Engine Chip

[pepsi_x]

I'm curious.

I'd quite like to have the Mark Adams ECU chip, since in theory I'll be getting a car that runs better on unleaded fuel, generally better and smoother running and a little extra power. I accept that the insurance company will sting me a little, since the car is now modified.

But my question is, how do the dealers feel about this. If I trade it in at a later date, am I going to get a lower trade in value, because the car is now non-standard?

[M@H]

can't you swap the chip out again when you trade it in ?

Cheers
Matt.

[trefor]

Don't tell the dealer and/or take it out and replace with the original - simple job to do. Then sell the uprated chip for a few bob ...

That's what I'm planning to do anyway.

T/.

[manek]

My insurace company didn't charge anything -- I told them it was just bringing the car up to its TVR-rated power spec, for which they had insured me anyway.

[2 Sheds]

Shouldn't be any problems, insurance rarely costs more with a modified chip, you could always return to standard to sell the car. and the tornado chip will still retain a value.

[tvrforever]

Well except if you use Te$co or Dir3ctLin3 insurance... as they want £150 off me if I have either Mark Adams or Unichip (from Motivation).

I argued long about quoted vs actual BHP, and in the end they conceeded that but state they now had extra cost if in accident hence the premium (I blew a fuse at this point when they said there was no cost for the £900 alarm system - bloody hypocrites...).

Moral - choose your insurer carefully, if it wasn't for free track day cover....

Still doing it and paying through gritted teeth... just got to decide which to do now...

>> Edited by tvrforever on Wednesday 21st August 07:42

[shpub]

Sunninghill insure both my cars including the 520. No increase in premium and they cover Track days. The modification report for the 520 now runs to 14 pages. The griff is reasonably modified (Mark Adams chip, cam throttle, inlet etc) in the engine bay but has a full roll bar and big brakes which indicates that the car stops better as well as goes better. End result is standard premium.

Basically if you tell them the engine is modded without doing anything else to the car to improve it
stopping in particular, they tend to get worried...

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk