[VWMichael]

I have seen some cheap (?30) "PD Tuning Boxes" which claim an increase of 17-19%. I have also seen another similar box which claims an increase of 25bhp and 40Nm of torque for a PD130.

Do these boxes work or do they simply harm the engine.

Cheers

Micael

 

[PhatPhil]

They simply fool the engine into thinking it's got more air than it has then it will supply more fuel - resulting in "diesel" smoke.

I'd recommend a proper remap (Revo or Superchips) over a tuning box - just my 2p.

 

[Foxy]

YOu can do the cheap tuning box mod for about ?2 with a proper plug or 5pence if you bodge it.......it's just a resistor!

 

[sssstew]

yep, agreed. they do the job but very coursely (sp?) remaps on the PDs are always the better option. Cant say ive heard of any real harm being done from a box just that they can sometime cause a limp mode which resets when turned off and on, and make the car run a little rough.

 

[NikB]

If you've spent all that money on the car in the first place why skimp on tuning it? In the long term the cheaper options may not be good for the engine. I'd definately agree with the others and go with a remap. It's more expensive but well worth it. I've been running a remapped 150PD for nearly 40,000 miles now and it's been fine.

 

[Felix]

I agree, the remaps are more likely to yeid smoother and more powerful results. However the tuning boxes have been run by many people on the forum, and for many have been a "stop gap" between stock and a remap.

I have said in another post that the cost of a switchable remap for me including VAT is about ?645 Now thats a lot of money. Im not overly serious about modding, and I would like a bit more power from my motor, to that extent ?645 is in my opinion way over the top.

I know tuning companies have to pay for lots of research and development, but in my honest opinion ?499 excluding VAT for a basic remap from Revo is in my opinion unadulterated proffiteering.

Im actually considerig getting a copy of the latest accounts from companies house just to put my mind at ease over the situation. Im pretty damn sure that somebody somewhere is getting mighty rich when places are charging ?499 + vat for 10 minutes work. My guess is its not the dealers either - they will just be funding some fat cat american no doubt.

I think that ?300+ inc VAT for a tuning box is steep too, especialy for the lower gains that you get, but Id rather pay over the odds for a ?300+ device than a ?600+ one.

In short tuning can be expensive, but if you are serious about it, the remap would be the way to go. If you want to dabble in the tuning area then a box may be the way to go.

 

[NikB]

Why not look at Superchips of Upsolute, both are cheaper than REVO and offer very similar gains.

 

[Felix]

Although I don't like spending the money (or spending money in general I suppose) I do like quality. Ive read loads of info on remaps, and to me, if I ever did have one, then Revo would be the one. But Ive never really been able to swallow the ?499+VAT asking price.

Another thing that bothers me is why the US REVO site has $499 and we have ?499 ($890). Now I know that for some companies shipping stuff from the states is an excuse for charging us brits more, but a serial port remap code? Hmmmmm. Yet another rip off Britain example.

Yes I would like more power from the car, and Yes I'd like to have a Revo remap. But Im just not that serious about modding to pay ?499+VAT (?586). Especially when the yank price is nearer ?280+Vat (?329).

I'll stick to my little mods every now and then, perhaps if I had more spare cash then I would treat myself to some larger mods.

I dont want to detract from what others have done - I agree REVO is a fantastic product, and the gains to be had are impressive. The reviews and testimonials from forum members speak for themselves as regards the quality.

I'm just a bit of a Victor Meldrew and cant help but ponder why we are paying alsmost double the american price, for an american owned product.

If anyone is considering it, and wants to go for the REVO I can recommend it, I have driven a 130PD with the REVO remap, and it is great. It is just a great shame that they do not do the free trial on the Diesel as I am sure that would convince even more people - maybe even me.

 

[Foxy]

Chris - see the link to the group buy in my sig matey..........I too refuse to give money away when healthy savings are out there.

 

[marriedblonde]

Or if your after a tuning box look here, these guys offer a 30 day money back guarantee and almost match the figures for a remap: http://www.mrhoot.com/default.asp

Not heard of them but someone on the audi forum said they had one...

 

[sssstew]

yes, do a search on here and the tdi forum on seatcupra.net for mr hoot, as some people have ahd them and seen some good results for what they are.

 

[Jace]

[:I] I've just bought one to play with whilst waiting for my remap, they claim 25% increase,& she's already got 172bhp from vw, so in effect I should get around 215bhp, but I know thats 5h1t, so if you add 25% to 150 (factory ) I should be looking at 187bhp, so either way, for an out minimum out lay I dont give a monkeys.

Jace

[]

 

[Richard W]

Don't forget folks that some of the more expensive boxes (over ?250) are actually off-board chips and the maps can be tweaked in the same way as re-mapping the ECU. So please don't see them as second best against a re-map.

Good boxes to look for are made by people like:

Alpin

Hopa

Tunit

and sold by folk like DMS, Star Performance and Bromleys

Only the cheap ones are the resistor mod, I was wondering about getting something cheap but have resisted and am looking for a good s/h box (anyone with one to fit a 115....?)

 

[RichieDan]

Is this for real, the boxes that are over 200ish actual chips that overide the existing ECU chip? As it all goes in to the same plug as the mod that can be done with a resistor, are they any different?

 

[Richard W]

No, the plug in 'off board chips' go into a different plug to the fuel resistor mods. That's one of the key identifiers - the chipped boxes go onto the fuel rail and interrupt the ECU signals instead of sandwiching the fuel temperature line.

This is an 'off board' one:

The different plug can easily be seen - Mike at Bromleys is very well informed and even though he sells them would be happy to give advice on which boxes to go for.

 

[RichieDan]

These are better than a fuelling mod, but not as great as remap, but gives good value for money and job being done more professionally.

 

[Richard W]

Quote: posted by RichieDan on 18/01/2005 14:33:54

These are better than a fuelling mod, but not as great as remap, but gives good value for money and job being done more professionally.

IMHO they're the same - simply a generic re-map in an off-board chip. When you start customising them on the rollers then you'll see similar power curves and results. The professional element depends on the re-seller, do they have/use a local RR for example, can they interface with the box through a laptop etc, etc. If for example you were to compare Jabba's generic diesel re-map with a Hopa box what tangible differences would there be? There may be some difference in drivers perception of the power delivery, but not much more I think.

It all depends on the user, do they want just an improvement on what's there - do they want the ultimate power from their specific car, do they want to customise the power delivery, do they want to minimise the extra depreciation suffered by modified cars, do they want to return the car to standard on sale, etc etc.

Each will have their own reasons for choosing a chip/box/SPT, but I think ultimately they're all so similar in what they deliver it does come down to personal choice.

 

[T5OLF]

I fitted one of the Mr hoot tuning boxs to my 90bhp TDI, it goes on the end of the fuel pump.(10 mins to fit)

They quote a figure of around 20-25 bhp increase, its made a real difference to the way the engine pulls. And it will rev up to the red line now. The down side is a lumpy tick over now and then but i can live with that.

I have not had any problems with blue smoke as you can dial this out, for 125 quid you can't go wrong(i hope) but a the end of the day a re-map is the way to go as you can also increase boost a small amount and not just throw more air and fuel at it.If your on a tight budget i would reccomend one.

 

[SuperMario.Dave]

anyone know about these?

http://www.tunit.co.uk/install.php

 

[Richard W]

.....mmmmmmm V-PD[]

Yes I've got one, it took 4 mins to fit and delivers what it says on the tin - Smooth, smoke free, power

It's a proper off-board chip not a cheap resistor mod, mapped to improve any PD and can be removed in seconds without leaving a trace. I'm not after the ultimate power curve, I simply wanted an improvement that complements the car and is completely untraceable (and without any extra charges) at sale - it also provides me with something to sell on afterwards - can you do that as easily with SPT or a custom chip....?