MA Chip and RR session. Where and Insurance extra?

MA Chip and RR session. Where and Insurance extra?

Author
Discussion

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,820 posts

254 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
So where is best to get it done?
I guess its Austec down my way, but thats the only TVR RR place I have heard mentioned.

Also, does it make a big difference to insurance?
Must it be declared?

How much does the Mark Adams chip and RR session cost?

RichB

51,590 posts

284 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
Adam, had mine done at Power Engineering who are in Uxbridge. I have informed Pearts about all the mods on my Griffith and apart from a one off £25 admin fee originally they have not charged more. Rich...

Podie

46,630 posts

275 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
Give Austec a shout... and yes, having driven chipped cars, it is worth the money IMHO...

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

248 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
Podie said:
Give Austec a shout... and yes, having driven chipped cars, it is worth the money IMHO...


And the money is?

griffter

3,984 posts

255 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:

Also, does it make a big difference to insurance?
Must it be declared?



Yes, because it's a modification. However...
Because TVR were so optimistic with their bhp claims in the first place, it's highly unlikely the MA chip will result in a bhp output greater than the TVR book figure. Thus you can claim to the insurance company that the engine had been improved from a smoothness and drivability point of view but is no more powerful than the original specification. This is one example if insurance companies' general inflexibility playing into your hands.

starmist

1,052 posts

242 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
Re-insured mine through Sunninghill, and they charged 5% for the MA chip, and 10% for the ACT triple throttle plenum. Nothing for the Taraka cam, ACT manifolds.

Guillotine

5,516 posts

264 months

Friday 6th August 2004
quotequote all
yep, speak to Aarun at sunninghill.

includes track cover

icb

782 posts

269 months

Saturday 7th August 2004
quotequote all
Dusty,
You could also consider TVR Power upgrade which includes ECU upgrade and new cam. Cost me £1200 and well worth it. Then get pre cats taken out for more flow and serious noise!

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,820 posts

254 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
Don't want extra noise.
More noise means less trackdays.

Podie

46,630 posts

275 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
mrmaggit said:

Podie said:
Give Austec a shout... and yes, having driven chipped cars, it is worth the money IMHO...



And the money is?


My S was around £560… probably closer to £800 for the V8's though...

N17 TVR

2,937 posts

271 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
Podies guess of a budget of £800 is enough for the full works. There was no impact on my insurance, but then again mine was done purely for smoother driving at low speeds.....

.........

Marlon

735 posts

258 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
I don't want to rain on your parade, but do you think there's something "wrong" with your car, or are you just curious? There's a saying about curiosity killing the cat. Exchange "killing" for "emptying" and "cat" for "bank account" and you'll start to understand!

IIRC, the chip is about £250 and a RR session will take as long as it takes (at approx £120/hour including Mark's time) - typically no less than a couple of hours, but that depends on the car. You might jump on the rollers, do a "diagnostic" run and find that it can't be improved - perhaps because you've got a good-un, or because your cam is fu*ked! Either way, there will be little that the great man can do.

Unless you're really not happy with the way it drives, be very wary of the harpies on the RR-rocks; they'll sing at you about cams, mass-meters, air-flow, injectors, head porting, torque and power... and you need to be a strong man not to be enticed. If you do start "modifying", be prepared to spend a couple of grand. You have been warned!

Marlon

735 posts

258 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
Worth it? I know of many happy customers!

N17 TVR

2,937 posts

271 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
Marlon said:
I don't want to rain on your parade, but do you think there's something "wrong" with your car, or are you just curious?


This is a good point, I went to Mark after having spoken to him to resolve a number of issues, bad manners at low speed (the car, not me, mine are impeccable up to 55mph), power flat spot and a general feel of an untuned car.

In my case, gaining extra power was an added benefit, not the primary motivation.

I would recommend that you identify what it is you want, and then call Mark to discuss. He is honest enough to advise if he feels you won't benefit from his services.

jeh2os

537 posts

242 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
i took my griff to mech/ma as seemed to be down on power even after a good service had ma chip and afm fitted rr session pinpointed several items a little out result wos extra 35 bhp peak at approx 4500 rpm
but at 6000 power up 72 bhp it also runs a lot smoother at 2500 felt like someone had added 2 extra cylinders well worth £1000 =£13.89 per bhp