Monday 11th October 2004

Superchips boosts Beemer diesel

318d could go slightly faster

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Owners of a BMW 318d can now increase the car’s power and torque by an 35 bhp and 57 ft/lb which, according to Superchips, gives performance comparable with a 320d. The 320d costs at least £1,000 more to buy while the chip conversion at just over £500 including VAT costs only half that amount.

By reprogramming the ECU, Superchips has boosted the car’s maximum power output from 116 bhp at 4,362 rpm to 150 bhp at 4,037 rpm. Peak torque is increased from 184 ft/lb at 2,590 rpm to 234 ft/lb at 2,736 rpm, an increase of 52 ft/lb, while the biggest difference is found at 3,237 rpm, where torque goes up by 57 ft/lb.

Superchips says this and many other conversions can be carried out at any one of 85 dealers nationwide, or at the company’s headquarters in Buckingham. In some parts of the country, it can also be done at the customer’s home or place of work, courtesy of one of the network’s mobile units. In each case the job only takes around 45 minutes to complete. If required, Superchips can arrange insurance via its specialist broker, Firebond.

Details of Superchips’ 700-plus conversions and the location of the dealers can be found by calling 01280 816781 or here.

[davidd]

Hmm, but would the dealer find out? And what will it do to the warranty?

D

[pzero64]

davidd said:

And what will it do to the warranty? D

Good question.

Also, insurance is mentioned. Does this ‘chipping’ eat away at the financial saving via an increase in premiums?

[flooritforever]

davidd said:

Hmm, but would the dealer find out? And what will it do to the warranty? D

I imagine the dealer would find out as soon as they plug a diagnostic computer into the ECU, if there were no visible signs it had been modified.

And if they do find out, your warranty goes straight down the pan.

[RobDickinson]

So.

High risk to warrenty.
Higehr insurance premiums (or risk having none).
No resale value.

But its £500 cheaper than the 320d. woot.

[davidd]

I was thinking about starting with a 320...

D

[liquidken]

Tuning Concept can remap the car, and is undetectable by the dealers.

Simon Hall, the franchisee who operates from the Midlands, has done many of the cars on our site, with excellent results. Diesles always have beetr gains than the petrol counterparts.

[edc]

Companies like Revo have switchable products to revert back to stock performance. The code does not alter the existing code either. I don't know what sort of products are available to BMW cars but if they can do it for VAG then there must be similar for BMW.

[chim_girl]

Not all Insurers charge extra for chipped cars.

Jo, who has an M3 Evo (& a bit extra)

[davidd]

I'm not worried about the insurance, I managed to talk direct line into approving my cerbera bits and keeping the cost the same. I'm more worried about stuffing the warrenty and free 5 years servicing!

D

[Chav_Girl]

davidd said:

..I'm more worried about stuffing the warrenty and free 5 years servicing! D

I can understand your concerns completely, I would feel exactly the same if I had a newer M3. Although mine isn't in warranty I feel happier knowing that I can easily take the chip back out if required.

[edc]

Try find a switchable solution then so if things go wrong you can always have the OE map/code on there.