As I mentioned in another thread, I'm toying with the idea of chip tuning my 98 E300D. I would probably have Rocketchip do it (I can easily drive my car to them) and do a Stage 2 with EGR delete. Researching this has led to some observations and questions.

1. Without question, an engine is capable of greater/better performance than is allowed by the stock ECU.

2. Mercedes engineers configure the ECU to enable the engine to balance performance and reliability in a manner that takes account of a wide range of drivers and driving conditions. From the SpeedTuningUSA site: "Why doesn't the producer perform the engine tuning by themselves? The manufacturers design cars and engines for the worldwide market. In different countries many factors, including extreme heights, hot and/or dry climates, poor fuel quality etc command a general ECU software setting. The conditions in Europe and North America are not that extreme, so there is enough tolerance for chip tuning. The HP can also be a political decision, like the 1.9l TDi 90HP engine represents a certain car tax level in some European countries." This argument make intuitive sense to me. But I don't have any reason to doubt the decisions of the MB engineers given the wide range of drivers and markets.

3. Is every car tuned exactly the same way from the factory? From a production efficiency standpoint, this would make sense. But perhaps the ECU of a car sold in the American market is different from its counterpart in another country (due to emission standards or whatever).

4. If a tuning did adversely affect reliability, in what particular ways would this be the case? What exactly would fail earlier and why?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife