4C - Re-map or no re-map

Author
Discussion

omniflow

Original Poster:

2,592 posts

152 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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Having driven a 4C both with and without the Alfaworkshop re-map, my view is that it is an essential upgrade for any 4C.

Any other thoughts on whether to re-map a 4C or not?

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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I was considering the remap myself but thought i'd go with the road spacers and exhaust upgrade first and then see whether I needed anything more. Then you go and say this. Arrrggg! Maybe I should just go the whole hog??

Have you done any other mods?

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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Where did you get to try the car with the upgrade?

detee

628 posts

150 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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Can you tell me more about the difference, was it noticeable throughout?

Stuart J

1,301 posts

258 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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omniflow said:
Having driven a 4C both with and without the Alfaworkshop re-map, my view is that it is an essential upgrade for any 4C.

Any other thoughts on whether to re-map a 4C or not?
I was at Donnington in Dec, a remaped and non remapped 4C on the circuit, chap in the non remapped commented how noticeably the mapped one was pulling away on the straights



So yes I believe its worth it but would agree mods should be steering, exhaust & then remap, with the Alfaworks one you can pay more & have another ECU so you can put the stock one back on at any time like a trip to the dealer BUT note once an ECU has been used on one car it cant be used on another without it being wiped & remapped, the first time its used it mates with the car & that's it so don't think you might have something to sell on later by getting another ECU

detee

628 posts

150 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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When you say the exhaust, what mod is that? Also what is the difference between the racing exhaust and standard?? Thank you!

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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detee said:
When you say the exhaust, what mod is that? Also what is the difference between the racing exhaust and standard?? Thank you!
I'm planning on getting the Alfaworks Helmholtz resonator exhaust fitted which cuts the out the droning and is less, for want of a better word 'farty'! Here is a link to a video of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCiNJnvTHrQ

The racing exhaust gives a deeper sound than the standard exhaust but is pretty unbearable at around 80MPH due to the droning. Personally I would scap either and go with one of the aftermarket exhausts.

omniflow

Original Poster:

2,592 posts

152 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
quotequote all
rudester said:
Where did you get to try the car with the upgrade?
It's my car. I went for the 2nd ECU option with the Alfaworkshop re-map.

It's had it's 1st service recently, so I put the std ECU back in and was driving it like that for a couple of days. With the std ECU the car just feels less exciting, less responsive and definitely slower. Swapping the ECU takes less than 10 minutes and the only tool you need is a 10mm ratchet spanner.

I had the suspension geometry (road) done at the same time as the re-map, and I would recommend both. Personally I'd do the re-map before the exhaust.

I have the Alfa race exhaust, and I don't notice any drone. I'm sure the aftermarket exhaust sounds better, but I'm not unhappy with mine.

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
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Thanks for the information. When you say the 2nd ECU option, do you mean the stage 2 that is supposed to give 300bhp?

omniflow

Original Poster:

2,592 posts

152 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
quotequote all
rudester said:
Thanks for the information. When you say the 2nd ECU option, do you mean the stage 2 that is supposed to give 300bhp?
No - you get a 2nd ECU that's remapped, and you keep your standard ECU. That way, when the car goes to Alfa for warranty work or similar, you swap back to the standard ECU.

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th July 2018
quotequote all
omniflow said:
rudester said:
Thanks for the information. When you say the 2nd ECU option, do you mean the stage 2 that is supposed to give 300bhp?
No - you get a 2nd ECU that's remapped, and you keep your standard ECU. That way, when the car goes to Alfa for warranty work or similar, you swap back to the standard ECU.
Gotcha! Thanks

MawsleyCarValeting

278 posts

185 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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Remap,exhaust and front geo make a world of difference.

rudester

659 posts

153 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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MawsleyCarValeting said:
Remap,exhaust and front geo make a world of difference.
I think this is the way to go for me. Did you go with the Stage 1 remap?
I'm thinking that I may as well get my ECU upgraded. The warranty runs out on Feb and i'm planning on keeping the car.

ferdi p

1,519 posts

173 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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rudester said:
MawsleyCarValeting said:
Remap,exhaust and front geo make a world of difference.
I think this is the way to go for me. Did you go with the Stage 1 remap?
I'm thinking that I may as well get my ECU upgraded. The warranty runs out on Feb and i'm planning on keeping the car.
Alfaworks did the lot to mine, exhaust, ecu & geo...

Did a few track days & 6000 miles, never missed a beat.

Totally makes the car imo.

Do it!

underphil

1,246 posts

211 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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omniflow said:
No - you get a 2nd ECU that's remapped, and you keep your standard ECU. That way, when the car goes to Alfa for warranty work or similar, you swap back to the standard ECU.
curious - how is the mileage recorded, I thought the ECU was one location it's usually stored in?

_Superleggera_

2,004 posts

198 months

Wednesday 11th July 2018
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underphil said:
curious - how is the mileage recorded, I thought the ECU was one location it's usually stored in?
The mileage is recorded in the ECU and the body computer.

The body computer is responsible for the dash display.

So if you used a new ECU the Mileage in the body computer will not match.

Stuart J

1,301 posts

258 months

Thursday 12th July 2018
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_Superleggera_ said:
The mileage is recorded in the ECU and the body computer.

The body computer is responsible for the dash display.

So if you used a new ECU the Mileage in the body computer will not match.
I think most dealers won’t turn down warranty work , it’s revenue , and won’t look to deeply and they certainly don’t have the tech to check Ecu and clocks , it’s common on many brands to match clocks to ecu as a check on mileage , with bmw the key is matched so maybe on Alfa as well, the tech is similar on many brands . I think it will only come in if you brag on the web what you have done or unless it’s a catastrophic failure