Maxchip ECU Tuning Box

[Blurter]

What do we reckon about these Maxchip Tuning Boxes?

Willkommen bei MAXCHIP

[DNA Tuning]

If I'm not mistaken, as various tuners at the moment are unable to reprogram the Siemens EMS used in the new TSI range; these tuning boxes, effectively piggybacks, are being used to enhance the performance of the engine.

DNA Tuning provide a more elegant solution which is to thoroughly and properly reprogram the EMS. This reduces possibility of error codes, as piggybacks often conflict with modern EMS as it needs to properly fool the EMS into thinking all parameters are within standard spec; this means our method is more robust, and allows more refined tuning to allow better/smoother engine operation as well as optimising power levels at a given level of boost etc.

Also, being a foreign product, it may or may not work 100% with the cars we get here.

[stickshift3000]

Not dis your advert above John, but there's also a chance the product is good value, provides a nice power increase, and doesn't throw any error codes.

It will probably also be cheaper than what you recommend.

[Hoofee]

I agree with John's comments.

My experience with piggybacks is that they are usually ****e. This is coming from experience with a Unichip in a WRX, so while not the same ECU as a VW it's the same theory and practice.

[Blurter]

They cost about $400 delivered and have sold over 60000 units apparently. I've not found anything negative online. The quoted increases are power to 92kw and torque to 225nm. So not earth shattering figures, but appears pretty good value. It is a European unit and there is no Australian dealer but does have a 3 year return to base warranty. The benefit with the unit to my understanding is that the original ECU is not tampered with and that the box is undetectable.

I'm still considering my options. But the effect on warranty is significant to me - the potential cost if a fault occurs that VW will not cover is substantial. So for me it is either get something undetectable now or wait until the warranty expires and get a probably better system.

[h100vw]

Blurter, Don't take these post the wrong way. Which I can see how you would as I am also in the chipping game.

Your major concern is about warranty issues, on an effectively brand new car. Does $400 not seem really low money to spend considering the worst case scenario?

I can see that 60000 sales without bad press is possible. How many of those were on Polo's like yours?

This post wasn't to instigate a chip war, so lets not go there.

If you buy one, be sure to tell us before hand so that we can badger you for the results.

Gavin

[kaanage]

The best ones do sem to be quite sophisticated and can take inputs from more sources than the ECU uses. They cost at least as much as a recode, though.
Vishnu Performance Systems
Not available for VWs, either

[Blurter]

Blurter, Don't take these post the wrong way. Which I can see how you would as I am also in the chipping game.

Your major concern is about warranty issues, on an effectively brand new car. Does $400 not seem really low money to spend considering the worst case scenario?

I can see that 60000 sales without bad press is possible. How many of those were on Polo's like yours?

This post wasn't to instigate a chip war, so lets not go there.

If you buy one, be sure to tell us before hand so that we can badger you for the results.

Gavin

Thanks for those points Gavin. I agree it is a pretty low spend and, without any biases either way, i guess it leaves me to be a pioneer in this case.....or not. I'm still considering my options.

To all, please be assured you'll be the first to know if I go ahead with the tuning box and what the results are.

Cheers

[parso_rex]

Aren't these boxes just for the diesels ?

[Blurter]

No they also do one for the 77tsi.

[parso_rex]

Got a link ? . See it's alot harder to run an interceptor on a petrol car , on a diesel you can get away with it cause all you are modifying is the injection duration and perhaps inj timing. On the petrol unless you can modify boost the gains won't be much at all . In fact you really have to do ignition timing, fueling and boost so it's alot more complex especially on a modern engine with so many failsafes. I could go into more detail . Anyway they might have sorted something out just make sure you log it to make sure things stay happy

[Blurter]

This video shows fitting one on a Golf 77tsi
YouTube - Inbouw Chiptuning Box in een VW Golf 6 1.2 TSI

Their webpage doesn't have listing, but the Ebay seller from Germany has them listed.
VW Polo 6R 1.2 TSI (105PS) Tuningbox bei eBay.de: Chiptuning Motortuning (endet 10.04.11 23:50:42 MESZ)

[DNA Tuning]

I'd be interested to see how you go with it; I don't see how that kind of unit can modify ignition timing, whilst modifying injector duration times and at the same time modifying the real boost but also fooling the ECU into thinking it is running a near-stock level of boost at the same time. There's alot involved in a proper piggyback setup!

[Blurter]

Yeah, I frankly don't want to be the first to try this. I'm at least going to wait until more is known. I think the 1.2 tsi box is a new development. I'm going to wait.

I did a road trip to Sydney on the weekend to see Neil Diamond actually. Four adults and baggage up the Hume, and I was really impressed with how it pulled. I just put on the cruise and it only dropped below my setting on a couple of occasions and there are some reasonably steep hills in both directions. So I'm in no rush to soup it up.

[Buller_Scott]

i dont see how this would work on a petrol? what's in the box? hopefully it's not just potentiometers / resistors etc...

one thing that strikes me as odd, with this product, is there are plenty of tuning-box companies for diesels, and they're damn good at what they do - ptronic, diesel power ca, chip express, dtuk, etc etc... these guys are the kings of piggyback tuning boxes in the diesel world... why arent they making a mint with petrol cars, too, given their expertise? or is intercepting the fuel signal and causing the computer to request more petrol a slippery slope?

good luck with whatever your decision may be. i love the polo 1.2 tsi - took one for a test drive, i was really, really impressed. if it were my car, i'd have greater peace of mind going with a proper remap by a reputable tuner who has tuned your particular car too many times to count, and reliably.

not to "push" the product, as i dont have a DNA tune myself (im with Viezu/ChippedUK), but i've seen at least 3 cars with DNA tunes on them. all owners extremely happy, all cars pull HARD post-tune, all cars very daily driveable post-tune (read: damn smooth), etc etc...

the extra $430 premium that John is charging in the DNA tsi promo deal is really a tiny price to pay for what you're getting. i know you're concerned about warranty, and i was extremely concerned before i got tuned too, but if you go with a reputable remapping service.... pffft. nothing's going to happen to void your warranty - it's in the tuner's best interests to work within acceptable parameters, whilst still putting a big smile on your dial.