MKV Golf TDI - Bluefin ECU flash!!

[Sage]

oops.. my mistake bluefin needed more power couldnt use my USB hub.. needed to be straight into the PC..

all ok.. map uploaded waiting modded map.. will post thoughts once complete..

[Sage]

ok so got it working.. sent them a map.. within 5 minutes i had an email advising my new map was ready to download..

downloaded..

installed..

putt around for a bit.. no noticeable difference..

sink my foot in 3rd gear.. and hello.. my stomach never did that before

have a bit of fun round some twisties..

yes there is certainly torque gains.. no doubt..

kilowatt gains? hmm.. maybe.. though not quite as much as the 25kw they state.. maybe more like 10-15..

So was it worth it.. i have to say yes.. i am still grinning as i type this.. and the car never made me grin before under power granted it is still a turbo diesel.. and will always be.. it is not a performance car.. though it is certainly sporty..

no way id be grinning if i paid $2000 for this.. tho at $750 delivered.. with a device that i can reflash and check and clear error codes..

not to mention better fuel economy.. (claimed)..

bargain.

and just on my way home i pulled up beside an R32 V Golf.. gave him the nod and he just laughed a bit seeing that i was just a TDi..

We both took off sedately and i sunk the boot in and he followed suit.. granted he got a car length or so in front.. from 20-110kmh tho he told me at the lights that he was surprised that i was even that close..

ahh.. good times..

[maca]

Would this affect any sort of new car warranty that's on the car?

Good to finally head about someone who's done it and can give a first hand experience.

[85turbo]

thanks for the info on the bluefin.

i too am looking at getting one for my car soon.

as for new car warranty issues, i guess it would not be too difficult for the VW dealer to see that the ecu map had been altered.
they could claim any engine / box issues were directly related, and refuse your claim.

personally, i would not recommend doing it to a car that's still under manufacturers warranty. that's just my opinion though.....

Jason.

[Sage]

no real concern for warranty.. if something goes wrong plug in the bluefin again.. put it back to factory.. get your warranty claim.. get the car back and reflash again.. nice and easy

also if anyone is interested i asked the bluefin guys what aspects of the map are modified..

he wrote:

"We are changing the throttle response, various torque limits, fuelling, timing and boost."

they are very good on the email.. i have sent about 4 now and everytime almost instant responses..

[85turbo]

good to know they have such good customer service.

[POLARBEAR666]

Glad you like the Bluefin Sage.

I really really really wish they bloody made it for 1.4 TSI's. I don't understand why we are left out considering other companies have flashes for us for AGES in europe.

[Maverick]

Glad you like the Bluefin Sage.

I really really really wish they bloody made it for 1.4 TSI's. I don't understand why we are left out considering other companies have flashes for us for AGES in europe.

You're talking about the 1.4 TSI's that had the old ECU, the Australian ones all have the encrypted ECU's as do the European ones as well now.

[benno]

no real concern for warranty.. if something goes wrong plug in the bluefin again.. put it back to factory.. get your warranty claim.. get the car back and reflash again.. nice and easy

Depends on your ECU but some have a flash counter (keeps track of how many times your ecu has been altered) that is not reset by the Bluefin device.


I'm waiting for my ECU to be supported for flash counter resetting before I make the jump to Bluefin.

[Guest212]

no real concern for warranty.. if something goes wrong plug in the bluefin again.. put it back to factory.. get your warranty claim.. get the car back and reflash again.. nice and easy

also if anyone is interested i asked the bluefin guys what aspects of the map are modified..

he wrote:

"We are changing the throttle response, various torque limits, fuelling, timing and boost."

they are very good on the email.. i have sent about 4 now and everytime almost instant responses..

You're kidding yourself.

If the dealer so much as suspects you had an aftermarket tune they will deny any mechanical relate warranty claim which could have been caused by unauthorised increase in power output!

Will chipping void your manufacturers warranty: YES!

[Greg Roles]

My take is that it's a grey area, but given the current economic climate, I'd reckon your chances of getting denied have probably increased. I had a long yarn with a few of the apprentices at my dealer, and they said they did do warranty on obviously modded cars, so long as it was "reasonable". It seems if you show up with a major major problem, such as an entire engine stuffed, well I wouldn't take that bet.

Bottom line a change to the ECU does technically void your engines warranty. It comes down to the dealer and VW, how picky they want to be, which I would assume equates to the repair bill.

Glad to hear you like it Sage, but whilst there's probably more you could do, the power you have now is probably more GT like, and the GT has a lot of physical mods to handle this extra power, and HEAT! There's been a few 103's do their turbo, and I'd have to put it down to too much being expected from the thermal handling capacity of the 103 setup.

I'd suggest a few mods to help keep your temps down, such as a intercooler spray, cold air inlet mods, and doing your best to avoid too many full on heat spikes and surge, especially below 2000rpm. Opening up the exhaust a bit wouldn't hurt either, and also help the response. As the oil is the lifeline for your now overboosting turbo, keep those oil changes up.

[mrx]

Depends on your ECU but some have a flash counter (keeps track of how many times your ecu has been altered) that is not reset by the Bluefin device.


I'm waiting for my ECU to be supported for flash counter resetting before I make the jump to Bluefin.

What ECU do you have? Sage will be fine with his, the Bluefin doesn't alter the flash count on his.

EDIT: Found out myself.

[mrx]

You're kidding yourself.

If the dealer so much as suspects you had an aftermarket tune they will deny any mechanical relate warranty claim which could have been caused by unauthorised increase in power output!

Will chipping void your manufacturers warranty: YES!

So, don't give them any reason to suspect anything. As far as I'm concerned a Bluefin is the perfect way of not arousing suspicion. BTW I'm not just believing the hype - I've done it.

[Sage]

i wouldnt care if it did alter the flash count.. id just play ignorant.. they wouldnt be able to prove anything.. the fact has the same map as factory.. and has a problem.. fix it..

[Maverick]

i wouldnt care if it did alter the flash count.. id just play ignorant.. they wouldnt be able to prove anything.. the fact has the same map as factory.. and has a problem.. fix it..

You can play ignorant all you like but if your flash counter is more then 2 and there is no valid reason (ie multiple flashes by the dealer) then expect them to deny your warranty claim.

There's a TSB out that says where there are DTC's around the ECU that the first step is to check the flash counter (and other associated fields) for signs of tampering (ie flashing). If there are no visible signs then continue on looking via the checklist. If there are visible signs it get's looked at in more detail and this can include the ECU being sent off.

So by all means play ignorant but don't expect it to achieve anything more then piss off the service staff by wasting their time.