Thread: Improvements to TDCi driving experience

Originally Posted by clive22

Hi

Placed my order for a 150 hp BAS Autobiography remap for my 2012 Defender 130 today.

I'm not really afetr more power and run light 95% of the time, main reason was the way too jerky low speed running, which makes you look like you can't drive on the street, and off road breaks traction on slippery surfaces.

I guess the gear will be here and installed in a couple of weeks, I'll report back then.

Clive

Good Choice I reckon Clive.

Well Clive I can confirm that the Autobiography tune definitely improves the throttle!
I installed my 150 AB tune yesterday an went for a 100km drive. Mix of highway bitumen and about 30km gravel.
It took about 5km for me to properly realise the improvements...but the 130 fairly shifts now! It just pulls much more smoothly and solidly though the revs in all gears.
All in all, it makes it a much more satisfying drive.

On the gravel, slowing down for creek crossings used to mean shifting down to pick up speed on the other side. It now just pulls away without fuss in the travelling gear.

On the highway it holds speed more easily, even a bit to easily. Now I need cruise control.

All in all, the attitude of the engine has improved, it feels more confident and more refined.

I havent even tried my 170 AB tune yet!

Cheers
Tom

Tact
Thanks for your post. I'm in a similiar head space to you. Read plenty on the forum about recaps and more power torque et al but am not unhappy with what I have now.


The EGR info I've picked up did interest me though- longevity if engine.

I'm still short some knowledge on the remap stuff but is it hard to change it back for LR warranty stuff, and are they able to tell you are running a different map that is blocking off the EGR?
Thanks heaps for you post.
Jim

Questions
1. Is a remap a physical item or a software program that gets installed into the 'computer'?

2. If it is a physical item are they as simple as plug/ unplug?

Originally Posted by jimb

[...]am not unhappy with what I have now.
The EGR info I've picked up did interest me though- longevity if engine.

Yeah controlling the EGR was the initial driver for me looking into a remap. But after driving with a remap (at least the 150hp Autobiography tune from BAS) the change to the driving smoothness has become the big head turner for me. It is subtle, its not til you have driven some several kilometers you realize you haven't been trying to outthink the gearbox/gear shifts at all.

I used to find that if I drove aggressively, hard throttle, hard driving, I got good changes all the time. Only when tootling lazily along then I felt all out of sync with the mechanicals and things didn't flow smoothly. The BAS tune changed that for me.

Originally Posted by jimb

[...] is it hard to change it back for LR warranty stuff, and are they able to tell you are running a different map that is blocking off the EGR?

I can only speak regards the BAS tune I bought. It didn't require new intercooler. The only physically obvious sign of tinkering would be the new ECU (different serial number to original) that is required for tuning the 2.2TDCi

It is pretty easy to revert back to original ECU/tune.

Originally Posted by jimb

Questions
1. Is a remap a physical item or a software program that gets installed into the 'computer'?

2. If it is a physical item are they as simple as plug/ unplug?

There are some products that just plug into the vehicle to change tuning. I didn't research that in my search.

Again - just in reference to the tune I bought from BAS:
- for the 2.2 TDCi you do need to fit a new blank ECU and load the tune on that. Swapping back to original tune can be a 5min software upload of the original tune to the new ECU. Or you can take 10min to physically remove the new ECU and refit the original untouched ECU

- my understanding is that the 2.4TDCi doesn't require a new ECU. (Though you could do it that way if you wanted). Reverting back to original tune then is the same as above

For what it's worth: my barge is in for warranty work right now. Hopefully I collect it back today. I didn't bother to revert to original tune, or refit the original ECU. None of the work I want them to do has any need for touching the electronics. Am quite curious whether they will notice, or comment. I only have about 10mths warranty left to lose in any case.

Likely more noticeable to them will be when they test drive, the ATBs fitted to front&drear diffs should make them wonder what's happening there. (You can feel them working through the steering wheel).

[Edit: Got my barge back from LRM. They did the warranty work for me, no issues no questions or comments. Replaced an intercooler hose, ignition key switch, brake line and realigned the fresh air intake duct (for a/c etc). Of course your mileage may vary...not sure if I was lucky, or whether others would be so lucky?]

There's so much good feedback on this site (and elsewhere) for the BAS remap that adding my 2c is probably unnecessary, but I absolutely second it all.

Quality bit of kit, great service from Pete, and an extremely simple and painless process: I ordered the 170bhp AB tune late Friday night Aus time, and the package containing the RRC tool and new ECU was delivered to work on Tuesday. Scanned the existing ECU when I got home and emailed the results to Pete (along with the brief bit of extra info he needs). He sent through the remap files the same night, and I installed the new ECU, programmed it and added the remap in <25mins before work today. Super easy.

Clear improvement to driveability, but haven't had the chance to drive it enough to comment in more detail. I'll run the 170 tune while the weather is cold, and change to the 150 tune in the warmer months. Uprated intercooler to follow when out of warranty.

A real winner in my opinion.

Well everything's done, and all I can say is........WOW!

Originally I was just after deleting the EGR on my 2.4, but every option out there resulted in the MIL light. A remap was not on my radar. But then Pete came up with his generous offer in Group Buys.


I've always enjoyed driving my Land Rovers, but this has taken it to another level. The car is so responsive and less hesitant at lower speeds/revs. You can feel the extra torque on tap. It's so smooth as you go through the gears. My Defender has always put a smile on my face, but now I'm grinning like a Cheshire cat.


I did as Pete suggested with the pump learn on standard tune before the remap, then the pilot correction after I'd flashed the new map onto the ECU. The pilot correction sets up the injectors and their efficiency. It revs the car up and down for a few mins. Pretty fun to do.


I took it for a test drive, then on return home blanked off the EGR. It's great seeing the EGR sitting on 0%, exactly what I wanted.

Pete guided me through the whole process, and I would like to thank him for his time and patience. Pete, I take my hat off too you, all that research and knowledge that you put into the BAS remaps has created a wonderful transformation to my Defender.

Also, thanks to Beery for starting the ball rolling with Pete in Group Buys

Which of the BAS remaps did you go with ozy013? (City or Autobiography)?

Glad you are liking it. Love your "WOW!" I get scared sometimes saying a lot (LOT) of good things about a product/service just in case my enthusiasm is a bit much or gives others too high an expectation.

The tune really is good. And as you highlight - Pete's generosity with his time and patience and his professionalism amounts to great service.

I had a couple of mates in my barge today... Carpooled to a group dinner and dropped them back. Not a long drive, maybe 20 min with some reasonably heavy but fast moving traffic. They commented on how "quick" my barge was. At between 60-80km/h in 4th and 5th gears the instant "rush", or powerful surge forward, was a buzz whenever the right foot demanded. They loved it!

Well Tact.
I've gone and ordered the 170 HP Autobiography + intercooler. Hoping to join the throng of happy fans soon.
Cheers Billy.