Steinbauer chips

[Dyldo]

has anyone been running a steinbauer on their TDI, or had any experience with them?

[mikinoz]

No - had not heard of them. How much are they wanting for a P-Box?

[Dyldo]

i think they are about $1400-1600 fitted, inclusive of the box, install, laptop tune and dyno-tune.

as far as i know they operate after the ECU, so the ECU thinks life is all roses and then the box re-interprets the signals and sends out the modified ones. i am far from an expert obviously.

stickers cost extra i think

[Buller_Scott]

alot of tdi'ers on tdiclub wouldnt bag a tuning box just because its a box, but they would say that if you're going to be paying the same amount anyway, its better to get a proper remap rather than a t-box.

[Transporter]

alot of tdi'ers on tdiclub wouldnt bag a tuning box just because its a box, but they would say that if you're going to be paying the same amount anyway, its better to get a proper remap rather than a t-box.

With the exemption when someone has more than one VW car, than it can be swapped from car to car, rather than paying for 2 remaps.

[Buller_Scott]

With the exemption when someone has more than one VW car, than it can be swapped from car to car, rather than paying for 2 remaps.

true, but arent the 'better' tuning boxes almost engine code specific e.g. pd use only, or cr use only, etc etc?

by the way, dyldo- the other way to look at it (despite what i said) is:

if you like the sound of the product, and are leaning towards it- buy it and review it for us!

its good to see people having the courage to be the 'guinea pig' and choose a different path, rather than just reading about APR all the time.

(and to thing some of the tdiclub boys were getting excited about apr more prominently coming into the diesel scene....... dull wankas)

[recalibrate_ecu]

Hi,

There are 3 main ways of altering a map signal held in the ECU.

1. Open the ecu and plug a device into the ecu and read the software then write back the performance software. This breaks the air/ water tight seal in the car and as you might appreciate the engine bay isn't the most hospitable of places
2. Plug a device into the cars obdii port to read and write back the performance software
3. Plug a tuning box into the cars wiring loom often between the ecu and fuel pump/ rail. More expensive digital tuning boxes are able to more accurately adjust the fuelling signals being sent. Some analogue boxes try to fool the ecu to think the car is running at a different temperature and request more fuel. This often is ineffective because of the adaptation built into the ecu.

has anyone been running a steinbauer on their TDI, or had any experience with them?

The benefits of methods 1/2 for diesels is the fuel and boost curve can be adjusted. Also, the variable geometry turbo 'vanes' can be adjusted to help decrease lag and improve the power band.

The benefits of method 3 is that the box can swiftly be removed but primarily the fuelling is adjusted. However, as a consequence of increasing fuel thus exhaust gases that drive the turbo a little more boost is produced.

So the choice is not so simple. If you require a map to be quickly changed (because of an emergency!) choose 3/ Digital Tuning Box. If you require more power and a better all round driving experience choose method 2.

Sorry this isn't a straight forward yes/ no reply.

I hope this helps?

[Dyldo]

Hi,

So the choice is not so simple. If you require a map to be quickly changed (because of an emergency!) choose 3/ Digital Tuning Box. If you require more power and a better all round driving experience choose method 2.

so what you're saying is a unit like a plug'n'play Bluefin UK unit is option 2 therefore your chosen option?

am i correct in saying therefore that you will not have local support?

and in a very simple way, i have assumed that the cost of a locally installed steinbauer box, being so expensive, is also quite probably the better one?

[recalibrate_ecu]

Hi,

Not just plug and play, option 2 describes how traditional ecu software upgrade companies. There is an alternative to Bluefin called Alientech Powergate device that has memory space for a standard and 2 modified maps. You would buy the device ($700 'ish) use it to read your standard map, send it to a specialist company, then upload there map back to your ecu.
To sumarise and tuning box like steinbauer or tunit primarily alters the fuelling. However, it is very easy to remove the box in an emergency!
A ecu software upgrade alters fuel and boost and would give you more power and torque than a tuning box and a smoother better all round drive.
Achieving a custom map using powergate or bluefin offers you the best of both worlds, you can switch the map back to standard in an emergency and the map would optimise the fuel and boost.
Please PM me if you would like more info.


Best wishes

so what you're saying is a unit like a plug'n'play Bluefin UK unit is option 2 therefore your chosen option?

am i correct in saying therefore that you will not have local support?

and in a very simple way, i have assumed that the cost of a locally installed steinbauer box, being so expensive, is also quite probably the better one?