Thread: Once you go BAS .... You can never go back!

Just thinking out loud, reflecting on the brief few days driving the vehicle after the tune "downgrade":

I thought the experience of going back to standard tune would have been more of a "shock" than it was. Just saying that even in standard tune the 2.2l TDCi is a willing worker.

For sure the controlled smoothness around throttle response of the AB tune was missing.

I guess what is happening is that even with the BAS AB tune and all the extra oomph available, largely around the daily commute I don't actually call on it.

In that role, not a lot of performance being asked for, the stock tune is ample to get the vehicle percolating along as briskly as the BAS tune. No doubt you don't have to be Sherlock to figure that out.

Apart from smoothness the only other noticeable difference is that it seems I have slipped into a bad habit when driving with the BAS tune - shifting up too early, operating too long, too low, in the rev range.

What I mean is:
With the stock tune I routinely change up a gear between 2500-3500 RPM when just percolating along.

With the BAS tune I seem to have drifted into a pattern of changing up a gear at around 2000 RPM when just percolating along (most of my driving). Not a conscious decision, just a matter of it feels ok. The vehicle is not struggling at all.

Of course this gives the impression that with the stock tune the 2.2l is "busier" and louder in a sense. Whereas with the BAS tune it is more relaxed and refined.

Operating this engine below 2000RPM for much of the time doesn't seem a good idea when I think about it.

So once I changed back to the BAS tune I have been conscious of the tendency to comfortably short shift at low revs - and try to make sure that I keep the engine percolating at or above 2000RPM most of the time.

Just installed the 150hp tonight.
Took it for a test run, and didnt really notice much in 1st.
Once in 2nd, it just revs out quick, 3rd takes off and 4th pulls really quick. 5th from 80 is also great.

I'm a happy customer. 80-100 is a lot quicker, perfect.

Anyone also note the sound is different at higher revs? Its louder.

Originally Posted by karlz

Just installed the 150hp tonight.
Took it for a test run, and didnt really notice much in 1st.
Once in 2nd, it just revs out quick, 3rd takes off and 4th pulls really quick. 5th from 80 is also great.

I'm a happy customer. 80-100 is a lot quicker, perfect.

Anyone also note the sound is different at higher revs? Its louder.

Does the 150 improve overall driveability 1st to 2nd to 3rd in your opinion?

A side question Karlz: do you still have all eight of those Land Rovers?

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Does the 150 improve overall driveability 1st to 2nd to 3rd in your opinion?

A side question Karlz: do you still have all eight of those Land Rovers?

1st to second is so quick now, I played around with taking off in 2nd and its a lot easier now than it was before.
2nd to 3rd is so much faster as well, it just revs out quick in second, before you know it you have to go into 3rd.
3rd is where you first really notice the extra grunt.
The car feels now better to run in 5th, on 70kph+ roads, and in 5th it accelerates quickly.

The only landy I have now is the defender, marked in bold.
I had the Disco until a few months ago. I sold the Disco because I wanted a defender again, its just more me. I dont reget it, and each addition (endless I think) I make to the Defender makes me smile.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Does the 150 improve overall driveability 1st to 2nd to 3rd in your opinion?

If it's a 150 Autobiography tune (I had this and then upgraded to 170 Autobiography) - then yes, the vehicle is much smoother to drive when purring along slow speed, low throttle openings. Ie traffic jams etc

As Karlz has commented if you have loud pedal to the floor you barely get time for a blink in 1st gear before grabbing 2nd, maybe a blink and a half before you have to grab 3rd.

As smooth as the AB tunes are - The 170 Autobiography (V2) is even smoother again. Never thought it possible... but it is.

Originally Posted by tact

If it's a 150 Autobiography tune (I had this and then upgraded to 170 Autobiography) - then yes, the vehicle is much smoother to drive when purring along slow speed, low throttle openings. Ie traffic jams etc

As Karlz has commented if you have loud pedal to the floor you barely get time for a blink in 1st gear before grabbing 2nd, maybe a blink and a half before you have to grab 3rd.

As smooth as the AB tunes are - The 170 Autobiography (V2) is even smoother again. Never thought it possible... but it is.

So is there enough torque to start off in 2nd mostly then Tact? 1st to second is already very short as it is standard.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

So is there enough torque to start off in 2nd mostly then Tact? 1st to second is already very short as it is standard.

I used to take off in second (no throttle at all) with stock tune occasionally. Mostly if the start was going to be easy (level or downhill, no rush etc). Even then you have to have a little focus on careful clutch control.

With the 150AB tune I found that 2nd gear starts (no throttle at all) on easy starts (level or downhill, no rush etc) requires almost no thought at all for the clutch. Not meaning you can dump it. Just meaning no special care... Normal no-need-to-think-about-it clutch handling. A bit of focus needed for faster or easy uphill starts. (No throttle)

With the 170AB tune it's pretty much same grunt as 150AB from idle to 1500rpm with the requisite zero to mild throttle openings that are part of a normal smooth take off.


If you were going to think about 0-100 times (yeah yeah yeah... I know) then for best results you might take off in 2nd gear also - with an abundance of revs.

Stock tune: yeah yeah
150AB: whoosh!
170AB: OMG have I smoked the clutch! (It's NOT up to it).

Did Bas do a V2 of the 150 tune