I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place on this decision. I have just over 2 years left on my warranty but I really want that extra bit of power! Any one fancy helping me make up my mind of what I'm gonna do lol. :/

If you are that worried about warrenty then the tuning box is the way forward, i run 1 and so do a few guys on here. When it comes to dealer time unplug it 10-15mins and off you go. Yes it could be picked up that you have been running it but this involves a process that your normal garage wouldnt donin a million years (I.e fuel pressure logs etc). If the tuning company is really good they offer a warrenty so cover any problems that may have occured because of the remap

as lee says TMC box.....

Loads of guys on the Seat Cupra forums just get them remapped, and then when the dealer asks, say no. Seems to work okay.

If you're that bothered you can get a bluefin box, which allows you to use a tool to change map. Before you take it to the dealer, change it back to standard map.

skoda dealers will plug into the online system on service, and the map will be wiped... fact.

dont know how seat work.

most on here with remaps are getting services done at independant places to preserve the map...

Loads of guys on the Seat Cupra forums just get them remapped, and then when the dealer asks, say no. Seems to work okay.

If you're that bothered you can get a bluefin box, which allows you to use a tool to change map. Before you take it to the dealer, change it back to standard map.

Bluefin is not compatible.

APR is the only map with true standard map switching.

I'm making this assumption on the OP has a vRS (I'm on mobile).

I run a TMC tuning box and it's very good. All down to personal choice, box definately better for warranty.

skoda dealers will plug into the online system on service, and the map will be wiped... fact.

dont know how seat work.

most on here with remaps are getting services done at independant places to preserve the map...

Remappers usually re-apply them free, or if you can have Bluefin, they email you the map to put back on yourself.

Bluefin is not compatible.

APR is the only map with true standard map switching.

I'm making this assumption on the OP has a vRS (I'm on mobile).

I run a TMC tuning box and it's very good. All down to personal choice, box definately better for warranty.

Bluefin is available, you have to have the ECU opened and tweaked to allow communication with the OBD port an the bluefin

skoda dealers will plug into the online system on service, and the map will be wiped... fact.

dont know how seat work.

most on here with remaps are getting services done at independant places to preserve the map...

Will it always wipe,even with just a scan, or obly if they apply an update?

I was chatting to a staff member at awesome gti about remaps and he said if the dealer wipes it off just bring your proof of purchase in and they would reinstall the map.

Will it always wipe,even with just a scan, or obly if they apply an update?

Only when they apply an ECU update.

As far as i am aware all remaps require the ecu to be opened as they dont have communication, but im sure soon it will be possible as dealers can attach new maps etc

The dealers can apply map because they know the encryption as it was VAG developed.

Tuners cant bypass the encryption via the OBDII port because VAg developed the encryption to restrict access. The fact that dealers can bypass the encryption is irrelevant because they know they code as it was developed so only the could access it.

the codes also regularly change each year, so i cant see any tuners wasting much time and money on R&D to bypass the OBDII ports when they can already just open it up and bypass it.

When you plug an APR mapped car in, which has the stock map activated via the cruise, the dealership computers wont know its mapped because it will read a 100% stock map on the ECU. The map will need to be installed again if there is an update though.

The dealers can apply map because they know the encryption as it was VAG developed.

Tuners cant bypass the encryption via the OBDII port because VAg developed the encryption to restrict access. The fact that dealers can bypass the encryption is irrelevant because they know they code as it was developed so only the could access it.

the codes also regularly change each year, so i cant see any tuners wasting much time and money on R&D to bypass the OBDII ports when they can already just open it up and bypass it.

Presumably as it has been developed now, VAG will start to apply this system to other vehicles.

However not sure it is quite as simple as just opening the ECU up (not that I think you meant it that way). My ECU is somewhere between APR UK and APR US currently as the guys at Milton Keynes couldn't get it sorted in the standard way but were very keen to get it done. I presume that once they figure mine out it will make subsequent similar ECUs an easier job.

Vag have been applying encryptions to all brands and sub models of VAG since late 2010 iirc

Lots of manufacturers have attempted to "lock" their ecus but any ecu that the manufacturers can read will also be cracked by the wider public at some point , there are some really clever people out there

I dont believe they have cracked the mazda ECU's like the MPS ect ... someone correct me if I'm wrong...

No car manufacturer can "Lock" their ECUs from being opened up , spoke to Dave at Elite remapping , ( He opens them properly ) he says more and more are trying to protect them this way , and the Tamper proof screws are a joke, there is a Seat from 2004 somewhere that has had 1500 sets for it. http://www.eliterema...e-remapping.asp

and this link Now tuning Bosch EDC17 & MED17

Not all ecu's are re-mappable but in many cases you dont have to open them physically you can often do it with the right software, it just takes time for the software to enter the public domain

And the fact that someone offers to remap them kinda defeats the point of having an update. If you have the ecu mapped again with a map based on an older file you might introduce a fault back into your car. If that fault then causes a problem further down the line we will look into it further and be able to see an older software version.

Plus if ODIS does pick up a map now it adds a PR code onto your build log with the factory to say the vehicle has been modified.