ECU remap?

[Uther]

Anyone had one done? I can get one done for my '05 Sportage that, allegedly, gives a fair bit more power plus better mpg.As I will be using it for towing that sounds quite good...
One of my concerns is you are supposed to inform your insurance company, but, realistically, how would they ever know?

 

[rodenal]

They're dead easy now and reasonably common. The better mpg 'myth' is sort of true in that if you drive the same way you always have you will probably achieve a couple of mpg more.....however why have you just had the car mapped, it's not to pootle about is it?

My insurance doesn't take a significant hit by adding a map so I would never consider not declaring it. They can't easily tell, but the car probably has a flash counter so it would be possible. Whether that check would ever be done in an accident is another question.

I pay about half the additional power % as a premium increase, I.e +40bhp just now equates to a circa 20% increase and a 10% premium increase. Hardly an exact science, just for a guide

 

[xs2man]

Of course, some insurers don't increase premiums for remaps, but they tend to be more specialist insurers. So unlikely you will already be insured with them.

Best bet is to speak to your insurer first though. Some insurers simply wont insure a remapped vehicle, and may cancel your policy halfway through for you, being the nice people they are.

I've had a few cars with remaps on them (even my current Alhambra has one), I'm mostly in it for slightly safer overtaking and slightly better fuel consumption, rather than raw HP gains. I find it's worth it, but it's entirely dependent on the engine. Unless it's either turbo charged or supercharged, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Finglonga]

I had the BMW X6 40d re mapped and it transformed it completely. It was already silky smooth with the 8speed box but the map made it much smoother. Also for something that size it really moved and with the added bonus of adding around 4mpg so it was win win.

 

[Kenai]

They can't easily tell,

Given you can upload a map with a very simple device, I can't help feeling it wouldn't be difficult to read what's there with equally simple technology. I've always kind of assumed that most maps would be signed too, identifying whoever developed it.

 

[Nasher]

Hmm if your remapping for more power it's a good idea to upgrade physical things as well. Otherwise you can reduce the life of the engine and effect reliability later down the line. Normally a stage 1 upgrade comes with a better air intake and/or intercooler, sometimes an exhaust.

Just slapping a load more HP on a stock engine is asking for trouble IMO.

 

[rodenal]

Given you can upload a map with a very simple device, I can't help feeling it wouldn't be difficult to read what's there with equally simple technology. I've always kind of assumed that most maps would be signed too, identifying whoever developed it.

It's definitely easy to tell the ECU has been flashed through the counter, though that could be for numerous reasons.I'm not honestly certain what signature type info is available though

 

[Finglonga]

Hmm if your remapping for more power it's a good idea to upgrade physical things as well. Otherwise you can reduce the life of the engine and effect reliability later down the line. Normally a stage 1 upgrade comes with a better air intake and/or intercooler, sometimes an exhaust.

Just slapping a load more HP on a stock engine is asking for trouble IMO.

One engine is often used across a range of cars and the only difference is the stock engine map. They can take the power easily as lng as you don't go OTT with the power.

 

[Gepetto]

One engine is often used across a range of cars and the only difference is the stock engine map. They can take the power easily as lng as you don't go OTT with the power.

Absolutely. BMW do this with a lot of their cars now. No physical differences, just mapping.

 

[Haze]

The thing with remaps is, the insurance company proving that you had it mapped, otherwise you can just play stupid and say it must have been done by the last owner

 

[Kenai]

The thing with remaps is, the insurance company proving that you had it mapped, otherwise you can just play stupid and say it must have been done by the last owner

I would suspect the whole 'ignorance is not a defence' argument would be trotted out. If it was as simple as feigning ignorance, no one would declare any mods.

"Oh I didn't realise those bright yellow shocks weren't standard, how am I supposed to know what all the underneath bits look like, must have been the last owner"

It would be no easier for them to prove or disprove. In fact, given many generic map tuners keep your car, maps and details on file, potentially if they deemed it worthwhile due to a high value accident, they'd potentially have an easier time finding out when exactly your car arrived at Revo/Superchips/wherever.

 

[rodenal]

Certainly with the switchable maps like bluefin the handset is locked to and registered to the car, so if they somehow found out that it had a super chips map it would be relatively easy to lock down a timeframe for initial install

If they checked, and if that source data could be extracted.

They would then have to prove it had a fundamental part to play in the accident. So specifics are obviously important, regardless it's not worth the potential hassle even if the chance is tiny imo

 

[Dogbreath]

Absolutely. BMW do this with a lot of their cars now. No physical differences, just mapping.

There are almost always some physical differences between engine power variants, even if you can't see them.

 

[xs2man]

Hmm if your remapping for more power it's a good idea to upgrade physical things as well. Otherwise you can reduce the life of the engine and effect reliability later down the line. Normally a stage 1 upgrade comes with a better air intake and/or intercooler, sometimes an exhaust.

Just slapping a load more HP on a stock engine is asking for trouble IMO.

What a load of tosh.

Engines are mapped to comply with local regulations and stuff too. There is plenty of headroom in a standard map so that the average punter doesn't need to worry about anything.

A generic flash map doesn't need any supporting mods. Thats for when you go further up the mapping chain when intakes and exhausts are perhaps recommended. A straight up generic remap needs nothing.

The only thing you MIGHT need is a new clutch / flywheel. And that really does depend on the condition of the original items. I needed one when I did both my Golf GTI and my A3 TDI, but then the golf was a massive 90 BHP over stock, and 130 lbft. And on 113k, so it got uprated parts. Where the A3, while only on 75k, I suspect was nearing the limit anyway, and was only required for the "fast road" map, as there was zero slip with the "economy" map on the car.

I did around 50k (maybe a bit more) on the A3 with the map on it, and standard spec replacement clutch / flywheel with zero reliability problems. Only a faster motor with better mpg.

One engine is often used across a range of cars and the only difference is the stock engine map. They can take the power easily as lng as you don't go OTT with the power.

There are often small physical changes also, but almost insignificant.

 

[Kaeo]

Hilarious some of the things people post about this, considering a remap is basically the same as overclocking a car, using the best settings for your specific car instead of using the generic settings from the factory.

You'd expect people browsing this forum would know better.

 

[Scania]

I have a friend who's Scania R620 has had a 700bhp remap since it was new, he had no problems with warranty claims when the turbo blew a seal (despite the remap) and he's run it for just shy of 400k miles before changing it for an R730 which had an 820bhp remap.

He's getting marginally better mpg and it pulls like a train but he's found it runs poorly when in Eastern Europe due to the quality of the fuel over there and his current remap, the standard model has no issue with iffy fuel which is why Scania make them the way they do from the factory, to allow for variances in fuel and operating conditions, if you know you'll not be pushing these boundarys then - generally - go for it.

 

[acemastr]

Had a custom map on my bike for a year since almost new, transformed the bike and so far nothing broken.

 

[petertr2000]

Hilarious some of the things people post about this, considering a remap is basically the same as overclocking a car, using the best settings for your specific car instead of using the generic settings from the factory.

You'd expect people browsing this forum would know better.

Bingo.

I've done it once on a 2004 Mondeo. From 130 to 165bhp, about 5mpg better and much better pulling at low revs. Totally worth it.

My VW 2.0TD is off to get done next week from 140 to 180, the day after VW apply their "fix" for the emissions scandal.
But that's more for caravan towing than anything else

 

[pugheaven]

I've done both my older Saab 93 Aero (217bhp > 252bhp), and that made incredible difference and remapped my RX8 gaining (with other mods) around 32bhp all in...

Superb, safe if done properly but I would let your Insurance know, I have and tbh it made diddly difference. However I was with performance specilists not your normal insurers...

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

On modern cars, even NA remaps make quite a nice change as the most noticeable changes come from more relaxed torque management.

All modern cars with drive by wire ECU's have torque management which can limit throttle opening when required, feels like TC kicking in or not getting full throttle sometimes. If you car has such symptoms than a remap can certainly help a lot to improve drive ability.

Then of course improvements of more power, torque, throttle sensitivity are all additional bonuses. Turbo cars tend to see even great gains due to being able to add a little extra boost.

On the whole on more modern cars it works well, on the older NA cars it is more hit and miss, my 911 the remap alone made little to no difference, yet on my even older M3 the remap added welcomed additional power in the 6000-8000rpm range.


Also on many cars now they put the same engine in several models, if you have the lesser model then the remap can literally upgrade you to the next model or two up in the range and unlock the potential disable at the factory on your model.

On the whole a remap can work well, but always, ALWAYS get it done by a company that has experience and a great reputation, don't try to do it yourself and don't take it to some guy down the road who reckons he knows what he is doing, because it is also just as easy to mess it up and kill the engine.