Re-mapping a 325d (197bhp) vs Torqtec

[Bosh 964]

Have been speaking to DMS re re-mapping my new 325d and they claim it will give 245bhp and 392lbft but a local firm make sell the Torqtec box plug-in box giving not far off this for about half the price, anybody any experience of them?

Ps What is the difference between the 330d and 325d engine?

[Bosh 964]

Me too, I've gone off the idea of plug-in boxes (torqtec etc) but still procrastinating over the re-mapping. Following the "335d chipped AMAZING" thread, the main options seem to be DMS (the most expensive at £695+vat), Shires performance (£300) and Chipped UK (£300 - some advise caution)

All are done at home but neither of the latter can quote bhp improvements.

Any final advice anyeone before I choose?

[emicen]

The thing is, chipping is not chipping in these cars.

Chipping is, if anything, closer to these tuning boxes than what DMS / ChippedUK actually do.

DMS reflash the ecu, installing a new map.

Tuning boxes are much like the good old fashioned piggyback chips.

My personal opinion of piggy backs and tuning boxes is that essentially, you're playing chinese whispers with your engine. Fudging input signals from sensors to con the ecu in to a different output. Just doesnt sound that great an idea.

Something also worth bearing in mind with DMS is their provision of a warranty on their work.

I've never used them incidentally, just that DMS seem to have the best reputation for doing this kind of work.

So does anyone know the difference between the 330d and 325d units? With the 325d rated at 197hp is it possibly just the facelifted E46's 204hp unit tweeked slightly for emissions and the 330d is an all new engine?

[mikem7709]

The E90 325d engine is the same as the 330d but with a smaller turbo.(Think 318d to 320d)

There is no way DMS will get 245hp from the 325d. They did mine back in Dec and at 2 different rolling roads it was putting out 212hp at one and 217hp at another.

They came back out and reapplied another map (I was told that this 2nd map was as agressive as it could go without shortening the life of the particle filter) and when I went back to the same rolling road it was then running at just under 230 hp and about 450 Nm.

The only advice I can give if you haven`t already taken delivery and your thinking of a re-map is to try and change the order to a 330d (I`ve since traded mine for an M3). If you`ve already got the car, even with a re-map don`t expect to outrun anyone with a heavily mapped E90 320d.

[Tex]

I've had an E90 330D for about a month now and am quite suprised how little difference there is to a 325D I tried before ordering mine - but the 3 month gap may have dulled my memory a little.

So before you upgrade to a 330D I would try both. It's a good compromise of a car and quite fast but it could be quicker. A while ago I had a 320D (E46) chipped by DMS and that made a huge difference to the car and am therefore quite suprised how small the gain is on the 325D.

DMS claim 275bhp for a chipped 330D anyone got any experience of this - is it real and does it make a significant difference to the car?

[gareth h]

Just my 2p worth, have a chat with west tuning at thruxton, they will do the remap, because they do pre/post rolling road they have to be realistic with their claims. Last time I was there they reckoned 70bhp was achievable with some 335ds but they quote 50 because it was achievable on all cars.

[stockhatcher]

gareth h said:

Just my 2p worth, have a chat with west tuning at thruxton, they will do the remap, because they do pre/post rolling road they have to be realistic with their claims. Last time I was there they reckoned 70bhp was achievable with some 335ds but they quote 50 because it was achievable on all cars.

no they don't, rolling road figures can be manipulated easier than you may think..

[jamoor]

DMS arent the be all and end all, they are overrated,
I would only use them if i had a car like an e60 m5 or m6.

Try simon from emaps, I paid £350, will do just as good a job for less and come to you and is very professional, and cares about your car.

[Gwaredd]

I'd sooner get my car chipped by someone who has a RR & get before & after reports than a man who'll do it at your works car park - but I'd even go down that route over a 'tuning' box. If you've spent a decent amount of cash on a car, don't skimp on a remap. Same as tyres - you get what you pay for (up to a point, obviously)

[theboss]

DAGGART said:

I must admit the thought of someone turning up at your home with a laptop to remap your car doesn't really interest me.Personally i'd want a before and after read out from a rolling road so i could verify their claims.

What for? A quick blast down the road and back verified everything to me when I had my E39 530d mapped... we're not talking about subtle differences. I too used Simon / e-maps and wholeheartedly recommend.

[jamoor]

DAGGART said:

I must admit the thought of someone turning up at your home with a laptop to remap your car doesn't really interest me.Personally i'd want a before and after read out from a rolling road so i could verify their claims.

They all probbably use the same parameters on all the cars, so it really doesn't matter who does it, as long as the after care is good.

Once you drive you car post remap, you really won't care what the figures are, as the increase in driveability will be excellent.

[blaineuk]

used shires for my audi remap, excellent service, actually did it twice as i found the first map to soft.