Hi All,

I have a 16 plate 1.4multi air. I’m toying with the idea of having it mapped.

According to the websites online it can be taken to 170BHP. Has anyone done this?

They claim that taking it up to 170BHP is still within tolerances for the clutch etc.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

General points I would make.

1) Increased horsepower (with given physical engine characteristics) generally is obtained by loss of lower RPM torque. Torque and Horsepower are closely/physically related and tinkering with one affects the other.

Racecars develop huge power at many 1000's of RPM but lack low RPM torque and driveability.

You have to decide if you want to be a racer, frequent gear shifter or accept the balance the car mapping currently has?

2) MultiAir is a totally new technology so reliable remapping experience is probably low. Yes Fiat do 140BHP to 170+BHP in the 1.4 MultiAir engines but we do not know what other engine changes have been made (mechanicals, pistons, compression ratios, upgraded turbos, upgraded oil cooling etc.)

3) Have you *really* driven your current setup to it's full capacity. I jest not. I've mastered a Fiat Uno SX with only 42BHP (68@flywheel) at the front wheels (but with suspension mods) and pretty well much out performed much more powerful cars. This experience of mastering the wimpy car has meant that performance driving our 130TC/Barchetta and 500X MuliAir is not only great and pleasurable but also 100 times more safe.

4) If you intend on doing Sprints / Test Days /Etc. then do them but start with what you have. Master it. Then when you plug that upgrade in you will be 10 times better compared to having done the upgrade first before mastering your apparently powerless, poor handling, etc. motor.

Final point. Before shedding a load of money why don't you see if you can get a several test day drive in later more powerful 500X. Then privately you can do back to back comparisons with your current car over *all driving* styles, shopping trips, motorway cruising, etc.

I had an esseesse punto Abarth evo with the multiair mapped and It was spot on. Go to someone wha has experience with the multiair engine tho. The 140 will happily map to 170 but to go to 200 as I did or as they do with the 170 in the Abarth spiders you’d need a bigger turbo.
I’ve had several cars mapped up to now and because I’ve gone to someone who has mapped it properly I’ve never had a problem. Currently have a skoda Octavia vrs diesel with 120k miles on. That’s been mapped from 185 to 230 with 500nm of torque and that’s been done from new. The mapper limits torque in 1st and second gear so as not to rip the box and clutch apart. Also the map is progressive so doesn’t spike torque or hp which can also damage the clutch and internals. My wife’s 500x 140hp diesel will be the next one to map. That’ll take it up to 185 and 460nm of torque.
If it’s a custom map you get and not a generic then the torque and power should be set by the mapper depending on what you want from the car. I would think peak torque on the multiair lump in yours will be set quite low rpm and a fairly flat curve if it’s 4x4. So a map may follow this original dynamic but just with more bhp and torque or you could have it a little more revvy. From my experience with the Abarth esseesse it runs out of steam at around 5,500 anyway so if you can get peak hp around 5k and peak torque around 2 it will be lovely. It’ll use less fuel on a run too.
My skoda is about 5mpg better on the motorway now than before.
Also if you are gonna get it done change the air filter for a bmc panel filter. That fits in place of the original paper one. It’ll just make the map a bit sweeter.
Company called monzasport down south have developed and researched lots for the 1.4 multiair in the Alfa and are now getting around 215bhp out of the 170 engine

Hmm, that's tempting. Got the 140 diesel 4x4 Auto. Definitely tempted

Alanw47 said:

Hmm, that's tempting. Got the 140 diesel 4x4 Auto. Definitely tempted

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Yea we have the 140 4x4 manual. The guys that remapped my skoda only specialise in vag group cars and Volvo but they recommended a company called morebhp in Crewe. So have had a word and they are happy to do it. Have a look at their Facebook page and some of the things they do are amazing. Especially the transit van diesel.
The 4x4 map does seem to make the engine run out of steam at around 3500-4000 and all the torque seems quite low down which is expected because of the Hill climbing abilities. But I think the map will release a lot more torque mid range and more hp higher up as torque runs out. So should feel pretty quick right up to 4500. Afterall It is the same engine as the 170bhp Alfa’s and they rev way better because they are a car and not 4x4. Depends what you want to do with it I suppose.

Would any remap affect the warranty?

I expect when you take it for a service, they plug the car into the diagnostic thing they'll probably be able to see somethings different.

Tempted by the performance though, with 180/185bhp and almost 300 lb ft torque I reckon it'd make the 0-60 sub 8 secs, it not just that though it's the extra shove elsewhere, say 30mph-80mph.

Have you considered a tuning box?

Best / most gain remaps are on the Diesel's - and yes I suspect the manufacturer warranty would be invalidated.

Get a rolling road ECU tuning remap. Best way to do it, and it's more smile's per mile definitely!