Mercedes Sprinter Upgrade Rocks!

[JimHoover]

If you have a Mercedes Sprinter with stock 188Hp turbo diesel, it can be retuned by OE Tuning back to it’s designed specs. They just did mine and took it from 188 to 260Hp and torque from 325 to 450Ft-Lbs.I don’t have fuel economy numbers yet but their customers are reporting 1-4 mpg improvements there too. My 2018 Thor 24HL climbs hills soooo much better now and I can’t wait to take it out on the highway for mileage comparison. OE Tuning rocks!

[Bob Denman]

Color me interested!!
Do you have a phone number or website address for them?

[JimHoover]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Color me interested!!
Do you have a phone number or website address for them?

https://www.oetuning.com/mercedes-benz-sprinter-350-bluetec

[Bob Denman]

Awesome: Thanks!

[ducksface]

How does it affect the factory warranty?
I'm thinking I've read that Mercedes can detect if a tuner has been inside the brain no matter how you reset to factory before Taking it in for service.
If mb '8's' your Vin when they find that tune, you may not even get serviced.
Or not.

[JimHoover]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Awesome: Thanks!

Good morning Bob, I forgot to mention that the product is all software - no need to visit their shop with your rig. I sent them my engine computer by FedEx, they did the upgrade in a day and sent it back by FedEx... super easy.

[JimHoover]

Originally Posted by ducksface

How does it affect the factory warranty?
I'm thinking I've read that Mercedes can detect if a tuner has been inside the brain no matter how you reset to factory before Taking it in for service.
If mb '8's' your Vin when they find that tune, you may not even get serviced.
Or not.

I don’t know the answer. But the tune can be reset to factory before taking it for service and then reinstalled.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by JimHoover

Good morning Bob, I forgot to mention that the product is all software - no need to visit their shop with your rig. I sent them my engine computer by FedEx, they did the upgrade in a day and sent it back by FedEx... super easy.

Excellent! What was the turnaround time?

[JimHoover]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Excellent! What was the turnaround time?

I had it back in 2 days. I bought the MyGenius interface for $250 so I can switch between tunes on my own now.

[Bob Denman]

I saw the references to MyGenius on the site...
Does that store the OEM tune, and the hotter set-up as well?
(if a Dealer downloads a tuning program to the MB CPU during a routine service: can you re-install the aftermarket tuning upgrade?

[JimHoover]

Yes, you have MyGenius correct, but I don’t know if it stores more than one tune at a time - it might, I’ll have to read the instructions :-o I’ve only used it once to download my OEM tune and archive it on my laptop. I haven’t tried to download my new tune yet. OETuning also archives my tunes in case I need them. Their Chief Engineer Jeremy is in Australia and good about replying to their common email.

The new and old tunes can be sent via email and loaded on MyGenius. They needed my engine CPU to build an updated model for retuning so they paid for FedEx both ways and did a quick/same day turn around - excellent service. BTW the engine CPU on the 2018 Sprinter 3500 is VERY easy to remove if necessary.

[JimHoover]

Originally Posted by ducksface

How does it affect the factory warranty?
I'm thinking I've read that Mercedes can detect if a tuner has been inside the brain no matter how you reset to factory before Taking it in for service.
If mb '8's' your Vin when they find that tune, you may not even get serviced.
Or not.

I asked OETuning the MB warranty question in email and will share what they say.

[Bob Denman]

I've been aware of CPU reflashing for about five years. Ir is well-known for good results on Can Am Spyders.

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by JimHoover

I asked OETuning the MB warranty question in email and will share what they say.

Asking the third party vendor in Australia about the ramifications of a German manufacturer regarding the manufacturers rules about a USA based vehicle isn't going to get much in the way of facts. They did after all sell you something and need to protect their ware.

Asking Mercedes will get you an absolutely definitive answer.

I have three computer tuned vehicles all running 91 octane with advantages similar to your tuner, so mine isn't a tuner issue.
But
I don't care about factory warranties or factory service.

If you're out of warranty and have no local smog laws there isn't an issue and you can disregard my post.

(there's a real reason why they allow your vehicle to go back to factory specs. It has to do with factory and State and county rules)

[Chance]

I’d also worry about added stresses on engine and drivetrain. Laws and warranty are important, but I’d be concerned about why Mercedes doesn’t provide 260 HP and 450 lb-ft from factory. Different programming wouldn’t cost them anything, and if there are no mechanical or emissions downsides, then why not reflash at factory?

Greater power and torque is always a competitive advantage, so why not take advantage?

[Bob Denman]

I'm no engineer; but it's not likely that your right foot will be trying to push the loud pedal through the firewall 100% of the time anyway...

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I'm no engineer

Precisely. But you know about insurance

I know little about insurance.

[Bob Denman]

Precisely...

But Insurance is simple:
Pay your bills on time, and don't screw up!

[Laco]

I would be concerned about the rest of the drive train, transmission, driveshaft, rear axle assembly. Is it designed for and able to withstand the additional HP & torque, long term? I don't know the answer, but I would certainly have those concerns.

[JeffDelanoRw]

Originally Posted by Laco

I would be concerned about the rest of the drive train, transmission, driveshaft, rear axle assembly. Is it designed for and able to withstand the additional HP & torque, long term? I don't know the answer, but I would certainly have those concerns.

I would tend to agree with you. Making roughly a 25-50% increase in torque on a gas engine, we usually start talking about different oil distribution, rockers, piston rings, and valves/guides. If it was just 10% maybe no big deal, but that’s a heck of an increase for all other internals staying the same. I can almost guarantee, they probably have some other weak link in the internals as to why they didn’t inherently tune to that spec.

Plenty of information on the Internet as why it is this way. Maybe we have some Mercedes Diesel mechanics who can chime in. They probably would know for sure about the specs of internals placed in these engines.

Jeff