Teflonman

Can a dealer tell if you have done this with just casual maintenance or working on something else that is not associated with this mod? Will it bring up codes for them?

I'm dying to get these mods, but my car is under the MB warranty until 2012, so I don't want to take a chance on them refusing work because of it.

Bisco

Try asking around and find a service advisor who's cool with mods

AMGfan

On a casual pass...ECU...no...pulley...yes.

nick 55

Depends on where you go, most techs wouldn't even realize there was a different pulley on the car unless they had to remove it. But, if you do install one, I would be completely honest and fill the SA in on it(wouldn't hurt to throw him and the tech(if you have one you always see) a little "bonus" for taking care of things). Sure, it might be construed as "shady", but if you are very cool about it, many times they are willing to put on blinders while doing work on your car, if you know what I mean.

Nick

mthis

do you tip your service adviser. if not start to, and strat tiping the guy who works on your car. me all i have to do when i have a problem i TEXT my serrive advise and he tells me bring her in and he makes sure that the same guys works on my car. so only 3 ppl know what u do YOU SERVICE ADVISER AND TECH .

garybc230

Great idea! Just like a good server at your favorite restaurant or your favorite bartender. Tip well and they will take good care of you....

Teflonman

LMAO! I didn't realize that so much under the table stuff went on to have a fast car

Funny thing is I did tip my MB service advisor a last month when I first got the car after I brought it in to have him look it over for the "final" factory warranty inspection *if you know what I mean*. Didn't realize I was actually doing the right thing already hah.

So, when they hook up the car in the future, no codes will come up with a "hacked" ECU? It seems like the stealership lives and dies by the "codes".

bobgodd

TIP?! Screw that, you're getting ripped off as it is. I got a tip for them...

lauer87

+1

g.smiley

here is roughly a service A inspection.

Interior
· Function check
· Check warning and indicator lamps, illumination and interior lighting
· Check windshield wiper, windshield washer system, headlamp cleaning system
· Reset maintenance service counter in instrument cluster

Wheels, brakes
· Check front brake pads for lining thickness
· Check tires for damage, condition
· Correct tire inflation pressure

Engine compartment
· Change engine oil and filter
· Fluid level checks of the following:
· Engine cooling system, antifreeze and corrosion protection
· Windshield washer system
· Brake system
· Check and correct battery fluid level
· Check battery condition
· Check catch, safety catch and hinges on engine hood for proper operation

Trunk
· Correct tire inflation pressure in spare tire
· Check battery condition

Pretty simple service for 3-400 dollars. Besides the oil change anyone could complete it...

Jen_Kenne

+1

Brisk335

I actually do the same thing, i tip my service manager and the person who works on my car. My service manager is the ONLY person i go through, i call him directly and he takes care of me and i am modded.

For regular service i wouldnt worry much, unless they try to flash your ecu for a problem or a update. Most techs want to get your car out of there ASAP.

JonMBZ

Well maybe if you tipped you wouldn't pay as much. I always give people price breaks that tip me. You save money in the end. Also I am pretty sure that renntech mods are the only ones that do not void the factory warranty and yes it's easy to spot a modded pulley.

Jen_Kenne

Maybe if you tip, you will pay more. I live in Fort Lauderdale and shop at Publix supermarkets. They have a strict "no tipping" policy. I don't tip the Publix cashier, my dentist, my physician, or my mechanic.

JonMBZ

I could really care less what you do. I am just giving people first hand knowledge from working at a dealer for 10 years.

Jen_Kenne

Thanks for sharing the inside story from a dealer's perspective.

Andy0331

As far as Mercedes Benz is concerned, they void the warranty just the same as any others. Individual dealerships will honor the warranty on various tuners that they either sell/install, or deny them all at will.

If you blow an engine with any tuner, including Renntech, expect to pay for it out of pocket. For major items, MB corporate gets involved & they will deny anything they can consider damage by modifications.

bobgodd

You guys are tipping yourselves already by marking up the charges, so why should I give extra? Just doesn't make sense to me.

JonMBZ

Possibly I really haven't heard any issues with Renntech blowing engines. The reason i say this is because I have seen this posted before and Renntech's info was given to me before by MBUSA for performance products. I am guessing they have something going on together for them to approve of their products.


I would appreciate not to be categorized by someone who doesn't even know me, but what I said still stands. I am just passing on what I know from experience.

bobgodd

I did not say JonMBZ tips himself, I was referring to service advisers in general. If that does not apply to you then disregard; but what I said still stands. I used to work in the automotive industry, I know how service advisers work.

JonMBZ

You said you guys while quoting me. If that's not what you meant to say then sorry. If you worked in the industry then you know it makes a difference. Everyone has free will to do what they want at the end of the day the service advisors are still people just like everyone else and do appreciate a customers gratitude. I have had customers give me money gifts take me to lunch write gratitude letters etc when a customer goes out of the way for you then you do the same for that customer end of story. If you do not wish to do this then don't.

g.smiley

You must have been an awesome service advisor!

Andy0331

I said blowing engines to take it to the extreme, not suggesting that Renntech products blow engines. However, regardless of what MBUSA may have told you about Renntech (or any other tuner) there are several members on here who have had warranty issues denied by MBUSA due to the modifications. One in particular had a rear suspension component (toelink?) rip out of the body & he was denied a warranty repair by both his dealer & MBUSA, even though the dealer sold & installed the Renntech pulley. Both the dealer & MBUSA blamed the extra ~20 hp from a 168mm pulley for the increased wear & strain that caused the failure... Warranty denied!

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ch-pulley.html

In short, it doesn't matter what they tell you to your face; if it isn't in writing, it is worthless & you are on the edge of having zero warranty if that's how they want to deal with it at the time.

Skeeter

Yes, Andy's post above has a link to my nightmare with MBUSA over a Renntech pulley/ECU upgrade. Don't listen to Renntech, they'll say anything to get the sale ("We'll stand behind you, we work with MB on all our products, we assure you that you'll have no problems and if you do we'll help take care of you..." etc.

When an a-hole regional inspector comes out and sees that the mod is in the car, BINGO, they will deny the warranty coverage, mark your car forever in the MB system as being modified, and will most likely deny ANY motor, powertrain, and (believe it or not) suspension failure based on the Renntech work. And Renntech will stay away from the problem and wish you luck with MB. Just great service all 'round.

I'd think hard before doing the mod. My HP gains were modest, certainly not worth the grief I was put through, nor the devaluation of the car which is now marked as having an improper mod (enough to scare any customer away).

This is an appeal to the V12 TT cars: it is purely software, so you can have the car flashed back to stock before taking it in and MB would have one less excuse to deny coverage while you still get crazy increased horsepower. Next car...

Renntech was a big letdown. I have the 'before' and 'after' emails and they border on comical. From being my best buddy, in tight with MB and ready to do whatever it took to show MB that their parts didn't cause a problem to "well, good luck, we can suggest a place that might save you a few bucks fixing it but the problem is with MB, not us..." Borders on fraud. Had I not had a super busy year I'd have taken them all to court and done what it took to make myself whole. I'll have to check my statute of limitations. Could be I can still sue, and Iv'e already done most of the prep work. Renntech won't even answer my emails or private messages on this board anymore, so you can imagine what their strategy is when it hits the fan.

Think twice!

Skeeter

Jen_Kenne

+1