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

Originally Posted by tact

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).

So how is clutch reliability looking with 170 tune then, if it's not up to it? Also clutch wear starting in second gear?

It doesn't feel right in terms of torque or clutch to start in second with standard tune.

One last update on this thread....(which started out as a story about the getting of an EKA)

Put the defender back into LR Malaysia's hands again a few days ago. This time to replace the 10AS and the instrument ECU with new units with a known EKA.

Something to note all MY2013 owners: Apparently the 10AS for this model is no longer available new. LR instead installed a 2015 version which also required some change to the wiring loom and provision of two new remote control fobs. The change to a 2015 10AS also drove the need to replace the instrument ECU too.

Despite it taking near 2yrs to get an EKA I do still think highly of LR in general and LR Malaysia for seeing this through. A few failed attempts and then complete ECU(s) replacement - all free of charge to me.

Collected the vehigle back this afternoon, with EKA provided!, and all seems well and good.

Of course I swapped out the BAS ECU and swapped in the original ECU for the exercise.

When I got the vehicle home I reversed that and reinstalled the BAS ECU. I thought it may be tricky to link the BAS ECU to the new 10AS but not so. Its an extremely simple process.

Very happy now!