Well this morning i fitted the TMC tuning box (unfortunately no pics this time). As some of you remember i fitted the GSR induction kit a couple of weeks ago.

Review:

First of all fitting, Took about 20 minutes, i need to tidy the wiring a little more, but is very very easy even with the instructions in german, its all in photos and easy to follow.

Performance has notably improved, the car revs up more freely and faster, Acceleration has improved. i like the fact the torque curve has remained pretty smooth, so virtually no torque steer, Power comes in quite high up the rev range, better at 2k but at 4-5k absolutely awesome. I definitely believe the 30bhp and 40nm torque claims to be true, with the gsr i reckon i must be touching 185bhp now.

With the GSR kit fitted i noticed alot more turbo and dump valve noise, this has picked up a notch, plus you can now really hear the induction roar.

There are however a couple of minor downsides, the engine managment light has come on (Daron is there anyway i can clear this myself or do i have to go to the dealer?). Also the idle has dropped to about 700rpm, though still pretty smooth so doesn't bother me.

What is more noticeable is that upto about 1500rpm the car now sounds a bit more diesel like? (This is a 1.4t-jet) it actually reminds me of the VW twincharger again not a real problem, more of a comment.

Overall i am really pleased once i have a few more miles under the belt (only done a quick 10km test drive) i'll give a further review.

So initial reactions are a big .

I would also like to thank Daron at TMC, their customer service has been excellent, in constant communication, especially as TNT suffered some problems with Gibraltar Customs. I would definitely recommend this to those of you who cannot get a custom remap, or have company cars etc where you need a plug and play option.

All i need to do now is fit my stereo, sort the suspension, brakes and exhaust.

GibBravo - did you get a rolling road test before you fitted your GSR and TMC tunning box and afterwards?
I'm just wondering what power and torque did you have as standard? Mine was measured as 170BHP and 264NM of torque as fully standard from factory so with that TMC it should be hitting 200bhp area I believe?

I'll be delighted to see how this TMC box will work for you over the next few months and then maybe i'll consider putting that on my car. Thanks anyway for the quick review!

Well i want to follow up on the excellent customer service i received, on reading review daron has already called me as he suspected cam positioning sensor on upside down, causing engine light and diesel sound.

I have checked and he was right, swapped it over. If ou look at these bosch sensors you can see how easy it is to make this mistake so be careful, they are not designed well.

Everything now running spot on, idle back to 900rpm, and engine light has gone

I would like to say thanks to TMC and daron, maybe they should pay me for this advert

Now to decide on exhaust, only going CAT back, don't think its worth replacing the manifolds CAT etc, as quite expensive plus this is my family car espeicially as i have a baby on the way.

PeterMmX said:

GibBravo - did you get a rolling road test before you fitted your GSR and TMC tunning box and afterwards?
I'm just wondering what power and torque did you have as standard? Mine was measured as 170BHP and 264NM of torque as fully standard from factory so with that TMC it should be hitting 200bhp area I believe?

I'll be delighted to see how this TMC box will work for you over the next few months and then maybe i'll consider putting that on my car. Thanks anyway for the quick review!

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unfortunately no rolling roads or decent tuners near me hence the tuning box route. There are some in spain but i have a small language barrier for now.

But i suspect my figures may be a little down on yours as standard, as we are in hot weather 25degrees today, got a sweat on just fitting this box. This will affect the efficiency of the intercooler etc.

GibBravo said:

unfortunately no rolling roads or decent tuners near me hence the tuning box route. There are some in spain but i have a small language barrier for now.

But i suspect my figures may be a little down on yours as standard, as we are in hot weather 25degrees today, got a sweat on just fitting this box. This will affect the efficiency of the intercooler etc.

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Well in Belfast today we have gale force winds, grey sky, and pouring rain and about 8 degrees not that i'm envious GibBravo

Glad you got it sorted, I was fairly sure when you said the revs had dropped and car was knocking like a diesel that the timing wasn't advancing/redarding. It's good that we resolved it quickly as driving any distance with this could have caused problems. Your power should be a whole lot better now!!:devil:
You are correct about the temperature, the warmer the climate the less the power as turbo's rely on cold air hence the fitment of intercoolers to cool the charge air. Don't think 25 degrees will knock you back that much though at most about 5-10bhp compared to same car running in a colder climate.....like here Running super unleaded 97/98 octane should erase this loss and will really help performance with the box fitted.

I will put an update in with the instuctions from now on emphasizing the correct orientation of the plugs as mentioned it was a bad design by Bosch.

I realise people have a choice of where to buy so thanks GibBravo for your business and your review (cheque is in the post ) Lol!

Anyone with any questions pm or email me anytime. Daron

Normally run 98 anyway only cost 90p a litre here.

GibBravo said:

Normally run 98 anyway only cost 90p a litre here.

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Grrrrrr there was no need to promote your great fuel prices! it would be lovely to go back to those prices instead of £1.09p and climbing! :bang:

Oh and i forgot to say that im looking forward to the full review....

Just gotta get the ok from the boss! and find a suitable replacement panel filter, as i really do not want a induction kit.

GibBravo said:

Normally run 98 anyway only cost 90p a litre here.

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90p a litre fuel and 25 degrees and sunny, hold on while I go and get a bucket to throw up

It's still raining here and super unleaded is about 112PPL!

just to rub it in further, we don't pay car tax over here either.

Have you driven the car since re-connecting the camshaft sensor? It must surely be faster than the test drive this morning without it connected? Noticably faster I would have thought.

TMC Motorsport said:

Have you driven the car since re-connecting the camshaft sensor? It must surely be faster than the test drive this morning without it connected? Noticably faster I would have thought.

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Yeah the power coming in much earlier now, feels like a much bigger engine now, the torque is much more noticeable. Going into spain this weekend, so can really stretch its legs.

GibBravo does your bravo has sport button? is it still working ok with the tmc? sport on + tmc is more powerfull than sport off + tmc?

also i am interested in fuel consumption estimations...

stred said:

GibBravo does your bravo has sport button? is it still working ok with the tmc? sport on + tmc is more powerfull than sport off + tmc?

also i am interested in fuel consumption estimations...

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The sport button will be unaffected by having the box fitted as the internal mapping of the ECU is not being altered, the alterations are being done externally so any original functions of the engine will work as normal.
Cheers

stred said:

GibBravo does your bravo has sport button? is it still working ok with the tmc? sport on + tmc is more powerfull than sport off + tmc?

also i am interested in fuel consumption estimations...

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Mines a dynamic, so no sport button. Fuel consuymption seem to be about the same, though i keep finding reasons to stick my foot down, which is not helping

engine checklight could be due to improper installation...
did you disconnect the battery terminals while installing the chip? i was told we should do that... got a similar experience while installing a similar chip (fiat-sportiva) on my bravo tjet... all was good except for the irritating checklight...
tried the similar chip and install onto another bravo tjet (of course disconnecting the battery this time) and all went well... no engine checklight and performance was great!

i did a reset of the ecu to factory default with Fiat Singapore but the subsequent installation (i.e. disconnecting batt) was not successful... no freaking idea.. otherwise will definitely get the chip!:bang:

just a word of caution for those intending to get the chip ya!

happy said:

engine checklight could be due to improper installation...
did you disconnect the battery terminals while installing the chip? i was told we should do that... got a similar experience while installing a similar chip (fiat-sportiva) on my bravo tjet... all was good except for the irritating checklight...
tried the similar chip and install onto another bravo tjet (of course disconnecting the battery this time) and all went well... no engine checklight and performance was great!

i did a reset of the ecu to factory default with Fiat Singapore but the subsequent installation (i.e. disconnecting batt) was not successful... no freaking idea.. otherwise will definitely get the chip!:bang:

just a word of caution for those intending to get the chip ya!

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The engine check lamp issue was fixed within an hour of fitting, one of the plugs was on the wrong way round on the camshaft sensor, GibBravo corrected it and the light immediately went out, idle went back to normal and car was much faster.
From what I understand he is very pleased with the box now