Just fitted one of those cheap tuning boxes off E-bay(

I'd be careful about these cheap "resistor" style mods which give you basically 1 bhp for every

I totally agree, i'd much rather have a full custom re-map thats tailored to the car...

I appreciate that everyone is on a budget hence may not need a full blown custom remap, however I would atleast opt for something a little bit more expensive, Dragon Digital tuning boxes are one of the best I hear!

I would have to agree with Hellfire (for once :eek: ), I wouldnt spend

I must say that I am a little surprised at the comments here. Just because it only cost

The difference is mainly that the digital ones have far more steps then the analogue ones. The name analogue is misleading as it's actually more stepped than the digital ones.

The analog one will fuel way too much in certain scenarios, whereas the digital one can take into account more parameters to output it's resistance. Both are resistance-based outputs, the analog one just takes fewer parameters...

Most tuners actually specifically recommend the digital boxes over analog ones for PD engines. This as the analog ones DO cause error codes.

By no means fatal ones and it will increase power.

Either way - each to their own and although I would agree spending that bit more to get the quality and knowledge it will be ok, error code wise at least, is worth doing.

It's not so much that it isn't any good - it is, just not good enough to not cause errors - you can always VAGCOM it away

gord has posted what I believe to be some useful information and figures for others to use and base their decision on. I think we should remain open minded about these things and not dismiss them out of hand.

I agree, gord has posted useful information, and thats not what I am debating...

It doesnt change my opinion on whether I'd put one on a 12k car. neverthless, people have done it, and are happy, its up to the individual to make his or her mind up.

I'm not sure that they always cause errors statement.

Surely the Analogue one won't have any steps at all, it'll be linear. ie. what goes in minus the resistance will always be what comes out.

It's good to have a healthy debate about these things

Have to agree that they are great value for money and I've been running mine for the best part of 20k with no errors flagged as well as it sailing through the emissions part of the MOT! I suspect they probably do less damage to the engine than a custom remap because they don't fiddle with boost and only increase fuelling.......

I also don't understand why people spend

Here are some results of a vRS fitted with a cheap tuning box using a AP-22.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9355&highlight=ap-22

A tuning box is safer for the car then a remap and can be removed easily as well.

So lower risk in that regard

Remap can be risky as flashing the ECU is not without risk, plus the extra strain on the engine by increased boost and therefore temperatures cannot be ignored

That said - if you're gonna do a remap I'd get one from a reputable 'house' - similarly, I'd do the same for a tuning box

I put John Yardley's old tuning box on my PD100 combi yesterday, it took about 30 seconds to do ...

I find the car is much smoother at lower revs, pulls harder in top gear in the 50-100mph range ... and activates the traction control around town

There's no smoke at all even on full throttle.

Thanks John ....

I put John Yardley's old tuning box on my PD100 combi yesterday' date=' it took about 30 seconds to do ...

I find the car is much smoother at lower revs, pulls harder in top gear in the 50-100mph range ... and activates the traction control around town

There's no smoke at all even on full throttle.

Thanks John ....[/quote']

I have just come back in from fitting a Dragon Digital to my vRS and taking it for a test drive.

Must say it feels a lot smoother, and seems to rev alot quicker.

The main difference I notices in my 15 min spin was that wheras, 1900rpm in 6th was 58mph it is now 64.

The main difference I notices in my 15 min spin was that wheras, 1900rpm in 6th was 58mph it is now 64.

that can never change at all unless you changed ya gearbox too

The main difference I notices in my 15 min spin was that wheras, 1900rpm in 6th was 58mph it is now 64.

Really? The tuning box can't alter the gearing

Chris

The resistor mods do increase performance but on cars 2004 onwards they do tend to log error codes and put the engine light on. You need a dealer or VAG COM to reset.

The resistor mods just increase fueling at all throttle settings and at any engine rpm including idle.

This usually means a more lumpy idle and some smoke.

You'd be hard pressed to pass a roadside emission test with the resistor mod.

A good adjustable digital tuning box will leave idle unaltered and, if calibrated correctly, give good, smooth performance throughout the rev range without any visible incease in smoke.

The dragon box on my Octy is also switchable so I can turn it on or off on the dash mounted switch.

If you have an 2004 or later PD engine then don't buy the resistor mod unless you have VAG COM

Cheers

Lee

The resistor mods just increase fueling at all throttle settings and at any engine rpm including idle.

This usually means a more lumpy idle and some smoke.

You'd be hard pressed to pass a roadside emission test with the resistor mod.

As said earlier in the thread, my car is not smokey with the tuning box in and passed it's MOT emission test without a problem, but I do agree on the slightly lumpy idle. Obviously this may mean my tuning box doesn't do anything, but the butt dyno thinks otherwise

Chris

As said earlier in the thread' date=' my car is not smokey with the tuning box in and passed it's MOT emission test without a problem, but I do agree on the slightly lumpy idle. Obviously this may mean my tuning box doesn't do anything, but the butt dyno thinks otherwise

Chris[/quote']

May depend on the car and value of the resistor Chris.

I tried the resistor mod on our Fabia PD100 and I took it straight off after I followed my wife for a few miles. Every time she put her foot down it spewed out loads of soot and it also made the idle lumpy.

Cheers

Lee

Really? The tuning box can't alter the gearing

Chris

Ok, I'm Obviously imagining that then, it was a quick glance right enough, but could swear it was 58 before.

Ah well, as I've said before on here, I know Bu**er all about cars so from now on I'll just keep quiet. will save me making an a**e of myself in public yet agian :ashamed:

Ok' date=' I'm Obviously imagining that then, it was a quick glance right enough, but could swear it was 58 before.

Ah well, as I've said before on here, I know Bu**er all about cars so from now on I'll just keep quiet. will save me making an a**e of myself in public yet agian :ashamed:[/quote']

aw dont sulk someone made the same mistake on the clio forum the other day too.

Had box on for 2 days now.According to computer mpg has gone up but I can't understand why if it's putting more fuel in. However I am getting a bit more smoke :thumbdwn:

After reading all the comments though i'm in 2 minds whether to leave it on or not.Might leave it on a while and see if I get any side effects.

By the way it's a '03 model which according to Scoobychris shouldn't make the engine management light come on.Here's hoping.....

Had box on for 2 days now.According to computer mpg has gone up but I can't understand why if it's putting more fuel in. ...

The ECU is being conned by the resistor mod. Even digital tuning boxes have the same effect. The car thinks it's putting less fuel in than it actually is.

In reality fuel economy shouldn't be that much differnt unless you are using the extra power all the time.

Some say that tuning boxes increases mpg slightly due to the extra torque letting you stay in a higher gear longer.

The dragon tuning box has not altered my Octy's mpg although the fuel computer has gone up by 10mpg.

Cheers

Lee

03 VRS should be fine with resistor mod.

It may be worthwhile to consider green filter, cupra intake and pikey mods for additional cheap power gains.

ive got a octy diesel and fitted a tuning boxe from DRAGON PERFORMANCE. cost me