Tuning Diesel Performance UK (Tuning boxes)

Shadeyman · May 6, 2011

jdm89 said:
@Shadey - do you get any worse mpg out of yours in exchange for better performance? Its too good to be true surely that boxes give better performance and use less fuel?

My wife drives our car(carefully) most of the time so we average over 40mpg(runing 100% Bio 90p a litre

- heavy urban driving. Live near J10 of the M6, traffic around here is a nightmare).

Regardless of what type of tuning a car has the only way to get more BHP/Torque is to burn more fuel.

If you burn more fuel you reduce MPG.

You want good MPG, avoid remaps and tuning box's and drive accordingly.

Want extra BHP/Torque for less than £90, buy a tuning box from http://www.dieselexpress.co.uk they're easy to fit and adjustable to your needs.

jdm89 · May 6, 2011

Shadeyman said:
Regardless of what type of tuning a car has the only way to get more BHP/Torque is to burn more fuel.

If you burn more fuel you reduced MPG.

This is exactly what makes no sense with the claims of most of these tuning boxes...the extra performance has to come from somewhere, and it has to be burning fuel!

As for Bio at 90p a litre = jealous

haha

I've seen "Italian Box" available on ebay for the modest sum of £70 delivered. Thoughts? Seen some mixed reviews to say the least...see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320660502081

Edit: By mixed reviews I mean those that have them seem to think they're good...but those that don't (or are completely against tuning boxes and a remap-mad) wanna steer clear...

Shadeyman · May 6, 2011

A custom remap specific to your car, tuned on a rolling road is of course the best option if you want extra BHP/Torque, but, and its a big but, good ones are not cheap and they may soon be illegal, failing the MOT maybe even voiding a persons insurance which could lead to your car being crushed.

The best "bang for you buck" performance wise is a tuning box. Cheap, simple to install and easily removed if needed.

As for the "Italian Box" on ebay I cant really comment as I've not used one myself. I would suspect they are all pretty much the same but for the extra few quid I'd stick with the one I know and trust from Diesel Express.

Yellow Peril · May 6, 2011

Shadeyman said:
A custom remap specific to your car, tuned on a rolling road is of course the best option if you want extra BHP/Torque, but, and its a big but, good ones are not cheap and they may soon be illegal, failing the MOT maybe even voiding a persons insurance which could lead to your car being crushed.

The best "bang for you buck" performance wise is a tuning box. Cheap, simple to install and easily removed if needed.

As for the "Italian Box" on ebay I cant really comment as I've not used one myself. I would suspect they are all pretty much the same but for the extra few quid I'd stick with the one I know and trust from Diesel Express.

I thought I'd already demonstrated that 'illegal' and 'failing MOT' were most unlikley. And if a re-map can invalidate insurance, then so can a tuning box.

jdm89 · May 6, 2011

Yellow Peril said:
I thought I'd already demonstrated that 'illegal' and 'failing MOT' were most unlikley. And if a re-map can invalidate insurance, then so can a tuning box.

I've checked with my insurer, and a performance mod of <10% is only a small increase on my policy...increases of 11-25% get a bit more expensive :/ so it is definitely covered...it doesn't invalidate my insurance, but they explicitly said they won't insure the part (i.e. the chip).

@Shadey - thanks for your opinion on this...I may try one out and let you know of a comparison...theres the odd UK seller who is doing them cheaper too, but it could be the fuel injection thats messed around with instead of turbo...

Shadeyman · May 6, 2011

Yellow Peril said:
I thought I'd already demonstrated that 'illegal' and 'failing MOT' were most unlikley. And if a re-map can invalidate insurance, then so can a tuning box.

You've demonstrated you didn't read my post correctly. Read the post again and you'll see this

"and they may soon be illegal"

Meaning the law MAY change so remaps(and tuning boxes) WILL be detectable and WILL cause a car to fail its MOT and will invalidate any insurance on that car.

In no way is it "unlikely" - if the law changes they WILL be detected.

You cant see a remap, your car may already have one your unaware of. Difficult to stay within the law if you cant see it and don't know. Tuning boxes can be seen and can be quickly and easily removed when/if the law changes.

jdm89 · May 6, 2011

Gonna cause an incredible stir if they are made illegal...imagine all those who did potentially have remaps on cars and didn't realise...they'd just be fined and fined again, without the proper technical knowledge..I hope this is taken into account!

Shadeyman · May 6, 2011

If the law is passed I would expect some, not but not all MOT stations to have the ability(when required and a price is agreed) to remove the map from a remapped car and replace it with the standard MAP due to the fact that they would need access to the standard MAP in order to be able to detect the remap.

Maybe a couple of years grace/leniency to enable those that are unaware that their car has been remapped can have it removed without penalty?

jdm89 · May 7, 2011

You'd think some sort of consideration has to be made for those that don't know about their car history in that respect. Especially those of an older and less wise generation (less wise to tuning, anyway

)

VaryValve · May 7, 2011

jdm89 said:
This is exactly what makes no sense with the claims of most of these tuning boxes...the extra performance has to come from somewhere, and it has to be burning fuel!

As for Bio at 90p a litre = jealous haha

I've seen "Italian Box" available on ebay for the modest sum of £70 delivered. Thoughts? Seen some mixed reviews to say the least...see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320660502081

Edit: By mixed reviews I mean those that have them seem to think they're good...but those that don't (or are completely against tuning boxes and a remap-mad) wanna steer clear...

Just fitted on of these yesterday...brilliant!.Third gear is the new second gear.Wasnt after power really,just flexibility..and got it.Have left it as pre-set by them and there is no smoke at all even under full chat!.MPG is better as well,not a lot better,but i recon about an extra 5MPG going by my computer.The real test will be on fill up again time.

At £65 quid all in and overnight delivery,i have to admit i am quietly chuffed.Quick removal for the mot,and 200 quid cheaper than a remap.

The car loves it!

Dont work for them by the way.

jdm89 · May 7, 2011

You got an Italian Box? Or another kind? Overnight delivery from Italy sounds too quick?

Sounds good though...any change to your insurance?

VaryValve · May 7, 2011

jdm89 said:
You got an Italian Box? Or another kind? Overnight delivery from Italy sounds too quick?

Sounds good though...any change to your insurance?

Hi JD,

No,genuine overnight TNT delivery,and yes,an Italian Box.

Had a problem with wich exact plug to remove,but they were excellent on the tech back up,and even sent me blown up pictures of the plug needed.

Only got it yesterday,so havent told the insurance company (Will do tho).Its pretty hard to detect anyway,as have dossed it behind the battery box.Insurance should not be so bad for me,as i am an old fart.

jdm89 · May 7, 2011

Woah that is quick then! I stand corrected

I've seen delivery estimates of 11-23 days on their items!

Fair play, the seem to stand true to their word then...I've seen the odd UK seller on eBay with similar boxes for around the same money too. Is the tweaking easy, like via the dial?

VaryValve · May 7, 2011

jdm89 said:
Woah that is quick then! I stand corrected I've seen delivery estimates of 11-23 days on their items!

Fair play, the seem to stand true to their word then...I've seen the odd UK seller on eBay with similar boxes for around the same money too. Is the tweaking easy, like via the dial?

Yea,i was astonished at the overnight bit.It does say on their e-bay site that they do this.

Tweaking is dead easy,but as mentioned have left mine the way they set it.I think its perfect at this setting.No smoke,so recon its not over fuelling.The little potentiometer they use is set quite low on its travel as set by them,so i could get a lot more out of it am sure..but dont want to overfuel and cause rail problems.

I recon your 150 sporting would be a fire breathing monster even on the IB pre-set position.Mine is an old JTD 1.9 8v,and it has just transformed the car.

Mike S · May 7, 2011

I`m also considering one, and I will probably go for a TMC box.

The thread below is what convinced me so if any one is considering buying a tuning box and have not read the thread I reccomend the read! I feel a bit enlightened after trawling through the thread.

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/262657-lets-see-how-goes.html

TMC explains in his view, how the box works, what is the difference between the cheapest version (resistor in a box) and the £100 or £300 box, why you may see an MPG improvement and also adds to the debate about remaps versus tuning boxes

jdm89 · May 7, 2011

VaryValve said:
I recon your 150 sporting would be a fire breathing monster even on the IB pre-set position.Mine is an old JTD 1.9 8v,and it has just transformed the car.

If I get any fire outta the back of mine I'll be running away!

but I'm hoping for some good gains yeah, not that I need to add a whole lot tbh! I'm looking for a balance between a bit of extra guts and some economy...

@Mike - I'll have a look through the thread, cheers for bringing it to my attention. Particularly the bit you mention about a cheap resistor in a box etc is exactly what I'm looking to read up on. I can't afford a remap, but I don't just want the basic...something in the middle (hard to please huh - and no, I'm not female

)

VaryValve · May 7, 2011

Mike S said:
I`m also considering one, and I will probably go for a TMC box.

The thread below is what convinced me so if any one is considering buying a tuning box and have not read the thread I reccomend the read! I feel a bit enlightened after trawling through the thread.

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/262657-lets-see-how-goes.html

TMC explains in his view, how the box works, what is the difference between the cheapest version (resistor in a box) and the £100 or £300 box, why you may see an MPG improvement and also adds to the debate about remaps versus tuning boxes

I read up on many pros and cons of the tuning box dilemma..which one,and from who etc.I came to the conclusion that common rail (Diesel) tuning boxes basically all do the same thing.The simple resistor in the box thing just wouldnt cut it for controlling common rail fuel pressures.It seemed to me the resistor was more suited to petrol set ups to fool the injection system into thinking the engine was cold.

The results i have from my little Italian job are great.But i guess,its each to their own

jdm89 · May 7, 2011

VaryValve said:
I came to the conclusion that common rail (Diesel) tuning boxes basically all do the same thing.The simple resistor in the box thing just wouldnt cut it for controlling common rail fuel pressures.

Ok makes sense that they'd all be similar maybe then, but then before you said -

VaryValve said:
No smoke,so recon its not over fuelling.The little potentiometer they use is set quite low on its travel as set by them

Is a potentiometer not just pretty much just the same as a resistor though?

Edit: And all this discussion of pros/cons and differences in boxes is exactly what makes my head hurt so much! There doesn't appear to be a definitive answer as to what the cheaper boxes contain...

bandana · May 7, 2011

jdm89 said:
I've seen "Italian Box" available on ebay for the modest sum of £70 delivered. Thoughts? Seen some mixed reviews to say the least...see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320660502081

Checked feeback to see they're selling for the same in Euros as Pounds, so if you click , for e.g. a "view item" French link, like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220763556615

...then you can buy for
EUR 59.90Approximately £52.91
Postage:EUR 9.90(approx. £8.75)
i.e around £61.66 delivered, (and the exchange rate is awful ATM)

(We are always getting ripped off here - most Chinese and HK/Taiwan items that are on ebay.co,uk are also on ebay.com much cheaper in $$$$ to £ conversion , and they ship just the same.)

jdm89 · May 8, 2011

Cracking trick to save a bit of cash eh? Thanks for that

I'll bear it in mind if I get one from them!

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