Remapping cars

[garth]

Is it reliable / damaging / worth it?

Getting a 2.0 307 Hdi and any power or increased mpg is a bonus I guess.
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[james1988]

I'm part of ZSOC and UKFN forums and people seem to swear by it. I've looked at having mine done in the future along with NOSing it for a laugh. I suppose if it isn't a really aggressive map then it wont be to damaging. I seem to think with Fiestas to get a bit more out they run them leaner which I would assume would have an adverse effect on engine wear. Have a look around some forums. Sorry if that wasn't much help

James

*Edit*
As for worth it I don't think it will be unless you modify other things like cams, exhausts forced induction or N/A induction modifications. You may get a few more mpg and one or two extra bhp from standard. I'm not 100% sure on this so don't take it as gospel, it's just my understanding.

[fatpies]

What you want to do is buy a chip off ebay (usually with just a resistor in it). For way over the odds, and then put it in your car. The placebo effect will make the car seem to be much more powerful lightening the car very slightly...

Mostly from your wallet
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[Daimo]

Its fine, and worth it!!!

Standard maps on "some" cars can be quite aggressive and hold the engine back to meet noise/emissions regs from new.

remaps, especially done at the right places (unsure on Pugs im afraid), offer a good dollop of power, and a hefty increase in torque. Many places offer different kind of maps as well, some with more torque, some with more power. Works much better on turbo/TDiesel engines than on NA engines where gains are pretty lame.

I.E...
A Vauxhall 150 TD engine can be mapped to around 190/200bhp with 250+lb ft torque. Thats a 40+bhp increase, with no effect on economy. In fact, due to the harshness of some standard maps, it can actually improve drivability and MPG.

If I had a TD, i'd remap it straight away. Missis wont let me map the S3, says its quick enough

Do searches on reputable companies as each marque is different in its maps and companies that do it. Proper companies should offer the map, and offer a free "back to standard" map should you want to go back when selling.

The only major downpoint on the TD engines is that clutch life may come down, but a reputable mapper should be able to talk you through this and discuss what map is suitable for what you want.

Engines are de-tuned for the road for longevity, and unless you're looking to do 200k+, I wouldn't worry about it. Modern engines will go on.

Short answer, yes, do it.

Do NOT buy off ebay!!!!!

[Paulington]

If it's done by a reputable tuner/engine worker/mechanics, reputable being well known around that area with good reviews then it can be fantastic.

On cars with around 150bhp-300bhp it is not uncommon to see 40-50bhp gains from a remap and a lot of tuners save the stock map so you can return to it if you wish, as Daimo said, modern engines are pretty strong and I doubt you'll notice much difference to longevity unless you are trying to get stupid power out of an engine or you still want it to do crazy mileage (150k+) which is less likely to happen.

I got a custom made map put on the bike for the tuning done to that and it gave me an instant 12bhp increase which was pretty nice. I'd recommend it.

In fact a lot of the time a remap is the best bhp per pound value wise, so well worth doing!
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[JonnyFoxtrot]

On anything with forced induction e.g Turbo/Supercharged Petrol, Turbo Diesel, you'll get a decent increase probably upwards of 10-20% so yes worth it. (albeit if its done professionally by someone reputable).

On anything naturally aspirated e.g Standard Petrol engines 1.1-2.5-4 litre, you'll get next to no power increase, 1-2% at the most and I've yet to see any reputable dynos/data that show otherwise. You will probably get a better power delivery as torque curves and fuel mixtures are tweaked but no substantial power increase so no not worth it.
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[Wave2k]

I remember fitting a PCIII to my SP1 and it made a world of difference to the drivabilty of it.

Perhaps not a great deal of power 1-2bhp if that, but it gave you an extra 20 miles to a tank and a much better ride.

Not done a car yet, i may get it done to my 350Z in the near future, they have a fairly aggresive map to restrict all sorts of crap for EU laws etc etc.

Long story short, modify the air filter for less than £5, fit a Y pipe and a cat back exhaust and you are looking at 30-40bhp from an NA engine (with a remap), just goes to show the restrictions cars are on nowdays to get through these stupid pointless hoops.

However a good remap is EXPENSIVE, specially a custom one.

You need dyno time

£5 airbox mod
£140 Y pipe
£380 Scorpion cat back exhaust

£399 for the remap !!
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[tutton]

Had my peugeot 306 hdi 2.0 remapped, recommended, i only very little for my map to be done, i had standard map plus breathing mods, the predicited was from 90bhp standard to roughly 120, and a bigish jump in torque, got the map emailed to me, found sumbody with a kpw2000+ lead plugged into diagnostic port and flashed the ecu with the new map in a carpark, and the difference was huge, completely different car to drive.
I helped design the blokes website hence the cheap rate i got, but he is still good and low on price, drop me a pm if you want me to find out his details.
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
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[proximity]

If tuttons map worked well for him, that might be worth doing, KWP units are cheap, but BEWARE that if you get it wrong you can lock out your ECU and you will need to send it off to be repaired.

I work in a garage that does diagnostic work on diesels and we get cars in with tuning boxes and remaps all the time.

From what i've found, both tuning boxes and remaps can give amazingly good results on modern diesels. Not so much on petrols unless it is turbocharged.

Granted a LOT of tuning boxes are crap especially most ebay boxes, just adding fuel without a care in the world, resulting in power but a lot of smoke, potential engine management errors and bad MPG. It gives tuning boxes a bad name.

On the contrary I've also seen many cars remapped giving the same problems, such as VW PD engines mapped badly with files downloaded off the internet causing limp home mode at full throttle due to over boosting. You need to make sure you are using a tuner with a good reputation.

In my opinion if the car is worth a lot to you and you want the best you can get, go for a custom remap. You'll get great results but it will cost you around £400 probably.

If you don't want to spend this (I wouldn't the 8v HDi is pretty old tech), get a GOOD tuning box.
There is no point going for something like DTUK or Chipexpress at £350+, been there, done that, you might as well get a remap. I advise most of my customers to go for a quality digital unit (not a resistor in a box) such as Bluespark Automotive Diesel Tuning or RoverRon boxes, boxes like these seem to perform exactly the same as the more expensive units. I run one on my own car.

Hope this helps.
J
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2004 Aprilia Tuono

[JP7]

I've had cars remapped in the past and and they have worked very well. At the end of the day, many cars are sold with different bhp engines, which are basically the same engine with a different remap. VAG engines and the 1.6 MINI engines are a case in point. You can release quite a bit more power from the car without much effect on economy or longevity.

I would not recommend getting a tuning box though, I had one fitted to one of my old cars and it caused no end of problems. On two occasions I had issues with my injectors caused by it. I would far sooner have a proper remap done.

[Dischord]

I would stay well clear of a 307 HDi mate, they are absolutely riddled with electrical and stupid little faults! Absolute nightmare cars. Just do a google seach and you'll see what I mean - search for problems with fuel economy and the particulate filter and comm 2000 unit.
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[garth]

I didnt buy it in the end, was a pile of poo.

Search continues!
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