DTUK Tuning Box - Octavia vRS 245

[Mounty]

Hi all,

 

I know there's a lot of discussion and threads on here about tuning boxes and remaps. However, I have been looking at getting a DTUK tuning box and can't decide whether to buy new or second hand!

 

I've seen a few on eBay ranging from £125 upwards and most adverts state DTUK will help with any tweaks or reprogramming if it's slightly different i.e it was used on a DSG and want to use it on a manual - everything else being the same.

 

I don't like speaking out of term here, but I've contacted DTUK and they appear to be very unhelpful! In my opinion, I get the feeling they don't like anyone buying secondhand boxes (understandable).

 

I would buy new, but DTUK don't want to help anyone with a reprogram or flash and answer any questions about the box itself unless you are the person selling it (which is practically impossible if you don't have an invoice or access to their mailbox). Again, I kind of understand this due to GDPR, but I doubt you'll ever be able to get help from them! From my point of view, it doesn't feel me with confidence if I was to buy new and sell it once done with it in a few years!

 

Has anyone else experienced similar as I'm feeling like I should just pay a silly price for an ABT ECU?

 

My car is still under its 3 year warranty, hence why I'm trying to avoid a remap. I'm still on the fence as to whether any tuning boxes or additional ECUs will mess with any figures on the OEM ECU. I've had a few electrical issues recently, so if the car needs to go back into Skoda it may have diagnostic logs sent to Germany, which could invalidate the warranty if it requires any work. 

 

Any thoughts on the matter will be appreciated.

 

Cheers

[gon]

My thought is "don't"

but I am probably different from everyone else in here.

The engineers at VW spent many man hours calibrating the ECU and more importantly they have performed durability testing on their own calibration.

No durability testing has been performed with any other calibration.

 

So, it could be fine ... or not .... 

I have a VRS 220 and I think its plenty for a family car, the Octavia is not a race car

 

just my 2 cents

[Mounty]

21 minutes ago, gon said:

My thought is "don't"

but I am probably different from everyone else in here.

The engineers at VW spent many man hours calibrating the ECU and more importantly they have performed durability testing on their own calibration.

No durability testing has been performed with any other calibration.

 

So, it could be fine ... or not .... 

I have a VRS 220 and I think its plenty for a family car, the Octavia is not a race car

 

just my 2 cents

Thank you 😊

 

To be fair, the 245 is a machine and the diff is bloody awesome. I was just wondering whether I could get a little bit more i.e another 35-40bhp just to open it up a bit more. I'm not worried about chasing figures, just want a little bit more. 

 

I was thinking of switching to a Superb 272 4x4 as that would be great and have a little more space!

 

Cheers for your message 👍🏻

[Ads230]

@Mounty- I don't have experience with the DTUK box, but I did have my pre-FL 230 (2016) tuned by Racingline (previously 'Shark') for what they'd now call their "OEM+" map (Stage 1, although I've got the hardware for Stage 2). It drastically improved the car's response, power etc - mainly the torque delivery, which IMHO is more important for daily-driving than outright BHP bragging figures.

 

In your case, I'd seriously think about the efficiencies you'd gain from a second hand box vs. just going new. For the small monetary gain of a second hand box, you'd effectively lose guaranteed DTUK support and have no assurances that the second hand box will work flawlessly on your motor. At the risk of potential damage and/or reliability issues, I'd personally go new and have that peace-of-mind that you've got the support where needed.

 

If you're set on investing a bit of money on a car which responds very well to optimising power on the OEM platform, you may as well do it properly 😊 (á la - "Buy nice, or buy twice" mantra).

 

Edit: Just re-read your point about voiding warranty; in which case, I think you'd still better go 'New' so you've got access to the expertise of the software/hardware developers and who have experience of 'removable' accessories when it comes to not prematurely voiding the warranty 👍

Edited 9 April, 2021 by Ads230
Missed your voiding warranty comment :)

[NikTheGeek]

1 hour ago, Mounty said:

 

My car is still under its 3 year warranty, hence why I'm trying to avoid a remap. I'm still on the fence as to whether any tuning boxes or additional ECUs will mess with any figures on the OEM ECU. I've had a few electrical issues recently, so if the car needs to go back into Skoda it may have diagnostic logs sent to Germany, which could invalidate the warranty if it requires any work. 

 

Any thoughts on the matter will be appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Even a tuning box that is removable will set a flag in the ECU to tell skoda engineers that the car has been modified. So full remap or tuning box, you are voiding your warranty.

[Kenai]

I would agree with the approach 'if you're that bothered about your warranty, don't modify your car'.

 

People will argue until the cows come home about whether a tuning box is or isn't detectable but frankly i'd be absolutely amazed if they were undetectable in reality - they might not be as immediately obvious (assuming removed) but if you blew your engine to smithereens and went to pursue a warranty claim, i'm sure they'd find the will to dig a little deeper and i'd be shocked if there aren't stored values regarding boost pressures, fuel pressures, etc. etc. that a tuning box will be interfering with to achieve better power.

 

Turn up because your waterpump/thermostat has sprung a leak and they probably wouldn't even bother to check because it's such a common fault.

[Mounty]

40 minutes ago, Kenai said:

I would agree with the approach 'if you're that bothered about your warranty, don't modify your car'.

 

People will argue until the cows come home about whether a tuning box is or isn't detectable but frankly i'd be absolutely amazed if they were undetectable in reality - they might not be as immediately obvious (assuming removed) but if you blew your engine to smithereens and went to pursue a warranty claim, i'm sure they'd find the will to dig a little deeper and i'd be shocked if there aren't stored values regarding boost pressures, fuel pressures, etc. etc. that a tuning box will be interfering with to achieve better power.

 

Turn up because your waterpump/thermostat has sprung a leak and they probably wouldn't even bother to check because it's such a common fault.

I think you've made my mind up! I got the car at only 6 months old for the warranty, so I'll leave things as they are until it expires next year. Think that's a safe option then I can do a few tweaks then. 

 

Thanks everyone for your opinions on this matter 👍🏻

[MarkyG82]

Just stick with using posh fuel for now. Common to get +10bhp on v-power or similar bon these engines. If warranty safe, some simple inlet mods and exhaust will help too. Then they'll help unlock the power once mapped down the line.

[Mounty]

4 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

Just stick with using posh fuel for now. Common to get +10bhp on v-power or similar bon these engines. If warranty safe, some simple inlet mods and exhaust will help too. Then they'll help unlock the power once mapped down the line.

Cheers pal. 

 

I use Tesco 99 Ron and have done since owning it, so hopefully it's okay! I've also purchased a Pipercross panel filter and cut out part of the air inlet panel (right side) in front of the air box. I've left the left side open for now, but believe a blanking plate can be purchased! I've also removed the snow guard in the air box. With these tweaks, the car does feel marginally better to drive and can hear a very slight increase with induction noise! 

 

I was thinking of getting a better turbo inlet elbow and intake pipe as I believe the OEM is restricted a little. 

 

Like you say, there's a few cheeky mods without a remap!