car help (chiping for performance) ???

[HTH AMPS]

One of my mates was on about chipping my Saab 9-3 to get better fuel economy.  It sounds like a good idea from what I can see, however there has got to be a downside.  These chip-mods claim to increase performance while lowering your fuel consumption.  If it was that easy, surely the manufacturer would do this in the first place ???

I'm not bothered about performance (though it would be good to get some extra grunt) - the main thing I want is better fuel consumption.

Anyone versed in this kind of thing?

[Twinfan]

It's all about getting an efficient 'burn', and overriding any factory tweaks to get through emissions and noise testing.

It's more effective on diesels but turbo petrols models benefit too.  Usually costs a few hundred quid.  If you use a reputable company, it's a very worthwhile mod.

[HTH AMPS]

cheers TF, my car is an automatic Saab 9-3 (2.0i) and I get around 23mpg  :(

I was hoping to avoid spending £200+ on a pro job, and was looking more in the sub £100 range on ebay.

[Brow]

I would seriously recommend avoiding any of the cheap things from Ebay as any issues they may cause to your car and the programming of it's ECU can be dangerous or (at best) very expensive to sort out.

Super Chips (www.mybluefin.co.uk) do a number of different maps for your car, but you're looking at about £400.

Mega Squirt is another option that's very popular with turbo diesel drivers, and gets very good reviews of forums etc. I'm not sure how much it costs, but think it may be cheaper than Super Chips.

Another option would be to get a totally custom ECU map done specifically for your car. That way you tell them what you want to achieve and they write you a custom map to do it. Google 'ECU Remaps' and it'll give you alot of options :)

[mikeluke]

I used a bypass turbo diesel 'chip' from Germany on my Volvo XC90 - was much better to drive and improved the fuel consumption by 10%... Volvo now offer an ECU remap as an approved service - will set you back £600 though - no experience with petrol mods though.

[Ian Price]

Mega Squirt is another option that's very popular

That sounds just plain rude to me!

[Will]

cheers TF, my car is an automatic Saab 9-3 (2.0i) and I get around 23mpg  :(

I was hoping to avoid spending £200+ on a pro job, and was looking more in the sub £100 range on ebay.

Wow, that must weigh a bit, I am driving a 3.0l TDI thing also automatic and I get more than that on the road

[Twinfan]

Avoid the cheap stuff on eBay mate - they can be a box of wires and nothing else  :o

A proper job is gonna cost you a few hundred.

[Davey]

chipping works best on turbos (be it diesel or petrol) as it gets the most bang for your buck (meaning more performance out of one unit of burned fuel) and it's mostly in this, that it boosts the economy of your car. you dont necessarily get more MPG but you get more horsepower/torque out of the engine etc etc etc..
 there's a lot more science behind that, as you start fiddling with additional fuel management and engine computer management maps (something i DO NOT recommend doing on your own unless you got years of experience) as just putting any ol' map in it, wont work.
i also advise against buying just any 'better economy' map, as each car runs a touch differently and in the end they should be done custom for the car. yes, you can put a general map on, but they dont run as good as one written especially for the specific car..

if you do want to go through that, i recommend Paul @ RS Tuning, up in Leeds as he's done a lot of maps for one friend of mine (and subsequently his friends) and another had his R.26 Megane tuned (they drove all the way to Leeds, from Slovenia) and his customer service is superb!

[HTH AMPS]

See, this is what I love about this forum - the depth of knowledge.  everyone is very level headed and you get a sensible answer to a question.

My car knowledge is pathetic, so I had no idea if the cheap tweaks were worthwhile.  it seems not.

I'll give that guy in Leeds a shout once I get some cash together - we go there fairly regular to visit family.

[JDC]

if you want to get more mpg don't forget about the basics, driving style, reducing weights from stuff you don't need left in the boots and roof racks (who uses them?!!!), tyre pressure

can't remember the others apart from extreme stuff you get on eco boxes

anyone know if saab got a buyer yet?

[ToneMonkey]

My mate runs Revo Technik, who specialise in tuning any of the VAG group of cars.  At the minute he's driving a Seat Cupra (no Saab's I'm afraid)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/revo_seat_leon_cupra_k1_car_review.html <--- This is his car and it goes like the proverbial off a shiney shovel.

It really can work wonders, but like people on here say, go for a reputable company.  On ebay you can buy a resistor in a box which is rubbish, you need someone with a propper mapping software and who knows how to use it.  I know Revo offer a couple of options where you can buy a handset and switch between Normal, Economy and Sport as you see fit, but I'm not sure if other people do this too.

[Brow]

I know Revo offer a couple of options where you can buy a handset and switch between Normal, Economy and Sport as you see fit, but I'm not sure if other people do this too.

This is essentially what the Superchips Bluefin thing is that I mentioned earlier.

Dreamscience is another 1 that's very well respected in the tuning scene, not overly cheap though.

[Davey]

nice seat!

[ToneMonkey]

Yeah, but still a Seat..... and not too much fun in the snow  :lol: :lol: :lol: