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RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:50 am
by RenoHuskerDu
I took some baseline acceleration figures last night, before installing a RaceChip (mid-level model). I decided on a chip rather than a remap because here in France we don't have quite the same level of reliable service as in the UK or Deutschland.  RaceChip is German and seems to have a relatively good rep in Deutschland.

0-110kph took 11.4 secs, going moderately uphill. That's the safest stretch of road around here because it's wide, is a dead end, and has virtually no traffic.

I had already determined top speed at ~240kph on the Autobahn.

I'll post the results now that the RaceChip is installed, soon.  During installation, I discovered that my air filter needs replacing, but I'll hold off on that so as not to skew the performance comparison before and after the chip install.

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 9:20 am
by RenoHuskerDu
The results this morning are not top notch. Throttle tip-in is improved, but the default chip settings caused the car to go into limp home mode (max 80mph or so) when more power is applied. So the car would eagerly surge ahead, only to beep a warning, flash the CEL, and slow dramatically.  :'(

They provide a jumper assembly that simply replaces the box in case of problems. I used it as it's only 30 seconds to install.

Their phone support in English is good and I've re-tuned the box per their advice. It's a simple matter to open the chip case and reset two trim pots on the IC. Now for another go this afternoon.

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:34 pm
by RenoHuskerDu
Capping off a completely inauspicious start to this event, it would appear that my RaceChip unit is defective. After two attempts at tuning it, this was their diagnosis. They'll pay for shipping the nicht-leistungs unit back to der Vaterland and send me another.  More news as it happens....  :(

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:32 pm
by kenniff
Looking forward to hearing the results. I'm assuming I could fit one of these to my F15 (if there's and improvement that merits it).

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:09 am
by celica
I would have gone for a remap with a dongle where you just plug into obd port and can go from remap or standard

Think superchips does it which is a bigger firm

If remap from reliable mapper isn't available

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:10 am
by celica
This is what I mean

Bluefin from superchips
http://www.mybluefin.co.uk/search?make= ... riant=1898

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:14 pm
by SMOKEY
Yep pretty sure OP just has one of the interceptor boxes that increases fuel rail pressure.....and the limp mode is the factory ECU trying to protect itself from the irregular signals its receiving. The trim pots are a dead giveaway - just changing the resistance to dial up fuel rail pressure until it hits a fail safe, then dial back one notch.

No shortcuts with this stuff. Either pay for an off the shelf ECU reflash or custom tune, or leave it alone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:38 pm
by Horizon
I enquired about a remap on my Golf and they said cars built 2010 and above can't be remapped via the OBD port
I was told its a tri core ECU which needs the ECU removing, splitting the case open to gain access to the chip to allow it to be remapped. The ECU is write protected via the OBD port. Maybe the BMW's are the same.
I've been quoted £375 + VAT

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:19 pm
by 535dboy
[quote="SMOKEY"]
Yep pretty sure OP just has one of the interceptor boxes that increases fuel rail pressure.....and the limp mode is the factory ECU trying to protect itself from the irregular signals its receiving. The trim pots are a dead giveaway - just changing the resistance to dial up fuel rail pressure until it hits a fail safe, then dial back one notch.

No shortcuts with this stuff. Either pay for an off the shelf ECU reflash or custom tune, or leave it alone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]

COuldnt' agree more

Everything needs to be considered not just certain bits to get short term apparent gain

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:30 am
by SMOKEY
[quote="Horizon"]
I was told its a tri core ECU which needs the ECU removing, splitting the case open to gain access to the chip to allow it to be remapped. The ECU is write protected via the OBD port. Maybe the BMW's are the same.
I've been quoted £375 + VAT
[/quote]

Potentially, manufacturers obviously go to great lengths to stop people mucking around with their ECU's.

But just looked at the place I'm planning on using, they offer a tune for the 40d on the 2011 X6 which I assume is the same engine.

BMW X6  2010-2012 – xDrive40d (Twin turbo) E71
Before: 225Kw 600Nm
After: 280Kw 780Nm
$  1,195.00 AUD

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:56 am
by Horizon
http://www.motormods.co.uk/protected_ecu_remapping.html

I have read that some tuners have now been able to overcome the protection code, a d are now an.e to use. The OBD port. Will need to read more to find out if this is true, then hopefully the price will come down a bit.

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:46 pm
by X5Sport
As part of the firmware updating system, BMW have a system that centrally logs the ECU status via a checksum and if that gets altered then the next time the car is serviced the ECU is re-written to.  You need to keep a copy of any remap so you can put it back in again afterwards otherwise it may have been overwritten!

Richard

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:45 pm
by RenoHuskerDu
There are about 2000 X5 40Ds currently driving around Deutschland with RaceChips in them.  I did a check on  German-language BMW forums to see if anybody complained about trouble. No hits.  If I were still a young man with his right foot firmly planted on the floor, adding a tuning chip might be bad idea due to high EGTs over time. But I drive moderately most of the time and only put my foot in it a few times a day.

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:00 pm
by ex540d
I am thinking about a DTUK for my F10 535D 313 ps. However it puts the torque to 740nm which i am worried because the gearbox can take a maximum of 700nm.
What do you all think ?

Re: RaceChip results

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:38 am
by X5Sport
No planting you right foot then!

Or get a proper remap.