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Western Star Courtesy Engineering Policy
Constellation
Heritage
> 4700 Models

> 4800 Models
> 4900 Models
> 5700 Models

5900 Models
> 6900 Models

Western Star
Service Bulletin

Description of Revisions: This bulletin replaces the version dated
October 2016. Common requests are updated in Table 1.

General Information
Daimler Trucks North America has traditionally provided engineering support to dealers for the purpose of
modifying vehicles to change their original specifications. This service is categorized as "courtesy engineering,"
and is subject to formal controls and definitions.
Courtesy engineering is defined as technical design information provided to dealers in order to change the
configuration of a vehicle from its original specifications, or to add vehicle options that were not originally
ordered but were available from the factory at the time of manufacture. Common examples: changing gross axle
weight ratings, adding air and electric trailer towing provisions, suspension changes, brake modifications,
changing a wheelbase, issuing compliance/official letters, programming changes, and installing air fairings.
Custom engineering is not offered as courtesy engineering.
Charges for courtesy engineering are $200 per hour, with a minimum charge of 1 hour, unless otherwise stated.
Courtesy engineering technical requests will result in a thorough, serial-specific parts list that will contain the
part numbers with quantities as well as installation diagrams, wiring schematics, and drilling patterns (if
applicable). Bills of Material will also be listed for reference to be used in PartsPro if needed.
Dealers who wish to use this service are to provide their District Service Manager with the basic information
concerning the present status of the vehicle, the serial number, the changes needed, a purchase order, and the
dealer code. When available, a sales data code should be provided to help define the modification. When the
design information is completed, it will be sent to the District Service Manager involved in the change, and the
dealership open parts account will be charged. Billing usually occurs at the end of the month.

NOTE: The Technical Modifications group will not issue parts lists or instructions directing a 3rd party
to add or remove an optional safety system that uses active braking.
NOTE: If the vehicle is modified, a global annotation should be added in PartsPro to reflect the
vehicle modification and the parts that were installed. See Parts Technical Bulletin 00-009 for more
information on adding a global annotation in PartsPro.

Flat Fee Procedures
The following procedures will be charged a flat fee rather than the above mentioned method.
• Allison transmission speed change requests will be charged $75 to cover the engineering time involved in
making the determination. Please provide your District Service Manager a purchase order when
submitting a request. The purchase order will be charged regardless of approval, conditional approval, or
denial.
• Loaded truck body center of gravity (CG) recalculations for MVSS-105/121 brake system compliance will
be charged $75 per truck order to cover the engineering time to perform these calculations and prepare
documentation. Please provide your District Service Manager a purchase order when submitting a
request.
• Requests where only a serial number with the requested option is desired will be charged a flat fee of
$50. Not all requests are subject to this option. Engineering support is not offered with this option. It is the
responsibility of the requestor to look up the applicable parts from the reference vehicle and ensure they
are correct.

Western Star Service Bulletin, 05/18/2017

Page 1

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Western Star Courtesy Engineering Policy

Western Star
Service Bulletin

Constellation
Heritage
> 4700 Models

> 4800 Models
> 4900 Models
> 5700 Models

5900 Models
> 6900 Models

• Simple requests will be charged a flat fee of $50 Not all requests are subject to this option. Engineering
support is not offered with this option. Examples of simple modifications: seat changes, pre-EPA07
exhaust modifications, and changing floormats.

Estimates for Time or Fee
See Table 1 for typical time estimates.
Typical Times for Common Requests
Common Request
Driver Controlled Differential Lock and Gear ratio changes
GAWR Changes
Power Mirrors / Windows
Trailer Tow Packages (Air and Electric Provisions)

Hours
(Estimated)
1-2
1-4
1
4

Table 1, Typical Times for Common Requests

See Table 2 for common requests that typically have flat fees.
Typical Flat Fees for Common Requests
Common Request
Center of Gravity Amendment Letters
National Safety Mark (NSM) Letters (Canada)
Transmission Reprogramming

Flat Fee
$75
$100
$75

Table 2, Typical Flat Fees for Common Requests

Information Required for Requests
Requests lacking clarity or missing information will not be processed until ample information is supplied. The
following is the minimum information needed by type of request.
For Allison Transmission Reprogram Requests, please include the following information:
• Last six digits of the VIN(s)
• Dealer Code
• Purchase Order (P.O.)
• Whether the vehicle’s wheelbase, rear tires size, or rear axle ratio have been modified
• Are there any split shaft devices installed in the main driveline (pump, transfer case, etc.)
For Center of Gravity Amendment Letter Requests, please include the following information:
• Last six digits of the VIN(s)
• Dealer Code
• Purchase Order (P.O.)
• The height to be shown on the letter
• Who the letter should be addressed to (name, company, mailing address)

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Western Star Service Bulletin, 05/18/2017

Western Star Courtesy Engineering Policy
Constellation
Heritage
> 4700 Models

> 4800 Models
> 4900 Models
> 5700 Models

5900 Models
> 6900 Models

00-4
Western Star
Service Bulletin

For National Safety Mark (NSM) Requests, please include the following information:
• Last six digits of the VIN(s)
• Dealer Code
• Purchase Order (P.O.)
• Who the letter should be addressed to (name and company)
• The modification being performed
• Whether a parts list is needed or a letter only
For General Technical Requests, please include the following information:
• Last six digits of the VIN(s)
• Dealer Code
• Purchase Order (P.O.)
• The modification being performed (if possible, include the desired data code(s) or a similar vehicle with
the desired option)
• Additional information regarding why the modification is being performed can be helpful. Although not
required, it sometimes allows for an easier and lower cost solution to be identified if available. For
example:
• A request for "trailer tow provisions" will contain air and electric provisions in the parts list. However,
if the request explains that only the electrical portion is required, the amount of engineering time
spent on the request is considerably reduced, making the response faster, and minimizing cost.
• A request that says "need a pintle hook" will be delayed because more information is needed. A
similar, more detailed request like "need a pintle hook capable of towing 3500lb (max) dollies
around the yard," will receive a faster response.

Western Star Service Bulletin, 05/18/2017

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