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-   -   Benz W210 e220 cdi with Pete's box ... tips anyone? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifications-accessories/51718-benz-w210-e220-cdi-petes-box-tips-anyone.html)

Hi,

Pete's got a tuning box for the W210 E220cdi which from their website is a DIY costing app. INR 19K and increases figures approximately from the current 140 odd bhp to about 170 bhp...

Can anyone throw light on this, like the pros, cons, engine damage (if any) etc etc.

I know there are other posts regards this, but I am particularly inquiring about the W210 E220 cdi.

Thanks in advance.

We've seen a Petes box perform first-hand; it does a fantastic job with regards to increasing power output. Without a doubt. For your other queries, it is best to read up this thread. I have been sitting on the fence and haven't decided to install one in my C220 yet. I do want more power, but my history with Mercedes Benz is a major deterrent. And if anything goes wrong in a Benz, the result is BIG $$$ down the drain.

Thanks for the link GTO.

My sentiments exactly regards BIG $$$ down the drain...

About your C220, I understand the C class has been detuned at factory. It carries the same engine as my E220cdi, and compared to the C, the E is way more responsive. (I test drove both before purchase).

Hence, have you looked at the possibility of an engine remap to bring the c engine upto the e class?

UPDATE: I just read your link above which has covered everything!!! Thanks again.

You are talking about the C200. The C220 debuted after the W210 was discontinued, and is rated @ 141 BHP. It's lighter than the W210 E220 and quicker to the 100.

It is already on par with the W210. However, the same engine can easily be tuned for 30 - 35 horses more. My discomfort with Merc's electronics is a bummer when it comes to considering remaps.

I'd say go for it, since your car is a W210 it probably is well out of the warranty period. I trust that Pete's boxes are very reliable and there has yet been not report of any harm that they have caused. Moreover the box is plug'n play so you can take it off everytime your car goes in for service, that way the dealership can't accuse you of anything.

Abt remaping the C220 to E220 specs, MBIL does not let you do that. I tried to get my bmw 525d remapped to the 530d specs as they share the same engine, but after many attempts at the dealership was informed that remaping softwares are not given to dealers, it can be done only at the factory.

The C that I tested was apparently (as told to me by the seller) a 2003 manufacture and had C220 cdi (did the seller change the logo???) at the back. Honestly, the acceleration was sluggish (much better than my previous W210 E250, but nothing compared to the current W210 E220 cdi) and there was no turbo boost/thrust...dead turbo? Probably explains the poor acceleration.

Again, we go back to the big bucks should anyting go wrong...But then lets consider what Sahil says below !!!

Yep, no warranty, and I don't go to MBIL for service etc. I am more hands on DIY or present during work which is too major or 'back breaking' for me to do.

So the only option is the tuning box....Hmmm! But again, I trend to echo GTO's sentiments regards the possibilty of something going wrong.

So still thinking....another option, go in for the 270 or 280 cdi !!!! And then start the whole cycle again !!!! It never ends ! Still confused !

LOL: if you getting a 270 or 280 then those will more than satisfy your power hunger!
But for the time being if I were you I would get a trial run on the petes box from their agent to decide. I wouldn't worry about engine damage etc if you do have a problem you can always annoy pete here as he is a member :p

Hey your best bet would be to get a remap instead of tuning box. Tuning box is nothing but fooling the ECU by pumping in more fuel thereby generating more power. With remap your car would add more power and it would be much linear right upto to the red line. And yes forgot more often the tuning box add to more of black smoke in some of the cars. Not sure how it would do in a Merc. Have a word with Peter at Pete's, also he doesn't have one there are many tuning company in Europe who do the remap. You can also try supertuning.

i just saw the petes site and the e220 is the w221.

And a remap is also more complex! With a power box, you can simply disconnect and get back to stock. I would be more comfortable with a power box than a remap. Especially when it's a high-end electronics laden car.

Each one has its own perspective at looking towards it. Tuning box is deffinately is easier to put it back and to take it off. But look around how many tuners use tuning box these days, AMG, Brabus, Carlsson, kleemann and other which are specialise in Merc and there are many others for diffferent makes dealing in performance upgrade would always choose towards remap/ rewriting the software against the tuning box.
If one is just like looking for mere decent boost towards the low and mid range i feel tuning box will suffice but looking for better smooth power increase through out the rev range then remap is the one to go.
Tuning box will never give a smooth power increase but instead will give sudden surge in power as the turbo kicks in.

Google a little on Remap vs tuning box one will find endless site which talks about it and whats better.

No offence but everyone of us has its own personal experiences and choice made accordingly. And I don't say am completely correct in what i say, I may be wrong.

The biggest drawback in a remap is that it will void warranty as most remaps get detected by the dealerships. However a tuning box leaves no traces behind once unplugged.
Also, a remap deleted if your ECU is ever flashed during the service, in that case you would come back to stock settings.
But from a performance point, a remap is better.