How Does Car Mapping Operate?
The ECU, a tiny computer, manages how an automobile’s engine runs. The ECU chip on vehicles manufactured before 2000 might be manually taken out, tweaked, soldered, and replaced. The new tune can be applied in more recent vehicles by attaching a laptop via a cable to the onboard diagnostics connection.
The ECU software settings are usually pre-set to restrict a car’s performance potential in all kinds of driving situations and geographical areas when it is created.
This indicates that the vehicle is programmed to adhere to noise and emissions rules and to last longer. By limiting the ECU’s capabilities, the manufacturer can also release a faster, more potent model without reworking the engine completely.
A car’s power and torque output can be increased, maximising its overall performance by as much as 35%, with software remapping and engine tuning. Performance can be altered by adjusting various factors, including ignition timing, air/fuel ratio, and turbocharger boost pressure.
What are the Benefits of Car Engine Remapping?
One of the main reasons why car owners remap their cars and do EGR Repair is when they want to boost the car’s speed and power. However, car remapping has many benefits:
Better fuel economy
If you keep an eye on the accelerator, remapping can help you increase your car’s mile per gallon and overall fuel economy. This will help you in reducing your carbon footprint and carbon emissions.
Better control and driveability
After remapping, when you accelerate, your car or vehicle will feel smoother and more seamless to drive. You will automatically feel more confident and content when taking the wheels after remapping.
Easier Towing
If you use your vehicle to tow a heavy trailer or a minivan, a remapping will give your car more power, meaning it won’t have to work so hard when accelerating or climbing a hill.
What Could Be the Disadvantages of Remapping?
If the car has been remapped incorrectly or on the wrong vehicle, the driver may experience some disadvantages.
- the cars that have turbo-powered engines will only take benefit from engine remapping.
- Therefore, if you have a non-turbo vehicle petrol model, you will feel much difference when acceleration.
- Greater power can also have an impact on the engine. Therefore, frequently get your cars serviced. For instance, you may have to service your clutch very often as it gets the most wear and tear.
- Once you get BMW Remapping, you must buy high-octane fuel, which is usually more expensive than other fuel types.
- If you don’t get a remap according to your dealership or manufacturer, your car’s warranty may be expired.
- Remapping can affect your insurance because some companies do not cover remapped vehicles.
How much can remapping cost?
The cost of remapping highly depends on the make and model of the car and the level of remapping done to the vehicle. But you can expect to pay at least £400. However, if you want to reconfigure your engine, like air filters and exhaust, you should expect to pay approximately £1000. The price can also exceed if you go for a new turbo or extensive engine system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is a remap just a software change?
The simple answer is YES. Remapping is frequently referred to as Stage 1 tuning and is one of many stages that the tuning firm offers. Almost always, stage 1 consists of a brief ECU software update.
Stage 2 and later stages typically involve more software modifications and new hardware, such as an upgraded exhaust system and high-pressure fuel pump. Upgrades to the vehicle’s turbocharger or supercharger are frequently required for stages three and four.
Q. Is remapping dangerous or harmful to the engine?
Depending on who designed the software and how the vehicle designer configures it to the vehicle, changing settings that alter how an engine is controlled can have negative repercussions.
Because of this, we never advise installing your own software or software from an unreliable source. Specialised tuning businesses write ECU software, and before it is made public, it is typically tested and adjusted for a year or more on various automobiles.
Q. Will remapping affect my warranty?
Any warranty on the car will probably be void because the software being added is rarely written by the manufacturer. In the end, pushing the engine to its limits is not the manufacturer’s choice, and if something goes wrong, you might have to pay for an engine rebuild yourself.
It’s unlikely that the software business that created the map will also pay for these expenses. That is why choosing a reputable and trustworthy company with extensive experience is crucial.