Your Warranty is with the manufacturer of your car, not your dealer. Having a friendly dealer does help, but in the event of a major failure Mercedes sends a regional rep to come and inspect your car. Don't count on that regional rep joining your local Renntech or Kleemann fan club.
Ted
........Further, the above does NOT in any shape or form mean that Mercedes Warranties Renntech parts and products. Your Warranty is with the manufacturer of your car, not your dealer. Having a friendly dealer does help, but in the event of a major failure Mercedes sends a regional rep to come and inspect your car. Don't count on that regional rep joining your local Renntech or Kleemann fan club.
Ted
I first went with Renntech because of the history with AMG, and thought MB would be more forgiving of Renntech mods. I remember talking to Rob Allen a few years ago about mods and before I could finish the word "relationship" with regards to renntech and MB, he cut me off before I could get the word out of my mouth. He very politely informed me that there is ZERO relationship between them and Renntech. Now, before someone chops my head off this was the story then - If that's changed I can't say. I doubt it though. I had as good a relationship with my dealer as anyone here. They knew the car was modded, and at one time there was a reg. tech who had to look at my car for the stalling issue. Thank God, this problem was documented before the car was modded. I brought the car in with around 10,000 miles and both front rotors were cracked. They told me they would not warranty them because of the "chip" in my car, which contributed to the pre-mature wear. I'm still stunned to this day by that comment. I tried to reason that if you take two E55's, one stock, the other with a "chip" and run them from 0-150 the only difference is that the chipped car will get there a bit faster. Both, however still have to stop from 150. They didn't get it. I also told them the car was never tracked and the brake warning light never came on - obvious to me that the car was not abused, but that the brakes could stand up to how the car is marketed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 0
06 EuroElites E55
couldn't have said it better I first went with Renntech because of the history with AMG, and thought MB would be more forgiving of Renntech mods. I remember talking to Rob Allen a few years ago about mods and before I could finish the word "relationship" with regards to renntech and MB, he cut me off before I could get the word out of my mouth. He very politely informed me that there is ZERO relationship between them and Renntech. Now, before someone chops my head off this was the story then - If that's changed I can't say. I doubt it though.
I had as good a relationship with my dealer as anyone here. They knew the car was modded, and at one time there was a reg. tech who had to look at my car for the stalling issue. Thank God, this problem was documented before the car was modded. I brought the car in with around 10,000 miles and both front rotors were cracked. They told me they would not warranty them because of the "chip" in my car, which contributed to the pre-mature wear. I'm still stunned to this day by that comment. I tried to reason that if you take two E55's, one stock, the other with a "chip" and run them from 0-150 the only difference is that the chipped car will get there a bit faster. Both, however still have to stop from 150. They didn't get it. I also told them the car was never tracked and the brake warning light never came on - obvious to me that the car was not abused, but that the brakes could stand up to how the car is marketed.
I first went with Renntech because of the history with AMG, and thought MB would be more forgiving of Renntech mods. I remember talking to Rob Allen a few years ago about mods and before I could finish the word "relationship" with regards to renntech and MB, he cut me off before I could get the word out of my mouth. He very politely informed me that there is ZERO relationship between them and Renntech. Now, before someone chops my head off this was the story then - If that's changed I can't say. I doubt it though. I had as good a relationship with my dealer as anyone here. They knew the car was modded, and at one time there was a reg. tech who had to look at my car for the stalling issue. Thank God, this problem was documented before the car was modded. I brought the car in with around 10,000 miles and both front rotors were cracked. They told me they would not warranty them because of the "chip" in my car, which contributed to the pre-mature wear. I'm still stunned to this day by that comment. I tried to reason that if you take two E55's, one stock, the other with a "chip" and run them from 0-150 the only difference is that the chipped car will get there a bit faster. Both, however still have to stop from 150. They didn't get it. I also told them the car was never tracked and the brake warning light never came on - obvious to me that the car was not abused, but that the brakes could stand up to how the car is marketed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
'07 Porsche 997TT
its called the dealer told you something and you listened. i just had my tranny go out on my hummer i took it to the dealer they said oh you put a supercharger on it you are not covered and have to pay. so of coarse i was **** that sucks but i called the shop where i had it installed. he broke down a law called moss something???? where it protects after market tuners and people that want after market stuff. long story short he told my dealer about the law and said if you cant prove the supercharger was the direct fault then you have to fix it. so in your case you just didnt have the right info cuzz there is no way your chip caused your brakes to fail. and there is no way they could of proved it.
In my case I felt it was easier to just pay for the brake job.
