I drove a little over an hour to Abel Chevrolet to get the second oil change. Decided to have them update the MRC for $350. Given my experience I'm fairly skeptical about such things and thought that since I was not going to be in Track mode driving home, I didn't have expectations that I would notice any handling differences in Tour or Sport mode. Let me just say the difference was instantly noticeable when I turned onto the highway and got moving along.

In Tour mode the car felt like it skimmed over the bumps confidently absorbing the undulations and filled pot holes and the steering felt perfect. SR 12 is an extremely bad road as it lies under the level of the levees and has expansive soil under the structural section of the road. It is almost like a roller coaster in some spots. So it was easy to tell the difference between driving to the dealership and then from the dealership after the MRC update.

Just thought I would share in case anybody was on the fence about it.

 

A good tidbit here:


One good thing about this Ask Tadge feature on the Forum is that you don’t just get access to me, but to the whole Corvette team as well as supporting organizations like GM Performance Accessories. Many of you are familiar with Jim Mero, our ride and handling development engineer who developed the calibration upgrade packages being offered through GM Performance Accessories. I asked him to clarify the whole picture in his own words. And here he is:

Before I get into the rollout of the calibration, and the questions asked, some history might be in order in an effort to make a very complicated situation clearer.

I have read through almost all the threads on the Corvette Forum about the MRC aftermarket calibrations. Overwhelming is an understatement. This is a complex situation and deserves a proper answer, which isn’t short.

With Magnetorheological (Magnetic Ride Control/MagneRide/MRC), we continue to learn and improve as we develop our higher performance variants. Over the past year and a half new tools have been created to help us better analyze data recorded on the bench, on the road, and on the track. Utilization of this data analysis was significant during my tuning of the ZR1. While tuning the ZR1 I realized a revolutionary change that not only improved track performance but also ride quality and handling in Tour and Sport. A change so significant I felt obligated to not only roll it into future model years for all MRC Corvettes, but also make it available to all customers already in possession of a 7th generation Corvette with MRC. While I wish we could roll these out immediately for all, it takes a significant amount of work and time to execute each calibration. Tour, Sport, and Track for each Corvette MRC chassis package have their own individual calibrations. None are shared between any 2 variants. All must go the same extensive validation process as a production implementation. All will be part of the 2019 production fitment. Including the ZR1 I revised 21 total new calibrations by September, 2017. The cadence and roll out of the new MRC calibrations for Chevrolet Performance were determined in the order they were completed.

 

Don't know if they kept car overnite, you didn't say. According to Tadge the MRC will not take effect until it has sat overnite (8-12 hrs) due to leveling & other adjustments which is why it must sit on a level surface for that period. You would not "feel", very subjective, a difference if driving immediately after software upgrade. Sitting period doesn't matter if done at dealer or you drive it home & park it overnite, but must be done. Just saying, not picking a fight.

 

The temperature compensation is for fine tuning. The bulk of the calibration change is effective immediately.

 

so to be clear, you think i did worth your 350$ bucks!

 

I had mine done last week. I took the GS for a 59 mile drive today. Left it in Tour mode and was very happy with the $350 spent.

 

Finally some up to date info! Your car is a first half 2018 non z07 Z06? I’ve been looking for impressions before doing upgrade not knowing whether it’s worth it. I may drive down to Abel’s for 2nd oil change and MRC. How quickly did they get you out the door?Mine a first half Z 2018 built last week before shutdown.Meros statement clarifies things further.

 

I have the same car as you, 2018 Z06, non Z07 built last August. I had the MRC update done last week. On the street, all modes are softer. I will track test next month at VIR. For a non z07 car, the car felt very harsh on the street until the update. My previous C7 Z51 car ride is now closer to the z06. Well worth it IMO.
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Yes the update was night and day difference on my Z06/Z07, HUGE

 

As stated above the sitting for 8-12 hours is for shock fluid temperature stabilization. I have not seen anything that requires the car to be on a perfectly level surface, but the full effect of the upgrade will not take effect until the fluid temps normalize.

RICH

 

No problem with sharing what you read. Lot's of people doing that on forums. But I do get a kick when somebody tells me how I feel or what I didn't feel. I've been around this forum for a long time and I'm not one who defends something because he spent $$ on a product.

I'm sure that what Tadge says is correct to get the full effect, but it doesn't change that I felt a difference before and after.

 

Good to hear you like the upgrade, think I'll have mine done...

 

Did it to my 16 Z. Like it and feel it was worth the $!

 

As the owner of a '13 GS manual, this is very interesting to me. Since I'm in upstate SC I could meet you in Myrtle Beach or your route might take you close to me.

Don't be disappointed by the number of responses to date, not many of us who still work can get on here every day and it may take people a couple of visits to actually read this thread. I'm sure you will be busy once word gets out. While face book probably is a better spot for those who use social media, I'm another engineer who would rather be kicked in the nuts than have a face book account.

Very interested in experiences of people who have had this done already.

Don't know how my response ended up here, I was on the post in the C6 section????

 

I'd be in for this type of upgrade... recently purchased a 2012 Grand Sport convertible A/T with MRC, and actually haven't had too much seat time with it yet before I had to store it for the winter... since I'm north of the border, I would likely have it done at Corvettes at Carlisle, as I usually go there each year...

 

MRC failure...........
I got the MRC update for my 2017 Z06 M7 2LZ from Reliable Chevy in Richardson, TX in Feb 2019
Tour and Sport was MUCH WORSE.. very bouncy and ruff on the drive home. (yes they had the car for 2 days AFTER the software update)
I called immediately, they said give it a couple of days which I did...still bouncy
I bought it to Classic Chevy in Grapevine, service advisor drove the car and agreed it was too bouncy....they replaced the rear shocks....still bouncy
I brought it back to Reliable Chevy to see if they loaded the wrong file...I got the car back today (4-3-19) they said nothing wrong they called Chevy engineers who said "the ride does get rougher"
I asked if I can talk to those GM engineers they said no.....(wow what a shocker)
EVERYTHING I read from GM says the ride quality gets BETTER not rougher
I called Chevy this afternoon and they open a case to investigate

 

I still haven't got the MRC update because I'm still getting mixed comments on the update in the 2018 Z06 non Z07 option car. There is a difference between the 2017 and 2018 models if you believe what Tadge said in his write up on the Stickies. The OP on this thread doesn't say what Z06 year he has, but his avatar says it's a 2017 model....some posters here have said the OP's great acclaims are on a 2018, which I don't believe are accurate....his is a 2017. So far, the limited driving I have done on my 2018 have shown a far superior ride in Tour and Sport to my previous 2016 coupe (identical cars, both non Z07 optioned). Tadge's information would lead me to believe that the MRC update was performed in Tour and Sport mode on all new, "late" model 2018's, which mine most definitely is. My concern on the update is the fear that I will get the update performed and will find it worse than the way it is now (kind of like Caddy Racer found on his 2017), on my 2018. And I also realize that is simply my opinion...just be advised, if you have a 2018, this just may not be the magic that you hear others talk about.

 

I thought about doing the update, because i didn't want to spend 1300 bucks or so for the DSC controller because i'll be trading the car in for the C8 in about 2 years anyway but looking at the posts about owners getting the upgrade, honestly i don't even think they know for sure if they got it or not. Just because there's a piece of paper that says, "MRC update". Where is the file for proof? There has to be some sort of number recorded of a before and after so the owners will know this was done. Maybe similar if you get recall work done?

 

Please PM me your VIN. I can't promise anything, but I might be able to help.