Tuning box

[Gareth Johnson]

Hi. I'm looking to hear from anyone who has fitted a tuning box from tdi tuning on the 2.0 tdi a6 and what your views are. Ruled out a remap as I don't want to have a problem around warranty for any other issues that may arise.


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[Doctle Odd]

Tuning box could also be considered a notifiable modification especially if it adds 30 or 40 bhp. If it was discovered after a crash it could invalidate your insurance as it's much easier to spot than a remap. I dislike tuning boxes, after-market HID's and cloned Chinese crap

[razor77]

Tuning box could also be considered a notifiable modification especially if it adds 30 or 40 bhp. If it was discovered after a crash it could invalidate your insurance as it's much easier to spot than a remap. I dislike tuning boxes, after-market HID's and cloned Chinese crap

I second that, if you're worrying about the warranty then don't apply any performance aids, if you want to take a safe bet then remap from a reputable/proven tuner.

Also with either, do inform your insurance company, too many people don't, and believe the changes are undetectable, with the idea that the tuning box can be removed or the ecu map can be replaced with standard.

There are links to remappers now decoding the C7 ECU, in this thread (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?150819-Superchips-now-have-a-remap-for-the-BiTdi-but-insurance-uplift-is-crazy!), including talk of insurance. I specifically link to maps for the BiTdi, but the same tuners do the other 2.0 and 3.0 tdi's.

[Gareth Johnson]

Since posting my original query I'm more concerned as I have a multitronic box and whether it could handle the additional torque. The only problem I'm finding is that I'm reading about the previous generation box and there is very little posted on the newer version. Think I will just sit tight and maybe save for a more powerful standard car in the future.


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[AGW82]

Personally I don't think you'll have an issue with the increased torque on the 2.0tdi unit and the multitronic, it can officially handle up to 400nm of torque and there will be a degree of safely built into that. The 3.0TDI CVT has 400nm peak so it's unlikely 400nm is the real world max, otherwise Audi would have no tolerance.

I do agree that a remap is a better option than a tuning box, I have deliberated over the same question for many months. One thing the tuning box has in it's favor, is insurance companies seem to tolerate them, whereas remapping or chip tuning is a dark art in their eyes. This is certainly true of any company that's part of the Admiral Group, however there are however remap friendly insurers out there.

I would certainly take a look at SuperChips http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=2&fueltype=2&model=23&variant=2608 they offer a warranty replacement, in as much as if the Dealer/Manufacturer refuses to fix an issue which is directly attributable to the remap then they will pay for the work Superchips warranty for your ECU remap software (http://www.superchips.co.uk/s/warranty) obviously it's one thing offering it and something else to actually get them to pay out. I have spoken to SuperChips and they insist that they have never lost a fight with a dealership over a warranty claim as the dealer can never prove the remap was the cause of the faulty part (their words, make of it what you will). They also claim that their remap only writes to existing parts of the ECU so when it's plugged into a dealers computer the software structure of the ECU remains the same so is virtually undetectable (apparently).

The only other remap I would consider is Revo, they don't offer any kind of warranty and apparently (not confirmed by them) do use non standard parts of the ECU to write code to. But what they do have in their favor is they are apparently endorsed by Audi USA. Whilst that doesn't really help in the UK, it does mean you can have confidence in their software.

If you do choose a remap, the one thing you can't get around is the need to physically remove the ECU from the car in order to do the remap, this is due to the enhanced security on the newer ECU's which prevents these companies using the traditional DB2 port method.

I will hopefully be getting my car done early in the new year...

Andy

[razor77]

I do agree that a remap is a better option than a tuning box, I have deliberated over the same question for many months. One thing the tuning box has in it's favor, is insurance companies seem to tolerate them, whereas remapping or chip tuning is a dark art in their eyes. This is certainly true of any company that's part of the Admiral Group, however there are however remap friendly insurers out there.

I would certainly take a look at SuperChips http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=2&fueltype=2&model=23&variant=2608 they offer a warranty replacement, in as much as if the Dealer/Manufacturer refuses to fix an issue which is directly attributable to the remap then they will pay for the work Superchips warranty for your ECU remap software (http://www.superchips.co.uk/s/warranty)

The only other remap I would consider is Revo.

If you do choose a remap, the one thing you can't get around is the need to physically remove the ECU from the car in order to do the remap, this is due to the enhanced security on the newer ECU's which prevents these companies using the traditional DB2 port method.
Andy

I debate that insurance companies tolerate tuning boxes more than remapping. While that may be true of Admiral I found others that are fine with remapping. That said I actually used Admiral online for a quote and I selected 11-25% performance increase, no where did it advise this is limited to tuning boxes. However now you that you say this, I recall reading elsewhere that some else with Admiral or Elephant had a problem when claiming for an accident when they validated the method of power increase. I used Chris Knott who matched Admirals quote, and they explicitly cover remaps.

I never noticed the Superchips warranty, but do note it only covers the first 12 months, so for a new car that's not going to help month 13-36. My question here is, why don't they cover the remainder of the manufacturers warranty, does the risk drastical increase, especially given their claimed track record of no payouts?

Revo looks good but expensive. I particularly like how, at least in older Audi's, that the remap can be toggled using the cruise control stalk. I wonder if that continues to the C7, and those with ACC. ABT and MTM would seem to be accepted in Europe by varying parts of Audi, but again very expensive.

Yes the ECU needs removing to get past the security, but it is then possible to use the DB2 port, at least Superchips told me once the ECU has been removed and security removed it can then be addressed via the DB2 port. What I don't know, in the event that the dealer updates the ECU software, does this re-introduce the security requiring ECU out again for changes or re-apply the remap.

One question to always ask your re-mapper, what will be the charge to correct/reapply maps post dealers making a change. An independent told me, because they experience comeback so little, it's a very small cost in the region of £100.

[AGW82]

I debate that insurance companies tolerate tuning boxes more than remapping. While that may be true of Admiral I found others that are fine with remapping. That said I actually used Admiral online for a quote and I selected 11-25% performance increase, no where did it advise this is limited to tuning boxes. However now you that you say this, I recall reading elsewhere that some else with Admiral or Elephant had a problem when claiming for an accident when they validated the method of power increase. I used Chris Knott who matched Admirals quote, and they explicitly cover remaps.

I never noticed the Superchips warranty, but do note it only covers the first 12 months, so for a new car that's not going to help month 13-36. My question here is, why don't they cover the remainder of the manufacturers warranty, does the risk drastical increase, especially given their claimed track record of no payouts?

Revo looks good but expensive. I particularly like how, at least in older Audi's, that the remap can be toggled using the cruise control stalk. I wonder if that continues to the C7, and those with ACC. ABT and MTM would seem to be accepted in Europe by varying parts of Audi, but again very expensive.

Yes the ECU needs removing to get past the security, but it is then possible to use the DB2 port, at least Superchips told me once the ECU has been removed and security removed it can then be addressed via the DB2 port. What I don't know, in the event that the dealer updates the ECU software, does this re-introduce the security requiring ECU out again for changes or re-apply the remap.

One question to always ask your re-mapper, what will be the charge to correct/reapply maps post dealers making a change. An independent told me, because they experience comeback so little, it's a very small cost in the region of £100.

Sorry I should probably have been more clear.. You're quite right in regards to insurance companies and the way they perceive a remap and/or a tuning box, my quote was more aimed at Admiral and its subsidiaries.

Whilst it's not that clear on the website about what an "engine chip" is, there full terms and conditions specifically exclude remapping or "blueprinting" as they term it. Blueprinting an engine means something completely different to me, but to them it means replacing or re-writing the ECU software.

In answer to the dealer re-flash question, my understanding from both Superchips and Revo is that a dealer can completely re-write the ECU with an update which will put it back to stock including the security. In this situation the only way to get your map back is to take it back to the tuner and have the ECU removed again.. Both companies will just charge the labour fee for the re-flash in that situation (circa £80)