Hi guys,

I live very close to Lakeside and have had AMD Technik reccomended to me for a remap of my recently purchased 3 yr old Octavia vRs petrol (2.0 model)

They seem to have a lot of experience with VAG engines, including many race cars.

The rate is £500 for the remap including before and after runs, which seems a little steep.

Has anybody had any experience of these guys and are they worth the money?

Cheers,

jon

Not me personally but one of the companies I work for has several of their fleet remapped via AMD. One is a L@K DSG Octavia 2 2.0 TDI and has done 70k on a remap with no issues, reckoned to be around 180bhp.

They also has the directors M5 V10 done there and a DSG VW Passat.

£500 seems steep when a Superchips bluefin can be had for £380 with the added advantage of you being able to take it off and a warranty, although this may be unimportant for you with 3 year old car.

when my car was in having the fuel pump fitted at AMD i test drove the managers vRS which had the AMD stage 2 on.

He claimed some pretty large figures, but it wasnt as pokey as the stage 2 bluefin from low down, but very marginally better at the top end (although my car did have an issue with the PCV then)

A point to note is that AMD also deal in Revo, if you were to go there id choose revo over their AMD map. But either way you would be happy with either map as they will in gerneral not be to much different.

£500 pound is alot of money for a remap though.

when it comes to remapping I would go with a vag specialist. That leaves you with Revo, APR, AMD and shark performance.

Shark performance is the cheapest there as they have a group buy on at the moment. im sure fikes75 will be along in a bit. read his review on the new stage 1 map, and the STS handset. this can be done at home as well, and you can also immobilise your car with a special map, same with the bluefin.

other options are bluefin i have had bluefin at stage 1, 2 and 2+. I rated stage 1 as good, but have not been impressed with the stage 2 and stage 2+ maps from them and am forking out to change map as a result.

Bluefin dont specialise, more or a jack of all trades master of none.

That's really helpful, thank you.

£500 does seem very steep but I took the 2 dyno runs to be worth £80 or so. I come from a motorbike background and a typical full power run is £40-£50.

Where can you get a bluefin at £380? If it's that easy and I can do it myself I may as well order one. I'm not looking at doing any future tuning so don't want to spend a fortune, just want to liberate a bit more power.

I'd be very happy with a smooth, linear 230bhp.

Also, what are stage 1, 2, and 3 Bluefins?

Sorry, my only experience of remapping is from motorbike Power Commanders which I have fitted myself but downloaded the maps from via USB.

All help greatly appreciated.

I have an AmD generic "one-click" switchable remap that I have been running on my Fabia for the last 90k or so. :eek:

Running around +/- 175BHP. It cost £300 all in via a group buy on here back in 2004/5 IIRC

No problems to report thus far. It has been commented that my car "holds it's torque well"

Edited 12 November, 200916 yr by Jonny5ive

Where can you get a bluefin at £380

I got mine from my local Superchips dealer , A1 Autocare. Car Super Chips Huntingdon : A1 Autocare

JKM, a site sponsor also do it for similiar money - see this thread:

http://briskoda.net/jkm-motor-services/superchips-jkm/101955/

Cheers

Try Angel Tuning, they are based in Tonbridge but will come to you for about £350, no Dyno runs in that price unfortunately, but they advise figures of around the 230 gg's so not over optimistic like some tuners, tbh you will feel the difference in a big way after they have worked there magic, so figures are all much of a muchness, hth.

Angel Tuning

If you mention my referral (you have a PM), you may get a wee discount....but don't quote me on that?!

Pagey

stage 1 2 and 2+ are generic accross all the remap manufacturers.

stage 1 requires just a standard car

stage 2 requires and downpipe and sports cat(optional full exhaust andair intake)

stage 2+ requres the above and an uprated high pressure fuel pump and intercooler

I had bluefin through all of these stages over the past two years. As said stage 1 was good, but no where near as good as REVO, stage 2 I had issues at the top end, stage 2+ doesnt have the issue, but its not up to the other remaps and i want more from it. there are other much better options out there.

bluefin was great at the time for me as i was in germany and i could do all the remapping from home via the handset, also they were the only people who had handsets available. Now there are two.

Superchips have the bluefin handset(but are non vag specific)

And Shark Performance have the STS handset.(vag specific)

would i use Bluefin again?.........Yes if i was staying at stage 1 and never upgrading it. but if you ever go further than stage 1(which you will want to) then id stay on a vag specific remap.

My stage 2+ bluefin is being removed on saturday and ill be having shark_90 install his stage 3 map on it and physically set it up to be optimum on my car.

i want to be with vag specific software with much better delivery than i have now, and i reckon this could be it.

this is of course all my opinion. but with personal experience as well to influenceit.

Any remap to be fair will be able to give you massive smiles per mile as they make a huge difference over standard.

Guys, you're all top boys- thanks for this.

I've looked at the options and followed the 'angel' route. They have an approved fitter near me in deepest, darkest Basildon.

I'm booked in for 1pm this Saturday.

I don't think I'd ever do any real modifications; I threw loads of money at my R6 and now have an Aprilia Mille for when I really want to go quickly!

If I come out of this with a smooth, reliable 230bhp I'll be very happy.

Many thanks,

Jon

you will be, std vRS's are slooooow!!!!

Simon does ben make his own maps?

I've got an Angel Tuning remap and it's been fine.

Smooth delivery and good mid-range pull

I looked into REVO and AmD but Angel had such good reports on the MkIV forum, I went with that.

I want MORE POWER now though so it's new exhaust, CAI, FMIC, custom remap etc etc

It never ends

I've got an Angel Tuning remap and it's been fine.

Smooth delivery and good mid-range pull

I looked into REVO and AmD but Angel had such good reports on the MkIV forum, I went with that.

I want MORE POWER now though so it's new exhaust, CAI, FMIC, custom remap etc etc

It never ends

Do angel do stage 2 maps as well. or will you have to change

Simon does ben make his own maps?

as far as im aware he does. Thats a question for ben i think. he should be along and can explain everything im sure

I don't do everything myself!! There's not enough hours in the day!

I work with other well known tuners to develop our maps I'll worry about the mapping, all you have to worry about how to describe how darn good the map is when you're writing the review for fellow briskodians to read

Do angel do stage 2 maps as well. or will you have to change

I don't know if they do :confused:

I'll probably get one of Shark's excellent tuning box gizmos anyway

I'll probably get one of Shark's excellent tuning box gizmos anyway

Now that is what I like to hear

The group buy closes on Monday by the way

you will be, std vRS's are slooooow!!!!

Buy a bike mate! My car is for getting to places, my bike is for fun.

My Aprilia is 120.5bhp @ rear wheel, or at least it was before new chip, airbox, collector box and race can.

I'll have nearly any car up to about 110mph and it pulls to a GPS certified 170mph...

And you can't get your knee down in a car either!

In all seriousness, I've bought the Skoda as sensible day-to-day transport which is quick enough for a bit of fun; think I'll do a track day or two as well for the hell of it.

(Does this forum do them?)

Yeah, 230bhp is fine for me. Maybe I'll change my mind one day but we'll see!

One thing's for sure though, you guys know your cars...

Many thanks!!!

Edited 12 November, 200916 yr by Jon Melson
spelling mistake!

Do angel do stage 2 maps as well. or will you have to change

No, I've had this discussion with Nigel, (there main man) recently, in anticipation of fitting an evoms. I won't bore you with all the details but to say he's forgotten more about remapping etc than I will ever know is an understatement!

The basic Angel remap releases the engines maximum potential, any further mods CAI, DP etc and the ECU will adapt to the new conditions. This theory will be put to the test tomorrow when the intake goes on.

shark performance stage 3 for me tomorrow:D:D

:orb_runni

shark performance stage 3 for me tomorrow:D:D

:orb_runni

What figures are you expecting Simon?

What figures are you expecting Simon?

Im not to sure to be honest.the top REVOs are hitting a max of 280bhp and around 320Ibft. I doubt ill hit that. they had an uprated intercooler, full turbo back exhaust and high flow turbo discharge pipes.

I should have had the IC but had issues, so im back in the market for one. As soon as my brakes are sold Ill have my intercooler.

if i was chasing figures i think i would have gone for REVO, as it is i want good figures but i more so i want excellent drivability. this can be set up bespoke for my car then adjusted as we see fit to get the best delivery out of her.

Its not just about peak torque figures, its about how long im keeping the high torque for, a nice smooth torque curve is what i want.

Ive told ben if i dont make 500Ibft i want my money back lol

Ive told ben if i dont make 500Ibft i want my money back lol

I don't think you're asking to much!

Thats about 620-650Nm your talking about............are you sure ??

Thats about 620-650Nm your talking about............are you sure ??

Got a feeling he's joking............!!