Chipping/ECU reflash options/ info?

[Ivo]

Hi fellas, I was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on improving performance. I have read a lot threads about people who have upgraded via chips or reflash but have not really found any who were unhappy with the modification.

With a reflash, the ECU is changed via a computer, and can only be changed back to factory settings by connecting to the same computer again? A chip such as the DP can be unplugged if factory settings are required. Is this correct?

What is the cost roughly for either of these options? Are we talking a few hundered or over a thousand dollars?

[rob64981]

Have a look for info on the T4forum.

Theres lots of info about this sort of thing.

I know its in the UK but lots of interesting stuff.

Rob

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk

[VW Convert]

Hi fellas, I was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on improving performance. I have read a lot threads about people who have upgraded via chips or reflash but have not really found any who were unhappy with the modification.

With a reflash, the ECU is changed via a computer, and can only be changed back to factory settings by connecting to the same computer again? A chip such as the DP can be unplugged if factory settings are required. Is this correct?

What is the cost roughly for either of these options? Are we talking a few hundered or over a thousand dollars?

There are dozens of threads on this forum regarding chips, there are many options and varying costs depending on what suits you.

Search is your friend.

Cheers

George

[pjbplumbing@bigpond.com]

fish and chips

Hey Dude,
I've just ordered a DP chip for my T4 2.5 TDI, I'll let you know in a week or so what its like; or email me if you like for feed back.
The DP chip interested me as its a piggy back concept and has some adjustment after installation, which appeals to me.
See my entry in the Diesel section of this forum.here

[Buller_Scott]

Hi fellas, I was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on improving performance. I have read a lot threads about people who have upgraded via chips or reflash but have not really found any who were unhappy with the modification.

With a reflash, the ECU is changed via a computer, and can only be changed back to factory settings by connecting to the same computer again? A chip such as the DP can be unplugged if factory settings are required. Is this correct?

What is the cost roughly for either of these options? Are we talking a few hundered or over a thousand dollars?

hi ivo. check out chippeduk.com- they have an outlet here in australia by someone on this forum called Logzy. $790 for a handheld unit that stores the factory map, as well as 2 of 4 others you can choose from (economy, fast road, track, fast track).

a few of the guys with golf diesels have them, and seem very impressed- you're able to change maps as many times as you want, fuel efficiency if driven at the same speeds, increases, the product has a warranty (i havent read the document, but the manager of chipped uk in britain said, in an online forum, they will cover any warranty repairs that dealers refuse if dealers think the chip is at fault etc).

i'm going to be getting one once my warranty has been eaten up abit, otherwise i'd already have one.

ivo, for info on chipping and modifications i would check out the polo and diesels section of this web page, as well as tdiclub.com. i know the polo guys are NUTS about modding their cars (i have a polo tdi, same engine as yours), and i learned EVERYTHING i know regarding what mods do what, what mods are best bang for buck, what order you'd want to do mods in, etc, in that forum.

for example, in the caddy, a chip, replacement panel filter, bigger mouthed cold air intake, and down pipe between the turbo and cat, will see you running approximately 105kw and 310-320nm of torque. that's a seven second to 100km/hr caddy.

good luck! and as i've done my research (and witnessed world war three erupting every time someone asks 'what brand chip?' in the polo forums), here are some brands you might look at:

oettinger
chipped uk
revo technik
dpchip

the first 3 companies are engine reflashes, and dpchip is plug in, as you know.

good luck!

[Guy_H]

Hi Ivo,

As with all those comments above - but don't confuse a plug in tuning box with an ECU reflash - they are entirely different thing, and work in entirely different ways.

And also don't be fooled by warranty that includes "unplug the device, and no one will ever know" - that is simply not the case.

Do your homework thoroughly & read the warranty documentation in full before making your decision!

Good luck!

[Sharkie]

[quote=Buller_Scott;224483] will see you running approximately 105kw and 310-320nm of torque. that's a seven second to 100km/hr caddy./[quote]

I'm sorry to say but a 105kw Caddy will never do 7s 0-100km/h ....

A std Caddy TDI does it in 13s and with 100kw an Oettinger Caddy does it in 12s. See their (and VW's) website.

Even a 110kw std Polo GTI, that weighs 200+kw less only does it in 8.2s

[Buller_Scott]

[QUOTE=Sharkie
I'm sorry to say but a 105kw Caddy will never do 7s 0-100km/h ....

A std Caddy TDI does it in 13s and with 100kw an Oettinger Caddy does it in 12s. See their (and VW's) website.

Even a 110kw std Polo GTI, that weighs 200+kw less only does it in 8.2s[/QUOTE]

it was presumptuous of me to substitute a caddy for a polo tdi.

but wouldnt a polo tdi with chip, filter, seat cai and dump pipe be quicker than a stock polo gti? as in, crack 8 seconds? it might have 5 kw less, but it'll have 90nm more.

that being said, a chipped caddy with some other minor mods will still be a quick little mover.

[Sharkie]

No, chipped and worked TDI will still be slower than a std Polo GTI. It all has to do with gearing and the way a petrol turbo delivers power vs a diesel turbo. Have a look at the Golf GT as a base comparison.

GT TDI (125kw 350NM) = 8.2s
GT TSI (125kw 240NM) = 7.7s

You can see even with 110NM less the 1.4 TSI is half a second quicker than the TDI.

Oettinger 100kw Polo TDI will do 9.1s and with 10kw extra worked, will still be very unlikely to crack 8.5s.

I'm afraid even a worked TDI will not be able to run with a std Polo GTI. If you wanted to compete, the GTI would have been the go.

[Buller_Scott]

No, chipped and worked TDI will still be slower than a std Polo GTI. It all has to do with gearing and the way a petrol turbo delivers power vs a diesel turbo. Have a look at the Golf GT as a base comparison.

GT TDI (125kw 350NM) = 8.2s
GT TSI (125kw 240NM) = 7.7s

You can see even with 110NM less the 1.4 TSI is half a second quicker than the TDI.

Oettinger 100kw Polo TDI will do 9.1s and with 10kw extra worked, will still be very unlikely to crack 8.5s.

I'm afraid even a worked TDI will not be able to run with a std Polo GTI. If you wanted to compete, the GTI would have been the go.

interesting. obviously you're much more knowledgable than i am in this area.

its not that i want to compete, im just optimistic that once ive got her worked, it will be faster than my vr6 (admittely it was auto). i WILL be doing defensive driving and losing my track virginity, though.

how about rolling starts, sharkie- say 60-100km/hr, 105kw 320nm tdi vs stock pog gti? whaddya reckon? (this is almost sounding like i want to become a Chapel street mario...)

[Sharkie]

how about rolling starts, sharkie- say 60-100km/hr, 105kw 320nm tdi vs stock pog gti? whaddya reckon? (this is almost sounding like i want to become a Chapel street mario...)

Hmmm, which gear for a 60-km/h run? and will you have to change gears doing it?

A Polo GTI will do it in every gear from 2nd onwards. So in 3rd for instance it would very likely be very close depending on how much of it you are actually spending in the TDI's very narrow powerband. The petrol turbos have the advantage of a very broad powerband (4500rmin) whereas the diesels have a very narrow powerband (about 2500rrmin) so peak torque is not necessarily a proper indication.

Also I had a worked 160kw 1995 VR6 and it could do about 7.2s 0-100km/h so it would be quicker than both ...

[Ivo]

I have sort of gone off the idea of getting the chip or reflash. They all seem WAY over priced. Maybe I'm just being a tight @$$. I would really like to drive a van before and after and see the results on a dyno/rolling road before throwing down $$$$.

[Sharkie]

Don't let us put you off with the comparisons between a petrol and diesel turbo. The ECU upgrade on all of them makes a huge difference in everyday drivability......

Try it 1st before you commit. Oettinger will let you do a trial 1st to see if you like it. I do not know of a single person who tried a remap and did not eventually when funds permitted bought it .....

It is that good.

[Seano]

I have sort of gone off the idea of getting the chip or reflash. They all seem WAY over priced. Maybe I'm just being a tight @$$.

Nope. Not a tight arse. They ARE all way way far away over priced. Which is why I've not bothered either. I've often looked....and always laughed.

If it only takes an extra few seconds to get up a hill then I think I can live with it.

[gregozedobe]

If you look at the UK and USA prices for remaps you will probably get a bit peeved