1996 850 T5 RICA 304 insurance implications

[quantum_man]

Ok, I've got a manual 850 T5 and would like to install a RICA 304 unit which I recently bought from a very popular auction site! The insurance company have asked me what the % increase in power is, but I have a few questions:

1) Does anyone know if there's a simple way of checking that I actually have a RICA 304?

2) The power increase is the standard 225 to the claimed 304 bhp, but from what I've read the RICA 304's tend to give you about 270 / 280 bhp in 'plug and play' form, depending on engine wear and type of fuel used.

Has anyone got any advice as to how to interpret the rules of percentage increase? Is it a clinical case of factory and claimed stats, or is there a tolerance somewhere?

Eg, if I run the chip in my car with 193,000 miles and use 95RON fuel, I wouldn't expect the power output to be more than 250 / 260 bhp, which would be within the accepted 20% increase I've been quoted for.

Would welcome any advice / experience... cheers

[Rockatansky]

There probably isn't any way of checking that you have a '304' other than sending to to Rica. It should be very obvious when installed, the difference between standard and remapped is 'kick you up the arse' apparent

If you're lucky, you'll be pushing 270hp. I had a 304 on my V70 T5 auto and a dyno run confirmed these figures.

When my insurer was asking about percentages I wasn't overly worried, primarily as there is no way they can know - and neither can you - short of a before and after dyno. I always estimated 12.5%, as I believed this to be an honest and realistic estimate - but an estimate nonetheless.

[quantum_man]

Thanks for the advice. Yeh although I've given my T5 new oil seals, PCV, regular oil changes (etc) I think the performance upgrade will be within +20% of the original spec, and I don't plan on using super unleaded due to cost!

[Max M4X WW]

quantum_man said:

I don't plan on using super unleaded due to cost!

You shouldn't really be driving a re-mapped turbo car then!

[Shadow R1]

Max M4X WW said:

quantum_man said:

I don't plan on using super unleaded due to cost!

You shouldn't really be driving a re-mapped turbo car then!

Agreed.

[don kalmar union]

Well written software giving relatively low increased outputs should run just fine on 'cooking' fuel.

It is a very good indication of shoddy work at this level if you really need to buy the expensive stuff to apparently get higher outputs, or, indeed for the car to run properly.

Regards, Don.

[Finlandia]

Volvo recommends to use 98 in the T5, but it runs perfectly well on 95 too. If I was to get the Rica, is it 310? can that be used with 95 as well, as there are few very pumps with 98 around here?

[v8will]

I ran my Rica 304 on both 95 and 97RON. No problems with either although the car went better on the higher octane.

Tyre bills, that was a different issue

[Finlandia]

v8will said:

I ran my Rica 304 on both 95 and 97RON. No problems with either although the car went better on the higher octane.

Tyre bills, that was a different issue

[morgrp]

I ran a 850 304 ecu in my v70 for a while but got fed up with it eventually as the air con had to be disconnected as it was an 850 chip in s v70 and i switched back and just adjusted the actuator to improve power - I stated 20% increase and the insurers were happy with that - at the end of the day theyre not going to rolling road the car if it's written off to find out the exact figure so just go with a rough estimate