Defender chip upgrades

[Gascoigne]

G'day. Can any Defender owners let me know if engine management chip upgrades are necessary if the vehicle is to be used largely off road but with some highway travel?

Thanks

Cheers

Gascoigne

[Ace]

Not a defender owner but i can answer the question.

No. ECU chip upgrades are strictly optional. If you want the extra grunt get it done, the TD5 engine is a top engine without it and will quite happily take you anywhere off road. If you plan to tow a van or a camper trailer the chip helps with towing as you get a hefty power increase. Matt

[Omaroo]

I've looked into the numerous chip sets available to us and have decided that, for the moment at least, I'll leave everything as standard. I'm never in a hurry in my Defender - in fact I enjoy just tootling around.

The Td5 gives me enough power up the hills as it is, and off road it is a brilliant engine - just as it is. I carry a permanent rooftop tent and I still get 10.25L/100km average. Not damn bad.

For reliability's sake, I'm going to stay standard. The only mods I'll make are those concerned with waterproofing the ECU and underseat fuse/relay box in a grommetted jiffy box. Other than that - I'm good.

[spudboy]

I am going to give the ECU upgrade a try soon. It is fairly reasonably priced at around $700 and gives a big increase in power in a Defender.

Most of the feedback on this site is positive, but a few people have had troubles (GreyLandy) and ended up going back to the standard ECU. The people selling the upgrades in Adelaide give a 24 hour "swap back for free" warranty if you don't like it, which is not long to make up your mind. I've got a few concerns about the extra heat/wear on the engine and the increase in fuel consumption.

I just find that, compared to my 300TDi Disco, my 130 always feels slow so it would be nice to give her some extra grunt.

[noddy]

I have the Bruce Davis remapped ECU in my Defender.

Power is around the 130Kw (up from 90Kw) & torque is somewhere around the 400+Nm.

While they certainly transform the vehicle in normal driving, I find they do not completely solve the low rpm/off-boost issue when offroad. A straight thru exhaust is a better option to overcome this lag problem.

My biggest concern with the remapped ECUs are the EGTs and gearbox/driveline pressures.

If fitting, I would be getting an EGT gauge and watching very closely. As for the gearbox issue, I try not to put the boot in, especially in the lower gears.

[x-box]

I agree with what Noddy said, as i have also gone "halfway" with the upgrade to 130kw. I don't feel a huge increase in performance and petrol consumption is not bad at all, it all depends on your driving style obviously. That will also determine reliability and wear, of course! So if you have a massively heavy right foot, good luck...... I feel the defender is a very good vehicle for what it was designed to do and has the power to do it, but if you want to race around - buy a Porche Cayenne. The chip upgrade as mentioned before is great for lugging heavy loads and overtaking in mid-range, and for closing the gap on idiot drivers :twisted:
I like the chip and am happy with the reliability issues, as it all depends on my driving style. That said - it is still a truck, but i love it :wink:

[Redback]

I have the manual Disco TD5, which is the same engine and i have the chip that Noddy has, i tow alot so the chip is good for that, i don't think i'll be going for the next upgrade, mainly money reasons.

If you go with bigger tyres and lots of add ons then you may need the chip, but if not, like Amaroo, then don't bother, they're good enough without.

Baz.

[Tusker]

Its not necessary, but it does make for a big improvement. The TD5 is detuned a bit in Defender spec, so it'll easily cope with an upgrade without seriously affecting engine life.

It improves the mid range the most, so it makes for easier touring. Around town you've still got the same off-idle torque - not that the TD5 is bad.

Regards
Max P

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by x-box
I agree with what Noddy said, as i have also gone "halfway" with the upgrade to 130kw. I don't feel a huge increase in performance and petrol consumption is not bad at all, it all depends on your driving style obviously. That will also determine reliability and wear, of course! So if you have a massively heavy right foot, good luck...... I feel the defender is a very good vehicle for what it was designed to do and has the power to do it, but if you want to race around - buy a Porche Cayenne. The chip upgrade as mentioned before is great for lugging heavy loads and overtaking in mid-range, and for closing the gap on idiot drivers :twisted:
I like the chip and am happy with the reliability issues, as it all depends on my driving style. That said - it is still a truck, but i love it :wink:
Oh no... if I'd known you had the chip upgrade I would have been pestering you all weekend for a drive or ride https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Gascoigne]

Thanks guys. All very helpful. Almost ready to get my first Defender.

Cheers

[RichardK]

Originally posted by x-box
I agree with what Noddy said, as i have also gone "halfway" with the upgrade to 130kw. I don't feel a huge increase in performance and petrol consumption is not bad at all, it all depends on your driving style obviously. That will also determine reliability and wear, of course! So if you have a massively heavy right foot, good luck...... I feel the defender is a very good vehicle for what it was designed to do and has the power to do it, but if you want to race around - buy a Porche Cayenne. The chip upgrade as mentioned before is great for lugging heavy loads and overtaking in mid-range, and for closing the gap on idiot drivers :twisted:
I like the chip and am happy with the reliability issues, as it all depends on my driving style. That said - it is still a truck, but i love it :wink:

:?: :?: :?: Petrol :?: :?: :?:

[x-box]

Petrol???
I never mentioned petrol???
Just joking - it's a TD5 diesel 8O , '99 model.
I believe the later models have different chips and drive like they have a bit more power. It obviously drives different to a disco....
As mentioned before, more power midrange but still a bugger low-down, but then we have plenty of gears :wink: :wink:

[x-box]

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
Sorry - i did say petrol consumption. Just a figure of speech, it's a diesel obviously, you guys are just waaaaay too sharp :?
Am i forgiven for that blasphemous typing error?

[Omaroo]

Originally posted by x-box

As mentioned before, more power midrange but still a bugger low-down, but then we have plenty of gears :wink: :wink:

Really? I find that mine has plenty of tootling power (torque) at next to no revs. I can go up tracks in low-forth or even low-fifth that were low-second in my Patrol. Gearing is at least two gears lower.... and this makes for very relaxed driving where I just idle along and pump the pedal momentarily before a rise - and just float over the top of the obstacle with just enough momentum to do so. I love the engine in these conditions just as it is... but that's me.

[Tusker]

Early TD5s have that really frustrating delay in throttle response - give the pedal a blip when double de-clutching & theres nothing..

It feels like theres no torque, no throttle response at low revs

Thankfully that characteristic was fixed in the ECU changes.

Regards
Max P

[George130]

Being an auto mines hard to compare but I do know that a dab on the throttle and you are saying sorry to the pocket rocket you just ran over. It's funny to see the faces of the youngsters when a defender leaves tem eating your dust.