Andy2174 Astra SRI 2.0cdti

[andy2174]

I think the theory is that the OBC will now be less useful than it once was, as its being fooled with the amount of fuel injected

My car is so much quicker, my trip home from work was really enjoyable on some fast A and B roads, I will have to watch my speed though as its really easy to stray above the speed limit...................I imagine my next fill up will reveal that my mpg has gone down

Question is, am I going to try the top setting at some point?

[marcus]

I think the theory is that the OBC will now be less useful than it once was, as its being fooled with the amount of fuel injected

My car is so much quicker, my trip home from work was really enjoyable on some fast A and B roads, I will have to watch my speed though as its really easy to stray above the speed limit...................I imagine my next fill up will reveal that my mpg has gone down

Question is, am I going to try the top setting at some point?

Good to hear you are happy with the performance now. I dug out my user manual but it doesn't mention anything beyond E2? Does your chip housing have a ds013 label on it?

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User manual

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[andy2174]

I think the theory is that the OBC will now be less useful than it once was, as its being fooled with the amount of fuel injected

My car is so much quicker, my trip home from work was really enjoyable on some fast A and B roads, I will have to watch my speed though as its really easy to stray above the speed limit...................I imagine my next fill up will reveal that my mpg has gone down

Question is, am I going to try the top setting at some point?

Good to hear you are happy with the performance now. I dug out my user manual but it doesn't mention anything beyond E2? Does your chip housing have a ds013 label on it?

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User manual

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I have factory settting B1, Tuning 1 D1, Tuning 2 E2 and Tuning 3 F4

So E2 is your maximum setting ?

How weird that I have 4 settings to your 3, my manual is nothing like yours either

[marcus]

OK, so does appears that they changed the Racechip range towards the end of last year. Output on mine was rated 209hp and now it's 199hp. The power increases are spread more evenly between the different tuning box types. I. E. Was only like 6hp between the One and the top of the range one.

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[andy2174]

I can understand moving the One further down from the top model, even now Id baulk at over 450 for the top model when it doesn't bring much else to the table

However, it would seem weird they would give the base model another power map, giving a total of 4

Am I right that you are now on the maximum setting ?

Id be interested to try a bi-turbo now to see if it actually offers an increased performance experience at all

[marcus]

I can understand moving the One further down from the top model, even now Id baulk at over 450 for the top model when it doesn't bring much else to the table

However, it would seem weird they would give the base model another power map, giving a total of 4

Am I right that you are now on the maximum setting ?

Id be interested to try a bi-turbo now to see if it actually offers an increased performance experience at all

According to the manual I am on the top one but there is more to go on both dials. Not sure I will try that just yet. Really enjoying the drive atm. Agreed I wouldn't part with 400 quid for the top of the range box, considering its potentially only 10% more power. The cheapest one was the best bang for your buck. For 400 quid I'd be looking at remaps with before and after dyno runs etc.

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[tucpal]

the quoted 200bhp will be on max settings get a dyno run and see what you are actually getting from the box glad you happy with the box

[andy2174]

First fill up since fitting the box today, 365 miles, 50.9mpg (true figure rather than via OBC)

Amazed as a good 40miles of that I was really spanking the car

[marcus]

Racechip out today. 1st mot tomorrow morning at 8AM.

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[tucpal]

then get it right back in haha

[andy2174]

Fingers crossed on the MOT today

[marcus]

Mot passed. Racechip back in.

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[andy2174]

Congratulations on the MOT pass

When you removed the racechip, did you just disconnected it and insert the blanking plug thing at the end of the loom ?

[marcus]

Congratulations on the MOT pass

When you removed the racechip, did you just disconnected it and insert the blanking plug thing at the end of the loom ?

No I disconnected it at the end of the common rail. Left the tuning box secured where it was initially but then decided to unplug it and remove it. Left the wiring loom in place.

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[andy2174]

First lot of pictures I have taken of the car away from the front drive (which is odd for me as its usually the first thing I do with a new car!)

[stigeye]

The amount of times we have parked up in a car park somewhere and turned back to have a look and thought I should take a picture, especially when she has just been washed and is gleaming. Cars looking great mate..  

[andy2174]

Update : car went into local Vauxhall dealer for an interim service

Apparently 4 recalls on my car and numerous software updates

In theory it comes back to me today, we shall see !

[bruce_19]

Well hopefully your dealer is better than mine as they have a tendency to keep the car for an extra day all the time.

Any idea on what the recalls where for?

I always call before I leave work to collect and if they say its still in the workshop I know it wont be ready and I will be sat waiting till they close to then be told the car wont be ready. They pull this on almost everyone who puts there car in.

It took them 7 months to fix the damage they done on my new Corsa before I could trade it in for my Astra.

[andy2174]

I didnt actually ask what the recalls were for, I'll find out when I collect the car

Luckily the Vauxhall dealer is just 5 mins walk from my house, first time of using them, so we shall see how I rate them later today

[andy2174]

Quick update :-

Car back from service, no issues came up

Replaced two front tyres with Bridgestone RE050a 235/45/18

Gave the car a full detail yesterday, quick water beading shot from this morning

But, the biggest news is that after looking at a few Astra J VXR's, none of which were either good enough or the right colour/spec, I decided on going for a second vehicle instead and keeping the J cdti as my daily, so next weekend I pick up a 62 plate Corsa VXR

[mrtc]

Quick update :-

Car back from service, no issues came up

Replaced two front tyres with Bridgestone RE050a 235/45/18

Gave the car a full detail yesterday, quick water beading shot from this morning

But, the biggest news is that after looking at a few Astra J VXR's, none of which were either good enough or the right colour/spec, I decided on going for a second vehicle instead and keeping the J cdti as my daily, so next weekend I pick up a 62 plate Corsa VXR

wow, cool idea, corsa vxr to thrash, astra for comfy driving

[andy2174]

Quick update :-

Car back from service, no issues came up

Replaced two front tyres with Bridgestone RE050a 235/45/18

Gave the car a full detail yesterday, quick water beading shot from this morning

But, the biggest news is that after looking at a few Astra J VXR's, none of which were either good enough or the right colour/spec, I decided on going for a second vehicle instead and keeping the J cdti as my daily, so next weekend I pick up a 62 plate Corsa VXR

wow, cool idea, corsa vxr to thrash, astra for comfy driving

That is the plan !

[mrtc]

if i was to buy a vxr corsa, id like a quaife lsd,

[andy2174]

New toy on its way to me today, for the Astra, details to follow

Its going to be well travelled by the time it arrives with me though !

[marcus]

New toy on its way to me today, for the Astra, details to follow

Its going to be well travelled by the time it arrives with me though !

So, do tell....

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[andy2174]

All in good time !

[andy2174]

Missed the racechip, seeing as I am going to keep the Astra now, I decided to try something a bit different





MaxChip Pro Dual (reduced price on Amazon, down to £188 inc delivery) up to 224bhp and 335lbft

Will fit this afternoon, test drive tomorrow and report back

[marcus]

Missed the racechip, seeing as I am going to keep the Astra now, I decided to try something a bit different





MaxChip Pro Dual (reduced price on Amazon, down to £188 inc delivery) up to 224bhp and 335lbft

Will fit this afternoon, test drive tomorrow and report back

Nice. That looks awfully simular to the Racechip ones. They even share the same basic plastic housing even if it is a bit different. Also comes in 3 tiered types. I bet they are a sister company..

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[andy2174]

I thought they might be a sister company, however, the instructions are no where near as clear as the racechip instructions

Also to open up the case is 4 very long screws, T15 type

No mention of the type of tool to open the box, nor any indication in the instructions of what is the lowest or highest setting

I did give them a call and default setting is midway, so fingers crossed thats the case, as I dont want to be messing about unscrewing the case numerous times !

[andy2174]

Test drive update :-

Fitted the tuning box yesterday afternoon and jafter that I started the car up to make sure no issues with it, all was fine

Took the car out for a 30 min drive just now

The preset power setting appears to be just right (the box has 15 power settings and its currently set on 11/15), torque comes in nice and strongly at about 1900rpm, then it just seems to hold its power nicely until around 5000rpm, performance wise it feels much stronger than the previous racechip one

I can give it the thumbs up, however, is it worth £125 more than the racechip one ? if I had paid full price for it £229, then I think I would stick with the racechip one, but seeing as it was discounted, then I am think its a noticeable stepup performance wise from the one and worth the extra £80 I paid for it

[marcus]

Test drive update :-

Fitted the tuning box yesterday afternoon and jafter that I started the car up to make sure no issues with it, all was fine

Took the car out for a 30 min drive just now

The preset power setting appears to be just right (the box has 15 power settings and its currently set on 11/15), torque comes in nice and strongly at about 1900rpm, then it just seems to hold its power nicely until around 5000rpm, performance wise it feels much stronger than the previous racechip one

I can give it the thumbs up, however, is it worth £125 more than the racechip one ? if I had paid full price for it £229, then I think I would stick with the racechip one, but seeing as it was discounted, then I am think its a noticeable stepup performance wise from the one and worth the extra £80 I paid for it

Nice write up. Sounds like it was money well spent.

I've removed my racechip from the car for the meantime. After the factory software update, it just didn't seem quite as effective as it was before the update. I also noticed that the mpg read out with the Racechip became widely optimistic after the software update. Previously it would have been 2 or 3 mpg out but this had become like 10-12 mpg out which is a little annoying in my world.

The other thing I noticed is that the engine appeared to be a little highly strung (pulsing, noisy) even when idling with the Racechip. This wasn't as obvious previously. It is really smooth and responsive after the software update.

So, I'm thinking of going the remap route but I am a little hesitant with the local company that does them. I'll give them a call anyway to see if I get a warm fuzzy felling. Not too many options around here.



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[bruce_19]

Good write up.

I have just been on there website having a poke around to see what they are claiming and I like the fact they have dynographs of the cars but I do wonder if they have done this on an actual car or if its just made up.

I am looking at fitting one of these types of chips myself or even a remap so I like see other options.

Keep updating with how you are getting on with it fitted as with everything it can be fine for a month or so before issues can arise.

[andy2174]

Test drive update :-

Fitted the tuning box yesterday afternoon and jafter that I started the car up to make sure no issues with it, all was fine

Took the car out for a 30 min drive just now

The preset power setting appears to be just right (the box has 15 power settings and its currently set on 11/15), torque comes in nice and strongly at about 1900rpm, then it just seems to hold its power nicely until around 5000rpm, performance wise it feels much stronger than the previous racechip one

I can give it the thumbs up, however, is it worth £125 more than the racechip one ? if I had paid full price for it £229, then I think I would stick with the racechip one, but seeing as it was discounted, then I am think its a noticeable stepup performance wise from the one and worth the extra £80 I paid for it

Nice write up. Sounds like it was money well spent.

I've removed my racechip from the car for the meantime. After the factory software update,  it just  didn't seem quite as effective as it was before the update. I also noticed that the mpg read out with the Racechip became widely optimistic after the software update.  Previously it would have been 2 or 3 mpg out but this had become like 10-12 mpg out which is a little annoying in my world.

The other thing I noticed is that the engine appeared to be a little highly strung (pulsing,  noisy) even when idling with the Racechip. This wasn't as obvious previously. It is really smooth and responsive after the software update.

So,  I'm thinking of going the remap route but I am a little hesitant with the local company that does them. I'll give them a call anyway to see if I get a warm fuzzy felling.    Not too many options around here.



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I didnt really notice any difference with my car after it had its latest software updates

I did notice a somewhat erratic idle just like you mentioned with the r/c box, the new box seems fine, idle nice and steady

The r/c read about 5-6mpg over on my car, havent really had a chance to notice with the new one, will keep an eye on it, although I did manage to see 9mpg at one point today (on the instant readout, not as an average!)

the only options for me locally are superchips and quantum, both of which are over double the price of the latest tuning box, I dont mind spending a few hundred, but, baulk at nearly £500

Good luck with your repair tomorrow

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Good write up.

I have just been on there website having a poke around to see what they are claiming and I like the fact they have dynographs of the cars but I do wonder if they have done this on an actual car or if its just made up.

I am looking at fitting one of these types of chips myself or even a remap so I like see other options.

Keep updating with how you are getting on with it fitted as with everything it can be fine for a month or so before issues can arise.

I have looked at the dyno print out and it didnt really make a lot of sense to me

What I would have expected is a pretty flat torque curve, then a tail off (which it does)

However, the power plot, where I would have expected a gentle rise over the rev range, appears to be a straight line of about 220bhp for over 2000rpm, I have certainly never seen a power "curve" plot like that with rolling road results 

Am I right in thinking that German tuning companies have to have TUV approval and therefore the results have to be "proven" rather than stick a finger in the air !

[marcus]

Missed the racechip, seeing as I am going to keep the Astra now, I decided to try something a bit different





MaxChip Pro Dual (reduced price on Amazon, down to £188 inc delivery) up to 224bhp and 335lbft

Will fit this afternoon, test drive tomorrow and report back

Weird, I don't see maxchip pro dual listed on Amazon for the 163hp ecoflex just the 158hp ecotec? (2.0 Cdti) It's on their own website though.

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[bruce_19]

Andy,

I hope you are right and it has been proven as it make not bad reading.

The only that I can with these box is that they are not done on the latest version of the software as you might have bought it 2 years ago and the software may have been updated a couple of time that way the box might be throwing out a bad reading.

I don't know exactly how these work but I would assume they would read what is going though the system and add on what the chip is telling it too, so if the software has been amended and you are adding too much air because of the box then you are going to start to get issues.

They do offer a way more expensive remapping device for my car the Maxchip Flash Pro which I would assume would actually remap the car as you leave nothing installed but again at the price they are asking for it you might actually be better getting a proper remap done as its £749 rrp which is very steep.

I suppose it a bit of each to there own with regard to remapping and tuning boxes

[andy2174]

Missed the racechip, seeing as I am going to keep the Astra now, I decided to try something a bit different





MaxChip Pro Dual (reduced price on Amazon, down to £188 inc delivery) up to 224bhp and 335lbft

Will fit this afternoon, test drive tomorrow and report back

Weird,  I don't see maxchip pro dual listed on Amazon for the 163hp ecoflex just the 158hp ecotec?  (2.0 Cdti) It's on their own website though.

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I think it was a reduced to clear special I got

[marcus]

Andy, does this unit just plug into the end of the common rail or do you need to connect it somewhere else for boost as well?

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[andy2174]

Hi, yes, the same as my old racechip box, left hand side centre for the fuel rail and pretty much dead centre rear of block for the boost sensor

I assume your racechip is the same ?

[marcus]

Yeah. Thanks. I might just knock it down a notch to D1 (Power level 1) to see what it's like. I went straight from B1 to E2 last time out.

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[andy2174]

I think if I remember correctly the right hand dial is used to help with "uneven" run, like a fine tune setting, I never tried it when I had the r/c fitted, mainly down to the fact it was a bit of a pain to remove it from the car, open it up, re-fit and then road test

[andy2174]

Further update

Took the car for a long drive just now, I can honestly once in 3rd gear and above, it feels quicker than my Corsa VXR, 30-50mph in 3rd is pretty epic

I then followed a mate in his 2007 BMW 530d and from 30mph up to the national speed limit he couldnt shake me off his tail at all, when my car was standard and running the racechip box he would drive away from me quite easily

I'll have to look for one of those ios apps that measure acceleation at some point so I can get some meaningful figures

[tucpal]

sounds good glad your happy

[marcus]

Further update

Took the car for a long drive just now, I can honestly once in 3rd gear and above, it feels quicker than my Corsa VXR, 30-50mph in 3rd is pretty epic

I then followed a mate in his 2007 BMW 530d and from 30mph up to the national speed limit he couldnt shake me off his tail at all, when my car was standard and running the racechip box he would drive away from me quite easily

I'll have to look for one of those ios apps that measure acceleation at some point so I can get some meaningful figures

Sounds good.

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So put my racechip back in today on D1 setting. So far so good, haven't done much of a test drive but smoother than the E2 setting. Will evaluate it this week on the way to work and back




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[marcus]

So thought I might get onto racechip again about the reason they changed the power ratings on their website back in Sep. I thought it might be either a marketing ploy or they had infact changed the maps on the tuning boxes. (racechip one down from 209hp to 199hp)

This time I got more of a coherent reply in that the maps did not change and that they adjusted the power claims on their website......(so marketing/over optimistic reading 1st time out)

So knowing that I am probably now shackled with 199hp/415nm power makes me rather sad knowing that your new tuning box puts out 224hp/454nm. What should I do Andy? Buy a new one....

T

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[andy2174]

Ha ha ha, the lure of more power eh ?

I did notice yesterday an interesting development for racechip, it now comes with a bluetooth option, so that you can adjust power settings on the fly, the downside is that its not available for the Astra J, not sure if it is because it cant be done or work in progress, quite interesting though

I think you would certainly notice a nice improvement if you did go to a maxchip

I had a 100mile round trip into the office today and enjoyed the drive, even 6th gear seems to have some decent pull sub 50mph

I cant say I want for anymore power, but, now it has me noticing that maybe the suspension should be fettled, followed by the brakes!

[bruce_19]

I've contacted RaceChip to ask about the Bluetooth and I've it's available for the 1.4t.

I will let you know how I get on

[tucpal]

just remember chaps claimed bhp etc mean nothing without a dyno run and proof
and max figures will be at max settings so lets see your true results
we need a dyno day haha

[marcus]

Ha ha ha, the lure of more power eh ?

I did notice yesterday an interesting development for racechip, it now comes with a bluetooth option, so that you can adjust power settings on the fly, the downside is that its not available for the Astra J, not sure if it is because it cant be done or work in progress, quite interesting though

I think you would certainly notice a nice improvement if you did go to a maxchip

I had a 100mile round trip into the office today and enjoyed the drive, even 6th gear seems to have some decent pull sub 50mph

I cant say I want for anymore power, but, now it has me noticing that maybe the suspension should be fettled, followed by the brakes!

Haha. That maxchip did pop up on sale again on Amazon. (163hp) I even added it to my basket, just didn't pull the trigger. Thought I might end up with buyers remorse come the morning. so do I really need it..... Or should I remap it........ decisions decisions. Cheers

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just remember chaps claimed bhp etc mean nothing without a dyno run and proof
and max figures will be at max settings so lets see your true results
we need a dyno day haha

No need to ruin this thread with the facts. Haha, yes I do like a dyno run which reminds me I have not had my last 4 cars on a dyno. Used to be mandatory for me for checking mod effectiveness.

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[andy2174]

I used to have my old cars dyno tested, but, these days I am not overly bothered about going for the absolute maximum power, its more what I feel from the seat of my pants that counts

It would be amusing to try and arrange a dyno session, especially with marcus being in the ROI, mid way point ? Pembrokeshire ? !

Go on marcus, you have to press that button and you can then watch your parcel travel all around Europe before arriving, just to add to the anxiety !

[marcus]

Haha. Lets meet up halfway on the Isle of Man then for a dyno day. Get in a lap of the TT too.

Last car I had on the dyno was my Focus 2.0 back in 2006/2007.








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