Well, as running a vRS next to my 525d M-Sport Tourer - the diesel felt a little sluggish, so I have been humming and harring about re-mapping my diesel, and have been looking into the various re-map companies, and also the various ‘tuning boxes’ trying to decide which to go for.

As I have not done anything else to my car, a custom re-map seemed pointless, and also the down side with re-maps, is when you sell the car – they are gone, and also, they ‘are’ traceable on the ECU.

So then it was a tuning box, and I narrowed it down to 4 contenders, and then decided to try out the new ‘PowerBox’, which is a programmable digital version from Griffin Tuning, that has 9 different settings, from no difference in Power to full out Max Power. Also, this PowerBox has the ability to be custom programmed, therefore if I feel that the power band is not quite right, I can speak with 'Taff' the owner of Griffin Tuning (great guy, and very knowledgeable), and he will have a new program written and emailed to me, to which I download onto the PowerBox (all software/Hardware provided with the PowerBox) and jobs a good one - off I go. You also get an infra-red remote control to be able to turn the PowerBox on and off from inside the car, should this be required. Finally, you get a full 2 year warranty, and the aftercare is the best I have ever come across.

Setting up the PowerBox was a 5 minute job – plug and play setup, and once fitted you need to go through the different programs installed on the PowerBox. I was advised by Taff that it is best to go up one stage at a time driving the car in each setting first.

So far I am up to setting number 7 (only fitted it last night), and the grin is permanently on my face. I have been told that the Beemer will be good for setting 8, and even 9, so might venture up to them and see what happens, and also been told that these are very good on the VW derived diesel engines too - just a shame they are not for petrol, as one would be straight on the vRS.....

A further advantage, is that should you change your car, a quick word and few euro’s later, a new program and cables are supplied, and you are good to go using the PowerBox in your new car – so no more major outlay in new Tuning Boxes, or having the ECU re-programmed, and then losing it when you change the car.

So I know from various other threads that people have looked into various re-maps and tuning boxes for their TDi’s etc, so I thought I would share my experience, as being a very good one, as I always prefer going on a recommendation, than buying blind. So for that new lease of life, more power, more MPG and a new car feel at miniscule price, have a word with Taff at Griffin Tuning - click here for a direct link to the PowerBox on his web site.

I am very pleased I did.

So....

What's the commission like?

So....

What's the commission like?

At the best part of £400 for the Bimmer one he bought, up to nearly £500 for the Fabia one, I hope it's generous! You can get a Bluefin for that!

Oh, and just out of interest, how does 'Taff' propose his infrared controller option works? It's not as though many cars have line-of-sight from the cabin to the inside of the engine bay...???

ok, that may be me to blame - so used to saying infra-red remote controls - as having loads of problems with our Sky+HD box - but won't bore you with that!!!

At the best part of £400 for the Bimmer one he bought, up to nearly £500 for the Fabia one, I hope it's generous! You can get a Bluefin for that!

You are forgetting its priced in Euro, so 400 euro for the Beemer, and just checked on Bluefin - never heard of them before - so made good reading....as always good to know more tuners and theirs for the Beemer is £425.00 so a fair bit more even though the exchange rate is not brilliant at the present time