can anyone recommend www.blacksmoke.co.uk? I want safe mods, but price is a factor for the reasons below and as I will get a divorce if I spend too much more on the car.

not looking for performance that will make me king of the road, just a bit more along with the extra economy (I know it depends on driving style, but I am pretty good there- mpg is the new 0-60) I do not want economy to sacrifice power though.

I was looking at the tuning boxes but am a bit put off by comments here and there.

a normal remap price wipes out any fuel savings for a long time (150 miles per day- some would say I'm an idiot for those miles, others would love to spend 3hours per day in a vrs

a cable plus remap file from these guys would pay for itself within 3 months if I can get a 10% fuel saving and continue my driving style (found that as I get a faster car, I feel less need to rag it senseless. just knowing the power is there and knowing everyone else that goes past at 90 knows too is enough. funny thing is, I usually meet them queing at the next junction anyway)

like I said, not after the worlds fastest track day car, just a safe map. they offer a ecu replace if I blow it up flashing it

sure I have seen recommendations on here before, but maybe imagined it.......

jamie

sent via Playbook and Tapatalk

have to say, I emailled on a Sunday morning at 8am. got a reply by 9 and his responses seem pretty knowledgeable. so unless anyone says its a no, I will be getting a cable to flash the ecu with one of his maps....

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I got the black smoke remap. It's brilliant no problems what so ever. Had it a couple of months now.

Got one on my 1.9tdi fabia brilliant remap and top bloke to deal with and couldn't help enough

Looked good until i found the £1k cost for the lead :(

Ebay has then for like £10 though

Edited 1 March, 201313 yr by dany2010

I used one off eBay

My only problem with blacksmoke is using pirated cables and software to upload the map yourself.

If you're going to spend 1000 on the genuine cable, you're not going to be buying a £50 remap file.

There is a reason reputable tuners who have all the genuine tools charge what I see as a reasonable fee for their service.

I'd rather go to someone who I can trust, and who has a premises I can return to should all go wrong. Email support is all very well, but if you brick your ECU, you can end up royally stuffed.

You pays your money and take your choice.

100% I get what you mean.

My only problem with blacksmoke is using pirated cables and software to upload the map yourself.

If you're going to spend 1000 on the genuine cable, you're not going to be buying a £50 remap file.

There is a reason reputable tuners who have all the genuine tools charge what I see as a reasonable fee for their service.

I'd rather go to someone who I can trust, and who has a premises I can return to should all go wrong. Email support is all very well, but if you brick your ECU, you can end up royally stuffed.

You pays your money and take your choice.

Yes, this is the problem. The files sold for this amount of money are obtained using illegal means/software and rely on fake equipment. Although this equipment can work, you are really in trouble if a flash fails part way through leaving you with a car that doesn't start..

Rick

Pretty sure his files are very legally obtained. As for the cables: up to you. £1000 'proper' lead, or cheap ebay one. As in life, you take your chances. I would say however, I have been researching a lot and there seems to be lots of very happy customers out there, all using the latter....

The people who spent countless hours and fiances developing the £1000 cable to allow us to remap cars might not be so happy that their work has been ripped off though :(

True, although market forces always reduce costs. You do have to wonder though when an item is charged £ 1000 for, but the same item is sold for next to nothing whether it was development costs, or lack of competition that commanded the original price. Not many out there that wouldn't buy something from that guy in the pub to save a a few quid...

Actually the world is full of honest and not greedy people! Do unto others as you can expect to get done to you.

Knock off gear bought in the pub might be from your house or work, maybe from your Grannies house.

'Cut their hands off' Is MHO.

http://www.briskoda....oss-tech-cables

(the link will be available to read to those that did not join the forum for free gratis, but gave some cash money to contribute to its upkeep!)

george

Actually the world is full of honest and not greedy people! Do unto others as you can expect to get done to you.

Knock off gear bought in the pub might be from your house or work, maybe from your Grannies house.

'Cut their hands off' Is MHO.

http://www.briskoda....oss-tech-cables

(the link will be available to read to those that did not join the forum for free gratis, but gave some cash money to contribute to its upkeep!)

george

Ok, good point. He is not selling any knock off stuff though. It is the individuals responsibility to check their morals I guess.

Funny how we have varying degrees of legal when it comes to saving a few dollars and how we frown upon others when it is them doing it, not us (and I talk about myself here, not you!)

I need to have a think about what I am going to do now. I always get shirty when someone comes into my business trying to sell me what they stole the day befor.

Thanks

Jamie

Why not use the search function? That's not me being sarcastic btw, the maps have been discussed previously, they appear not to have had the same level of refinement and development as some others have, but they do work and seem to have very few negatives.

I have used Blacksmoke maps on my own cars, and friends cars, using my cheap lead. Never had a problem, Andy is very knowledgable and happy to help. Also if you buy a file from him and 'brick' your ecu during uploading within 7 days of buying the map he will repair your ecu f.o.c. Althugh if you run an edcu16 ecu apparently you cannot brick these.

Like I say I've used them and I've now mapped quite a few cars with his software and my cheap lead and couldn't be happier!

Matt