Alternative to Bluefin

[Mixer]

Best price they got was 325 pounds.
Were getting a extra special introductory price so i cant see a group buy happening to be honest.

Well I wasn't thinking to squeeze for a better price the price is already sensational. Was thinking of freight and stuff but then again everyone is all over the place so don't listen to me any more, I'm full of crap

[OilBurna]

look fwd to seeing the results this should work for the Passat 103kw as well ie the PD version ?

[orsegtsport]

I can’t remember exactly which thread I read it in (it was possibly even in the diesel section), but a few GT TDI owners reported that their cars seemed to be performing considerably better after the first service. So I’m wondering if perhaps the Service Dept is performing an ECU update at the first service? Are any GT TDI owners able to confirm this?

I’m keen to know because this is potentially an issue for me come service time. I have recently ordered the ST3 tuner for my car, so I will be ‘flashing’ my ECU shortly. Now I’m not sure about this by any means, but I seem to recall reading on another forum that flash tuners are ‘locked into’ (will only recognise) the original ECU, so if your ECU is subsequently upgraded by the dealer, then the flash tuner will no longer recognise your ECU (it will think it's been plugged into a different car) and will need to be sent back to be reset. Perhaps ChippedUK could clarify this?

P.S C'mon Logzy post up that review!

[mrx]

I can’t remember exactly which thread I read it in (it was possibly even in the diesel section), but a few GT TDI owners reported that their cars seemed to be performing considerably better after the first service. So I’m wondering if perhaps the Service Dept is performing an ECU update at the first service? Are any GT TDI owners able to confirm this?

I’m keen to know because this is potentially an issue for me come service time. I have recently ordered the ST3 tuner for my car, so I will be ‘flashing’ my ECU shortly. Now I’m not sure about this by any means, but I seem to recall reading on another forum that flash tuners are ‘locked into’ (will only recognise) the original ECU, so if your ECU is subsequently upgraded by the dealer, then the flash tuner will no longer recognise your ECU (it will think it's been plugged into a different car) and will need to be sent back to be reset. Perhaps ChippedUK could clarify this?

P.S C'mon Logzy post up that review!

You'll be fine, you just need new maps if they do an ECU flash. The unit is locked to your VIN which won't change with a reflash. The same thing happened to me with the Bluefin, it just behaved as though I was plugging it in for the first time and I had to get new maps sent through (at no charge).

[Logzy]

Ok. I was going to wait until the drive home but I'm sure some of you cant wait until tonight to hear my initial thoughts on the ST3.

I wont detail the entire process as it is very straight forward and i had no complications. The software loads onto the pc without a problem, reading of the original map from the car took ablut 6-7 minutes.

I emailed my original map to the UK and 1.5 hours later i received the two new maps, fast road and economy.

I loaded the fast road map into the ecu, again such an easy, straight forward process that took about 8-10 minutes (estimated times)
During the writing to the ecu the "PRNDS" on the MFD flash on and off for the entire process.
At the end the ST3 simply says to turn off ignition and unplug the ST3.

Once i had done this i turned the key and away she went.
Starting didnt seem any different to usual other that the engine may be marginally quieter.

I only went for a quick drive to pick up dinner which was waiting for me as i wasnt going to drive to pick it up without first loading a new map.

First impressions are that it definatly feels different.
The power seems to come on alot smoother and it is there across a wider rev range, previously i woul dget a sharp drop in power just above 3100 now it just seems to pull all through to about 4200 however more driving is required at the moment to refine this figure.
Driving to work this morning i was able to get a bit more of a feel as to some of the characteristic changes that had been made.

I feel that i didnt have to push the accellerator pedal as much now to get the same amount of power from the car.
The sudden rush of boost has been tamed a little but not to the point where it feels too flat and boring.
Something i didnt like about my car before the flash was the way it reacted in 3rd gear. Sometimes you would get a full rush of boost and other times it felt like it was only boosting 50% or soemthing was holding it back.
Since installing the new map this feeling has gone and its good solid power throughout all gears.

Through all gears not the boost is alot more solid yet very smooth. You really have to keep your eye on the speedo now as it just get to 100 in no time at all.

Another thing noticed this morning on my drive to work was the fuel consumption.
I would say that i drove to work at the same pace, or maybe even slightly quicker, same speed off from the lights etc but because of the more linear boosting and the overall more power feel i obvbiously didnt need to push the accellerator as much.
This made an amazing difference of 0.5l/100k knocking my consumption down to 5.8 l/100k from yesterdays drive to work.

Thats about it for my first impressions. I didnt get to play too much this morning so cant say much more at this stage. It is certainatly an improvement over the original stock map.

I'll leave this map in for a while then try the economy map. Im heading off to port arlington this weekend so it will be the perfect run for the economy map.

What i would now like to do is plug vag com in and check the EGT's as i havent done any of this yet.

I hope this has given you some idea of the ST3.
Its one of those things where its a little hard to explain but you need to feel it to appreciate it.

[Guy_H]

Sounds good,

During the writing to the ecu the "PRNDS" on the MFD flash on and off for the entire process.

Just in case you don't realise, when you program an engine ECU, it disconnects it from the rest of the car & throws fault codes through about 6 ecu's in the car - what you see there is the DSG ECU going into a semi limp mode as it misses the ECU.

Good thing you have Vag Com, because you can clear all the faults generated - we have had people up here go into the dealerships with similar faults on their car & have their ECU replaced for no reason (also they don't tell the dealer they reprogrammed it).

Hope this helps you understand why

[Logzy]

Sounds good,



Just in case you don't realise, when you program an engine ECU, it disconnects it from the rest of the car & throws fault codes through about 6 ecu's in the car - what you see there is the DSG ECU going into a semi limp mode as it misses the ECU.

Good thing you have Vag Com, because you can clear all the faults generated - we have had people up here go into the dealerships with similar faults on their car & have their ECU replaced for no reason (also they don't tell the dealer they reprogrammed it).

Hope this helps you understand why

Hopefully i wont need to vagcom to clear the codes. The ST3 isnt meant to generate any and should clear them after programming anyway.
I didnt get a chance last night but tonight when i get home i'll do a scan with VagCom and see if there are any there.

[Guy_H]

Anything that can program an engine ecu will generate the faults (even Volkswagen dealers when they reprogram) - so its just the nature of the beast. You shouldnt see any codes in the engine ecu, just the others.

Its a good opportunity to get to use more Vag Com features though!

[Roobuls]

Anything that can program an engine ecu will generate the faults ...... You shouldnt see any codes in the engine ecu, just the others.

But apparently the ST3 has the ability to clear DTC's (error codes). Are you saying that it won't do that ???

[Guy_H]

But apparently the ST3 has the ability to clear DTC's (error codes). Are you saying that it won't do that ???

I don't know - from what I gather it is a programming device - if it is a full blown diagnostic tool that can access all 77+ modules on board then yes, if it can't - then it can't clear them.

If it can, then its the only programming device in the world that will, not even VW can do it in one step with their $35,000 machine!

As I mentioned, the engine ecu won't throw a code, but the others will.

If you have one, check it out with Vag Com, you will know the answer in seconds rather than guessing. Having programmed well over a thousand of these newer ME9 / EDC16 ecu's, we know them pretty well. let us know what you find.

[Roobuls]

If you have one, check it out with Vag Com, you will know the answer in seconds rather than guessing. Having programmed well over a thousand of these newer ME9 / EDC16 ecu's, we know them pretty well. let us know what you find.

No, I do not have a Vag Com. Maybe I'm going to have to get one to be safe. Is that the only way we can securely clear codes ??

[Greg Roles]

Hey Guy just wanted to say how impressed I am to see someone in the same field helping people out regardless of the item purchased. This, along with how friendly and enthuiastic Alex was on my visit to the QLD office shows how great a business you run. I'm in sales myself, and am willing to cross over to competitors products to help my customers, but have to say it's a rare thing to see in the sales game. Kudos from me!

[Greg Roles]

Ok. I was going to wait until the drive home but I'm sure some of you cant wait until tonight to hear my initial thoughts on the ST3.

I wont detail the entire process .............

I hope this has given you some idea of the ST3.
Its one of those things where its a little hard to explain but you need to feel it to appreciate it.

All good and well you lucky b@satrd, but most importantly.............


how does it go against an XR6???

[Guy_H]

Hey Greg, no probs - we get to see a lot of cars & we also get calls from dealers trying to sort certain stuff out so its not a big problem - Hate to see if roobuls has crook information though (and he's in Perth so we can't check his car directly for him).

[VW Convert]

Anything that can program an engine ecu will generate the faults (even Volkswagen dealers when they reprogram) - so its just the nature of the beast. You shouldnt see any codes in the engine ecu, just the others.

Its a good opportunity to get to use more Vag Com features though!

So am I correct in assuming that if one were to chip their car and not use Vag Com to clear fault codes that a switched on tech in a dealership could deduce that the car had been chipped by looking at the error codes generated?

Cheers

George