Tuning vw deisels

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Discussion

Snap-on

Original Poster:

7 posts

245 months

Saturday 10th April 2004
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Hi I'm currently driving a vw Passat 110hp AFN engine code and I'm thinking of getting it chipped or fitting a plug in processor on the fuel pump as advertized on various web sites. While all of these products all promise good results, all claiming 30+bhp gains I need to hear from anyone who has actually tried one!
I need to know if the gains are realistic, what it does to the economy as thats the whole idea of driving a deisel in the first place and if it causes any engine damage.
Cheers

John.

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Saturday 10th April 2004
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Hi John

I've got a VW Golf (150 bhp) diesel (PD GT). I've had lots of modifications done to my car. To answer your specific question re: chipping, I had a superchip conversion done and this took it to approx 209 bhp straight away. Massive gains throughout the whole rev range, vastly improved torque and throttle response (the difference is like night and day IMHO). Engine sounds much quieter (most un-diesel-like) and the flat spot you get between 1000-2000 rpm (when the car is standard) is eliminated. No real difference in fuel economy: The car will easily do 46 mpg + (6th gear) provided you don't drive over 85 mph. Even better fuel economy if you use the BP Ultimate Diesel. The company that did my car was Racing Technologies in Wanstead. I used them because they do the performance enhancements on my Ferrari - but they tend to cater for a very specialist market focusing on VERY high performance cars. Specific diesel chip tunners worthy of note are AMD (www.auto-amd.com/home.asp) and Jabbasport (www.jabbasport.com/).

Provided you use a reputable tunner, you won't have any issues with your cars engine/ECU. However, once you take your tunning beyond 210 bhp (on a front-wheel drive car), you will find that you will need to upgrade the brakes, bushes and fit bigger wheels or the ride quality and handling (pitching & torque steer) will suffer.

Regards

DennisTheMenace

15,605 posts

273 months

Friday 16th April 2004
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mogul

15,138 posts

255 months

Tuesday 20th April 2004
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ramasys said:
Hi John

I've got a VW Golf (150 bhp) diesel (PD GT). I've had lots of modifications done to my car. To answer your specific question re: chipping, I had a superchip conversion done and this took it to approx 209 bhp straight away. Massive gains throughout the whole rev range, vastly improved torque and throttle response (the difference is like night and day IMHO). Engine sounds much quieter (most un-diesel-like) and the flat spot you get between 1000-2000 rpm (when the car is standard) is eliminated. No real difference in fuel economy: The car will easily do 46 mpg + (6th gear) provided you don't drive over 85 mph. Even better fuel economy if you use the BP Ultimate Diesel. The company that did my car was Racing Technologies in Wanstead. I used them because they do the performance enhancements on my Ferrari - but they tend to cater for a very specialist market focusing on VERY high performance cars. Specific diesel chip tunners worthy of note are AMD (www.auto-amd.com/home.asp) and Jabbasport (www.jabbasport.com/).



How much did the chip cost?

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Wednesday 21st April 2004
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Mogul

The chip cost £450 plus VAT. Oh BTW, the mod will not show if VW run a diagnostics on the ECU.

Rgds

Ev

mogul

15,138 posts

255 months

Wednesday 21st April 2004
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Anything else to worry about?

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Mogul

Not for me. But some people want to have these modules that switch between the standard and the uprated setting.

You might want to consider a brake package upgrade though ! Not because there is that much difference past the top-end, but because the manner in which your car 'gets there' is a lot quicker. Oh, forget about trying to drive the car with the ESP/traction control turned off. Its just not worth it !

Regards

mogul

15,138 posts

255 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Have you got a contact name at Racing Technologies?

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Mogul

Elias or Peter should be able to help you out.

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Mogul

FYI, not for the faint-hearted, here is list of what they have done to my car:-

- Chip conversion
- Custom Induction pack (like the Pipercross Viper system - but this is patented by Racing Technologies)
- Brembro 4-Pot Callipers (red), much bigger cross- drilled discs, custom pads, new brake lines
- 17" Alloys
- track spacers front and rear
- Powerflex bushes
- Remus TD Rear silencer with twin tailpipes 102 Turbo design (no it does not boom - bore is much bigger but not stupidly so)
- Oettinger Body Kid
- Oettinger Aluminium Footrest and pedals
- Infinity Speakers/Tweeters, 500 watt amp and stealth box

Result:-

approx 220 bhp (but probably more), still does 46+ miles to the gallon - goes like hell, handles like its on rails (w/o comprimising the ride 'quality'), brakes like a lead ballon! Very loud stereo ! Looks 'mean' but not 'boy-racer daft'.



>> Edited by ramasys on Thursday 22 April 11:57

mogul

15,138 posts

255 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Only thought of getting a power upgrade as I already have a fast enough new 996!

Interesting though and thanks for the info.

ramasys

30 posts

287 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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Mogul

Know what you mean. But beware, thats what I said when I started with just the chip! I have a 550M at weekends (thats got Racing Technologies mods too). But I still had it done. The wife thinks I'm obsessed with cars (ie. bonkers). She's probably right.

Regards and good luck.

DustyC

12,820 posts

259 months

Thursday 22nd April 2004
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"GOLF" magazine is running a feature on all the tuning companys versions for the TDis.
The AMD one sounds good.