A chip by any other name?

[Ken Sington]

Just had an email through from my dealer with a link to this:

http://www.volvocarslondon.co.uk/News-and-Events/P...

Anyone know any more about this?

[Rockatansky]

Not technically a chip, as they will flash your existing ecu with a new map, more a factory approved remap.

I believe this has been available in Sweden for a little while and was launched here in July (source: http://forums.t5d5.org/index.php?showtopic=8247 )

No first hand experience though, sorry.

[mondayo]

I read about this earlier in the year and posted on here about it, but noone replied....it sounds a little pricey, but it gives decent returns and doesn't affect your warranty, so it's interesting, if nothing else.

I'm just a little miffed as I have the previous gen V70 D5, so can't get the "upgrade" grrrr

[cuneus]

mondayo said:

I'm just a little miffed as I have the previous gen V70 D5, so can't get the "upgrade" grrrr

There are plenty of cheaper options for your car

[mondayo]

cuneus said:

mondayo said:

I'm just a little miffed as I have the previous gen V70 D5, so can't get the "upgrade" grrrr

There are plenty of cheaper options for your car

I know, but they'd invalidate my warranty, snd everytime I take my car in for a service, they say it requires an "ECU update" and that would reset any chipping/mapping I'd had done

[Hydro Carbon]

I can't believe that's what Volvo charge for that remap. I have a remapping business of my own, I've been a technician for 14 years and have all the latest remapping equipment and I only charge £299 all inc and I give a lifetime warranty on my maps and there TUV approved there charging far to much money. Oh and I can do the old generation D5.

[Hydro Carbon]

This is my Volvo by the way!

[Biggriff]

I have never had any new car have an ECU update. The reflash is invisible to dealers and even the Insurance Company does not know if the reprogramme still has the same number count.

[mondayo]

This is the first car it's happened to me on....or maybe they're just lying?!

What "work" have you had done on your car? And by whom?

[Hydro Carbon]

On new ecu's they can detect if they have been flashed it comes up on a flash counter, I reset this with the new map as it goes on so it doesn't appear to have been flashed. If the main dealer updates the software it will wipe my map but if you bring the car to me I can remove the data off the ecu with the upgrade and this is the vital bit! The upgrade serial number then we build in the data back into the remap so you have the benefit of the software upgrade on your remap. This cost £35 to do and to be honest It doesn't happen often.

[burningoil]

we getting a new car next year 185 diesel. tempted on the polestar product, agree it is pricey BUT if anything goes wrong I know I have nothing to worry about. I have used "superchips" a couple of times (non volvo) both dealer fit (VAG 1.9TDI 130) and bluefin product (VAG 2.0TDI 140) but will not with the new volvo.

[mondayo]

burningoil said:

we getting a new car next year 185 diesel. tempted on the polestar product, agree it is pricey BUT if anything goes wrong I know I have nothing to worry about. I have used "superchips" a couple of times (non volvo) both dealer fit (VAG 1.9TDI 130) and bluefin product (VAG 2.0TDI 140) but will not with the new volvo.

I think that's the sensible way to go....if its a nearly or brand new car, then for an extra couple of hundred quid, it's worth protecting yourself, especially if you've spent 30K+ on a car. Plus the peace of mind that buys you.
Now my car is a couple of years old, I'd contemplate using a non-volvo approved tune up