To Chip, or not to Chip?

[bananas]

Hi All,

I'd love to chip my EOS, but I'm concerned about voiding the warranty. My understanding is that VW can now "detect" chipped ECU's.

The line I usually read is that VW need to establish that the modified component caused the failure before they void the warranty. But what a bun fight that would be.

Anyone heard of a VW dealer chipping cars? That would solve the problem.

Thoughts, comments?????


Cheers
Peter

[Timbo]

Best to speak with the various flash tune vendors regarding this.

[Golf Houso]

I remember the VW dealer in Liverpool telling me they actually offer chips on cars, when people ask. He said something like over the counter, and under the counter chips. Saying how people were getting polo gti's with 132kw instead of the bog stock 110kw. Interesting, I wouldn't assume it'd be cheap but regardless it maintained warranty!!!

Seriously ask some of the dealers around, I knew this guy did it at least...

[eternaloptimist]

Its not an EOS but... picked up my new Jetta 2 days ago.
The VW dealer is also a Powerchip agent - doesn't advertise the latter.
I paid to have the Jetta chipped prior to delivery - am delighted with the increase in power and the smoothness of the ride. Dealer assured me no problems with the warranty (yes, I am probably naive!) ... wouldn't have had it chipped if it wasn't the VW dealer's mechanics actually doing the ECU remap.
D

[mikinoz]

I spose either way with a receipt from the dealer for the car warranty and the same dealer for a chip warranty, then warranty should be all sewn up!

I would laugh if said dealer voided your warranty.

[TDIMAN]

My Passat (Diesel) has a Steinbauer box on it. It is connected after the ECU so the ECU never knows that is it there. It simply reprograms the duration of the injectors from the factory settings. It has increased output by 20% and I simply remove it when it goes back to Volkswagen for service or warranty.

It has a wire than runs of the throttle position wire which is about the only thing you could find in the car to suggest that it has the box installed (but you would have to remove the carpet to find it).

I am not sure what is available for Petrol models?

[riceboy]

if you have a turbo 2L like my GTI Mk5, definitely worth chipping. Just got my APR stage 1 yesterday... so much faster, sounds nice with the exhaust popping noise too. $1785 until 24/12/08

[Transporter]

I spose either way with a receipt from the dealer for the car warranty and the same dealer for a chip warranty, then warranty should be all sewn up!

I would laugh if said dealer voided your warranty.

Sewn up or not?

Most car manufacturer will void your warranty if the manufacturer did not approve the modification.
Please, don't confuse the dealer with the car manufacturer.
Dealer has a franchise to service and repair the vehicle.
Such a dealer could as well be:
Yesterday’s, Joe Blow Garage and tomorrow it would have a sign:
Gener*l Motors Ho*den
Or what ever name.
Which could also meant that if you claim your warranty Volkswagen Australia (or any car manufacturer) could refuse to cover that claim, it would leave you to negotiate with your dealer and you could be in his mercy.
Of course if you don't have any warranty claims related to mod’s every body is just smiling and everything is "OK".
But lets say, you increase the power from factory 169kW to 229kW and the torque from 300Nm to 430Nm and it wasn’t manufacturer approved I can only imagine that you would void the warranty for any drive train component.
Plus you have to take onto consideration that many car manufacturers don’t give any warranty for car racing or anything related to racing or competition.

[kcb]

they will find it, if they look for it.(flash counter) They will not find if they just do a normal service. if the flash tuning is done properly, all the numbers are back in and no fault is comming up. (no overboost, etc.)

regards
OZ-Chiptuning

[zz2]

if you have a turbo 2L like my GTI Mk5, definitely worth chipping. Just got my APR stage 1 yesterday... so much faster, sounds nice with the exhaust popping noise too. $1785 until 24/12/08

mate you got ripped off! i just got the Superchip's Bluefin unit for my GTI and only paid $850 for it and they sent me a custom map for my car.

the best part about bluefin is they give you a little hand control unit that allows you to upload your stock and tuned maps back and forth onto your cars so when you have a dealer visit all you need to do is simply put the stock map back on. the latest versions of the bluefin units also have it so your cars flash counter (like an odometer for you cars ECU that tells you how many times the ECU has been reset) stays at 0. this means its totally undetectable.

i did a hell of a lot of research into the chips for my car and evertime the bluefin units came out on top.

they also offer maps for all the TDi engines

oh and when you upgrade your cars intake and exhaust etc they will send you a stage 2 map for free!

[silvershadow]

As a matter of interest, if there is a VAG factory update for the ECU done by a dealer during a service/recall, does this show up on the flash counter?

If this is the case, will the after-market units reset capability leave any "official" upgrade counts intact?

Just a thought that this could be a problem during the warranty period.

[Guy_H]

Certainly Oettinger / APR read the flash counter & set it to what it said before modifications. Correct - dealer recall flashes increment each time they do it.

A GTI (eg 06) that has had its check sum & fuel pressure sender recall will read "2".

Don't know what any other devices do.

[faisan]

Certainly Oettinger / APR read the flash counter & set it to what it said before modifications. Correct - dealer recall flashes increment each time they do it.

A GTI (eg 06) that has had its check sum & fuel pressure sender recall will read "2".

Don't know what any other devices do.

So does this mean the APR flash is not detectable? Sorry I am new at this

[h100vw]

So does this mean the APR flash is not detectable? Sorry I am new at this

As I read it, providing you have set it back to std, with the cruise control access you have, they couldn't tell by looking at the ECU.

If they drive it and you left it 'chipped' it would be obvious by the big black stripes on the workshop floor..

Gavin

[spakkaps]

[QUOTE=zz2;254229]mate you got ripped off! i just got the Superchip's Bluefin unit for my GTI and only paid $850 for it and they sent me a custom map for my car.

Mate, where did you get the Blufin from ?
Do they have local support etc ?