Going to try a tuning box

[Tripletrouble]

As the title of the thread says really.
After a load of research about tuning boxes over maps I've decided to go with a box from TD1 Tuning.
Why a box over a map?
I realise there are boxes out there that are no more than a resistor in a fancy plastic box. TD1's don't appear to be that.
These seem to have some very positive reviews and after having spend a lot of money on maps in the past I like the idea you can send it back and they will re-programme it for your next car and fit new loom adaptors on it for around £100.
I expect a lot of negative posts regarding my choice but it's arriving today, I do at least 500 miles a week so it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the claims.

[Whippy53]

Keep us posted, positive and (if any) negative as well.

[Gazwould]

Get it on a dyno...

[morski]

Worth trying a remap on the ecu as well for comparison as a lot of tuners offer a 30 day money back trial. Quantum remaps i use/ refer to often. Unless your under warranty and plan to take the box off each time it goes in?

[Whippy53]

I love the fact the company is called TD1, warranty flag used by vag. Kinda ironic.

Except of course it's actually call TDi tuning. So there's that ��

[Gazwould]

Very apt if it was TB1 .

[Tripletrouble]

Worth trying a remap on the ecu as well for comparison as a lot of tuners offer a 30 day money back trial. Quantum remaps i use/ refer to often. Unless your under warranty and plan to take the box off each time it goes in?

The car is out of warranty. The transferrable aspect appealed to me. Fitting it yesterday took about 30 minutes. You could do it quicker but I'm a fussy so & so and wanted the loom to look neat under the engine cover. Finding somewhere to put the box wasn't as easy as you'd imagine.
They recommend driving for 40 or so miles before taking the box past setting 1. Probably to ensure all connections are tight etc.
Still haven't driven it since fitting but have a 300 mile drive tomorrow so I'll do the first 40 with it in setting 1 then go from there. As it happens I have to fill the car tomorrow so I'll be able to do a tank to tank comparison using actual miles travelled rather than what the computer says.

[Gazwould]

I can't comprehend why anyone would fit these devices to fool the ecu through false sensor readings , the information should be accurate at all times and at certain given times absolutely crucial.

[Tripletrouble]

I can't comprehend why anyone would fit these devices to fool the ecu through false sensor readings , the information should be accurate at all times and at certain given times absolutely crucial.
Each to their own. If we were all the same life would be very dull.
Let's see what the results bring over the next 10k miles. Incidentally, if you look on their site they did a McLaren recently!

[Whippy53]

Each to their own. If we were all the same life would be very dull.
Let's see what the results bring over the next 10k miles. Incidentally, if you look on their site they did a McLaren recently!

Exactly, see how it goes and report back. Be interesting.

[Tripletrouble]

So, first impressions. Tried it on setting 1. To be honest, couldn't detect much difference so as we all do I went straight to 7 (11 would have been better).
In "Normal" you get a much improved midrange shove when accelerating from 50mph+. It takes off fairly rapidly from lights as well but maybe not as quick as I was expecting.
When I had my previous manual box A6 remapped, the torque difference was huge, it would actually slip the clutch at 70 when on boost but the auto box smothers some of that torque wave as it tends to change down, obviously when you want more go.
Popped the car into Dynamic and the gearbox in sport.
That's more like it. My seat of the pants timer reckons it's a second, maybe a bit more quicker to 60. I will get around to timing it one evening. Acceleration from 50+ is wonderful and how I imagined a bigger engine car to be. You can really put your foot down and overtake pretty effortlessly.
300 mile round trip tomorrow so I'll have a lot more experience to report then.

[Whippy53]

Pah! If it doesn't go all the way up to eleventy then it's obviously rubbish!:biglaugh:

[robes401]

Thanks for posting your feedback, and interested to hear how you get on today.

[Elansear]

Hi which engine do you have, 2l or 3l and what is your current bhp/torque and the expected with the box on its highest setting. Thanks.

[Tripletrouble]

Hi which engine do you have, 2l or 3l and what is your current bhp/torque and the expected with the box on its highest setting. Thanks.

2l Ultra. 189 BHP standard. Claimed 238 with box on max setting

[Tripletrouble]

OK, so thoughts after a 300 mile day.
In Sport (gearbox) it absolutely flies and is very addictive indeed. However back to reality. I spend around 3 hours of the 5 hour return journey in D and Dynamic with CC set at 77mph.
MPG was pretty much the same as without the box but midrange when needed to overtake etc, is pretty impressive. Overtakes are effortless as is pulling out to another lane and matching the flow of traffics speed.
The only issue is I haven't managed to get the Bluetooth to pair successfully so I'll call them over the next day or two.

[Elansear]

Thanks for that, look forward to your updates.

[Tripletrouble]

Quick update.
I love the improved driveability. Bluetooth is a waste of time and something I'm not using.
MPG is around the same as pre-box but I have been a bit more enthusiastic as I get used to the way the car now responds. I switched it off and hated the way the car drove so switched it back in straight away.