Who to remap Mercedes 350d?

[Robertb]

I have a CLS 350d and am wondering about getting a remap, not to get significantly more power necessarily but to improve driveability and hopefully fuel economy (which dropped quite a bit after the main dealer uploaded ‘improved’ mapping (presumably without the emissions cheat code).

I don’t want to upset reliability as it’s been good as gold (touch wood)

Any thoughts on where I should consider?

TIA.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Robertb said:

I have a CLS 350d and am wondering about getting a remap, not to get significantly more power necessarily but to improve driveability and hopefully fuel economy (which dropped quite a bit after the main dealer uploaded ‘improved’ mapping (presumably without the emissions cheat code).

I don’t want to upset reliability as it’s been good as gold (touch wood)

Any thoughts on where I should consider?

TIA.

I’ve had many remaps over the years, mainly for power uplifts.

Whilst they definitely give more power (and drivability to some extent), the economy claims are usually a bit spurious. I certainly would get a remap based on getting better mpg, I think you may be disappointed.

[bigmowley]

Most remaps should improve the low speed drivability. Modern diesels are severely hobbled by the low speed part of the emissions cycle, they effectively run very lean on these parts to minimize the particulate and NOX emissions. This creates holes in the drivability that causes issues pulling out of junctions and the like. Merc Sprinter vans are especially bad for it as are some Land Rovers. Once you throw a little more fuel at the low speed it smooths things out and makes a very noticeable difference, at the cost of a small puff of world destruction! Once the low speed stuff is sorted out it actually can improve fuel economy as you drive a lot in that region, change gear earlier etc. etc. obviously a map that offers more performance will cost you in fuel economy, but only if you drive to that extra performance. You don’t get owt for nowt as the saying goes.
I don’t have direct experience of the 3.0L Merc diesel but my guess is that it will respond well to a light tickle. Based on our Sprinters that are infinitely better to drive once chipped. In the Sprinter the fuel economy is largely unaltered by the remaps.

[MustangGT]

I had a 2012 C350D that had a remap. Averaged 38mpg over my time with the car and it was close to 300bhp. Very drivable at all speeds.

[InitialDave]

I had a good experience with remapping at Performance Torque, having been recommended them by another PHer.

If your car is one they'll do, give them a try.

[vrtrooper]

Big Fish Garage

[Robertb]

Sorry took me a bit of time to find where my post had been moved to!

Thanks for the replies folks, will make some tentative enquiries

Interesting to read that the emissions cheat map did indeed boost economy/co2 at the expense of Nox… my experience that day to day economy is similar but motorway/long distance consumption got worse after the software ‘upgrade’.

[irish boy]

Surely it has to be MSL. Mercedes are their bread and butter.