After the software upgrade

[bc100]

I decided to go ahead with the dreaded upgrade and have noticed no difference in gearbox behaviour, i.e. it goes into 7th gear at around 65mph. The car still drives as before.
However on two identical journeys to Leicester and back the mpg has dropped from 56.5 to 49.6 (58.8 and 51.3 respectively on the OBC). The second journey was done at near 0º as opposed to 20º for the first.
The normal running about I do seems to result in a before upgrade of 40 mpg down to 36 mpg afterwards. These are mainly rural miles on mix of A roads and Devon's narrow lanes on Dartmoor etc.
I don't regret doing the upgrade but I am still surprised at the mpg difference. Is this what other members have found?

 

[Tony Dyson]

Well losing a little economy isn't the end of the world, it would be nice to know exactly what emissions improvements have been made, if in fact any have? after all MB are being very quiet on that very subject, I opted not to have the update installed so cannot comment on any changes but on the forum there have been many stories of costly repairs to vehicles with error codes sometimes showing up in the garage forecourt of the dealership at where the update was installed! I'm sure others who have had the update will comment further on the subject.

 

[Gazwould]

They're reducing NOx , to reduce NOx peak cylinder temps need to be brought down even further by replacing cool clean oxygenated filtered air with hot inert sooty exhaust gasses from the devil valve . So the thing is working overtime .

Unfortunately this gives quite a few negatives including more diesel particulates , loss of mpg etc.

If you've Adblue this will be dosing more too .

 

[Botus]

we have no idea if they refined the maths for the onboard computer whilst doing software changes...

it could be using less fuel but now the ridiculously overly optimistic MPG readout might now be less inaccurate

 

[sonic]

Mine was done on the SLC250d about 9 months, only a very slight loss in MPG.
Initially it wouldn't go into 9th until about 75mph. But over the space of about 3 months it went back to changing up to 9th at about 65 to 70mph as before.

 

[john campbell]

I opted not to have the update installed

Can you opt out to the update? I was under the impression it was mandatory........ my car has to be done at some point but I really don't want it done because I would loose the remap I have been told.

 

[EmilysDad]

.... my car has to be done at some point but I really don't want it done ...

don't take your car to MB then

 

[john campbell]

don't take your car to MB then

more info please...........

 

[EmilysDad]

more info please...........

how do you say 'don't take your car to MB then' in another way? If you take your car to MB for what ever reason it seems they automatically update your car's software .... My car will only ever be going to AN Other garage ie a MB independent.

 

[Tony Dyson]

Can you opt out to the update? I was under the impression it was mandatory........ my car has to be done at some point but I really don't want it done because I would loose the remap I have been told.

It is only mandatory in Germany, nowhere else. I was offered the update by MB Stratstone in Leeds on my last service, I insisted They confirmed by E Mail it would not be installed which they confirmed, a note was in fact printed on the internal work order sheet to that effect.

how do you say 'don't take your car to MB then' in another way? If you take your car to MB for what ever reason it seems they automatically update your car's software .... My car will only ever be going to AN Other garage ie a MB independent.

More urban myth I'm afraid, and to confirm my ECU wasn't updated, I recorded the software version number with my scanner and checked the number hadn't changed after the car was returned. They still periodically send me E Mails reminding me of an outstanding "Emissions Software Update"

 

[EmilysDad]

It is only mandatory in Germany, nowhere else. I was offered the update by MB Stratstone in Leeds on my last service, I insisted They confirmed by E Mail it would not be installed which they confirmed, a note was in fact printed on the internal work order sheet to that effect.



More urban myth I'm afraid, and to confirm my ECU wasn't updated, I recorded the software version number with my scanner and checked the number hadn't changed after the car was returned. They still periodically send me E Mails reminding me of an outstanding "Emissions Software Update"

Wasn't a car from this forum updated without the owners knowledge/permission?

 

[Tony Dyson]

Wasn't a car from this forum updated without the owners knowledge/permission?

I'm aware of a couple of posts, I can't remember who, were unaware of the proposed update but had signed off the work order prior to the works being carried out, which left them no means of recourse against the dealership, also some who were informed the update was mandatory by the dealership which just isn't the case outside Germany, the mandatory requirement is between Daimler and the German Auto Industry Regulator, KBA, the DVLA have yet to issue any regulatory requirement.

 

[ajlsl600]

Yes it was.that seems to be the default unless one screams. No chance I goin there.unless I get a lengthy warranty over "side "effects. In short I dont trust em and on evidence seen thats a perfectly reasonable stand to take.
I understand many have had update with little known side effects.but when it goes wrong as seen on here it can be £££££s and months of screaming...NO THANKS.

 

[bc100]

Mercedes Exeter were particular in pointing out on the telephone service booking and on the day that this was a voluntary upgrade. As I was prevaricating at the service desk they said I could come back anytime and get it done as it is a free upgrade.

 

[ajlsl600]

As said many diff experiences .to much of a lottery for my liking.

 

[Botus]

more info please...........

when the world is joined up it ought to fail the MOT (as should any car with an outstanding software update for emissions)
you have a moral obligation to do the right thing.
the manufacturer has a legal obligation to resolve the illegality of your vehicle.

 

[john campbell]

Thanks for the info guys.......... I do all the work on my car so it won't see a dealers unless it's a last resort.

 

[ajlsl600]

when the world is joined up it ought to fail the MOT (as should any car with an outstanding software update for emissions)
you have a moral obligation to do the right thing.
the manufacturer has a legal obligation to resolve the illegality of your vehicle.

When maker deals with responsibility to make his emissions stuff properly ,reliable and less of a rip off,I will happily "do the right thing "simples...