For you bottom line guys:

Best 349$ you can spend for your 55....would recommend to anyone. Only downside is if you have chirp, it increases...

Now for deeper review.

Chip removal is very easy...just have patience with the plugs...some are snug and yes, best instructions are at Renntech site. DONT PULL ON THE WIRES!

You send Oliver your ECU overnight with PREPAID shipping AND padded pak coming back and send it to him. He flashes the ECU and sends it back same day.
This is only a one man shop so make it easy for the guy and good chance you'll get it back when promised.

Okay...I pop it in this AM and fire it up.
First impression on pedal is noticable throttle response improvment. When you fire up the Benz in the garage, quickly stomp the pedal and quickly let up....that response is noticably increased. I always found a split second lag...now gone. Only way I can describe the chip mod...it's like taking a giant screwdriver and tightening a huge loose screw in the motor. Everything just feels more tight....when accelerating off light, car seems to jump to attention more rapidly. Just want to be very honest about everything....I AM having increased chirping which is now starting to get on my nerves. I am going to have to try the Stop Squeak stuff and use the feeler gauge. I already had A LOT of chirp so take that for what it is worth.

For 349$, I give it 5 outta 5 stars. I am sure the Powerchip Kleeman etc...programs are better, but I just wanted a little extra sugar while waiting for the 06 E to come out. I have to say that modding sure is addicting...all I thinking about now is pull--ey pull---ey pullll--ey!! I keep telling myself...wait.

Bottom line..if you are thinking ECU is going to make your car like Gid_E_up's Kleeman Stage 3 with LSD...it won't. If you want a tick more power...better throttle response and a pretty good chance of not getting caught by Service techs....ECU is a must have...best part....only 349$. I sure would love to pop in the Powerchip or Kleeman and do a few more runs, wonder if it is MUCH better..a little or same.

Tell Oliver the guy from Utah sent ya....he's good people.

Here are the GTech numbers before and after ECU.

BEFORE AFTER

12.509 1/4 12.485 SEC
117.83 MPH 118.02 MPH

60' 2.176 60' 2.127
330' 5.528 330' 5.498
1/8 8.246 @ 92.49 1/8 8.225 @ 92.40
1000' 10.559 1000' 10.548
60 mph 4.817 60mph 4.737

Tiny bit improvment....it is mostly on throttle response. Car was also warm already on AFTER from a 10 min drive so blower was hot to start.


*****Don't forget I am over 4000ft in ole Utah, sure love to get er over to Vegas to see what she would do******

 

Great write up. Don't forget however, a single trip to the dealer for nearly anything and your flash is gone.

 

Oliver will reflash for free anytime that happens

 

Is it so?

 

Yes, because cars are routinely "re-flashed" with the latest updates automatically. Software code is then gone, unlike a physical ECU modification. Re-flash for free is not the policy of the other tuners, so

 

Dude, you gained no time on your 1/8 mile, all you did was launch better. Which is why you gained a 1/10 on your 0-60.

 

Yeah, I knew I shouldn't of posted those times....the only way to tell increase is the ole dyno....gonna put er up on it in a week or so to see what I got. If I haven't gained that much, this whole review could change dramatically.

Sure feels good though....worth the cash IMO.

 

Just having better throttle response and removing the limiter is worth it for that price. Getting the increased HP and torque is just gravy.

Most of us spend $349 on 2 bottles of wine at dinner on a Friday night with our dates or wives

 

Do you know if he starts off with the most recent ECU programming available from MB? If so, then I wouldn't be too concerned about my new updates being overwritten. But since some of the updates really do help out with the car's drivability (throttle response may be improved by the new ECU program from MB), I would like to keep on top of those as well.

-s-

 

Haha, very true...

I was told that MB does not flash the ECU for E55s. Yes, I also thought it was nonsense but I simply accepted it because it was an MB service tech who told me this. I mentioned in an earlier thread that I was told that if I wanted to, there is a guy who used to be the head tech at WI Simonson MB in Santa Monica and for around $1,800 or something he would re-tune my ECU to put down pretty well over 500hp. Now I haven't looked into this but it seems like if $349 can do that much, I can only imagine what 2k will do...I'm also hesitant that MB will find it and what will they say to my warranty?...

 

Hmm, maybe that was in the past. Because there certainly have been updates more recently.

-s-

 

I too have this ECU. I unfortuantely do not have pre/post info but PRE ECU I ran a 12.29@113.6 with 1.84 60-foot at 2,000 DA -- corrected a 12.15 stock except K&Ns and snorkle and BFGs.

Post ECU dyno - 401 rwhp 439 rwtq on Dynojet in 80 degrees, 70% humidity.

Honestly I cannot tell much since even a 20rwhp gain on our cars is like a 5rwhp gain on a Honda. Also your trap speed actually indicates a 2 rwhp gain although air density can shift that measurement around +/- 5-10%.

On a 30 degree day my Supra dynoed 384 rwhp and on a war summer day it dynoed 323 with a 343 SAE corrected. Air quality matters.