Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today

PicardWebber · 03-08-2007, 08:40

What a difference a day makes............as the song goes. Yesteday I had a 2.5 TDi L&K Superb with 160BHP. With a quick trip to Van Aaken, in Bracknell, I now have 187BHP and 60lbs more torque.

The numbers only tell half the story though. It's even smoother, far more urgent on the throttle and overtaking is an absolute doddle with the amount of torque on tap. The power delivery is more linear and the gearbox doesn't need to search for gears so much now and will accelerate hard without kicking down.

The good news is that Van Aaken leave the Skoda ECU alone and, instead, plug their own Smart box as a bypass. This means if I ever have a warranty claim I simply unplug the Smart box and everything is back to standard.

Even better, my average consumption is already improving just after one day.

Cost ? Normally it's just shy of £500 fitted (inc VAT). However, Van Aaken are offering a special deal for the Forum members of £376 fitted (inc VAT). Simply ask for Alex and mention my name (Andrew Webber). Fitting time is approx 2 hours and they will rolling road it as well to give you before and after statistics and to make sure everything is smooth and optimised.

**VRStu** · 03-08-2007, 08:43

Van Aaken are often overlooked in the VAG market.

Baker21 · 03-08-2007, 09:09

This sounds interesting......wonder what they can do with a PD130?

**VRStu** · 03-08-2007, 09:20

Nothing special TBH it's just another tuning box manufacturer. They are a pretty big name though, hence my comment of over looked.

dormouse · 05-08-2007, 20:39

What is the downside to this remapping? If it were pure gain then presumably the manufacturers would do it.

Also, how does the remapping affect the mpg profile of the 2.5?

PicardWebber · 06-08-2007, 20:15

The official line with any company that remaps is that they simply take some of the excessive tolerances that manufacturers build in with their fueling/boost/air mapping. Where you have to go careful is how far the remapping companies will eat into the tolerances just to achieve big numbers for their ad's. I have seen ad's for the 2.5 Superb offering 200BHP and big torque gains - but you have to balance this with the other mechanicals and the additional wear and tear it could cause. This is why I went to Van Aaken as they provide a customised map for your particular car. They rolling road it in standard form, look at the power delivery curves and they programme the remap to best maximise the power outputs without stressing the mechanicals.

In terms of improvement to MPG I have seen a 0.4 average MPG increase. So, you would hardly get excited about this but when you think of the power increases you gain and it doesn't actually consume more diesel that's pretty good.

b1ackb1rd · 10-08-2007, 22:04

I've just removed a Van Aaken smartbox from a Golf 150 and I'm amazed at what little difference it's made on my PD100 Furby.
I bought a resistor box from John Yardley of these pages a few years ago which ripped my arms out, the Van Aaken is pathetic by comparison.
However ... there is a thread from 2004 on these pages about Van Aaken box jumper settings which I shall play with over the weekend.

b1ackb1rd · 11-08-2007, 22:20

After some investigation it transpires that the Van Aaken box was on the lowest setting ... a quick adjustment of the jumpers produced much better results.
All in all, I am impressed ... the box produces strong smooth power with no extra smoke on the highest settings (jumpers on 1&2 and 4&5 if anyone's interested). With the box fitted the car feels like it has a bigger engine rather than a remapped small engine if you get what I mean?

PicardWebber · 28-08-2007, 21:03

Good to hear that the Van Aaken box has worked well on your Golf. I have chipped five cars with them in the past (Nissan 300ZX TT, TVR Cerbera, Laguna 2.2 DCi, Saab 9000 and Isuzu Piazza) and always been impressed by the quality of their product.

My remap is still great fun and when run on BP Ultimate really has even better power delivery. What's even better is that my MPG is now up to an average of 42mpg - not bad for a heavy right foot and just shy of 190 BHP.

03-08-2007, 08:40	#1
PicardWebber Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 Members Car: Superb 2.5 TDI L&K Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today What a difference a day makes............as the song goes. Yesteday I had a 2.5 TDi L&K Superb with 160BHP. With a quick trip to Van Aaken, in Bracknell, I now have 187BHP and 60lbs more torque. The numbers only tell half the story though. It's even smoother, far more urgent on the throttle and overtaking is an absolute doddle with the amount of torque on tap. The power delivery is more linear and the gearbox doesn't need to search for gears so much now and will accelerate hard without kicking down. The good news is that Van Aaken leave the Skoda ECU alone and, instead, plug their own Smart box as a bypass. This means if I ever have a warranty claim I simply unplug the Smart box and everything is back to standard. Even better, my average consumption is already improving just after one day. Cost ? Normally it's just shy of £500 fitted (inc VAT). However, Van Aaken are offering a special deal for the Forum members of £376 fitted (inc VAT). Simply ask for Alex and mention my name (Andrew Webber). Fitting time is approx 2 hours and they will rolling road it as well to give you before and after statistics and to make sure everything is smooth and optimised.

03-08-2007, 08:43	#2
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today Van Aaken are often overlooked in the VAG market. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

03-08-2007, 09:09	#3
Baker21 OEM+ SUPERB Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northants Posts: 3,148 Members Car: Skoda Superb PD TDI 130 Comfort Thanks: 2 Thanked 102 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today This sounds interesting......wonder what they can do with a PD130? __________________ Best regards, Baker21 - 'OEM+' SKODA SUPERB PD TDI 130 Need you motor 'Detailing'?? Then drop me a PM...

03-08-2007, 09:20	#4
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today Nothing special TBH it's just another tuning box manufacturer. They are a pretty big name though, hence my comment of over looked. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

05-08-2007, 20:39	#5
dormouse Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 19 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today What is the downside to this remapping? If it were pure gain then presumably the manufacturers would do it. Also, how does the remapping affect the mpg profile of the 2.5?

06-08-2007, 20:15	#6
PicardWebber Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 Members Car: Superb 2.5 TDI L&K Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today The official line with any company that remaps is that they simply take some of the excessive tolerances that manufacturers build in with their fueling/boost/air mapping. Where you have to go careful is how far the remapping companies will eat into the tolerances just to achieve big numbers for their ad's. I have seen ad's for the 2.5 Superb offering 200BHP and big torque gains - but you have to balance this with the other mechanicals and the additional wear and tear it could cause. This is why I went to Van Aaken as they provide a customised map for your particular car. They rolling road it in standard form, look at the power delivery curves and they programme the remap to best maximise the power outputs without stressing the mechanicals. In terms of improvement to MPG I have seen a 0.4 average MPG increase. So, you would hardly get excited about this but when you think of the power increases you gain and it doesn't actually consume more diesel that's pretty good.

10-08-2007, 22:04	#7
b1ackb1rd Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Midlands Posts: 302 Members Car: Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today I've just removed a Van Aaken smartbox from a Golf 150 and I'm amazed at what little difference it's made on my PD100 Furby. I bought a resistor box from John Yardley of these pages a few years ago which ripped my arms out, the Van Aaken is pathetic by comparison. However ... there is a thread from 2004 on these pages about Van Aaken box jumper settings which I shall play with over the weekend.

11-08-2007, 22:20	#8
b1ackb1rd Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Midlands Posts: 302 Members Car: Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today After some investigation it transpires that the Van Aaken box was on the lowest setting ... a quick adjustment of the jumpers produced much better results. All in all, I am impressed ... the box produces strong smooth power with no extra smoke on the highest settings (jumpers on 1&2 and 4&5 if anyone's interested). With the box fitted the car feels like it has a bigger engine rather than a remapped small engine if you get what I mean?

28-08-2007, 21:03	#9
PicardWebber Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 Members Car: Superb 2.5 TDI L&K Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Superb Got ECU Re-mapped today Good to hear that the Van Aaken box has worked well on your Golf. I have chipped five cars with them in the past (Nissan 300ZX TT, TVR Cerbera, Laguna 2.2 DCi, Saab 9000 and Isuzu Piazza) and always been impressed by the quality of their product. My remap is still great fun and when run on BP Ultimate really has even better power delivery. What's even better is that my MPG is now up to an average of 42mpg - not bad for a heavy right foot and just shy of 190 BHP.

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