Vic, Vadim and Sunil - This topic is especially important to me after today. My car is at the stealer for a CEL and drivability issues (surging, inconsistent power at steady throttle). I have consistantly avoided the air pump campaign up to now, but now the air pump is causing my drivability issues and CEL (so says the dealer), so I'll be flashed this morning.

I have an '03 and am planning to mod this spring. Will you guys be able to overcome the flash on my '03 or should I start looking at a 63?

Help!

 

Short answer, yes. they have found a way to tune the newest version of MB's software.

 

I just want to add to some of the discussion. Keep in mind that I have always been a PROPONENT of getting the MB flashes when they are released. Not all changes are made for reliability. Some actually add driveability, or safety. What I want is a tuning company that keeps up with the times. I always ask to get a copy of my stock setup saved. You can never go back if you do not have that file. After that, you can play. But, when I go into the dealership for warranty work, they run the sheet to see if I need any "updates". Then, we (SA / Tech and I) talk about what it relates to and I usually have it done. I don't want a car under warranty that doesn't take advantage of it. MB isn't the devil to me. They are the holy grail and we are all on the outside. I will continue to get my car serviced and maintained at the dealership AND expect VRP to keep things smooth.

 

Just to reply to some of the email and PMs I have gotten about this setup. One thing that I really want to stress here (so I don't have to send the same email back). The tune is trully refined and exactly as desired. I can not stress that more. It is better than even I expected. For example, the "normal" driving is still silky smooth. No more jerky jerky at low speeds, which I thought was just a by product of larger pulley. They didn't just dyno and datalog for max power or pretty dyno graph. They made a tune that delivers the power band that the pulley can help unleash.
What Vadim and Jeremy did was not a result of luck. It was also not just some small thing. They put in many hours and miles of data gathering and went through many permutations of codes and effects to be able to adjust more than just timing. It really isn't that simple. Anyhow, the point is that the dyno (although impressive and telling) does not do justice to this tune.

Just to reiterate my appreciation to Vadim for bringing me into the fold of the excitement that is going on. From day 1 when I showed up at the shop, he knew I was there to "seek the truth", and invited me right in. We have built a relationship from before and what I appreciate most is that he knows all the rules of catering to high end clients. He treats my car as he does his own, and that is a sweet thing. He has always been open and honest with me and very much encouraged me to post the truth and ask the real questions. He really goes above and beyond and this is not the only example. I would have NEVER considered leaving my car with anyone else (other than my wiz) to do R&D on (especially after what Creative put me through), but with Vadim and George I was fully comfortable. They are very detail oriented and Vadim knows what he is after. Keep up the great work, bro!! You can borrow my car anytime!!


edit: typo

 

Doh! Might not be able to get my car done Monday. All Sunil has is red pullies, I want a black one to avoid any questions when I go in for service. Hopefully he can conjure up a black one for me.

 

I'll swap you with my black one, if you need. I don't really care what color.

 

how aggressive are they going with the timing maps? as much as i want max hp, i still want to be safe and too much timing is just as bad as going too lean.

 

sounds awesome jangy! Im gonna have to take a drive in your car to see the difference. I'll have to catch you the next time you're up here

 

Jangy!

Thank you for the kudos, we really appreciate them. Thank you for letting us use your car for development, I am glad you are enjoying the car.

She is a beast, and we have just started.

I am working on new shorty header design, which should be out in about 30 days. 80 mm TB is next for testing.

 

The maps are mild, there is still another 10 HP in more aggressive timing, but 93 ocatne will be needed to make it reliable.

 

i'm not questioning you but i'd like to know what "mild" means. enough tuners have programmed maps thinking they're safe, only to burn holes in pistons so i want to be sure i'm gaining safe hp. is it possible to post some data logging sessions or hard numbers for us to analyze?

btw, i'll gladly give up 10hp for reliability but out of curiosity, with a tune for 93 octane, will the knock sensor be able to keep us safe?

 

Yes! A black pulley has been found. Back on for Monday.

 

Nice, and great job overall again. Are we able to request a 93 octane map at this time? I'm ready to order. Also how long do you think it will take you to turn the ECU around and ship it back out?

 

Overall the maps are about 10-20% higher depending on rpm and load. Factory maps are very, very mild, not very far from intial.

93 octane map is also available.

 

not trying to be an *** but i want to see hard numbers or a data log file before i make a 5 hour trip to you.

 

just to recap.

VRP can tune your car whether one has a E, R, K and ASP pulley? correct?


Vadim: before and after dyno included in the price?

 

chiromikey: you got PM.

TopGun32: If you can drop the car off for a couple of days, than I can make arrangements and get the dynos done. It will be $250 extra, this is what we get charged.

 

Jangy,

We are all so happy that you love the car... That is the most important thing to all of us. If we can't put a smile on your face after we've done work to your car then we haven't done our job properly.

And just think.. This is only the beginning!!

We are going to adapt tunes for the higher level mods as we move through the chain of parts... Your car will wake up even more once you put the TB on...

 

So its $250 extra to get custom dyno tune?
How much is the standard tune? Without the pulley.

 

Mikey...

Its a SAFE tune.. Its running 11.8:1 A/F and conservative timing for 91octane.

The 93octane will bump timing a few more degrees which is what will be going into my car.

 

No $250 is what we get charged to do the before & after dynos. Its a $125 a hit down in Cali.

 

I am ready to roll on the TB!!!

The tune is VERY refined and robust. I'm telling you guys, they spent lots of time on doing it right. Vadim is a R&D specialist and Jeremy is great at his thing.

Comparing VRP to "tuners" isn't right. they started here, so they know exactly what our expectations are. It isn't just that I am happy with the VR550 kit (where is my badge, by the way), I am happy with how I was treated. Even last night, Vadim still offered to come get me (which he has done during this project). From Victor for just a few hours to the guys at PC to Vadim, everyone is totally into what they post. Vadim is so funny, he doesn't even let me know the results before he posts them and then we don't talk until after I post how I like it!! I picked it up at almost 10pm last night and never even saw Vadim. It is that open attitude that is key. The fact that the project gave even better power and feel than I had hoped for is just cream on the top.

 

Vadim and I share a very common phrase.. I've used this all throughout my professional career and it's the motto we always stick to:

It's very simple: "Under promise, and over-deliver."

It's still called a VR550 even though it really is over 560hp on 91octane. 93octane should give an additional 10hp I would guess (Vadim correct me if I'm wrong) which would be an honest 570hp.

I am waiting to put this package for 93octane on one of the stock E55 that are up here in Canuck-land.

 

got the info from vadim and i'm pleased with the data.

ot: i know you're swamped but have you received my emails? did you get the article on the mkb car?

 

You ready for some track time?
Maybe after its all done we should roll down to Speedworld and test her out?