AMD Remap anyone ?

[Fabpreza]

I've read a lot about Jabba doing great work on Skodas, but wondered if anyone had had their Octavia 1.8T (any) remapped at AMD in Bicester ?

I know from my Audi days that they did some superb work but has anyone any recent / Octavia specific experience?

I'm not looking for a 'to the absolute maximum' remap but would feel confident in their abilities and experience.

Your views would be helpful

(Octavia 4x4 - v.soon)

[Tavia4x4]

If you want a custom "remap" done on the rolling road, you really only have two options.

Jabbasport and AMD.

I would reccomend Jabbasport, as I have done 20k of very happy miles since my remap, I got a good increase (222bhp \ 231lb ft) and it's safe, driveable, good fuel economy, everything I could have wanted, plus a good price. I cannot think of anything negative about the whole experience.

I cannot (personally) reccomend AMD, in fact I would not let them lay their hands on my car if it was free.

Personal opinion, you understand, based my experience of them and the dealings other Octavia owners have had with them.

[llblake]

I'd be interested in your personal experience that you had with AmD?

Since as you stated "I cannot (personally) recommend AMD, in fact I would not let them lay their hands on my car if it was free".

From what I remember you didn't/never had any work done by them. I have had work carried out by AmD (remap and 230bhp upgrade and I am completely happy with the work). As Jon stated they are my favorite tuner!!

I take it you are making your assumptions from the experience Jon had with AmD and not from other owners? If I am correct Jon only had an issue with AmD in regards to the suspension work? And just because the majority of the owners on this forum have chosen to use Jabba doesn't mean they are the best. If they were all the other VW/Audi/Skoda tuners would be out of business!!!

But I am talking from personal experience and not just hear say


Later

LLB

[Fabpreza]

IBlake

That's where I was coming from as well -

ie Any personal experiences - there's plenty on Jabba, I heard good things on the Audi forums about AMD but nohing on here much either way.

So - any good or bad personal experiences, basically !

[delcac]

There are some people on this forum Fabreza who would not know an impartial Statement if it came up and bit them on the RS.

Yes their car, tyres, chip, brakes, colour etc. are all the best in the universe. Unfortunately there is always someone with something better, stronger, faster the list goes on and a prejudiced view would only serve to mislead you in to buying something that suits them and not yourself. That said go buy an AMD chip it's the BOMB, only kidding.

I very rarely give out info like this but times are a changing.

Ask yourself what you want out of the chip and then weigh up the risks before you get your fingers burnt (because you will).

Go for a mild chip/remap if you must ie. one that gives up to 210bhp tops with a smooth torque curve that drops at high rpm, then go down the turbo back exhaust system route. This should cut turbo surging to a minimum and give you low end grunt (be prepared for major drop in mpg due to loss of back pressure).

I would steer away from chips/remaps that claim 220-230 and above bhp (I have my reasons, no more comments on that).

Hope this helps

[llblake]

In my own personnel experience AmD has provided me with a first class service. I have had the 230bhp upgrade, which included a remap, uprated turbo, Miltek exhaust etc. I have also had uprated brakes, pads, Koni dampers and H&R springs fitted. And I am going back to have some more work done in the next couple of weeks (sorry Jon).

The only problem I have had was with the brake discs, which AmD replaced with no questions asked. The problem wasn’t down to AmD but with the design of the discs.

Jabbasport are I am sure good at what they do, but they are not the only company that provide a good service. And people shouldn’t badmouth other tuning companies based on opinions and hearsay. I didn’t choose AmD lightly after all they are the most expensive of all the tuning companies around but they have an excellent reputation and that is something that is hard to come by in the tuning world (if you are s***t people will find out).

Later

LLB

[Fabpreza]

I am making an appointment tomorrow (for whenever they can) and will report back on my experiences ...!

[TaviaRS]

I have nothing against AmD (honest) and am sure they do good work.

However, I did find them to be a tad arrogant and not responsive to my needs/requirements (before you ask I wasn't asking for the world on a stick, just some Eibach springs ). Now, I know my car and know how I drive it and what I do with it. I do not appreciate being patronised.

I also would not have been happy to pay a fairly substantial sum of money to not get what was advertised / promised. I adid not appreciate my geometry going out of alignment due to certain stretch bolts not being replaced and then being told it was my fault.

Having said all of the above, I think your relationship with your tuner is very important, if you are happy, great, if not, well, change them.

[Tavia4x4]

Sorry, I was talking about several conversations I had with Scott before doing any tuning.

He was a) arrogant and b) unknowledgable! He made too many assumptions about the engine and the car "oh same as golf, it will be right" attitude. The same outlook (in my opinion, I could be wrong) that made him say golf springs would be fine on Jon's.

They are probably great on golfs and audi's, and may (now) be used to doing work on the octavia, but when I spoke to them (back in jan 01) they did not have a clue, and the quality of workmanship is shocking based on Jon's experience.

When I said I could not personally reccomend AMD I was was not saying anything negative about them, just a zero on my scale and I have good experience of Jabba, ie a ten on my scale.

Lloyd, as I recall that was originally the 240 conversion, that they changed on their site after working on yours, and never managed to acheive the 240 they had promised? Correct me if I am wrong, please.

A lot of tuners in the early days assumed all 1.8t's were the same, with experience based on the older non-vvt and original K03 turbo. As time progressed we saw some tuners invest time and effort into making the most of the later k03 and vvt head, these should see a 215-225 result easily, using safe boost levels.

[llblake]

Are we talking about the same person? Yes Scott is the hardest person to try and talk to (every time I ring he is either out or in the workshop). However, he always replies to my emails and I usually can talk to other members of the AmD staff.

I haven't found Scott/AmD to a, arrogant or b lacking in knowledge.

And I am not a person who would put up with this type of behavior. Also I do know a bit about cars, it’s just that I would rather get someone else to do the work for me. And I am not being led down the garden path by AmD or anyone else.

Jon you are probably the most knowledgably member when it comes to tuning the RS. And you more than anyone know what you want, it just that AmD didn’t provide you with service you wanted, which doesn’t make them a bad tuning Co.

That is all…

Later

LLB

[TaviaRS]

Lloyd, you are right, they are not a bad tuning company. Thats why I said

I have nothing against AmD (honest) and am sure they do good work.

They just didn't suit me. Your relationship with your tuner is a personal thing. If you trust them and are happy with their work, that is all that counts.

As people may remember I have had bad experiences with a tuning co. Amd was NOT that company, I am sure they are good at what they do and I have never slagged them off.

Each to their own. Eg I have a Superchip. Probably one of the most slagged off companies about, but I was happy with the way I was treated by their agent and had faith in the tuning co that did the remap (Power Engineering).

[Tavia4x4]

So Jon, your opinion on Upsolute?

[llblake]

Ian to be honest I can’t remember if AmD originally offered 240bhp conversion? You are probably correct, but 230bhp is pretty dam effective against the Skoda hater brigde

Later

LLB

[Tavia4x4]

Absolutely. You been upsetting BMW drivers again?

Had an A8 2.8 on my bootlid this morning, thought they were supposed to be quick, but he tailed off when I booted it, guess the weight offsets the power on them things.

[ColinD]

Okay, as a prelude to opening up dealer reviews for public comments have a go adding *your* *personal*; thats *your* and *personal* reviews of tuners to the new forum under reviews.

Any mud flinging in there and it's:bluegrab:

[robmawer]

Originally posted by Tavia4x4
guess the weight offsets the power on them things.

Aren't A8s made from aluminium to keep them light?


Rob.

[ncarring]

Yes but have you seen the size of them?

[robmawer]

And have you seen the size of a 747? It still flies!


Rob.

[TaviaRS]

An A8 2.8? Its got all of 230bhp (can't be arsed to lok it up) if that and it weighs what, 16-1700 kg.

Yours has 222 and weighs 1400.

A8 is an auto. Now, lets see, which would be quicker?

A8: 139bhp/tonne
Van with windows: 158 bhp/tonne

No question really is there?

[ncarring]

I found a page with some A8 stats - can't vouch for their accuracy ....

Weight - 2220 kg
Power - 192 PS - which if I am right = about 189 bhp

So that adds even more weight to the argument.

PS my 928 is half aluminium (bonnet, front wings and doors) and weighs 3400 kg and has (theoretically) 300 bhp. It doesn't sprint off the line but it sure keeps going once its revved up