Chip / Tuning Cdi Engines???

[James100474]

Have been looking at these but dont know if it might end up being a horror story. Anybody know anything about these things???

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110080466926&fromMakeTrack=true

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Personally, I wouldn't touch it with a v.long barge pole. Suspiciously cheap and has to be a long way down the preference list when compared to a properly done ECU remap done by a reputable installer. On the other hand it could be brilliant and not produce a short lived, smokey engine but its a risky gamble.

 

[Hibbo]

Make sure Hawk20 doesn't see you talking about these on here, in his opinion they are highly illegal and akin to raping the Queen.
(Incidentally, this type of 'piggy-back' device is NOT illegal as they do not contain any copyrighted code - they do not replace the ECU they simply alter the inputs to it)

Anyway, jovial banter aside!

A mate of mine has a similar (not sure where he got it from) piggy-back box on his e36 beemer 320d - this difference is incredible! He paid about £500 for it!

Personally, from an electronics point of view, the one listed here is not suspiciously cheap - the other ones are ludicrously expensive! They are relatively simple boxes using readily available components. You could probably build one for 30quid - but you'd have to know what you are doing - you are paying for the knowhow (that's what the rip-off 500quid people will tell you anyway).

I'd say do it.

Plug it in, see if you like it. If you don't (or it makes hunners of smoke) then unplug it and chalk it down to experience. (Or put it back on ebay!)

I do stand to be corrected, as I don't know much about these engines, but I would say don't listen to the scaremongers - what these boxes do is alter the inputs the ECU receives from its sensors, the ECU will NOT let the engine run at parameters that could cause damage (what I mean is that the ECU won't blindly follow it's sensors - that's why a failed sensor doesn't make your engine explode)

Please do educate me if I am barking up the wrong bush on this one...

 

[battwell]

cdi chip tuning boxes

i bought a cdi chip tuning box on ebay. (not the same one as listed here) tried it on a 313 cdi sprinter. power increase was fantastic. no extra smoke or any other "noticable" side effects.
also tried it on a 308 but didnt seem to do much except make it use more fuel.
may try it on my 316 cdi sprinter but then that is already faster than most peoples runabouts.

the one i have has correct plugs, takes 30 seconds to put on or take off.

 

[Hibbo]

Sorry that should be e46 beemer (2003)

 

[jberks]

I've been loooking at one from 'dragon' on ebay - they are quite reasonable and seem a clever design with a usb map module and a power override to turn it off when you don't need it..
I knopw Dragon give a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied which is a nice touch.
It is cheap but then again, they cost very little to make so perhaps others are just too expensive!

 

[blassberg]

check out their website.... not good. But maybe they can tune cars.