Compare Mercedes engine balancing or remapping job quotes from specialist garages

In 1886, Karl Benz - the founder of Mercedes Benz - introduced what is often considered the first petrol-powered car to the world. The Benz Patent Motor Car was born, and with it began a legacy that continues today.

Style, luxury and innovation are the driving forces behind Mercedes. Not only was it one of the first car manufacturers to put brakes and suspension on all four wheels, but it was also the first to introduce safety crumple zones.

Cars by Mercedes have appeared on the big screen numerous times, from the S-Class used by Jason Statham in The Transporter to escape a gunfight to the 1969 280 SE Convertible driven by Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones's Diary.

See how Mercedes' maintenance costs compare with BMW's and Audi's here.

Car remapping, sometimes called ‘chipping', involves changing your car's engine control unit (ECU) programming by overwriting the manufacturer's settings on the microchip. This process is done by plugging a laptop into the vehicle's OBD port.

Engine remapping is different to engine balancing, which involves altering components in the engine itself rather than making changes to the car's computer.

A car remapping service can give you better fuel economy, improved driveability and control, increased power, and a better throttle response. It is highly customisable, so you can choose which aspects of performance you want to improve, and you can also have multiple remaps so you can switch between them depending on your needs.

However, remapping often makes your insurance more expensive, and it only benefits cars with a turbo; if your vehicle doesn't have one, the difference after remapping will be minimal.