How much does engine tuning affect longevity?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 5
From: New York
Mercedes S55 AMG
How much does engine tuning affect longevity?
It seems like the E55's and E AMG's in general are the most tuned of the AMG cars. Obviously the higher numbers and power put more strain on the cars components, but how much will it affect the car in the very long term? For example, going over 150k, 200k, 250k, miles. I'm curious if it cuts down on those numbers at all!
Most tuned cars are low mileage or at least under 100k, but these cars in their non-tuned form can regularly pass really high mile numbers - so I'm curious what people have found.
Most tuned cars are low mileage or at least under 100k, but these cars in their non-tuned form can regularly pass really high mile numbers - so I'm curious what people have found.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Its absolutely critical. The more aggressive the tune, the more likely the damage. Its absolutely SAD what passes for tuning in the MB world. Guys tuning cars with $30k engines using tailpipe sniffers on a dyno only, or just using mail order junk.
The best tuning combines street datalogging and dyno runs. Very sad that most tuners don't realize this.
If you get a more conservative tune, the engine should last just fine, but everything in life is a gamble. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
The best tuning combines street datalogging and dyno runs. Very sad that most tuners don't realize this.
If you get a more conservative tune, the engine should last just fine, but everything in life is a gamble. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
yup, it always makes you nervous. You need to trust your tuner more than your best friend, because your not just buying a tune, your also buying piece of mind that you can get on it without worrying.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
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211-55
For Kompressor engines, it depends on your tuner. There's been a few on here that blow engines apparently. From past experience on other cars, I would say it doesn't affect longevity. I had a GTP that was modded and tuned, adding 90bhp. It was tuned at 90,000 miles and I drove it past 170,000 miles before selling the car. There was no engine or transmission work during those 80k tuned miles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,198
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Mercedes
It depends on how well the tune was made, and how in depth it was written. Most tuners adjust fueling an timing and expect the ECU to compensate for the changes rather than actually rewrite the maps that the fuel and/or timing affect.
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 992
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From: Illinois
GL550, C55, 335i Coupe, vintage Mustang
I have clients with 70-90k miles on tuned engines and as long as it was tuned carefully, I don't think that there will be a serious problem. From my experience, if you drive a car over 100 miles and it still pulls strong, you are probably ok. All of the failures I have seen are within 100 miles of a "dyno tune"
I use that term extremely loosely.
Nick
I use that term extremely loosely.
Nick
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