So Wednesday just gone my car was in at the local dealer for a service and I had them do the NOx update as well.

 

Engine software version went from 7828 to 9979. DSG software version was unchanged at 3107.

 

So far I'm very pleased with it. Pickup from low engine speeds (something the DSG is fond of doing) is smoother and cleaner - my guess is better management of the combustion process. It feels torquier at low engine speeds too. No loss of power higher up the rev band that I can detect: pedal flat to the carpet is just as vigorous as it has always been.

 

It feels like the curve for the accelerator pedal has been tweaked a bit too. It feels a little bit slower to respond in the first maybe 30 % of the pedal travel but I only noticed this over the first few km after I picked it up. Engine braking is maybe a little bit less too, but again once I adjusted to it, it wasn't an issue.

 

Overall the car is driving better than it did before the update.

 

It's too early to comment on fuel economy at this point: I've no idea if the update has had any effect on the MFD calibration, and won't until I get to the end of this tank of fuel. Eyeballing the MFD, it seems about the same as before but that might be my mind playing tricks on me too. 

 

Now for the true believers to tell me I have it all wrong

EGR and DPF problems maybe yet to emerge? My VERY knowledgeable independent VAG specialist strongly advised me NOT to get the fix. I hope all goes well for you.

 

Drefaldwyn

EGR is the one I'd worry about.

 

DPF will get rid of the soot same as it always does, though probably more often than before. Oil ash is the main enemy of the DPF and the loading of that isn't gping to change.

 

If the EGR is going to go I expect it to happen in the next month or so as previously accumulated gunk causes trouble for the valve when it's opened wider by the update.

 

If it does go (or any of the covered items) I expect the TBM to be honoured no matter what (my solicitor is my wife's boss so I'm quite content to go down that route if needs be).

What reason(s) for having it done?

Mine started to emit lots of white smoke during the regen after nox update. Just when accelerating. 

2 hours ago, Wino said:

What reason(s) for having it done?

I'd be lying if I said curiosity wasn't a factor. The curse of the eternally inquisitive. If it had caused driveability problems, I'd have some egg on my face now but so what!

 

Beyond that, if it kills the EGR there's the TBM to look after it. I have a letter from VW stating that the update increases EGR and soot loading, as well as changing injection patterns, so there's not much they can deny if there's a problem. I drive less than 12000 km per year, so if the economy worsens a bit it's not going to cost me much.

 

As it stands, I have a car that's nicer to drive than it was and no problems, so happy days.

Cheers. That 'like' was meant to be a 'thanks' but this tablet doesn't cope with that.

46 minutes ago, linni said:

Mine started to emit lots of white smoke during the regen after nox update. Just when accelerating. 

 

Interesting: I've only done about 60 km since the update so I don't think it's done a regen yet. Do you know what software version your engine was updated to?

First regen this morning: no smoke or weird behaviour.

Any increase in engine noise? (Generally, not during regen).

 

 

Maybe a little more clatter during warmup but nothing otherwise.

I've had the fix done, my car runs no different. She's old too - 8 years / 160,000 miles.

 

My EGR was playing up, so I cleared the fault, had the fix done and then had the EGR replaced for free under warranty under the Trust Building Measure.

Mine was done once the warranty I got with the car expired. I've had no problems and on balance the car is a nicer drive.

 

In short, the upside is that my 1.6d definitely exhibits a bit more HP and a bit more torque.  Germanys ADAC tested the 1.6d fix as giving a 8-9hp increase and 8 ft lbs of torque. I believe it as I''m definitely downshifting less than I used to.

 

While the fuel economy has suffered by 1.5% (comparing 1 year before the fix with one year after it), I'm not sure if I can blame the fix for that  as my urban driving has increased a good deal during the year since it was done.

 

The main downside is the increased frequency of regens.

 

Edited 13 January, 20197 yr by TheRobinK

Done 1000 since purchase. last week 577 miles 51ltrs = 52mpg

 

no issues yet.....

 

Pre-FL 1.6d 5 speed

 

Interesting thread, my car was fixed by the dealer before I got it around Oct/Nov 2016.  I only found out a few months later when I checked the VIN online.  20k+ miles and no issues so far.

Average MPG is a consistent 42MPG which is ok but I think could be better for non-fix software. 

I am running file 9978 which is an early fix file, original software would have been 5386 which is what is noted on the label on the ECU.  Any software after 9976 is a fix file and you can check your software using VAG DPF, the details are at the bottom corner of the app screen.

The FB group 'EA189 Fix Reversal Assistance' has a huge amount of information within the group files which are worth a read, one of the few FB groups that is actually informative!

I almost got a reversal done a couple of months back as I am well out of TBM now but I held off due to other issues/expense with the car and I took the view if it 'aint broke don't fix it'....

I may still go for it but I am wary.  The car has run for so long as it is, would reversal software upset how everything is 'bedded' in so to speak ?  I guess if EGR failure is going to happen its going to happen no matter what, but the fix files work the injectors and DPF much harder as well so there could be other benefits.  Most users who get a 'rollback' have reported better MPG and a quieter smoother running car with more torque and power at lower revs.  As I have only driven my car 'fixed' I can't compare.

I always run premium fuel (Shell VP etc) and monitor for active regens and always try to drive on to fully complete a regen.  Whether this has any benefit I am unsure but it seems logical to not stop a regen process midway. 

Anyway just passing on what I know of the emissions fix, there certainly appears to be more bad press, than good press from everything I have read of those who have had it done.

 

 

@TasMan what sort of costs are being quoted for reversals? (I don't do facebook)

 

On 12/01/2019 at 00:13, chimaera said:

 

Interesting: I've only done about 60 km since the update so I don't think it's done a regen yet. Do you know what software version your engine was updated to?

 

Version 9977 from 5357.

 

I had EGR replaced few months ago, but smoke is still there. You cannot notice it on ordinary run, but heavy acceleration brings it up.

 

12 minutes ago, TasMan said:

Anyway just passing on what I know of the emissions fix, there certainly appears to be more bad press, than good press from everything I have read of those who have had it done.

 

 

I think there's a tendency for people to make more effort to post about something that's bad than good. If the car is working as expected, it doesn't intrude into a person's life and its performance goes unnoticed. If it's not working, it intrudes into your life because it's doing stuff that you don't want, or not doing something you do want: even just complaining about it makes you feel like you're doing something about it.

 

What I've found interesting around here is the posts from people who had no idea the car had been updated (either bought with the update done, or didn't notice that the dealer had done it) and noticed nothing amiss.

 

While I don't doubt that it can and has caused problems (EGR is the one I'd worry about most), I think it's being blown out of proportion around here and online in general.

19 minutes ago, Wino said:

@TasMan what sort of costs are being quoted for reversals? (I don't do facebook)

 

 

Reversals from a couple of places I priced up range from 120 - 150.  Think it is a good idea to go with a tuner who has a decent rep, and the ability to give backup should things not go to plan.  The FB group I mention gives recommendations based on your location.  When I looked into mine I was told my car has a 'firmware fix' rather than a standard software update and is more difficult to reverse.  Not sure on the details but I think it stems from the fix being applied to the ECU which has never been updated before, rather than an updated file being applied to an ECU which has already been updated.  Had this confirmed from a couple of sources but don't quite grasp what all the issues are, hence again, why I have been reluctant of going ahead.  There are also folk who will say that to get a remap you should get a rollback as the remap does not remove the emissions fix coding.  Some places offer rollback, then remap at the same time but give you the option.

11 minutes ago, TasMan said:

 

Reversals from a couple of places I priced up range from 120 - 150.  Think it is a good idea to go with a tuner who has a decent rep, and the ability to give backup should things not go to plan.  The FB group I mention gives recommendations based on your location.  When I looked into mine I was told my car has a 'firmware fix' rather than a standard software update and is more difficult to reverse.  Not sure on the details but I think it stems from the fix being applied to the ECU which has never been updated before, rather than an updated file being applied to an ECU which has already been updated.  Had this confirmed from a couple of sources but don't quite grasp what all the issues are, hence again, why I have been reluctant of going ahead.  There are also folk who will say that to get a remap you should get a rollback as the remap does not remove the emissions fix coding.  Some places offer rollback, then remap at the same time but give you the option.

The ECU has two components in this regard: the firmware and the map.

 

The firmware is the ECU's operating software (like the operating system on your computer or phone) while the map is the data that it uses. You can have the same firmware installed on the different versions of an engine family meaning only the map needs to be changed.

 

Usually when you get a remap, all that's changed is the maps (usually to provide more fuel and boost). The firmware is left alone since it's doing its job, and it's a much more complex task for a tuner.

 

In the case of the emissions defeat device, the firmware was where the defeat device was located as it needed code to detect the test condition and alter the engine behaviour. All of the EA189 NOx updates will have a firmware update to remove the defeat device plus a remap to allow the engine to function correctly with the new firmware. Anyone wishing to roll back the update will need both the firmware and the map rolled back and should be sure this is what the tuner is offering.

1 hour ago, TasMan said:

When I looked into mine I was told my car has a 'firmware fix' rather than a standard software update and is more difficult to reverse.  Not sure on the details but I think it stems from the fix being applied to the ECU which has never been updated before, rather than an updated file being applied to an ECU which has already been updated.

 

It basically depends if there was an update for your ECU prior to the emissions fix.

 

Taking the ECU (03L906018C) in my car as an example, there are numerous updates from Skoda including 7100, 9813, 9978, 9979, 9980 and 9981. To revert the fix it's very easy to flash the official 9813 update and you're done.

 

Taking a different ECU (03L906018QM) as an example, Skoda have only released one update which is 9978. This means that there is no official update without the fix. Instead, you're reliant on a tuner having made a backup of the older software to remove the fix.

 

Two very informative replies thanks

I assume my ECU went from 5386 to 9978 with no updates in between.  My ECU ref - 03L906018SA  

 

When I was getting my Haldex repair done at a performance tuning place in Glasgow they were offering rollback but couldn't confirm what file they would use but said they have access to a software database and would apply the most relevant file available, not necessarily the original as I had queried.  I did wonder if that would be ok but didn't go into much more detail as I had decided not to proceed at that point.  They also advised that I could get a remap done, and it was up to me whether I wanted a rollback first, but they could do both for the same price, or just the remap to the current software version.  There was no particular recommendation to getting a rollback before remap but I have heard that is the best approach....

4 hours ago, TasMan said:

Most users who get a 'rollback' have reported better MPG and a quieter smoother running car with more torque and power at lower revs.  As I have only driven my car 'fixed' I can't compare.

 

Before having the fix done, I was shouting as loudly as the others, warning people not to do it. There was no benefit to having it done, you're only introducing unknown risk.

 

For the reason stated earlier, I had the fix done (with the full intention of having it rolled back after the EGR was replaced under the TBM), but as it happens my car runs exactly the same as before.

 

My Superb is like a nice pair of slippers, she is very much moulded to me. Spending three hours a day in her it is fair to say I know all of her little quirks and habits. I'm very sensitive to any driving style or mechanical changes, so when I say there is no difference post-fix I am being honest.

 

I therefore never bothered having the fix rolled back. That was several thousand miles ago now.

 

Here she is out of my office window, dirty but ready and raring to go later tonight to get me home, another 62 mile journey that completely unphases her...

 

My version is still 5357 - so should be the same as here:

 

https://www.dyno-chiptuningfiles.com/original-ecu-files-database/bosch-edc17c46-532868-76240/

Edited 14 January, 20197 yr by jafo

Greetings, I've no idea what my version of software is now.

 

I had my car "fixed" at the beginning of the furore, as commented in this thread https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/404057-service-action-software-upgrade-ea-189-engines/?page=3 and here https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/404058-anyone-had-a-letter-yet-to-book-their-car-in-for-the-software-update/

 

Curiously though, after my last service (Skoda Garage Service Plan September 2018, my car again seemed slightly different - more eager to please if you get my drift. Another change of software or is it that I don't do too many miles these days and the car enjoyed bit of mechanical tinkering?

 

Don't know and don't care really. I'm more than happy with my car both pre and post fix.

 

AndyW