Trying to age B8.5 DPF delete and remap
Discussion
Hi all, reaching out as I’m currently out of ideas on this situation and would massively appreciate any help.
The quick version would be, is there anyway of finding out when my car was remapped? I have no idea who did it, where, or when.
To give a brief summary, I bought a used B8.5 2.0 TDI Ultra around this time last year and after suffering a few electrical issues (no cruise control, start stop) and a breakdown within the first three months, I subsequently had diagnosed later down the line that the DPF has been gutted and the car remapped by a previous owner. Unfortunately this was after 6 months of ownership and the dealer won’t even respond to me or take calls. I’m happy to take it to a small claims court but need proof that it was carried out before my ownership. All quotes I have had to fix it have been around £5-6k for the new filter, sensors labour etc which I just don’t have.
This is my first diesel so unfortunately I was naive about a bit of smoke coming out early on and the exhaust tips sooting up, thinking that this was because the car had been standing for some time. After the car’s first breakdown, the turbo was replaced under warranty which suddenly made the black smoke a lot more apparent leading to my further investigations. The car also appears to have had the Ad Blue removed as it has not requested any despite a good few miles being put on it. The car also seemed to go into limp mode on its last drive but as with my previous breakdown, there is no EML etc…
I am using a mediation service who recommended getting an independent inspection on top of all the investigation and diagnostics I have had done already. This confirmed DPF has been tampered with but the only way they could age it supposedly was by looking at the welds and mastic type substance that has been smeared over them… Unfortunately they said that this appears relatively fresh and could not categorically say when it took place. They recommended sending the ECU to a specialist to see if this can get me any further. I have spoken to two Audi main dealers, two vehicle tuners and dark side developments and all have sent that they aren’t able to help.
Would anyone have any further thoughts on what to do next?
The quick version would be, is there anyway of finding out when my car was remapped? I have no idea who did it, where, or when.
To give a brief summary, I bought a used B8.5 2.0 TDI Ultra around this time last year and after suffering a few electrical issues (no cruise control, start stop) and a breakdown within the first three months, I subsequently had diagnosed later down the line that the DPF has been gutted and the car remapped by a previous owner. Unfortunately this was after 6 months of ownership and the dealer won’t even respond to me or take calls. I’m happy to take it to a small claims court but need proof that it was carried out before my ownership. All quotes I have had to fix it have been around £5-6k for the new filter, sensors labour etc which I just don’t have.
This is my first diesel so unfortunately I was naive about a bit of smoke coming out early on and the exhaust tips sooting up, thinking that this was because the car had been standing for some time. After the car’s first breakdown, the turbo was replaced under warranty which suddenly made the black smoke a lot more apparent leading to my further investigations. The car also appears to have had the Ad Blue removed as it has not requested any despite a good few miles being put on it. The car also seemed to go into limp mode on its last drive but as with my previous breakdown, there is no EML etc…
I am using a mediation service who recommended getting an independent inspection on top of all the investigation and diagnostics I have had done already. This confirmed DPF has been tampered with but the only way they could age it supposedly was by looking at the welds and mastic type substance that has been smeared over them… Unfortunately they said that this appears relatively fresh and could not categorically say when it took place. They recommended sending the ECU to a specialist to see if this can get me any further. I have spoken to two Audi main dealers, two vehicle tuners and dark side developments and all have sent that they aren’t able to help.
Would anyone have any further thoughts on what to do next?
Do you know where the car was serviced by previous owner ? Could ask them for record of work but don’t know if ‘dpf delete’ would be a no paper trail deal.
People don’t usually remove them for no reason. People wrongly think or are advised it’s the best option. There’s usually an underlying fault, sometimes simple, that means they don’t regen and get blocked.
Adblue similarly , can develop a fault and easier to code out.
What I’m saying is if you put a filter in and default software you could end up being in the same situation as whoever did it was.
People don’t usually remove them for no reason. People wrongly think or are advised it’s the best option. There’s usually an underlying fault, sometimes simple, that means they don’t regen and get blocked.
Adblue similarly , can develop a fault and easier to code out.
What I’m saying is if you put a filter in and default software you could end up being in the same situation as whoever did it was.
Cut your losses, if it's an option. Leave them a horrible google review. Report to VOSA.
This will drag on and on and on.
Have someone (a vehicle inspector who is used to being an expert witness) confirm what has been done. Most garages/tuners will want nothing to do with it, as tuners in particular are notorious for knowingly selling modifications illegal for road use and turning a blind eye. Sell it as is. Take dealer to small claims for the difference less mileage and depreciation. You may or may not get something back out of them.
I'm not trying to be mean, or point the finger. I'm trying to be realistic. I work in the industry and have seen the stress these sorts of things can cause. Put a value on your time and the aggro involved in making things right.
We all buy s
t cars once in a while. I do it for a living and I'm not immune to cocking up now and then. Chalk it up and move on.
This will drag on and on and on.
Have someone (a vehicle inspector who is used to being an expert witness) confirm what has been done. Most garages/tuners will want nothing to do with it, as tuners in particular are notorious for knowingly selling modifications illegal for road use and turning a blind eye. Sell it as is. Take dealer to small claims for the difference less mileage and depreciation. You may or may not get something back out of them.
I'm not trying to be mean, or point the finger. I'm trying to be realistic. I work in the industry and have seen the stress these sorts of things can cause. Put a value on your time and the aggro involved in making things right.
We all buy s
t cars once in a while. I do it for a living and I'm not immune to cocking up now and then. Chalk it up and move on.Personally I’d take the Dr G approach but just get it remapped by a reputable company who know what they are doing
It will still have a gutted DPF and mapped out adblue but it’s least it will run and drive correctly and be adjusted to suit the missing hardware.
Running no EGR/DPF etc should not cause any other issues if the car is mapped properly. The issue you have it’s been mapped badly.
It will still have a gutted DPF and mapped out adblue but it’s least it will run and drive correctly and be adjusted to suit the missing hardware.
Running no EGR/DPF etc should not cause any other issues if the car is mapped properly. The issue you have it’s been mapped badly.
There are some companies around that do it properly even though its wrong but as above for me really.
The dpf needs to be done properly ie no signs of tampering for the Mot which can be tricky.
I had a car done years ago due to egr issues so got the dpf solution at the same time, it didnt miss a beat in 5 years.
I know its wrong but i wasnt willing to pay out stupid money to sort it out.
If your not doing lots of miles a car with a Dpf is not for you and id consider moving it on if you could to Wbac or similar.
The dpf needs to be done properly ie no signs of tampering for the Mot which can be tricky.
I had a car done years ago due to egr issues so got the dpf solution at the same time, it didnt miss a beat in 5 years.
I know its wrong but i wasnt willing to pay out stupid money to sort it out.
If your not doing lots of miles a car with a Dpf is not for you and id consider moving it on if you could to Wbac or similar.
Thanks for the replies. I understand that cutting my losses and getting rid of the car in its current condition is the most straightforward option but wonder who I would sell it to? Most trade ins etc will require it to have an MOT and be “roadworthy” which it is not. Obviously it could be scrapped but I’d then be taking an absolutely massive hit price wise.
I have considered trying to get the car remapped with a cleaner map before selling it but just worry that I am just moving the problem on and it could come back to haunt me when the next owner works out what the issue is. I think it would also be hard for a tuner to do this on top of a bad map?
I have considered trying to get the car remapped with a cleaner map before selling it but just worry that I am just moving the problem on and it could come back to haunt me when the next owner works out what the issue is. I think it would also be hard for a tuner to do this on top of a bad map?
In your situation I would get a cleaner map installed and get it through an MOT, as long as its smokeless and the tester cant see the cuts it should pass (I've had DPF deletes in the past around 2008 when they first became a thing).
The either keep the car or sell it on.
Not exactly the same but I had a 2005 Leon FR+ TDI which had a remap from a local man in a van style company when I bought it, it smoked like hell and didn't go that well. I had another company do an over the internet map where they sent me a file, I then went out and did live logging on the road and then sent the logs back to them, for circa. £200 they made the car smoke a lot less and actually went a lot better. I think we tested about 6 files in the end and I was very happy with the results. The original file was requesting a continuous 2.0 bar boost even though the OEM turbo was capable of max 1.7bar.
The either keep the car or sell it on.
Not exactly the same but I had a 2005 Leon FR+ TDI which had a remap from a local man in a van style company when I bought it, it smoked like hell and didn't go that well. I had another company do an over the internet map where they sent me a file, I then went out and did live logging on the road and then sent the logs back to them, for circa. £200 they made the car smoke a lot less and actually went a lot better. I think we tested about 6 files in the end and I was very happy with the results. The original file was requesting a continuous 2.0 bar boost even though the OEM turbo was capable of max 1.7bar.
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