Modding Cars

[Mister T]

So today I learned that you could mod cars by inserting a chip into the car's computer, such as in an A4/S4/A6 and some VW's... Does such a thing exist for BMW's or other cars?

 

[urbantechie]

I'm pretty sure you can. Computer Chip upgrade. I know what it's specificly called but I forgot.

I think it's called EVOC or ECC..damnit I know this too!

 

[Rockhound]

Either a chip upgrade or through a reprogrammer since most newer cars simply have an external port for the plugin.

Rockhound

 

[DesignDawg]

Such a thing exists for...well....damn near ANY car. I used to know a guy with an 80's CAVALIER with a chip in it. haha. Some people. BTW, yes, the chip adds a lot in some cases, but you have to modify a few other things to compensate (fuel injection, exhaust, wheels, etc...)

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[Mister T]

I guess my question is where would I find such info(whether a mod chip exists and where to get it) for a given car.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

Hrmm.. Anybody know if there's one of these for an '88 Mercury Grand Marquis GS?

 

[SVTPower]

Boom

 

[Mister T]

SVT,

I should have known you would know

 

[SVTPower]

I should have known you would know

Well I try

Anyway make sure you do note to the company when you call what upgrades you have done to your car already. I know a guy who took his muffler and CATS off on his 92 Z28, He ended up losing 2/10's off the 1/4 cause the chip was desighned to get some of the backpressure thats normally supplied and looked for on newer Computer controlled cars.

BTW I HATED the way his car sounded from that he put on Glasspacks, They can sometimes sound good on OLD cars but man on a fuel injected car it was horrid.

No I have no Idea what he was thinking and I never approved of any of his idea's

 

[OS]

Also, I think chips work better on cars that have turbos stock because it increases the boost.

 

[SVTPower]

Also, I think chips work better on cars that have turbos stock because it increases the boost.

Totally the Powerstroke and the Cummins both get a very nice increase from what I heard from the Diesel guys, Banks makes most of the ones they use I think... Not 100% sure but I'm a Gas man myself

 

[Mister T]

outersquare, I noticed that too...

Won't increasing the boost on the turbo kill your engine life though?

 

[SVTPower]

Won't increasing the boost on the turbo kill your engine life though?

For the most part it can, basically the more you start working the motor, But the big fear with all us with forced induction is the "Running Over Wires" sound known as Detonation Thats when Engine life begins to come to a stop fast. Most Chips that you buy from bigger name companies are still going to be very conservative though with your cars.

The people who program their own chips and get adjustible Waste Gates are the ones who start in on the life of the motor.

 

[Mister T]

SVT, thats good to know - thanks

check this out... this is ridiculous:

Audi A6 2.7 T

250 HP
258 Torque

with chip:

307 HP
366 Torque

Thats over a 100 bump in ft. lbs
The stock A6 does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds which is pretty good as is....
I wonder what it will do with the chip.. hehe

Sounds like a bargain for a 600 dollar mod.

 

[SVTPower]

Thats a dream to have a 100lbs jump in Torque!! I'd be hopping on that real fast, thats amazing. The stock program on that car must be really REALLY conservative.

 

[atom]

Never understood why people get chip upgrades to change the boost on cars. A boost controller like the Apexi AVC-R (which is only $450) let's you control your boost and re-map your air/fuel curve to meet your specific machine once you get it on the dyno.

Lots of modded turbo Jap. cars use digital boost controllers now. I even saw a turbocharged M3 with one (was one sick BMW, 500+ HP and it had a nice, tasteful, Rieger widebody kit). Much better for the money.

 

[gunf1ghter]

atom,

the electronic boost control on newer cars works much better than what you are thinking of. the computer can be controlled to not only add more boost through the electronically controlled waistgate but it can also be programmed to provide the proper spark plug timing and fuel map as well.... all of these things add up to a BIG bump in power and torque through nothing but a chip re-program.

My A4 1.8T got bumped from 150bhp and 130ft/lb of torque to 200bhp and 245ft/lbs of torque! The excellent chip tuning has kept the car extremely driveable.

Mister T,

Turbo cars definitely see the best result from chiptuning.... a car and driver article actually found that on average normally aspirated cars LOSE power or have worse times with chiptuning.

BMW does have an excellent tuning option available.... Dinan.