Remap - how much is TOO much?

[Noddy 99]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Frontstep]

I suppose I should have my car detuned as I'm slower than I was.

Perhaps I should get the Saga tune,

smoother, quieter, a little less urge.

 

[Styles997]

I've recently picked up an old '08 320cdi and had considered a remap to .c275ish bhp. I do 90% of spannering myself, but my local indie has said they've come across lots of cars with remaps that have various problems. Nothing due to mechanical stresses or component failure, but with Ecu's and the monitoring side of things.

 

[Noddy 99]

I've recently picked up an old '08 320cdi and had considered a remap to .c275ish bhp. I do 90% of spannering myself, but my local indie has said they've come across lots of cars with remaps that have various problems. Nothing due to mechanical stresses or component failure, but with Ecu's and the monitoring side of things.

That's interesting; thanks for the input.

It's all on hold anyway - the car came with 12mths warranty and any modification voids the warranty...

I'm not the sort to fail to disclose it, either to the warranty company or to the insurers, so I'll put up with standard for now and revisit the topic next year. Honestly, though, I went into kick-down the other day and my son says it accelerates faster than his mate's BMW M3. Might be a BIT of user bias in there but it really does shift...

 

[Styles997]

It might already have a remap

 

[Noddy 99]

Never thought of that! Previous owner was a doctor... Not sure if that's relevant...

 

[Styles997]

Not that 0-60 times are much effected by a simple remap, since the torque will spin the tyres anyway, but you could try one of those apps like Draggy and see what time you get, based against the std time.
You never know with used cars... All diesels should be remapped, but I'm put off by my indie now

 

[Noddy 99]

So... a while back, I had a remap (from 190bhp to 265bhp) done by my usual Merc indie. I was so disappointed that I took it back and had it removed after a week. I could barely notice any difference, perhaps a bit at the top end but that's not where I do most of my driving.

End of story. Not. The thought still nags away at me that I've got a car that has been DE-tuned at the factory, to the extent that it has a ludicrously low output of 63bhp per litre. Add in the fact that it is a Sport model - with sports suspension and sports brakes - and I definitely feel I'm not even close to exploiting the full potential of the car.

So... I've booked it in again, this time with Ace Remaps of Shrewsbury, a dedicated tuning outfit, who have a very good reputation in these parts. They claim 260bhp for £330. I've got nothing to lose - there's a 30-day, no quibble removal option - so we'll see how we get on. Hopefully, going to a specialist (and paying £100+ more than last time) will pay off

 

[alexanderfoti]

260bhp is pushing a w204 re dpf!

 

[NJS5]

Is it wise to remap a 12+ year old car from 190bhp to 260bhp?

What do your insurers have to say about:-

1. Increased premium & possibly excess; &

2. Other required enhancements to suspension & brakes

NJSS

 

[Noddy 99]

260bhp is pushing a w204 re dpf!

Hi, it's a 2009 W211; no dpf...

 

[Noddy 99]

Is it wise to remap a 12+ year old car from 190bhp to 260bhp?

What do your insurers have to say about:-

1. Increased premium & possibly excess; &

2. Other required enhancements to suspension & brakes

NJSS

Insurers have been notified.

This is an E280 which is a factory DE-tuned E320 so it starts life with 34bhp LESS than the identical engine in the E320. The remap I'm booked in for takes it to the same power output as the E500 (again, identical engine but with a slightly bigger turbo).

As I said in my post, the E280 CDI Sport already has UPRATED brakes and suspension - there is no issue there.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Hi, it's a 2009 W211; no dpf...

Oh it's a 642! Not sure why I thought it was a 204...

 

[Gazwould]

Noddy any pre and post dyno graphs from the disappointing remap and is the case with Ace ?

 

[LostKiwi]

As mentioned previously the 280, 300, 320 and 350 are all essentially the same 3.0l V6 with different maps and (in the 350) bigger turbo.
The power ranges from 190 to 265hp (350 is 265 in high output form or 224 in low output form).
Basic internals of the engine should be ok but obviously more power will always strain things more (nothing comes for free).
A remap to 260 or so should be fine but be aware your turbo being the smaller one will be under more stress than a factory 350.
Torque will be the big change. The torque of the 350 is prodigious to the point that Sport mode on the gearbox seems superfluous.

 

[Noddy 99]

Noddy any pre and post dyno graphs from the disappointing remap and is the case with Ace ?

Nah, dyno is always about £75 on top. I'd rather go with how it feels on the road, rather than on a piece of paper. I admit it would have been interesting to see the discrepancy between the graph and the road on the first remap but not so interesting that I would pay £75. I could tell on the first drive that it wasn't worth the money; the graph might have shown me proof that the output HAD increased but if I can't FEEL that increase on the road, then I'll trust my senses.

Ace Remaps DO offer a dyno but I'll take the road experience route first...

 

[Noddy 99]

As mentioned previously the 280, 300, 320 and 350 are all essentially the same 3.0l V6 with different maps and (in the 350) bigger turbo.
The power ranges from 190 to 265hp (350 is 265 in high output form or 224 in low output form).
Basic internals of the engine should be ok but obviously more power will always strain things more (nothing comes for free).
A remap to 260 or so should be fine but be aware your turbo being the smaller one will be under more stress than a factory 350.
Torque will be the big change. The torque of the 350 is prodigious to the point that Sport mode on the gearbox seems superfluous.

Thanks, Kiwi. I'm not interested in the Traffic Lights Grand Prix, nor in setting a fastest lap at the Nurburgring so I don't think I'll be over-stressing the engine. I just want a more instant power delivery for safer overtaking.

Interestingly, I once had a remap on a 1.8 Turbo petrol Skoda Superb. No problems with engine, suspension or brakes; it was actually the IGNITION COILS that couldn't take the extra power...

 

[M80]

I may have missed it,
can you be sure it hasn't been remapped?
Do you know it's only 190 hp?

 

[Noddy 99]

I may have missed it,
can you be sure it hasn't been remapped?
Do you know it's only 190 hp?

It IS very fast on kickdown and I was very interested when you (or someone) mentioned this prospect previously.

Two factors incline me to believe that it's stock:

1. Mostly, it's quite a docile, lazy engine - you really have to prod it to get a reaction.
2. The long-term, previous owner was a doctor who spared no expense in maintaining the car at Mercedes Benz. The service record is as thick as a Victorian novel and there's no mention of a remap. I know we're just talking stereotypes here but I can't see him going off-grid to get a performance enhancement...

 

[M80]

Tbh I would buy a BT EML327, load Torque onto an android.
You should be able to monitor EGR activity, if none there's a strong indication it's been mapped.
The tool also has acceleration monitors, 0-3-, 0-60.... sort of thing. If it out performs the spec it's been mapped.

Our 2.1 is impressive. I don't feel any need to go for more oomph. In fact it feels more lively than our previous C320CDI. But that was a few years ago so memory and all that.
Yours will have the lower ratio diff than our Eek lass. How much difference to pulling power it makes I couldn't tell you.