C8-Vette

What benefits are there to the MRC calibration. Cost is about $350.
Mine is a 2016 C7 coupe Z51.

teejake

I think if you go to the Ask Tadge section there’s a pretty good description/answer.

JerryU

^^^
These are the key points from that long post:

Changes
Major Improvements in impact isolation and integration – Impacts are softer, and less harsh. When the vehicle does encounter rough roads, the structural feel is greatly improved.

Major improvements in ride motions at all speeds.

Much more balanced and less abrupt. The car is more poised in compression and rebound, resulting in a flatter ride. This is not implying stiffer body motions, but the vehicle exhibits more a more composed ride.

Parking lot and low speed (25mph and less) the ride motions are more compliant and less jarring.

Handling is more responsive and much more precise. The response of the vehicle is more exact reacting to driver steering inputs.

For 2018 vehicles (except Base+F55), some of the final improvements being implemented for the MRC upgrades were part of the 2018 production release. Thus the improvements for 2018 vehicles are also very significant but not quite as dramatic as the 2014 to 2017 packages.

Foosh

According to GM . . . Very few people who've had this done certainly are heaping effusive praise on the new calibrations. The changes seem to be pretty subtle.

vette friend

Like this guy?

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-reviews.html

Hi All,

I heard of this modification over the internet and immediately went to my Chevy dealer, Bryner Chevrolet, to get the latest news first hand. Firsthand information meant a copy of the Tech Bulletin so I could read it and judge it for myself; what is this all about? Thanks Spence for running me a copy of the Tech Bulletin.

I noted that it had to do with my 2014 Z-51, a car that I often said would "beat the sh-- out of me" on many roads. The mod is a re- calibration of the whole suspension system based on the input from both road and track learning over the last 4 years for Corvettes that have the Z-51/Mag Ride option..

The tech bulletin says: "In Tour and Sport modes the driver should expect to feel improvements in impact isolation and integration, Improvements will also be noticed in ride motions at all speeds and an improved balance.

The suspension will be more compliant and impact harshness is reduced in low speed events such as parking lots. Sport Mode will also improve the handling precision and balance compared to the past Sport Mode".

Less harsh, harshness was my biggest complaint. So I went for the reprogramming. It was completed on Friday and today was our first outing thru the country roads of Bucks Country. The temperature was 50 degrees totally suitable for the performance GM spec run flats.

Was it worth it?

My goodness, I just got a new car! The first thing I noticed was that steering input was immediate and precise. The thumps were gone, same run flats so it is not tires. There was so much improvement that I actually went to the Sport Mode, something I almost never did before on the back roads, nor almost any road in Pennsylvania. It was great; I was actually enjoying the Sport Mode and kept it there for almost half our outing. I did some roads that I know well, so well that I have memorized the humps and road patches. In tour, it now rode like Tony B's base suspension in his 2016, there was that much of a difference.

I now have a Z-51 with all the added capabilities but with the pleasant ride of a base touring car.

Conclusion, worth every penny.

Thanks to GM Chevy for doing this upgrade, it has definitely changed my opinion of the 2014 Z-51, actually really like it--that is saying something, isn't it.

For those with Z-06's, the re-calibrations are on the way. All Z-51's can do the update now. And when I picked up my Corvette, all my dash settings were still there, wonderful!

John De Long

BELVIN20

Had my 2016 Z done yesterday, about 1 hr job. Only issue was I had to remind dealer not to charge me labor as per the bulletin, thank goodness I had a copy with the operation number & that issue was easily resolved.

I brought the car home for the 8hr temperature compensation rest period, will drive today to see if really noticeable. I could tell on the ride home the steering was much more precise in the tour mode, so I have high hopes for the ride quality, but heck even if a little change, the Z is so much fun to drive, I can live with a subtle change.

Foosh

Vette Friend,

I said "very few," and his was perhaps the only very enthusiastic review I recall seeing. Most have either not commented or said it wasn't a major change. On the other extreme, a few have said it was wasted money. But on car forums, perceptions are always all over the map.

By contrast, when you go one of the many DSC controller threads in C7 General, Tech, and Z06, the reviews are 90+% "wow," and there are hundreds of them.

JerryU

Thanks for finding! I know I have seen a number of positive posts and some negatives. This fellow did the testing! There is no way I would comment on the percentage or try to quantify since as with most posts on this forum there are many more silent majority viewing than those that post! I have read enough that it is worth the $350 for me to try!

As this Thread, 5 folks posted as of this one (7 shown but several twice) and 331 viewed! Have a good friend with a C7 who views but never posts!

blkvet6

Better ride and handling.

Foosh

Jerry, I made no attempt to quantify the number of positive vs. negative reviews of the OEM new calibrations. I said I'd seen very few who were very enthusiastic, with most reporting modest improvement.

With regard to quantification, I said there are literally hundreds of DSC reviews posted on this forum as well as real testing on race tracks, and it is conservative to say that they are 90+% very positive. I doubt you've spent much time reading the thousands of posts on the DSC in 4 different areas of the forum. Some of them are nearing 20 pages long.

JerryU

^^^
I have frequently looked at that long DSC posts and a number of comments. Have also looked at the details provided by DSC, very interesting system. But frankly I'll defend my aFe low restriction air intake and my Catch Can with GM if ever needed but no way a replacement for the controller taking input from many sensors and operating the GM Shocks etc!

WHY:
Manged and worked with software folks that designed our mechanical systems, like half million+ CNC Plasma Cutting Systems and microprocessor based Pulsed MIG welders. The "Smiling Green Light" is an interesting issue some might enjoy the story!

Had ~25 service folks and 7 regional sales specialist that sold, installed and serviced large CNC Plasma cutting, Water-Jet and Oxyfuel cutting systems. some were 30 feet wide and traveled over 100+ feet long. We consolidated that business in one plant when we formed a new company from a large multinational. I had responsibility for sales and service support along with our other welding/cutting equipment and welding materials businesses.

The Midwest Region Manager and good friend called and said please come to Peoria Ill and visit with the Caterpillar Tractor engineer who bought our new 3 axis Plasma Bevel Cutting System. There is a new plant manager there from France who just took a large machine that was not running properly and "sent it to the foundry" to be melted! He has threatened to do the same with our machine! One reason was what our sales and service folks called the "Smiling Green Light." The green indicator light was lit that said it was running but the machined was stopped. This was happening often during the day and causing defective cut parts in addition to downtime.

During the visit the CAT engineer who bought the machine (that was paid for) said "If you fix this problem I'll let you bring in any potential customers to see it operate!" I paid the very smart software engineer who designed the system to visit the plant. She was not transferring with the business move. Unfortunately she had tried for some months prior to correct this problem that was on several machines but could not find the error! With the many dynamic inputs to the microprocessor controlling movement and Plasma functions some combination was shutting it down! As can happen with software (having written some myself) there are unplanned combinations of inputs that can cause a crash! Took a young software engineer from engineering and had him sit at CAT with his instrumentation and in one week it was solved. There were several causes. He found what she could not in her own work! There were some other issues and overall it cost $100,000 from our groups budget to solve the problem. The CAT engineer in the next year bought 3 more machines, two for Mexico and we had a number of customers visit where he had nothing but praise for the product. That was the key to their buying! Paid that support service cost back many fold! The Plasma torch consumable sales profits alone would have paid it back in about a month!

What Does it Have to Do with DSC?
I'm sure the engineers who wrote that software are knowledgeable and checked the software as far is possible! Having worked with the Petty Racing team as a sponsor am well aware shocks can be turned to achieve better speeds in certain corners especially on road courses. Watched the Ferrari Clienti Program Team turn for specific corners with their computers plugged into an old Schumacher F1 car trying to break the lap record at Laguna Seca with the head Maranello test driver!

However GM has many more engineers than DSC and IF their software causes an error that creates hardware problems it will be covered on warranty. I'm sure if the DSC system causes a mechanical problem they will replace the computer that there system uses but not the shocks, etc! For the same warranty reason I use an AC/Delco oil filter I prefer to use the GM computer!

For those taking the risk, fine. Just like those getting tunes, it is not a guarantee there will be problems. I'll consider the system after the warranty is over as I will a "tune," but for now I'll stick with the GM system!

Just Sayn'

Foosh

I don't know what any of the above has to do with anything I said, but OK.

If GM doesn't honor the warranty on shocks because I have a DSC Controller installed, I'm OK with that. Four mag shocks cost about the same as a set of tires, and it's worth it to me because suspension performance and comfort are that much better in all modes including Track and PTM modes. It's also highly unlikely all 4 will go at the same time. The DSC is delivering the same electronic impulses as the OEM controller, it's just sending them smarter based upon more data.

It can't affect any other part of the warranty other than shocks, and I seriously doubt it even jeopardizes the warranty on those. You're not "flashing" any other box in the car, just swapping MSRC controller boxes.

Bill Dearborn

I suspect if the shocks went bad nobody would ever think to check to make sure there wasn't a GM controller behind the fender. Shocks are usually replaced if they lose all of their dampening or start leaking. Sort of a common failure with shocks. If the electrical portion of the shock goes bad that probably wont generate any extra questions.

Bill

Foosh

Bill, I'm virtually certain of that as well. I was just trying to give Jerry the benefit of doubt. It certainly will generate far less suspicion than a catch can or aftermarket CAI because they will never know it's there.

Regardless, if flagged, the out of pocket cost is minimal and the benefit is enormous.

Steve Garrett

I'm going to have it installed. On my Z51, I really don't see a difference between Touring and Sport mode.. I hope this will give it a bigger difference in the two.

thelakeshow2k

Are there any steps to follow when you complete the calibration. The only thing I heard was to let it sit for a day. Thanks.

2K14C7

It needs to set for 8-10 hrs for the temperature to stabilize. Then your good to go.

BTW, you can drive home from the dealer and let it set in the garage for the 8-10 hrs.

Allen_B

To Foosh's point, many have seemed to have discovered nirvana with the update and others have been more of a "meh, it's ok" response.

For me, it changed my '17 non-Z07 Z06 from a great handling performance car to an exceptional grand touring machine. Not in a bad way for the performance purists, but smoothed out a few rough edges in Touring for daily driving and fine tuning Sport to an even more capable platform.

Is it worth "heaping effusive praise" upon the update? Unsure for all but for me on a daily driver that I liked before but adore now, I'd say yes- it was a worthwhile update. Tuned my car to what I had hoped for when shifting from a non-MRC C6 to a new Z06...


Allen

Steve Garrett

I had it done a couple weeks ago...can't feel any difference whatsoever.

Jeff V.

Take it back and have a technician print out the scan tool page that shows which calibrations are actually installed in your car.