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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1963.0. "Engine management chips" by LARVAE::WHITE_D () Wed Dec 02 1992 08:57

    What is the view on these ECU upgrades from the likes of BBR and
    Detection Techniques. I mean the non-turbo chips they advertise which
    they say improves performance ,removes flat spots etc. Are they worth
    the �100-�200. What about insurance implications and maybe any vehicle
    warranty?.
    
    thanks 
    Dave
    
    
                                                                               
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1963.1SUBURB::BOXALLGGraham Boxall@REOWed Dec 02 1992 16:1111
    
    I had my Peugeot 205 1.9GTi ECU upgraded to a superchip version, I think it
    gave an improvement of 10-15 Bhp overall (I also had the car Rolling Road
    tuned by Oselli Engineering at the same time).
    
    The improvement was amazing, the car had much more torque and gone was
    the jerkiness at low speed. I can't tell you whether this was a result
    of the chip or the rolling road tune up, but the results were worth it.
    
    Graham
              
1963.2KURMA::IJOHNSTONWed Dec 02 1992 16:185
    How much was your chip?? And any idea how much the 1.6 GTi one is?
    
    
    
    Ian.
1963.3EPROM'sREPAIR::CARTERThu Dec 03 1992 15:107
    
    Does any one know if they actually change the chip or reprogram
    the old one. If they change the chip do you get any money for the
    old one? 
    Does fitting take long?
    
    ...Simon 
1963.4SUBURB::BOXALLGGraham Boxall@REOFri Dec 04 1992 19:0310
    
    The chip for my Peugeot cost 169 pounds, this was for a 1.9Gti, I don't
    know if the 1.6Gti is a different chip/price.
    
    The people who fitted the chip had the car for the whole day, but this
    also included a rolling road tuneup. Apparently the car spent 4 hours
    on the rolling road....
    
    
    Graham
1963.5169 pounds include 4 hr tune?BEAVER::MCKEATINGMon Dec 07 1992 14:573
Did the 169 price include the 4 hour tune up?

Bob (I think I'll add it to my Christmas list if it does)
1963.6Not that cheapSUBURB::BOXALLGGraham Boxall@REOMon Dec 14 1992 19:4616
    RE: -1
    
    Sorry I've taken so long to reply, I've been on leave. Unfortunatly the
    tuneup is not included in the 169 price. I can't remember exactly how
    much the tuneup itself cost, I think it was about 100 pounds. I've got
    the Osselli leaflet at home, I'll take a look at it this evening and
    let you know the costs etc.
    
    I almost fainted when they told me the final cost, during the drive 
    home I soon forgot about the money though.... ;>)
    
    
    
    Graham
    
    
1963.7Why the 4 hour tune up?ROCKS::CAMPMon Dec 14 1992 22:0411
    Interesting that it took such a long time to just shove in a new chip
    and 4 hours to tune up. Could be the new/cleaned or reset gap plugs,
    fit new plug leads/clean distributor, reset valve timing, change air
    filter, and what have you, may have more to do with the improved
    performance than the chip. I would have thought the chip change would
    take 5 minutes and bingo +15 BHP, and 5,000 miles off engine life.
    Did the garage fully explain why the four hours tune up was needed?
    The explanation would be interesting.  
    
    Mike
    
1963.8ESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutTue Dec 15 1992 10:2225
�    performance than the chip. I would have thought the chip change would
�    take 5 minutes and bingo +15 BHP, and 5,000 miles off engine life.
    
    A simple chip change would probably only take a few minutes, but at
    the very least, the timing should be checked afterwards (even if it
    is taken from a fixed flywheel trigger for TDC).  If not, the chip
    may have no benefit at all.
    
    Why do you think the chip will take 5,000 miles off engine life ?
    (fuel washing oil from the bores ?  higher cylinder pressures ?
     higher rev limit increasing bearing wear ?  Just wondering...)
    
�                          -< Why the 4 hour tune up? >-
    
    Partly as above, I would expect some checking/tuning to be done
    to make sure the engine is set at the determined figures.
    
    Also, whether a chip change is performed or not, a rolling-road
    tune-up is expected to bring benefits in getting an engine running
    correctly at its optimum settings.
    
    Not sure that I'd expect this to take all of 4 hours, but you never
    can tell until the job is done.
    
    J.R.
1963.9you don't get someting for nothingWEOPON::LP12Wed Dec 16 1992 10:2620
    re: .-1
    
    Especially with turbo motors, I'd expect the "chip" to take something
    off engine life because the whole point of buying the chip is to get
    increased engine performance. Some of the turbo chips increase
    performance 40% or so. This stresses all components of an engine, but
    especially cranks, con rods and seals. Horsepower is directly related
    to engine speed (rpm) or compression ratio (actually cr is more to do
    with torgue, especially at low revs), or with a turbo, both these
    things mixed with an improved engine mapping of (fuel) mixture with
    temperature and air flow. 
    
    The fact is the manufacturer has tested the engine for longetivity at a
    certain compression ration, crank speed etc. With a chip, you're changing
    this and you should expect to have shortened the life of the engine.
    
    This isn't a problem if you don't mind a re-con earlier than otherwise
    expected...
    
    -Dave.
1963.10ESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutWed Dec 16 1992 14:2228
�    Especially with turbo motors, I'd expect the "chip" to take something
�    off engine life because the whole point of buying the chip is to get
    
    I do agree with your overall comments.  Especially with turbo's.
    BUT, the amount of extra wear is debatable.  Manufacturers will
    certainly choose a *safe* power level, which they will test the
    engine for.  Increases in power can be expected to reduce the
    pverall life expectancy of an engine, but to what degree ?
    
    The figure you commented would usually not bother hardly any owners
    of new-ish vehicles...
    
    One other point with the mod on turbo's, where boost is increased,
    this will only have effect while the driver is pressing the pedal
    'all the way'.  Not usually for long at all.  The rest of the time,
    boost pressure is nowhere near the wastegate limit, to the chip
    change will have no effect.
    
    I had an Integrale and had a chip conversion on that, so I do
    know what sort of difference it makes.  I had no related problems
    with the engine.  Then again, I sold the car within two years, so
    you could argue that I got rid of too soon to find out.
    
    Anyhow, my comment was questioning your views, in particular the
    mileage figures that you quoted.  Just wondered about your comments,
    not trying to argue whether there is any truth in the matter.
    
    J.R.
1963.11RUTILE::BISHOPWhat the HELL are you talking about man!Thu Dec 17 1992 07:498
John,

With you modified Integrale, what kind of power increase did you notice? I'm
still wondering whether or not to get one of these _things_! ;-)

Cheers,

					Lewis.
1963.12 Go ahead and get one... I'm probably going to againESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutThu Dec 17 1992 10:0031
�With you modified Integrale, what kind of power increase did you notice?
    
    I had an 8-valve model, which puts out 185 bhp as standard. Torque figure,
    with overboost, is over 200 lb/ft - can't remember the right amount.
    
    I had the 'Phase 1' chip-up fitted by BBR, which gave 'about' 230 bhp.
    Depends when you read their advert as to what figure was listed !
    
    Anyway, as there advert says, it may be a long drive to their premises,
    but the drive home is worth the trip.
    
    The car was certainly no slouch beforehand, but on the way home,
    fifth gear pulled as strong as it did previously in fourth...
    According to their figures, 0-60 should be down to about 5� seconds.
    
    I did get the car into the red-line in fifth gear some time after
    this upgrade.  So, top speed is 'pretty good', but honestly, that
    isn't what counts.  The acceleration in gears, especially if in
    fourth or fifth at around 50mph, is something to be experienced.
    
    Before I went in the demonstrator (prior to purchasing my own), I
    had never been in a car were acceleration *really* pushed you into
    the seat.  Having bought one and then upgraded it, I had people
    making similar comments - even when four-up, the thrust could be
    felt by all the passengers when 'giving it some welly'.
    
    Then you can get onto cornering.  Something else it does really well.
    It also makes driving fast seem especially easy - maybe a bad thing,
    but you can certainly eat up the miles at speed with little effort.
    
    J.R.
1963.13ESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutThu Dec 17 1992 10:049
    BTW, see the following topics for other 'chip' comments :
    
    	301, 337, 572, 1130
    
    and these for relevant integrale write-ups :
    
    	571, 622, 853 (and 827 !)
    
    J.R.
1963.14Drool,droolUNTADH::WILCOCKSONI wanna go homeThu Dec 17 1992 10:254
    >> Go ahead and get one...  I'm probably going to again
    John,
    
    Does this mean you'll be getting the Evolutione?? 
1963.15ESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutThu Dec 17 1992 10:2914
�    Does this mean you'll be getting the Evolutione?? 
    
    Not too likely, more money than I wish to spend on a car at the moment.
    
    I'm likely to buy an older model - maybe even another 8-valve - but
    it will be driven more often by my Wife !
    
    Since I'm building a Stratos replica kit-car, that'll be my form
    of 'rapid transport' - but it's some way off completion yet.
    
    In the mean time, I'll continue with my GTV6 (plus the dead Heep),
    while my Wife is driving the 2.2 GT/E Manta.
    
    J.R.
1963.16All this *AND* the StratosMANWRK::LEACHThu Dec 17 1992 10:476
>>    while my Wife is driving the 2.2 GT/E Manta.
    
    Does this mean you've actually got round to fitting the engine ?
    
    Shaun.
    
1963.17Only a single garageESBS01::RUTTERRut The NutThu Dec 17 1992 13:456
�                        -< All this *AND* the Stratos >-
�    Does this mean you've actually got round to fitting the engine ?
    
    Yeah, I had to do the Manta before I got the kit delivered...
    
    J.R.
1963.18Watch the Insurance implicationsWELCLU::YOUNGMon Jan 11 1993 11:314
    
    Not wisshing to put a damper on these chips, but you will find they
    invalidate your insurance, and only specialist insurance company's 
    will touch them. They will class the car as modified.
1963.19engine chip upgrade for cavalier 1.8iSIOG::MGALLAGHERTue Feb 22 1994 10:359
    Hi
      Could anyone out  there let me know  if there is  a chip for the fuel
    management system to increase the bhp of a 1.8 cavalier with a cat.
    After driving a SRI for 3 yrs the lack of power is slowly sending 
    me to an early grave.I know there was a chip for the SRI and just
    wonder if any thing could be done to improve performance.
    
    Any suggestions would be most appreciated
                 Regards MICK.
1963.20StarchipBELFST::MULLANWed Feb 23 1994 08:167
    Try Starchip on 0932-788805 for a list of supported engines.  I don't
    know where SIOG is but they seem to have an extensive list of dealers
    all over UK.  The cost is near the #200.00 mark so it may be an expensive
    solution.
    
    Gerry
    
1963.21power chips for VW GTI engineHLRG02::STEEGOpel MantaThu Feb 24 1994 08:2013
    Hi,
    
    Does anybody know if there are engine chips for the VW 2.0 8v engines
    (new GTI).
    Standard it is 'only' 115 hp.
    Where can I get chips, what is the improvement, and what is the cost???
    
    Thanks,
    
    
    /-/		Henk.
    
    (Who_is_driving_the_new_shape_SEAT_IBIZA_GTI_with_the_VW_GTI_engine)
1963.22REPROT::TAFF::WobRobert Screene, UK Finance EUCThu Feb 24 1994 12:5224
Henk, I think I have seen one for the 2.0 Golf III by Automotive 
Developments (AmD), at Oddington, near Oxford.

Geoff there really seems to know camshafts, computers and engine 
management/fuelling technology!   He's written some software to collect 
data from his rolling road.  I'm sure Geoff could give you "Dynoplot"  
power/torque graphs showing before and after for any change they 
have available.

Sorry, I don't know the telephone number offhand.   I should imagine 
you would get you 10% more BHP, and around 15% more torque, with less 
drivetrain shunt for a cost around �200 pounds fitted.

I think VW/Audi Car Magazine have reviewed more ambitious MK III engine 
conversions, but I don't think they have reviewed a simple chip swap.  I'm 
sure they will be covering it within a couple of months.  I'll keep my eye 
open.

How's the new Ibiza 2.0 GTI?  Are you sure the little thing needs more 
power?????

Rob.


1963.23BBR do thatNEWOA::CALF::johnson_nThu Feb 24 1994 13:418
BBR (Britten Brody Racing ?) do a VW 2.0lt 
8 valve "superchip" which they claim will 
up the BHP to 128. Look in the UK MAG 
"What Car" for details.

Regards,

Nick.