Chip or ECU Remapping - Questions

[Goldfish11]

I have a W211 July 2003 E220CDI. I am considering getting the thing chipped or Remapped.

This would according to the info on various sites take the max power from 150bhp to between 170 and 180 bhp. However my main reason for doing this is improving mid-range torque and power so when I am going down the motorway or cruising in town the reduced gear changes on the autobox should result in improved fuel consumption.

I have heard lots of conflicting information about:

1) Warranty

2) Insurance.

3) Cost

4) Which is best

1) My question is - if I get it remapped will this invalidate my MB warranty, I have heard rumoured that some dealers actually recommend a remap or chip on some vehicles. Some BMW dealers do to reduce flat spots and some LandRover dealers do on the diesel units to improve fuel consumption and power, but do any MB dealers recommend this. Remapping does not physically change anything (it is software) so it should not effect warranty and I have heard said the dealers cant detect it anyway. Anyone know any facts on this?

2) With regard to insurance, some people say just dont tell them but I would hate to have an accident and find out I am not covered, I would prefer to be honest. So I have heard some companies dont care, others charge you slightly more and others will not even accomodate it.

3) Cost seems to vary from £200 (see www.angeltuning.co.uk ) for a remap to £700 or even £2000. Some companies give you a key to reset to original settings others charge you £50. What do you get for your money?

4) Which is best - Remap, new chip, a box you plug in etc etc.


The main things I want to avoid is create trouble for my self in the long run with Warranty and also the Insurance issues.

I have seen a couple of threads on the forum which relate to this issue but they dont seem to address these questions directly so any advice would be appreciated.

 

[AJTHOMAS]

1. Without the written consent of MB it would invalidate your warranty.

2. Failure to report material changes to the vehicle invalidates your insurance. Shop around for the best deal, majority of the cherry picking highstreet brands though will usually decline permance and non OEM mods.

3. For your money You get a $20 chip in a $10 wiring loom.
The chip having a parameter file copied from the original vehicle with key parameters tweaked by a third party with no access to the technical specifications for the vehicle.

4. Make any permanent changes and it's difficult to reverse or hide.
Plug'n'play chips can be removed and it's unlikely, though not impossible, for the vehicle logs to be analysed for evidence of non-standard mappings.

For routine servicing / warranty they may notice suspicious fingerpirints or clean patches under the bonnet. There would have to be something real significant at stake though to take it further and pull the data for analysis.

Modifying a vehicle with non approved components usually raises tricky questions with servicing, warranty and insurance. Tinker with any of the vehicle fundamentals and it might be a significant hassle.

If you take all this into account, inform your insurance and pay the price it may bring a noticable performance boost and a big smile. Chips are widely publicised and non-dealership garages usually work around them if your honest and up front. Dealerships are instructed to reject all non-approved modifications, even if personally they would like to help.

If you are unlucky the box of tricks may cause excessive wear and or damage the engine with no warranty to pick up what could be a significant repair bill. Typically chips push the car into the safety margins designed to acomodate normal wear and tear in-between servicing. Theoretically, increasing the service regieme would prevent any damage, if in practice something goes bang though, the dealership will have zero sympathy and independent garages would struggle to know where to start !

If your involved in an accident with an un-declared performance enhancing modification...

 

[Goldfish11]

Cost of insurance

I have just checked with Direct Line Insurance, they say you can do what you like to the chip as long as you inform them of the power increase! The extra cost on my policy would be £100 per annum. My current cost is £500 so this is a 20% increase in insurance costs for a 20% increase in power if the engine goes from 150bhp to 180 bhp.

 

[miro]

I have just checked with Direct Line Insurance, they say you can do what you like to the chip as long as you inform them of the power increase! The extra cost on my policy would be £100 per annum. My current cost is £500 so this is a 20% increase in insurance costs for a 20% increase in power if the engine goes from 150bhp to 180 bhp.

Who knows .. maybe it will only be 170BHP.

 

[fabio1]

Who knows .. maybe it will only be 170BHP.

Hi,

I suggest that you go the serial port route. This cannot be detected by MB or the insurence companies.

DMS are the leaders in this field, here is the link

http://www.dmsautomotive.com/

 

[R2D2]

My car couldnt be serial port re mapped so I had it superchipped. Insurance went up a bit but not loads. Car is smoother, more torquey.

 

[johnsosn]

Hi See my Module in classifieds!!
Regards