Race Chip?

[Capra]

Can I get back to my original question?

Has anyone actually used a Racechip unit?

Nope, not me, I was tempted, but was put off. I'm getting my ECU re-mapped by someone that specialises in MB and remapping. If I had one for free I would be tempted to test it out.

 

[Mark 2657]

Now I know I can get it done fairly local I'll give them a call to discuss and book it in after my hols.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Mark.

 

[AMGeed]

Now I know I can get it done fairly local I'll give them a call to discuss and book it in after my hols.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Mark.

Make sure you get a before and after dyno run to show the increase.
I don't trust those re-mappers who claim x amount of increase without proof (Celtic tuning anyone)

 

[V6Matty]

Make sure you get a before and after dyno run to show the increase.
I don't trust those re-mappers who claim x amount of increase without proof (Celtic tuning anyone)

Surely no one would do that Roger , (says me who is running a Celtic map and is looking to get it remapped by MSL)

 

[Capra]

Make sure you get a before and after dyno run to show the increase.
I don't trust those re-mappers who claim x amount of increase without proof (Celtic tuning anyone)

Do MSL offer a before Dyno?

 

[V6Matty]

Now I know I can get it done fairly local I'll give them a call to discuss and book it in after my hols.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Mark.

Just noticed that MSL are a stockist of Race Chips and currently offering a 10% discount to forum members. If you really want to go that route then they may be worth talking to further.

 

[V6Matty]

Do MSL offer a before Dyno?

If requested yes they will do a before, if your going full dyno map and data logging then yes before, during and after.

 

[Capra]

Just noticed that MSL are a stockist of Race Chips and currently offering a 10% discount to forum members. If you really want to go that route then they may be worth talking to further.

I discussed these with MSL, I did find it odd that they were a reseller for race chip. I can't remember at the time if they were offering all three chips. It was agreed that the Dyno remap was the better option. Cannot imagine they would push the race chip over their setup.

 

[V6Matty]

I discussed these with MSL, I did find it odd that they were a reseller for race chip. I can't remember at the time if they were offering all three chips. It was agreed that the Dyno remap was the better option. Cannot imagine they would push the race chip over their setup.

It's not that they're pushing these over their mapping but thy will offer it as an option for those that want the convenience of being able to unplug quickly like the OP

 

[Capra]

It's not that they're pushing these over their mapping but thy will offer it as an option for those that want the convenience of being able to unplug quickly like the OP

Still a different product aren't they. One gives you a preset tune, whilst the other is mapped through the rev range. I'm guessing here.

 

[Quickbrit]

John, can I ask what this did for your fuel mileage?

I’ve traditionally chipped my vehicles, but an extra 100BHP...

Best’
Mike

I think Dave’s post demonstrates it well. But just to give an example with my E63 which has the M157 engine. It’s a great engine no doubt but isn’t perfect. Before mapping the ‘grunt’ wasn’t there in certain gears and rev ranges, or combination of both. The map has almost completely smoothed that out, it will pick up smoothly and effortlessly from almost anywhere now. So it’s a more comfortable smoother drive.
As almost a by product I get more BHP, not too important (557 up to 684), but the important one is torque, up to 835lb/ft
There really is no downside to these increases and smoother map, not expensive either per se
If I was going all out downpipes , headers and turbos would be next but that is a very slippery slope (ask Dave)...
the 157 is still a bit ‘laggy’ which is a shame, but i believe the 4.0 V8 Bi Turbo which sits in the 213 Dave now owns has all but eliminated that. I can live with it for now.

 

[JBell]

John, can I ask what this did for your fuel mileage?

I’ve traditionally chipped my vehicles, but an extra 100BHP...

Best’
Mike

MSL are doing some Black Friday deals, have a look in the Tuning section

 

[John Laidlaw]

John, can I ask what this did for your fuel mileage?

I’ve traditionally chipped my vehicles, but an extra 100BHP...

Best’
Mike

Mike, it seems to have neither increased nor decreased my mpg (as far as I can tell, must admit to not paying much attention! I average c20mpg when I look at it)...as JBell says MSL are doing a Black Friday map and dyno 10 only for your/our engine @£500 which is an amazing deal!

 

[JBell]

I average c20mpg when I look at it)

You are clearly not trying hard enough

 

[John Laidlaw]

You are clearly not trying hard enough

I did get it to 8 at one point......

 

[JBell]

I did get it to 8 at one point......

Better

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Better

I've seen 3.1 in the SLR....

Disclaimer:

This was not on a public highway...

 

[LostKiwi]

I did get it to 8 at one point......

That was an average day in this...

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I would think that does gallons per mile LK!

 

[LostKiwi]

I would think that does gallons per mile LK!

On a really really good day you'd get 11mpg. Typically 8-9. If you went off road look for sub 5.
It's an interesting vehicle (and I regret selling it in many ways).
Its powered by a Rover 3.5 V8. They were made for the military only (never available to the public ex-factory) and only 2776 were made. The ambulance conversion was done by Marshalls in Cambridge and apparently cost £250,000 per vehicle...
This particular one was built in 1977, languished in military stores till 1982 before being converted. Originally based in Gutersloh in Germany it was assigned to a helicopter squadron as the backup ambulance. As a result it spent most of its life in an aircraft hanger connected to power and saw very little usage. In Gulf War 1 it was deployed to the gulf with two others and was painted the pale colour. As there were three of them on the air force base the CO reputedly said "Paint those ****** things differently so I can tell which of you barstewards is which without having to call you on the radio!"
One of the three was left untouched.
One was painted with brown spots.
This one was painted with tiger stripes (the squadron nickname was Tiger Squadron so it was quite appropriate!).
Somewhere I have a photo of the three of them parked side by side in the desert.
The driver of this one also painted "Tiger Taxi " on the left front window and "Desert Rats" on the right side window. The CO took exception and ordered them painted out and I found them when I restored it (those are the original painted words on the glass).
I have a photo of Andy Smith the driver painting the windows as well.
After GW1 it was repatriated to the UK and decommissioned and sold via a military disposals. At this stage in its life (around 1993?) it had covered a whole 11,000km (around 6,500 miles) and due to the easy life it had led had no rust anywhere.
I bought it in 2010 and restored it (the paintwork was very shabby by then) and sold it on to buy my r129 in 2014. It only lives about 15 miles from me now.