Doctor_Strange

I had a superchips remap (mobile engineer visit rather than plug in box). Didn't think about it at that time so didn't ask him. Just wondered if anyone else on here has had one fitted. There seems to be quite a few different brands out there.

Hi guys. I've already had my Octy remapped from 150bhp to a stated 183bhp and from 254nm to 316nm. Thinking about having an induction kit but I need it fitting as I do not have skill or patience lol! Any recommendations for a kit and any tips on best places to have them fitted please? Cheers

I'll ask him to have a look at said belt while conducting the service but I just wondered if anyone has actually heard of this lifetime belt and whether his thoughts of 6 or 7 years is reasonable. I know it is stated as 5 years or 100k miles. My car has done 29k miles.

Happy New Year all. I have been gathering quotes for a basic service and cambelt change and I was advised by someone at work that a guy he knows elsewhere in the organisation, runs his own car servicing place and as such offers staff discount. His garage doesn't have a website but his Facebook page describes it as: A small family firm in the heart of Derbyshire offering car servicing, diagnostics and repair along with welding and fabrication work. Anyway, his email to me reads: I can do a basic service (which for me is an oil and filter change with sump plug plus air filter) for xxxx altogether. Regarding the timing belt - it’s the 1.4 TFSi engine which technically has a ‘lifetime’ timing belt fitted. It isn’t actually, but the interval of five years stated by VAG is very conservative and I would advise to save your money and not even consider it until the car is at least six or even seven years old. Any thoughts on this?

Indeed. I was under no illusions that it was a good warranty. These warranties are always drafted in favour of the supplier.

I won't be launching my car or tanking it everywhere but there will be the odd occasion where faster acceleration is needed. Should be fine with standard clutches. Superchips offer a warranty for £1 which pays out up to £8k for any problems caused as a direct result of the remap. No doubt the wear and tear get out card would be played in the event of any claim.

I'm not aware of any such feature in the 1.4 Octavia. I've never come across it in the dozens of articles I've read and videos I've watched before and during ownership.

Last year, when first making enquiries, I contacted JBS auto designs. 316nm is 233 ft lbs "Our custom Stage 1 doesn’t come close to the limit that these gearboxes can take with these engines fitted. Stage 1 we tend to see around 180BHP and 230Ftlb, which is 30BHP and 40Ftlb over stock and quite a way off the 280-300&flb that these gearboxes can take and do take when they are paired to the larger 1.8tsi engines also found in the VW/Audi range"

I was advised by one firm that the remap isn't close to what the DSG can handle.

No idea of the code but that active cylinder business first came along with the 1.5TSI so I understand

After careful consideration and having saved considerable money on insurance with a different provider who covered the modification, I decided to take advantage of superchips Christmas sale. I opted for one of their guys to come and install it via the ECU itself rather than a DIY job using the OBD port and this was all included in the price. Didn't take him long to do it yesterday and the gains are noticeable yet in a smooth and progressive way rather than a rip your face off short blast of torque. My car is a 1.4 TSI DSG and the gains go from 150bhp to 183bhp and from 254nm to 316nm. Locked in 4th gear at 30mph and it does pick up quickly with the extra torque whereas before you would need 3rd for the same level of initial take off. Once it goes past 4,000 revs, it really does keep on accelerating well as opposed to feeling somewhat strained at the top end before. Under normal acceleration, it seems to cruise up hills much easier whereas before it would have been more eager to change down. Obviously the torque is helpful on that front. Too early to comment on MPG but I am switching to super unleaded and not because I've had the remap. I've been reading up that even on modern cars, this E10 petrol can lead to both poorer performance and less MPG. Time will tell but I'm very pleased with the remap thus far.

Hi guys, I've done a video review today of my Octavia which I thought I'd share. It's very basic, literally me with my phone and some scribbled notes on an envelope Hopefully people will find it interesting or useful anyway. https://youtu.be/gnBw-VZMtiE Cheers

Apologies for the delay in getting back to all with this topic. I took it back to my local independent VW specialist who fitted 2 new shocks for me in March. Turns out one of the springs has detached on the drivers side shock and is jingling around. No cost to me as it's under their warranty but they didn't have the parts in stock so I have booked it in again next week. All in hand thank god.

I'll need to book this in at a local garage but I anticipate the usual "We took it for a drive and couldn't hear it." Despite the fact it can be heard with the window up! Basically, at low speeds over small potholes, speed bumps and generally uneven roads, there is the sound of metal jingling about loose somewhere. It isn't constant, so only when hitting bumps etc as noted above. I think it is coming from the front drivers side wheel somewhere. Anyone had anything similar before?

Here's my latest video from today. Following this I went out with the Mrs to give her some snow driving training in her Yaris which is on Goodyear Ultragrip 9 tyres. It was awesome in the snow. https://youtu.be/nu1Ek6jP1-8

A surprise snowfall today out on Beeley Moor. I came across several cars belonging to folks who had been out walking and noticed they were parked on the edge of the ditch with summer tyres!! I stopped my car to assist a young lass and her friends who were trying to get their VW Golf DSG going. Luckily, I have some shoe chains which I simply attach to my walking shoes to give grip even on ice and went to give them a push. I told her to switch the traction control off and keep the revs at 2000 and with help from me, off they went. Next and just behind my car in the footage, a young lad was all over the place, over revving his Corsa. The problem was worsened by the Land Rover driver who just kept coming towards the hazard! Eventually he listened to me and reversed out of the way. I then gave the lad the same advice as the girl and pushed him away from the ditch until he got going ok. Following this, I went on my way and the all season tyres showed their worth! This time I remembered to switch the traction control off and it was no drama 👍

Well I think the struggle getting up that hill was partly down to it being compacted snow and ice and partly down to me leaving the traction control on. If we get another snowfall, I'll try again with it switched off. All season tyres aren't quite as good as winter tyres in winter and aren't quite as good as summer tyres in summer. They are better than summer tyres in winter though and better than winter tyres in summer. Ideal for the generally mild UK winters with rare snowfall.

I live in the hills above Matlock in Derbyshire at 760ft above sea level so back in January when I bought the Octy, I invested in a full set of Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2. I have experience of true winter tyres and I can conclude these aren't quite as good in snow as those but still offer a huge improvement on summer tyres. Plus I can keep them on all year. Today was the first true test of the tyres but I made a mistake going up the hill covered in compacted snow and ice. I forgot to switch the traction control off so it proved to be a real battle. Summer tyres would have seen me spin off on the corner altogether so still a huge improvement. No problem on fresh snow. https://youtu.be/2aZeC0q-6Dk

I've decided to go with the local VW specialist at £257. They have a good reputation and did a good job on my Golf a few years ago. The service is oil and filter change, pollen and air filter change and spark plugs if they aren't long life. The brake pads and discs will be checked amongst other things and I will be advised of any further work required.

It's melted now 😂

My car is due its first full service in the new year as it will be 4 years old soon. I phoned the main dealer plus 2 local garages. Main dealer: £299 Colemans garage (trusted garage scheme and critical of main dealers not doing a proper service): £363 Manders garage (local VAG specialist): £257 Main dealer service would appeal to future buyers I guess.

I now live in the hills above Matlock in Derbyshire and we had a brief period of heavy snow which began to settle. I have a full set of Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 which I had from new in February. Ideal tyres for UK which mostly gets mild winters. They performed superbly on the snowy roads yesterday.