ECU Flashes for '06 Polo GTi

[mdonohoe]

Hi Guys,

First of all I'll provide a little background to let you know where I'm coming from!

I've owned a few cars in the last few years... '05-06 2003 Astra SRi Turbo, '06 MY05 Subaru Impreza WRX Club Spec 8 & now '07 a 10/10/06 delivered Polo GTi 2006.

Essentially I love the Polo GTi due to its ease of use and drivability. I've got about 1050kms on the clock. My current fuel consumption driving to work with 98 Octane is fantastic(about 7.5-8.0km/100). Driving locally is also good usually about 9.5(much better than the WRX which I'm sure could EASILY be up around the 10-15L/100kms).

Always loved FWDs over AWD/RWDs as I find they are easier to handle and most times more predictable(especially in the wet). Ever since my Astra Turbo.

Anyways, enough c*ap from me! The real questions...

I'd love to Powerchip/Unichip or some other chip my Polo GTi.

*** I have serious concerns with Fuel Consumption(a dramatic increase in daily fuel consumption over standard when using the same driving techniques). I've had good experiences so far(I had my WRX tuned to produce 158.1kW ATW and fuel consumption was BETTER than factory!). Any figures from the chips suggested??? Do they make fuel consumption really bad?

*** Power figures???

*** Cost for chip/tune?

*** Warranty concerns???

I'm open to ANY options right now. Possibly as I reach 5kkms-15kkms(to allow my engine to bed in a little bit, more if recommended!).

I guess my power goal is around 145kW flywheel(astra turbo) with my final goal around 190kW flywheel(same as Mazda 3 MPS for power/weight).

I'd love a PM from any perspective chip dealers etc or feedback!!!

Thanks
Matt
donohoematt@hotmail.com

[shaneth]

Welcome Matt, Good choice of car there. The two chip tuners i would choose from is GIAC GIAC Euro Auto bug_racer on the forum and APR or OETTINGER guy_h HArding Performance. CHips are a very sensitive topic (similar to holden vs Ford debate). Both these have Websites and i know both would help you with your build up. I know that both offer roughly 150kw@tf stage 1 chips for the polo. Cost for GIAC circa $1500 for the plain flash and APR $1750 with 2 programs. Where abouts do you live. Cause you also have to consider aftersales service, although i hard on the grape vine that GIAC might be coming to SEQ. As for warranty well its up to the discretion of the dealer. With APR you are able to switch between the stock and chipped settings on the Cruise control stalk, and i believe GIAC has something similar. Your best bet is to PM like you said. Hope this helps

[mdonohoe]

Greetings,

Thanks so much for your reply!!!

Chips I think are ALWAYS going to be very sensitive, no matter what car/vehicle you speak about. One is always going have something over the other!

I currently reside in Park Ridge, QLD.

Thanks for your input tho!

Matt

[Timbo]

Also look at Oettinger (www.oettinger.com.au), also distributed by Harding Performance, and Revo-Technik (www.revotechnik.com.au).

The quoted output of all of these is c145-155fwKw -- around 120-125 atw. Tribalism aside, I don't believe there's much difference between any of these.

It seems to go above that you'd need to look at a bigger turbo.

However, I'd give yourself a bit more time in the car (1,000k since Oct '06 seems very low...or am I missing something ). And IMHO, if you are thinking of doing anything in the way of chipping you MUST also consider improving the brakes.

My 2psi

[MACCAA]

I have the Oettinger reflash on my Polo.Performance is very good,fuel consumption virtually the same as stock.Oettinger is a little dearer than the others,but has a big advantage in that they cover Warranty on their product-a big plus.
Otherwise,as Timbo says,I don't think there'd be much difference between brands.
Cheers

[mdonohoe]

Hey,

Got the trial flash done today to mine too.

Great flash, quick! How much?

Thanks
Matt

[Bug_racer]

I have the Oettinger reflash on my Polo.Performance is very good,fuel consumption virtually the same as stock.Oettinger is a little dearer than the others,but has a big advantage in that they cover Warranty on their product-a big plus.
Otherwise,as Timbo says,I don't think there'd be much difference between brands.
Cheers

Oettingers warranty doesnt differ that from my workshop warranty . Maybe its there so that the chip company doesnt get a bad name if something fails and the workshop doesnt have its own warranty (that is quite common in the industry!)

[Guy_H]

Oettingers warranty doesnt differ that from my workshop warranty . Maybe its there so that the chip company doesnt get a bad name if something fails and the workshop doesnt have its own warranty (that is quite common in the industry!)

Oettingers warranty is listed here:

http://www.oettinger.com.au/oau_warranty.html

Seb, please post a copy of your "workshop" warranty for a comparison please. I'd be interested in seeing it as I have not seen one.

[Bug_racer]

So you operate a business without insurance ?

[DubSteve]

So you operate a business without insurance ?

Every company would have that. It would be wrong not to.

He is just asking for comparison to the Oettinger thats all

[Guy_H]

Without starting an argument (and mods - we are not) - insurance is one thing - you state

Quote

"Oettingers warranty doesnt differ that from my workshop warranty . Maybe its there so that the chip company doesnt get a bad name if something fails and the workshop doesnt have its own warranty (that is quite common in the industry!)"

We are talking warranty, as in Oettingers warranty covers a specified, published list, and includes engine / gearbox / breakdown warranty - ie: the breakdown warranty covers you anywhere in Australia.

If you have no "warranty", you can state it, don't be asshamed if you are only using a "workshop liabilty" insurance & not offering a warranty as such.

As an Importer, wholesaler, retailer of performance products, we carry extensive "Insurance" include product liablity (which covers a product defect causing injury, death or loss of property or damage) as well as the usual "workshop" insurances which do not cover any of that. The cost of our insurance per year is about the smae as buying a Base Golf V.

Please elaborate on what your customers get!

This is actually a good string, as one of the first questions asked by customers is extent of warranty!

[Timbo]

Can I just nip this potential little piss-fight in the bud?

As suppliers to the consumer market, all chip tuners are subject to the warranty provisions of the Trade Practices Act, ie, "fitness for purpose", "merchantable quality", "match the description", and in the case of services such as installation and tuning "carried out with due care and skill" -- see ACC website

These are statutory warranties, and any warranty offered by a suppliers is viewed as additional to these, and cannot reduce those rights.

Therefore, every business selling goods and services in Australia needs to have insurance to cover these potential liabilities.

For the record, here are the additonal warranties relating to chip tunes, so far as I can find them:

APR
GIAC - this is the US warranty -- I guess it's the same in Australia
Powerchip
Oettinger
Revo Technik

Any others?

[gtimk5]

Good on you timbo, nice to see you have done a fair bit of research into the warrantees. Its good to see other warrantees at last, rather than picking on one particular company.
Cheers, Andrew

[Bug_racer]

Without starting an argument (and mods - we are not) - insurance is one thing - you state

Quote

"Oettingers warranty doesnt differ that from my workshop warranty . Maybe its there so that the chip company doesnt get a bad name if something fails and the workshop doesnt have its own warranty (that is quite common in the industry!)"

We are talking warranty, as in Oettingers warranty covers a specified, published list, and includes engine / gearbox / breakdown warranty - ie: the breakdown warranty covers you anywhere in Australia.

If you have no "warranty", you can state it, don't be asshamed if you are only using a "workshop liabilty" insurance & not offering a warranty as such.

As an Importer, wholesaler, retailer of performance products, we carry extensive "Insurance" include product liablity (which covers a product defect causing injury, death or loss of property or damage) as well as the usual "workshop" insurances which do not cover any of that. The cost of our insurance per year is about the smae as buying a Base Golf V.

Please elaborate on what your customers get!

This is actually a good string, as one of the first questions asked by customers is extent of warranty!

My insuance isnt quite that much , but then again I dont have 5 ? vehicles insured under the business banner .

My product liability is much smaller than yours cause I dont sell much products from O/S . Its based more upon workshop liability and not product liability although the kms driven and the time its been fitted doesnt matter between fitment faults and faulty goods . Your insurance and my insurance will be 2 different things , I just noted that a lot of the details on the Oettinger warranty are similar to whats on my insurance policy

[Guy_H]

Timbo is correct - the ACCC covers a lot of consumer items, BUT - on an imported product, the liability rests with the importer, not the manufacturer. Overseas warranties really do not have any bearing in Australia

Now our importers insurance, for a start, does not include our vehicles as Seb may believe. The astronomical cost is due to us (the importer) is being deemed the manufacturer of the product:

A good example:

You buy software from workshop "A" - and your car cuts out in the fast lane & you get flattened by a semi trailer - who do you sue (or your insurance company sue?) - the people who wrote your software in the US, Europe or Asia?

Same if you buy brakes or suspension, a component fails (this is different to "workshop insurance" where the mechanic may have incorrectley installed something or let something loose) - who do you sue? And if you bought it off ebay? Thats another issue.

The importer is liable as the manufacturer of the product under our law.

So if workshop "B" sells a product (software or hardware) and you have an issue, who covers it, and what if the importer does not have an insurance policy?

Anyway - The Oettinger warranty (insurance) is product specific, includes breakdown coverage in every state in Australia (if you breakdown on holidays etc) - its not "general liability" insurance or "general workshop" insurance.

It may be a good idea to check on the insurance coverage offered by retailers. You wouldnt contract a builder to build a house without making sure he was registered & insured would you?

The best Importers Automotive association we have found is the AAAA - www.aaaa.com.au - check it out, ask them the questions on what would happen if you had a problem!