Brera 2.2 remap?

[carparkno1]

Gents - former 156 owner, and have been weighing up between an older Porsche 911 or a Brera. Heart over head and decided on a Brera.

So I am looking at what's available, and, with a budget going up to 12k, am seeing a lot of the same thing. I think I want the 2.2 petrol - the big diesel doesn't sound particularly inviting and the 3.2 isn't a Busso unit so I can't see it driving me wild.

However, with the 2.2 I am hearing horror stories of 20mpg on mixed driving? I saw somebody mention that this engine lends itself well to an ECU remap...

what would the remap do as a benefit to the car? More bhp, more mpg? And how much does it cost?

Cheers

[carparkno1]

alfa pint said:

Remap is about £300-400 depending on who does it. Angel Tuning have a lot of branches around - check out their website for details. The bloke I trust down in Plymouth (who did a fantastic job setting my MGB up) reckons you'll only see about 5 bhp, and a few mpg although better torque figures and feel. Angel Tuning reckon they can give me 15 bhp, 5 mpg but I can't remember the torque improvement - it's more about feel and pull allegedly.

The Brera is a very heavy car and the 2.2 quite wheezy. If it was me, I'd buy the V6 and at least enjoy it. Even the 2.4 5 cylinder diesel sounds ok - not that clattery at all and pulls really well.

Hmmm maybe I should look at other engine options. Is the 2.2 JTS really that underpowered? I guess the remap isn't worth the fuss for 5mpg and 5bhp but if it sorts the pull in low-down revs that's a start.

Totally unsure as to which Brera to get, just know that I want a Brera!!

[carparkno1]

T350 Al said:

The engine map on the 2.2 is really weird; more diesel-like than petrol! It's got a bit of torque low down and then nothing and you rev the nuts off it expecting a surge and.......not much happens! I'd love a remap on my S if nothing else than to even out the power delivery. Motorway cruising is where the engine performs reasonably well though. A quick shift to 5th and you're off!

The diesel engine is a good engine, where remaps see decent power increases but I just felt it didn't suit the look of the car.

I know what you mean - I see the Brera as a GT, and as such would have no problem with a hulking great Diesel, but by all accounts this 2.4JTDM is heavy, slow, massive lag and incredibly uneconomical. All of that makes me want a petrol - but the sweet spot is the 1750ti and I don't have the cash to go up to that. Why didn't alfa fit the 1.9 diesel or a decent petrol in it?

I guess my big concern is that with a 2.2 engine and 20mpg I am ultimately going to be bitterly dissapointed. I can forgive the car on ride and looks but the engine needs to have something and I was hoping a remap would assist with this.

[carparkno1]

OperationAlfa said:

The 2.4 is the best lump in my opinion. The lag isn't that bad... have you actually driven one? It's not much different in weight to the 3.2 or the 2.2.... They are all heavy and a bit slow.

The 2.2 early cars have real issues with hesitation. A remap does fix this problem and a friend of mine had a remap and a new exhaust and now his car flies. You won't get much extra BHP and torque out of it though.

Remap the 2.4 however and remove the DPF and EGR delete and you have one hell of a car.

Hmmm been in a 159 2.4 diesel and it seemed heavy and slow.

So my otpions really sit at

1) 2.2 with remap - sorts out throttle but no real power increase
2) 2.4 diesel - added power!

I will test both - maybe the diesel is the answer! Chelmsford Alfa is getting a visit!