I've seen these chips on eBay to boost the power output of a TDi engine by anything up to 35 bhp. Now I'm a complete n00b about this kind of thing. So I have a few questions:

1) Do they really work? I mean, can you tell the performance increase?

2) Are they really as easy to fit as they claim?

3) Do they void any manufacturer's warranty? I assume they would, but can they tell one has been fitted if you remove it prior to going in for any service?

4) Of course I assume I would need to tell my insurer as well?

5) Some of these chips are selling for as little as a fiver! Now that's peanuts so I don't mind trying one (assuming they work). But is there any particular make I should get? Can anyone recommend something?

6) Can they damage anything else in the system?

Now I'm a cabbie... so I'm not exactly chucking the car about like a boy racer. :p

But I am seriously thinking about the new Superb 1.9 105 bhp TDi and I'm wondering if it might be a little underpowered under a full load. If I could boost that easily to around 130 then I would be happy. To be honest these chips seem a little "too good to be true" if you know what I mean. But I'm willing to try one out on my current 130 bhp Superb to see how it goes.

can't really comment on these chips, but i've got my 130 remapped by jabba and the difference is immence totally different car now, does make gti drivers scratch their heads abit.

Don't touch with a bargepole

eBay.co.uk Guides - '20 BHP Tuning Chips' - The TRUTH

Decent remaps can be done for around £300-400 by a number of the site sponsors - I would strongly recommend budgetting for one of these if you buy a new car.

Yes you would have to tell your insurance - and not all companies will accept modifications. Might be worth checking first if there are a limited number of companies that insure taxis

Yes you would have to tell your insurance - and not all companies will accept modifications. Might be worth checking first if there are a limited number of companies that insure taxis

yes swift cover wouldn't accept any mods when i was wih them , luckerly i was just just due to change so only had to a couple of weeks to wait to get my remap done.

1) Yes they work, but they will cause a CEL (Check Engine Light) to come on as it will overfuel.

2) Easy to fit - yes, assuming they have the right connectors it is just unplug/plug type affair

3) When fitted, it impacts on the power and smoke side of things, especially if you have a DPF I would not like to try my luck there and it is likely to clog it up soon(ish). The issue with warranty is dodgy at best, generally it could void warranty on engine, DPF, drive train in general.

4) Yes or you are uninsured

5) A fiver is more reasonable as that would be a resistor in a box with the right connectors, which is more reasonable than 35 quid for the same. However I would still recommend spending a bit more and getting a remap instead from one of the site sponsors or a reputable other tuner.

6) Yes, DPF if you have one, and as per the warranty answer - anything to do with drive train such as clutch etc.

A map is generally smoother, more powerful, and should take into account a DPF if you have one. The insurer still needs to know

Hmm.

I purchased one of those "resistor in a box" units from eBay, the results are in my project diary.

My money would be on a remap - the PD105 remaps very smoothly, so I believe, whereas the PD130 has more grunt out of the box but is less refined. Both remap to roughly the same power output with a generic remap.

Can you get a Dragon, Van Aakin or Tunit box for this engine? Those are the only 3 makes of "tuning box" I'd even consider, because they're all proper interceptor units. The others are variations on the "Fleabay resistor", which just fools the engine into thinking it's running cold all the time.

They can work but I have heard horror stories about cheapey ones on eBay.

Check this thread out

http://briskoda.net/superb/do-you-have-dragon-box-your-superb/123982/

Frankly if you're happy to pay the extra insurance and take the risk on the warranty front, a decent remap will give you good reliability and smooth, usuable power

Frankly if you're happy to pay the extra insurance and take the risk on the warranty front, a decent remap will give you good reliability and smooth, usuable power

Says he with a ga-zillion lb/ft...

Yes, Dragon's are available. Baker had one fitted for a while as did someone else... Gizmo? Sorry, I can't remember

I have a mild map on mine :P - There is another 35bhp and some 'torques' to be had still hehe.

Joking aside, having the power come in smoothly IMHO is key, I dont know how wheel-spin-happy the Superb is as it is a heavier car, but being able to feel the car responding smoothly to your right-foot makes it possible to go places quickly without getting your tyres shredded too much

I must admit I do enjoy the Fabia Estate vRS Unit 18 Edition though, double the OEM power and a 6 speed box, plus many other nice bits

It's possible to be "sudden" enough with the drive takeup to spin a wheel on a standard Octy 110.

I have a mild map on mine :P - There is another 35bhp and some 'torques' to be had still hehe.

Joking aside, having the power come in smoothly IMHO is key, I dont know how wheel-spin-happy the Superb is as it is a heavier car, but being able to feel the car responding smoothly to your right-foot makes it possible to go places quickly without getting your tyres shredded too much

I must admit I do enjoy the Fabia Estate vRS Unit 18 Edition though, double the OEM power and a 6 speed box, plus many other nice bits

Plug plug!

Actually, it is an impressive piece of kit. Very very impressive. It's a credit to Ross' workmanship.

That said though, I'm not at all convinced that you, sir, have a "mild map".... that's like saying I have "mild" grey hair...

Regards,

Greyfox.