to chip or not to chip?

readytosnap

Hi everyone, I drive a 09 golf 1.4tsi 122hp i am thinking of getting it chipped or is it remapped? anyway found a place that does it (upsolute) claiming an increase from the 122bhp to 155bhp, i would like the extra bhp even though the 122 is very nippy questions are would this increase have an adverse effect on my engine in other departments like turbo or timing belt/chain?
I know feck all about cars tbh, so any advice would be appreciated, i know that the 160bhp golf has the exact same engine as mine but obviously it is tuned to 160 by vw before it leaves the factory.
the car is no longer in warranty so it wont matter in that respect.Thanks.

ballooba

How does this affect insurance?

readytosnap

well i am fairly sure if it is declared on the insurance then it could have an effect on the cost,however i dont intend on declaring it, also i dont want a lot of people telling me know how my insurance would not be valid etc etc all i want is some sort of practical advice as per my original question,thanks.

Leonard Hofstadter

readytosnap wrote: »

Hi everyone, I drive a 09 golf 1.4tsi 122hp i am thinking of getting it chipped or is it remapped? anyway found a place that does it (upsolute) claiming an increase from the 122bhp to 155bhp, i would like the extra bhp even though the 122 is very nippy questions are would this increase have an adverse effect on my engine in other departments like turbo or timing belt/chain?
I know feck all about cars tbh, so any advice would be appreciated, i know that the 160bhp golf has the exact same engine as mine but obviously it is tuned to 160 by vw before it leaves the factory.
the car is no longer in warranty so it wont matter in that respect.Thanks.

As far as I know, 160 has a supercharger as well as the turbo your car has fitted.

In my opinion, more than 160 bhp would be detrimental to the long term reliability of the car - it's a lot of power for an engine that size.

When done properly, a remap will not affect reliability (unless you're constantly driving the stones out of it) and can actually improve fuel economy, however it will increase clutch wear because of the extra power. Prompt and correct servicing is vital with any car, but especially once it's been remapped as it will be putting extra stress on the engine components.

MugMugs

readytosnap wrote: »

well i am fairly sure if it is declared on the insurance then it could have an effect on the cost,however i dont intend on declaring it, also i dont want a lot of people telling me know how my insurance would not be valid etc etc all i want is some sort of practical advice as per my original question,thanks.

Generally breaking the law isn't condoned either.....

readytosnap

Thanks for the reply, the reason i am tempted is i know its the same engine as the 160bhp direct from vw would anyone know if the other components in the car (the 160bhp) are upgraded in comparison to the 122 version? I am thinking along the lines of they churn em all (1.4 tsi) out with same engine but just tuned differently for different markets. i cant see them changing the clutch and other major parts for the extra hp that would seem expensive to do, like i said im only guessing i dont know for sure,but i am confident that they manufacture with as many common parts as possible as to keep costs down.

readytosnap

Antares wrote: »

Generally breaking the law isn't condoned either.....

Thanks for that but would it be at all possible for a question to be ever kept on topic on boards?, i want advice on my question not the law.

MugMugs

readytosnap wrote: »

Antares wrote: »

Generally breaking the law isn't condoned either.....

Thanks for that but would it be at all possible for a question to be ever kept on topic on boards?, i want advice on my question not the law.

It's relevant to the topic. You cause an accident and eventually me and everybody else who pay our insurance have to potentially pick up the bill from your recklessness.

readytosnap

so i am going to cause an accident now? i have been driving accident free for 28 years i have had 3ltr bmws i have had 1ltr nissans and 15-20 cars in between but yet you know i am going to cause an accident because i got my car chipped with an extra 33hp?.
please no more off topic, if you cannot comment on my original specific question with advice then why bother commenting at all?

-Corkie-

The 170 BHP Golf you mention is a lot more problematic than your one. I have seen several threads here on them so maybe remapping is not such a good idea.

If you do decide on it talk to Joe Power. He is very experienced at VW remaps.

http://www.chippedire.com/vms_view.php?man_id=34&mod_id=232&var_id=1139&pg_name=VW_Golf_5_1_4_TSI_122_Tuning

Neilw

Afaik the 122bhp engine has a turbo, the 160bhp engine has a supercharger and a turbo, you're not comparing like with like.

If you want good advice contact Joe Power, tdr.ie, Joe is an expert when it comes to remapping.

Chipping as you call it is old hat now, nothing is physically changed on the ecu anymore, the software is reflashed through the obd port.

readytosnap

Thank you both for the positive advice

readytosnap

@ corkie that link you gave me is for a mk5 golf mine is a mk6 does it matter?

MugMugs

readytosnap wrote: »

so i am going to cause an accident now? i have been driving accident free for 28 years i have had 3ltr bmws i have had 1ltr nissans and 15-20 cars in between but yet you know i am going to cause an accident because i got my car chipped with an extra 33hp?.
please no more off topic, if you cannot comment on my original specific question with advice then why bother commenting at all?

Because I can.

I don't believe anybody ever plans on being involved in an accident. If you are then you could well be left in a difficult situation.

Jimbob 83

170bhp Golf is a highly stressed small engine tbh

ugglasdav

are you sure you want to take a risk with insurance, if you have any sort of accident you basically not covered.

-Corkie-

readytosnap wrote: »

@ corkie that link you gave me is for a mk5 golf mine is a mk6 does it matter?

Not really allthough if you go to the main page you can select mk6.

Jimbob 83

Especially with a car with alot more power and the same suspension/brakes/clutch

alexmcred

readytosnap wrote: »

Hi everyone, I drive a 09 golf 1.4tsi 122hp i am thinking of getting it chipped or is it remapped? anyway found a place that does it (upsolute) claiming an increase from the 122bhp to 155bhp, i would like the extra bhp even though the 122 is very nippy questions are would this increase have an adverse effect on my engine in other departments like turbo or timing belt/chain?
I know feck all about cars tbh, so any advice would be appreciated, i know that the 160bhp golf has the exact same engine as mine but obviously it is tuned to 160 by vw before it leaves the factory.
the car is no longer in warranty so it wont matter in that respect.Thanks.

You don't have the same engine as the 170bhp Golf there were three variances of the engine in the mk5 Golf 122, 140 and 170. The 122 Golf only had a turbo attached the 140 and the 170 Golfs had both turbo and supercharger.

There have been issues with that engine with the timing chain stretching with relatively low mileage and it is an expensive repair should it stretch.

As a lot of posters have said above take to Joe Power and see what he says about mapping the engine.

hanloj1

One thing to keep in mind is that your turbo will be spinning a lot more. So make sure you've a good turbo.

readytosnap

Thanks for all the replies, first up i will inform my insurance company if i get it done ( so all the paranoid do gooders can stop sh*ting on about it and it might even stop me having an accident?????)
as for everyone else thanks for the positive useful replies, i contacted joe via the web page form and will wait for his response, but judging by the replies so far it looks like it might not be worth the bother just for the extra few hp especially if it were to screw up the turbo ( expensive i believe). i'll probably flog the golf and get a vw up instead!!

George Dalton

If it was my car I would definitely get it done.

Obviously inform your insurance company.

Equally obviously you should only use somebody like Joe who knows his stuff and who won't map a car that in his opinion will suffer reliability problems afterwards rather than some chancer who will take your money regardless and could end up causing damage to your engine.

Our man in Havana

Stable the horses lads.

MugMugs

readytosnap wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, first up i will inform my insurance company if i get it done ( so all the paranoid do gooders can stop sh*ting on about it and it might even stop me having an accident?????)
as for everyone else thanks for the positive useful replies, i contacted joe via the web page form and will wait for his response, but judging by the replies so far it looks like it might not be worth the bother just for the extra few hp especially if it were to screw up the turbo ( expensive i believe). i'll probably flog the golf and get a vw up instead!!

Good call. Enjoy your new car

readytosnap

Following on from the advice i received on here i contacted joe via the link on the website and i'm now wondering is joe on holiday? does joe exist? would the lack of a response from joe be representative of the service i would receive were i to give him my money?, or am i missing something?, those who have dealt with joe might want to enlighten me.
or were you lot telling me to call liveline?

Neilw

readytosnap wrote: »

Following on from the advice i received on here i contacted joe via the link on the website and i'm now wondering is joe on holiday? does joe exist? would the lack of a response from joe be representative of the service i would receive were i to give him my money?, or am i missing something?, those who have dealt with joe might want to enlighten me.
or were you lot telling me to call liveline?

Why not call him instead?

Drummerboy08

He's not away anyhow, I was talking to him yesterday about my own car.

Greyfoot

Mapping involves altering the air fuel ratio and ignition tables along with raising turbo pressure. To achieve 155bhp from 122bhp one has to do a good job on mapping, supporting mods might be necessary. There is no "magic" settings or plug and play method, recommended upgrade would include breathing mods aka intake, exhaust too.
Check online if other parts are up to par before going for mapping.

Northern Monkey

You could try Martin Duffy @ autoremap. He is very well respected on BMW-Driver.

www.autoremap.ie

Gary ITR

readytosnap wrote: »

Following on from the advice i received on here i contacted joe via the link on the website and i'm now wondering is joe on holiday? does joe exist? would the lack of a response from joe be representative of the service i would receive were i to give him my money?, or am i missing something?, those who have dealt with joe might want to enlighten me.
or were you lot telling me to call liveline?

I know he's been.up to his eyes with his own car the last couple of days with his own car. Did you leave a message?

readytosnap

yeah i just filled out the online form in the contact us section.

Chuck_Norris

Either leave him a voicemail, and he'll ring you back. Or send him a text.

I couldn't recommend Joe highly enough to do your car. He did mine last October, and no issues since. Car is a much nicer place to be in as a result.

Dionysius2

readytosnap wrote: »

so i am going to cause an accident now? i have been driving accident free for 28 years i have had 3ltr bmws i have had 1ltr nissans and 15-20 cars in between but yet you know i am going to cause an accident because i got my car chipped with an extra 33hp?.
please no more off topic, if you cannot comment on my original specific question with advice then why bother commenting at all?

Talking off topic is a very Irish way to communicate. It's called 'whataboutery' and we do it when a thought comes uppermost in our minds and very particularly if we cannot answer your original query. I mean we are the people who tell you to 'take an umbrella in case it rains" for chrissake....why the hell else would you take an umbrella ? We ask "How are you" ?.... but never ever wait for an answer.
That's just our way of communicating. We are what we are.

readytosnap

what a strange comment!! I am Irish so i understand, but I knew before i had even posted the original post that there would be someone coming along with the cause a crash scenario, but i have alleviated his worry by confirming that i will inform said insurance company thus preventing me ever having a crash (by his logic), how are you by the way?
or as i would normally say, whats the story?

Anan1

readytosnap wrote: »

what a strange comment!! I am Irish so i understand, but I knew before i had even posted the original post that there would be someone coming along with the cause a crash scenario, but i have alleviated his worry by confirming that i will inform said insurance company thus preventing me ever having a crash (by his logic), how are you by the way?
or as i would normally say, whats the story?

In fairness, those people were genuinely trying to do you a favour. Insurance companies love it when policyholders lie - they get to keep your money, and if you crash they don't have to pay out.

Back on topic, have you considered changing the car for a GTI?

readytosnap

not sure about the gti it may cost a bit too much on the insurance front!!, when i got the golf i went to renew and several companies refused to quote me ( i went from a 2.2 ltr 320ci bmw to the golf),tesco,quinns & one other told me that they wouldnt quote me cos the car was a performance vehicle :eek::eek:, i am driving claim free 26+ years !! so i enede up having to "swap cars" with the missus, getting her polo in my name insurance herr as named driver, and vice versa with the golf, complete waste of everyones time, then 3 months into the policy i changed my "polo" for a "golf" and they changed over the insurance with no extra charge :rolleyes:
this years premium went from " we cant quote you" to 239 euros they must just pluck those figures out of the air, in fact i think they have a RNG like they use on countdown and when you call they press the button and whatever comes up is your quote, er i'll have 2 large and 4 small please rachel.

Anan1

I'd definitely get quotes for both options before doing anything. It wouldn't amaze me if the remapped 1.4 was far more expensive to insure than a GTI. Like you say, there's just no telling with insurance companies.