S class diesel engine tuning

[wooly]

I'm just buying a 70K mile 2003 S320CDI. Having driven a friends CLS 320CDI and an E320CDI, both of which were fitted with Brabus chips and drive superbly (even better than the excellent standard E320CDI's I've owned in the past), I've been thinking of having a Brabus chip put onto the S.

Although I'm looking to "beef up" the engine to match the ones I mentioned above, I'm not interested in driving at silly speeds, really just looking for effortless acceleration and smoothness throughout the rev range.
Some people have recommended that I don't do that but have the engine re-mapped instead (taking power from 204 BHP to up to 262 BHP and improving torque by 15-20% and fuel consumption by 10%-15%). This is much cheaper than a chip (£500 v £1K+). Someone else told me not to increase power by more than 25% due to the potential shortening of the engine's life that such an increase could create. The questions that I'd be grateful for advice on are:

1. Does anyone know if this cheaper re-mapping solution is as good as a Brabus chip?
2. Is the suggested limitation to a 25% power increase sensible?
3. Does either modification impact used values?
4. Has anyone had either modification done sufficeintly long enough ago to advise on any pitfalls they've experienced? I read some posts earlier but at that stage the mod (Brabus in this case) were to new to comment.

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, do not over do it, and you will be OK, you have the gear box to think of, take a 25% increase and call it a day. I would not over do it.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I'm just buying a 70K mile 2003 S320CDI. Having driven a friends CLS 320CDI and an E320CDI, both of which were fitted with Brabus chips and drive superbly (even better than the excellent standard E320CDI's I've owned in the past), I've been thinking of having a Brabus chip put onto the S.

Good morning wooly - and welcome to the Forum.

I have had a couple of 320 CDIs and have contemplated this several times in the past.

I have always gone back to the car and persuaded myself that the performance is more than adequate. The combination of its normal torque and the automatic gearbox is ideal.

My Scottish genes then kick in and I ask myself how often I might use more zoom? I appreciate you are also looking for better economy - (I think you might have one or the other but I doubt if you can have both to any appreciable extent) and it will be interesting to see how that goes.

So I'm right behind you, and look forward to hearing how you get on!

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I'm just buying a 70K mile 2003 S320CDI. Having driven a friends CLS 320CDI and an E320CDI, both of which were fitted with Brabus chips and drive superbly (even better than the excellent standard E320CDI's I've owned in the past), I've been thinking of having a Brabus chip put onto the S.

Worth a look here, if you havn't spotted it so far.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showpost.php?p=334448&postcount=4

 

[garytitley]

I have been thinking of having a remap on my car,also an s 320 cdi and have been warned against fitting a tuning box so yesterday i fired off an email to dms automotive regarding the cost of a remap.This morning i have a reply,the price £595+vat and the power goes to 250bhp and torque up to 610nm.My father has used dms before having his cl600 remapped about four years ago,the car has been fautless and you can tell the difference. Hope this helps.

 

[wooly]

Hi guys, and thank you for your helpful comments.

Gary - someone also warned me against a box, but a re-map sounds like a good option. I've been quoted £490+VAT by Paramount Performamnce, but they currently have an offer on and will make it £490 including the VAT - so almost £200 less than you've been quoted. PP advised their work will provide a 35-40BHP increase in power, well within the 25% maximum they consider "safe". I'm almost certain to get the work done, so I'll report back in a month or so to advise whether or not I think it was worth the cost.

 

[GCLTuning]

Hi all ,

Working late again ....

Just seen this post you would be looking @ 40 BHP and 105 NM of torque all in all very good gains you will see a MPG improvement of 4-8 mpg if driven with care.

You have said you have been quoted £490 + Vat to be honest this is quite steep (Even if you are not a FORUM member ) !


Regards GCL Tuning

 

[st4]

Wooly, brabus/mb advise not to fit a tuning box to a car thats done over 18k miles. I wouldn't bother and instead put better fuel in the car instead.

 

[GCLTuning]

You are rite they will not fit it over 180000 due to it being generic.

Regards GCL

 

[wooly]

ST4/GCL - Big difference between 18K and 180K, but I'm loking to go the mapping route rather than fitting a tuning box anyway.
GCL - My quote (£490 inc VAT) was a lot cheaper than someone else here mentioned, so can you tell me a reputable tuner near Woking who would be equally good but charge less (whether as a forum member or not).

 

[wooly]

Hi guys. I finally got around to having the engine remapped. I used Paramount Performance in Slough as that's fairly near me. The results are very good so far (early days as it was only done about 500 miles ago). Anyway, the car is now much more powerful throughout the rev range and economy is also improved - from an average of 36 over the previous 2,000 miles to 40 since the re-map. A lot of my driving is on the M25 (through the dreaded roadworks near M40) so there have been quite a few "jams" since the work. I've achieved over 45 some on some runs - and I haven't been hanging around as I love the extra power. A definite improvement to what was already a fine engine.

 

[sr-performancelive..]

Hi, I know i'm a bit late replying but we get a 30bhp/60 nm torque on the S320, with improved fuel economy for £360 including me travelling to the customer.....
Please ask if anyone needs any info...

 

[pfthunter]

Hi all - been speaking with DMS and looking to have my 2009 C320cdi done by them

Angel tuning (used them for years on Alfas) couldn't get into the ECU and don't like the idea of a physical box fitting that some others offer. Remap is the only route. Will let you know how I get on with DMS.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

i had a remap on an beamer 530d few years ago...it had 130k on clock, sold it at 140K as auto box started to slip....i think remaps are okay on cars with less than 100k, you gotta take into account aditional torque /pressure on componants outside OEM limits....