Performance chips for LR3

[macca692]

Would like to know if anyone has had a performance chip i.e - unichip, powerchip, steinbauer etc fitted to their D3 2.7T, and if it has actually gained them any significant power increase and or fuel economy like they are advertised to be able to do? Also what price, and how easy was the install if done yourself?

[stig0000]

i havent bort one but have driven heaps with, and its a complete wast of money, i wouldn't buy one,

some say some are better then others but im pretty sure iv driven pretty much all of them,, and yer,, there no different,, not worth it

[Neil P]

Many report significant increase in torque for highway overtaking
and towing ........ couldn't you detect this in your experience
upon driving one with such a modification ? :confused:

Fuel wise , it's not about fuel , but output really .

[d3viate]

I fitted a DP Chip myself and it does improve take off from a stand-still and overtaking greatly. The car is a bag of crap
without it on now I am use to it. The only time I remove it is before service ( 08 TDV6SE ).
IMHO they are worth it, about $1300 in my case. Do not pay someone else to fit it, I was quoted anywhere from $120 to $200 and it takes less than 10 minutes, very easy.
The DP is adjustable as most are and it arrived on setting 5 ( 0-10 ) and you can immediately feel the difference, it's how they should be. I have wound it up to 7/8 for about 10k kms and then went back to about an indicated 6 where I am happy with it and has been for about 40k kms.
I dont hang around on the open road but when I have practised 'ol fogy it gets about 9.0-9.2 at approx 90/95kms/hr and at 110-115 it gets about 12.3-12.9, increasing speed to 130kms/hr it still gets approx 13.2 l/100. When you punch into the wind it obviously goes up a bit. This is with long range tank and up north in W.A. so I am not pulling over all the time, reducing economy. These figures are a fully loaded car. The extra power is great and there will always be others that are happy with "toddling along" .
The turbo lag on takeoff is not there. The D3 has European emission standards and the market is too small here in OZ for any different, the chip removes these restrictions and the manufacturer of the chip will warrant any problems,there has been no claims for any faults.
I am a diesel fitter/heavy duty and have been mucking about with electronic diesels for nearly twenty years so the principle is not scary or new.
You don't need a 'run-up" when overtaking with a chip, just punch it and go so in my opinion safety has been improved in that area and when tossers on the open road try and stop you overtaking ( whats that all about ? ) you can just push it down a bit more and show them the rear of the car.
If your car is out of warranty you can also get it remapped which many do also, in warranty, the chip is the go.

[Neil P]

If your car is out of warranty you can also get it remapped which many do also, in warranty, the chip is the go.

As you know , the re-map sometimes gets overwritten . Someone in NSW
had to re-install via elink download from UK supplier. I've used the DP
on a Toyo ute .......... goes like stink and ya can race cars too !
Funny to watch car drivers when they play silly-buggers at times ;)

[norto]

Good to see you back

[Neil P]

Just moved into another house on acreage.
A couple of years in Cairns was enough to see all
that the north has. How's the D3 running ?
All problems rectified ?

[d3viate]

Sorry, forgot to mention these figures are with 265/70/17 MTZ tyres which has the car going about 6% faster than indicated on the speedo due to the larger diameter tyres than standard. So economy is approx 6% better than shown on the cars readout.
The speeds I gave are off the two GPS I run, the fuel usage per 100 k's off the car. I also recently changed to ATZ's and the fuel usage dropped an indicated .1 litre / 100kms. If you run even less aggressive tyre pattern you will improve on these figures.
I have a lot of weight, Longranger fuel tank, water, 80litre WAECO, drawer system, two large AGM batteries for the fridge + aux. battery under the bonnet, spares, tools, ARB Steel Bar, Warn 9.5XP winch, Kaymar dual rear tyre carrier etc, etc.
With a roof rack and roof top tent, usage is an extra 1 litre / 100kms.

[Tombie]

There are better ways...

Send me a PM, I'll provide more info directly...

(And cheaper!)

[norto]

Neil
Waiting for outer tie rods to arrive.
I am also getting an imtermittent fine vibration coming thru the floor
which i suspect is a front left wheel bearing.
Nearly all moving parts replaced now:(

[themalinators]

I got an autologic upgrade for d3 tdv6 (remap) and the changes were as follows. The torque increase was noticable form nearly idle and the power increase from about 2500rpm.

Fuel usage increased due to using the extra power from about 10.5-11 l/100km to about 11-12l/100km. Worth the $1350 investment? Yes and no- you soon get used to the extra being there, and don't know any better if you've never driven with it. When towing and loaded however it is a different story altogether, it is worth every cent!:)

[furrydog]

Hi,
I have a ECU re-map for my D3, there is less turbo lag, lot smoother & responsive thru-out its rev range. I am not sure about the gains in torque & power all I can say the car feels more responsive. Have not towed or used the d3 offroad since I had its remapped so can't comment on that yet.
I had my old Hilux fitted with a performance module, I was never overly impressed with the results.
Re-mapping turned out to be a lot cheaper than a performance module, and a lot easier to install.
So far I would pick the remap

[oldsalt]

Hi furrydog....whose product did you use for your ECU remap ? and what did it cost if you don't mind me asking.
cheers

[CSBrisie]

I remapped my D3 - Autologic - very happy with the result other than I gather it emits alot more smoke under load (ie towing a camper at 100km/hr on a long uphill section of highway). But they didnt bother me anyway - just the car behind!

[Nomad9]

Hi Macca692,
I fitted the Stienbauer one, fitted it myself took about ten minutes. For me it's made a difference on take off and as others have mentioned at the top end, overtaking with the CT on the back.
A question I have, when I hook up my Faultmate MSV2 to the car with the performance chip installed where will I see the difference? Does anyone out there know? There must be a configuration file that changes or something, where would I find the change????? :confused:

[RichardK]

Hi Macca692,
I fitted the Stienbauer one, fitted it myself took about ten minutes. For me it's made a difference on take off and as others have mentioned at the top end, overtaking with the CT on the back.
A question I have, when I hook up my Faultmate MSV2 to the car with the performance chip installed where will I see the difference? Does anyone out there know? There must be a configuration file that changes or something, where would I find the change????? :confused:

Hi Marty,
I'm not sure that you can find details on the MSV2, it doesn't detail any of the engine tune configuration.

[Nomad9]

Hi Richard,
I knew I should have asked you first....... thanks. By the way I've sold my P38A and I've now purchased a 1983 Range Rover Classic, it's not a standard one, has a few little extras. The same guy owned it for 23 years, always garaged, he was a diff and gearbox specialist, he also specialised in engine conversions, this one is a little ripper. As you might have come to expect I have it in pieces right now when I get it finished I'll have to come in search of Safety Bay, you'll hear it before you see it...!!!! Still got the D3 for those special occasions................!

[RichardK]

I've got SWMBO RRC in bits also, have replaced the air suspension with 2" lift King Springs and Bilstein shocks, and am currently fitting a Haltech 1000, that's a challenge I can tell you:eek:.
Once that's going OK then it will most likely be air lockers and into the hills:D:D

Cheers

[chuck]

D3viate

A little off topic.
How did you find the 265 x 70 x 17 MTZ's.
I have had them in 16's on a D2 and loved them.
Did they rub on the D3?
I have been told they fit in the spare wheel well although aired down?
How did they wear?

Appreciate your feedback?

Regards

Chuck

[Nomad9]

Hi Richard,
Likewise, a bit off topic!! I've gone for King Springs but I put Austech shox on, they are guaranteed for life for the original owner, can't go wrong, well that's the theory. Yeap I'm going for the air locker, rear only, rather be pushed than pulled...... Mines got a Chrysler 318 in it with a 727 torqueflite, goes very well indeed......

[Blue C]

I fitted a DP chip myself and agree with all d3viates comments. It does noticeably improve takeoff, climbing & overtaking esp towing with 0.5-1L/100km improvement in economy on highway (depends on heaps of variables of course including load). I have had no issues with it at all and have left it on setting 5 (range 1-9; zero is off) as out of the box. Cost around $1300 as per d3viate. DP chip is sold by Berrima Diesel in Sydney. The owner is a great guy- very helpful and happy to talk to you.

[furrydog]

Oldsalt,
I have BAS re-map which I got from Bells Auto on the Disco3 web site. I have noticed that Tombie2 also sells the same one for approx. the same price, so you might want to consider him.
I have no complaints about Pete from Bells Auto services, his customer service is second to none. The only problem I had was the delivery by UPS, who dropped the package off across the road and 4 doors up and not only that they left the package at at door without being sign for. I finally received my package 10 days later after that house owner found the package (night shift & used the back door only).
Peter was going to send me a replacement but luckily there was no need. I received my remap in less than 24 hours.

[furrydog]

Stornoway,
Have you tried putting a small amount of 2 stroke into your fuel tank? I have been told by a friend who has tried it with his 2000 model Toyota Hilux and it helped with engine chatter and smoke when towing, also I have been reading a "thread" about Pro's of using 2 stroke.

I had second thoughts about remapping my D3 because with my last vehicle I had chipped and it looked like I was burning tyres when l was towing under load. I even had the module tuned in the vehicle.but I have been told to get the best results, the in-car tune requires the the vehicle to be setup as you require it i.e. camper trailer hooked up or huge wheels fitted etc.
DPchip gives a 30 days money back guarantee if you don't like.

[Dorko]

I done my D4.... the changes are great and I wouldn't go back.

I used a steinbauer and i would highly recommend from my experience.

Dorko

[Disco4SE]

Was talking with a LR service bloke yesterday. He wasn't keen on any of the "add on" chips. His opinion is that it provides false information to the ECU resulting in extra fuel usage.
The re-map is a better option.
I had a re-map done when I had the D3 (by Ritter Landrover Melbourne) and was thoroughly happy.
More so, I felt safer having it done by a Landrover dealer.

[gghaggis]

Re-map is the better option for a D3, but not easily available for a D4 3.0 ltr (Harding Performance in Brisbane offer the D4 DMS remap through their retailers - pricey though - $2700!).

Cheers,

Gordon