Thread: Improvements to TDCi driving experience

Very likely the TDCi driving experience is already an order of magnitude "better" than any of the earlier models. Of course "better" is subjective but definitely TDCi's:
- are much quieter
- are much smoother, more powerful engines
- are more confident at higher speeds (can actually reach highway speeds!)
- have a better changing gearbox with ratios excellently matched to the engine
- have better door seals, etc etc etc

So how to make the driving experience even better?

Some elect to do ECU remaps to get more power and more torque. This is not something that I had ever considered, specially for the 2.2l TDCi - its pretty sharp already.

In the last few months I had been looking for a way to close off the EGR as this apparently helps engine longevity. I read a lot of comment about the usual means to disconnecting/blocking off the EGR, and how these don't work well on TDCi's.

Then I stumbled on a comment made in these forums to another information seeker, "...get an ECU remap that shuts the EGR"

So I did look into remaps. Settled on Bell Auto Service (BAS). And laid out some $$ leveraging on the Group Buy that is happening this month.

So I went for a remap, not for the typical reasons: a power/torque boost. And I am here to report that I got much more than I bargained for.

Not only have I solved my EGR problem, but I find that right across the full range of throttle/load conditions the driving experience has been transformed.

Not talking about transformation via more sheer grunt. Even when driving conservatively, not using the added power/torque, the BAS remap makes a heck of a difference to the driving pleasure.

Somehow Pete Bell (BAS) has tweaked a lot more than just the turbo boost pressures etc looking for power. It seems that he has tweaked throttle curves etc so that even low throttle, low speed response is so much better than how good the TDCi was to begin with!

To be clear I am talking about the 150hp "Autobiography" tune. This is promoted as being a "smoother" tune than the 150hp "City" tune.

The Autobiography tune is apparently modelled on the Land Rover celebration model, the Autobiography, that gets a 150hp smooth tune from the factory.

So scoreboard is like this:
- EGR requirement: Winner
- definitely smoother improved driving experience even when not tapping the loud pedal hard
- (and grin widening subtle boost in power & torque when the loud pedal is pressed): Bonus!

I deliberately did NOT use the term "remap" in the title of this thread because, like me a few weeks ago, most of you would have had no interest in more power/torque - and skipped this thread thinking remaps are only about power/torque boosts.

Not any more, Sunshine.

Originally Posted by tact

Which map did you go for Phil?

Currently running the 170hp remap. Fitted the performance intercooler and went for a good drive over the weekend (around 500kms round trip). Buckets of torque in all gears, even surprised a couple of landcruisers that were travelling a little below the limit by overtaking them easily, just by putting the foot down in 6th, goes from around 2k rpm to 3k rpm quickly, easily and without fuss.


I will be using the 170hp map for when I am towing the camper trailer later this year, I think the 150hp is more than fine for around town.


Only thing I need to check properly is fuel consumption. I have an ultragauge fitted and the consumption it reported was 13k/100km when cruising in 6th at 100ks. I suspect that the ultragauge will need to be recalibrated to the motor with the new map to be accurate.