Buying used D3 TDV6, how to check if chipped?

[D3Rabbit]

Hi All,
I'm in the market for a D3 TDV6, is there any way to check a vehicle, either at test drive or after I purchase to see if it's just a well looked after example that hasn't lost as much power or one that's been chipped?

So far I've test driven a 4.0l petrol V6 and a 2.7l TDV6 and the TDV6 felt faster, smoother, and quieter. On paper, the petrol V6 is faster to 100 than the TDV6, yet it felt the other way on the road. Is the 0-100 on redbook wrong, was the petrol V6 tired, or the TDV6 chipped?

Any easy way to tell?
Or even a hard way?

Cheers.

[Rohan]

Hi All,
I'm in the market for a D3 TDV6, is there any way to check a vehicle, either at test drive or after I purchase to see if it's just a well looked after example that hasn't lost as much power or one that's been chipped?

So far I've test driven a 4.0l petrol V6 and a 2.7l TDV6 and the TDV6 felt faster, smoother, and quieter. On paper, the petrol V6 is faster to 100 than the TDV6, yet it felt the other way on the road. Is the 0-100 on redbook wrong, was the petrol V6 tired, or the TDV6 chipped?

Any easy way to tell?
Or even a hard way?

Cheers.

Not sure about a hard way, but after I got my TDV6 RRS home after purchase, I found a 'tuning box' under the plastic cover back left of the engine bay (nearest the steering wheel) :)
Had no idea for a week!

[kiwirich]

Probably the easiest way to tell is to drive it.....With Vigour.

Just line it up & foot flat. ( from the side of the Motorway is good )


When the D3 2.7 is standard, you can try accelerating from a standstill.
1. If it waits forever ( 10 Secs)then Takes off, It's standard
2. If it takes off straight away ( 1 sec) it's chipped or Mapped
3. After the Remap it's just like an Sustained pile of Torque pushing constantly
4. Then you get a sore face from smiling all the time......

Richard

[TerryO]

Probably the easiest way to tell is to drive it.....With Vigour.

When the D3 2.7 is standard, you can try accelerating from a standstill.
1. If it waits forever ( 10 Secs)then Takes off, It's standard
2. If it takes off straight away ( 1 sec) it's chipped or Mapped

Richard

My unchipped TDV6 D3 very rarely has any real hesitation over 95% of the time. So yours must be pretty bad if it takes 10 seconds to get truly up and going.

[101RRS]

Likewise remapping does not necessarily change the pregnant pause - is it engine or gearbox - has been done to death with no resolution.

Garry