Views upon ECU remapping and brabus chip

hawk20

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And will Mercedes put in writing that their 3 year warranty will not be void? They have refused this for lots of others.
 
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David-Butter

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i will do my best to get this in writing, the gcl warranty covers for any failure due to the remapping work mercedes warranty (in my view) will not be invalid as thay can not just "blame" the remap for anything. It dose however state in GCL terms that they will cover any issue's that the remap can cause.
 

hawk20

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i will do my best to get this in writing, the gcl warranty covers for any failure due to the remapping work mercedes warranty (in my view) will not be invalid as thay can not just "blame" the remap for anything. It dose however state in GCL terms that they will cover any issue's that the remap can cause.

But you will never be able to prove it was due to the remap. And Mercedes can set T's and C's for their 3 year warranty as lots of other manufacturers do too. Saying the warranty is void if you use a non-approved chip is common practice by most major car makers. They guarantee the car if you drive it as supplied by them. Not if you modify it in ways they have not specifically approved.
 

whitenemesis

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I still wonder why the map should be "invisible"?

The MB dealer knows it's been done, your insurer knows it's been done (I assume). So why all this explanation as to how it can't be detected? I could understand why it should be protected so it isn't accidently over-written but you say it can be over-written?

I assume the glc would reinstall the map should this happen?

No comments on my questions? :confused:
 

Retired

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But you will never be able to prove it was due to the remap. And Mercedes can set T's and C's for their 3 year warranty as lots of other manufacturers do too. Saying the warranty is void if you use a non-approved chip is common practice by most major car makers. They guarantee the car if you drive it as supplied by them. Not if you modify it in ways they have not specifically approved.

I assume that MB will stand by warranty claims for problems that could clearly not be caused by the remap. E.g. parking sensors, lights, trim etc. I suspect warranty for engine, fuel system and drive train will be voided.
 

psmart

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Interesting: If you are writing "blocks" of code (corrected/remapped blocks of data) the correct method is via the OBD port. - flash rams support block/device erase and write, but this wasnt available on the C220 or ML270 ECU's via OBD. Certainly this would get around the problem of the boot-loader crashing during device write if external consumers were not disconnected (i.e. engine cooling fan). It also explains how GCL can offer 3 maps (ST3) which an end user can update with only a very small chance of failure.

Checksum - This can only be read if the remap uses no encription (GCL Use encription) this would not allow anyone to find this data without the "KEY" file. If the ECU can not see the correct "key" it will refuse entry. - So, GCL have found free space in the flash ram to install their own software, which hooks into the original communications routines to offer block/device read/write and other enquiry commands. Does this mean that if I performed a device read, it would return the original data and checksum and not what is currently held in flash ram? If it doesnt or it blocks the device read, then the insurance/MB would know immediately its been 'chipped'. How does GCL get around opening up the ECU and connecting an In-Circuit Emulator / prom reader - regardless of what they have done, the latter method would reveal any changes. Perhaps out of the scope of the average insurance employee, but a serious enough accident, all they need do is send the ECU away for evaluation.

On the warranty side, before I bought my ML500 I enquired with the dealer (who enquired with MBHQ) that if I were to have LPG fitted, would my warranty be invalidated. The reply was 'No', only those parts affected by the upgrade. LPG would degrade power slightly, so probably a different case in comparison with 'chipping' stressing engine/drivetrain, but does indicate MB will honour the warranty for non-affected parts.
 

Retired

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Who does the remapping?

Looking at the long list of vehicles that GCL can modify it seems unlikely to me that an organisation of this size would have the resources to obtain an example of each vehicle, get the map, modify it and then test it out on a rolling road and in real life driving.

Are the maps bought in from a much larger organisation, e.g. Superchips, and then resold under some commercial agreement?

My questions refer not just to GCL but other such companies.

Perhaps GCL, if they read this, could enlightem me.
 

The Pan Man

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Try telling all that to your insurance company, you might just get a little surprise.
 

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No, I'm not a member of the Institue of Advanced Motorist's ................ ;)
 

psmart

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Considering tuning your car.....
Want to know all about re-mapping.....​
  • What company is most reliable and recommended...
  • which will give you max performance
  • where your warranty will be intact
  • where your fuel economy will be much improved
  • and your wallet will remain full
  • and you will be well satisfied


Then look no further........

Turn your head, look into the eyes of your beloved.... the best company you can find.... once she has given you a tune, all your car concerns will miracuously be resolved!


A member of the eco-tune conflaberation.
 
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David-Butter

David-Butter

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Sorry ?


Just to keep you all upto speed the ML is booked in at GCL Tuning on friday to have the magic done.
 

*Thumper

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Nice one David ............ let us know how it feels, when you get back !
 
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David-Butter

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Sorry for my delay, I can get out of it now.As you all know she has now been remapped on friday i turned up a GCL Tuning and handed over the keys. 3 hours later the magic had been worked, I went out for a test run with Tony and we tweeked the gear box for prime shifting well well well its now an animal a truly different vehicle. Power is smooth but so hard as and when you want it. Based on normal driving +4 MPG. I have also noticed the revs are much lower at 30 MPH and at 80 MPH this works out at around 200-300 Revs different.

Sorry for the short review i will put some time in when we cover some more miles.
 

roadhog

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Pleased you're happy with it. All we need now is a few pictures of the beast. :)
 

hawk20

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I went out for a test run with Tony and we tweeked the gear box for prime shifting .

Do tell how this amazing miracle was achieved - while driving??

P.S. Don't forget the apparent gain in fuel economy comes about because remapping affects the computer calcs of mpg. No longer accurate. (See many other threads).

PPS. Given all the problems Mercedes have had with getting the 7 speed box to work properly, I really wouldn't let anyone else 'tweek' it.

And that's another bit that MB won't be guaranteeing.
 

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