I've read many of the threads here on re-map vs tuning box. Ideally I'd like to go the mapping route as it seems less risky, but my questions are as follows;

1) is there anyone in or near Glasgow that could be recommended for a worthwhile and reliable remap?

2) if there is no one local and I have to go the tuning box route, then has anyone any experience of the guys at 'Race Chip' in Germany? They have been recommended by a friend who has been running one of their boxes for years and is very impressed.

3) if not them, which tuning box is recommended or used by most of the members here?

I've only had the TD6 a few days......I love the car but it's definitely missing that little something that the 4.6 P38 had. Not too concerned about mpg, I like to enjoy the drive and have the power if I need it.

When I had a TD6 I used Pentagon who are SuperChips agents .
http://www.pentagonglasgow.co.uk/superchips.html 2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

http://bellautoservices.co.uk/bas-remap-interface/

I've been running the above for over a year now.

With Pete's unit you have the best of both worlds.

You have an individual map written for your car and within a few minutes you can be back to standard.

Thanks guys,

I take it you all thought your respective improvements were worthwhile in terms of performance?

M.

I have the Tunit box fitted, although never driven a standard car, performance is more than adequate for the size of car. Whichever route you take, a very worthwhile upgrade.

Word of Warning!!!!!

You need to factor in a couple of grand for a gearbox if youre looking at a remap on a TD6

Tesh wrote:

Word of Warning!!!!!

You need to factor in a couple of grand for a gearbox if youre looking at a remap on a TD6

Dont agree... Most cars i look after are tuned in some way and no more failures then without...


Craig

Oh god.....are they really that bad?

Is the gearbox the same in the 4.4v8? Doesn't it put out more power than my paultry 175bhp?

I really think I might keep the 4.6l P38 LPG........ain't sold it yet as the TD6 is still on probation..........

The GM gearboxes in the Td6 tend to fail due to the valve bodies being made from slightly softer aluminium. The bores wear and deposit metal bits in the oil, which thus causes more wear. The wear causes a drop in hydraulic pressure which tends to make the clutches ? work a bit harder...... the only real fix is a valve block with the Sonnax upgrade, which effectively lines the bores with harder steel and stops the wear.

These gearboxes do not tend to fail due to the increased torque from a retune, but due to how its been driven, town/motorway wearing the valve block.

The ZF gearbox in the 4.4 Petrol is not without its problems either, so I'm also not convinced its massively more reliable than the td6 box.......

Would it stop me buying one or running one ? No, but I do have a warranty, which more or may not prove useful.

I think the BMW 4.4 unit develops 288bhp, and early on, had a top speed of 132 mph, before they were limited......

My mate had a 2003 4.4 Petrol for 6 months, paid £11500 for it, and sold it for £5000 as the ZF gearbox was packing up and he didn't have £2500 to fix it. And that was the "reliable" box.........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

I don't know if my car has had a gearbox replaced......it's done 119k miles and seems ok so far....but then I've only had it a few days!!!!!!!

Maybe a warranty would be a good idea.......can you recommend a good company?

That's a sorry tale about your mate....I hate to hear of people taking a kicking like that.....

What box has the Supercharged car got.....they're about 400bhp are they not?

I also think,if you get a proper remap, it doesn't put your gearbox at any further risk.

Although I have heard a few mappers not happy about remapping a car with 119k.

I thought the extra torque created by a remap puts strain on the auto box?

I started a thread about renewing my warranty, but it appears from their web site that they only deal with the motor trade, could be wrong.

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic14255.html

I had a 12 month warranty from the garage I bought the car from, and just renewed.......

Obviously more torque going through the 'box after a remap will make it work a bit harder, but I don't think its the most common cause of subsequent failure.

You pays your money, and makes your choice, as it were.

My mate has recovered from his L322 experience, and is now back in a Discovery Td5 ES......... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

The most important thing with the boxes on these things is make sure you service the bloody "Sealed for life" thing!!! It costs me 80 quid for new gearbox filter oil and all orings/gaskets and new bolts for sump. Takes an hour to do it properly I put it on the ramps drop it, clean it all out put new filter in and oil in run it for a week then the following weekend ill flush that new oil back out and replace with new. I do that once every year if I can be arsed but if I waited 2 years itd be fine too. DO that and youll stand more chance of it lasting at least.

Ok......I took the plunge.......and ordered a tuning box from from Race Chip in Germany - the company that supplied my friend with one 4yrs ago for his car.

It cost me £100 delivered. Fitted it in 5mins. it's a good quality, well sealed unit nicely packaged and with a well made loom and clear instructions.

Took the car for a drive and I can definitely feel the difference.....feels much more responsive mid-range which is great. Don't get me wrong....it's not turned it into a fire breathing monster, but there is a tangible difference on my car.

Fuel reading on dash before fitting - 19.4mpg (normal driving routes on £50 of fuel)

Fuel reading on dash after fitting - 24.9mpg !!! (same driving routes on £50 of fuel)

Now I'm not suggesting that this unit has given me about another 5mpg......and I know it should be measured tank by tank to get true mpg.....but it is interesting that the baseline is much the same and there seems to be an improvement?

Already I seem to be driving differently because of the better mid-range?

I'll let you know how it goes longer term. This is my first £50quid of fuel, which is what I tend to put in each time.

Just thought I'd share my experience......

And yes.......I have changed the gearbox oil and filter...........