Frequently asked questions regarding TMC Motorsport Power Tuning Units :
Q . How do they work ?
A . There are two main methods of tuning modern diesel engines , one is by chip tuning or re-mapping , this involves using a special interface to read out the program from the cars computer or ECU and then writing in a new program to increase performance.
The second method is to use an external plug in Tuning Box , these units connect into the existing wiring of the vehicle generally using original manufacturers connectors , a control unit (Tuning Box) is then attached which can over-ride the signals coming from the cars ECU and alter them to allow the injectors or common rail to inject more fuel at certain times .
These units are generally connected to either the fuel injectors or to the pressure sensor on the injection systems common rail (the common rail is a thin cylinder close to the injectors which holds the fuel at high pressure before feeding it to the injectors).
Q . Whats the difference between analogue and digital tuning units ?
A . Quite simply the analogue unit has no electronics inside and no processor, its generally made of resistors inside a plastic box with a screw to increase or decrease fuelling , these are very cheap to make and are usually found on auction sites, the risk with these units is that they have no set program to deliver the increased fuel at specific points , instead they just increase fuelling continuously even at idle which can cause the engine to run erratically and over time will likely cause damage and usually create a lot of smoke from the exhaust.
This is a real danger on the newest vehicles fitted with diesel particulate filters on the exhaust because if the filter becomes blocked and cannot be regenerated you will have to replace it at great cost .
The analogue units generally will not work on quite a large number of modern cars due to the latest intelligent computers running the engine which can detect them and will cause the engine warning lamp to come on and the engine to go into safe mode (greatly reduced power and limited revs).
A digital tuning unit has a microprocessor controlled computer board inside which is programmed with specific parameters for each individual vehicle to obtain the maximum performance without reaching the safety cut off limits set by the manufacturer, each unit is set up on a dynamometer so the results can be accurately measured , the digital unit will also not function until the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond a certain point at which you are demanding extra power , this means that no extra fuel is being added at idle and the extra fuel being injected is reduced again when the engine approaches maximum revs to avoid damage , put simply the digital unit is carefully designed using the latest technology to achieve the maximum performance safely from each individual make and model of vehicle, also the parameters in the digital tuning kit are hard programmed into the control chip so they can never alter over time or temperature.
Q. What kind of increase in performance can I expect from the TMC Motorsport Digital Tuning Unit and will it improve my M.P.G ?
A . All of the units supplied by TMC Motorsport will give up to 30% increase in B.H.P and up to 30% increase in torque , the vehicle will be noticeably stronger pulling away and over-taking , these units are superb for those having to tow a large trailer or caravan . All performance figures quoted on this website are given as an approximate guideline and will vary from car to car, figures can also be influenced by outside factors such as temperature, air quality, quality of fuel and accuracy of the dyno the vehicle is being tested on as well as maintainance of the vehicle.
On fuelling : the units are sold mainly for their performance increase however almost all customers who have fitted one have noticed that if driving sensibly M.P.G will increase by up to 15% , this is not due directly to the tuning unit but more to how the vehicle drives after the tuning unit is fitted , its really down to common sense , if the vehicle pulls away easier in lower revs you don’t need to keep changing gears as often which reduces the amount of fuel used . This also means that you are not having to rev the engine hard to get performance which reduces stress on the engine and again reduces fuel consumption .
Q. Why should I buy the TMC Motorsport Tuning Unit over others that are on the market ?
A. There are many good tuning kits available from various companies , but also many very bad ones which may cause serious damage to your engine leaving you out of pocket for hundreds or even thousands of pounds !
TMC Motorsport can guarantee that our digital tuning modules are of the highest standards available , most units carry the highly regarded German T.U.V certification/approval and are rigorously tested and guaranteed for 3 years. Some of our units can also be adjusted to to four different settings by the customer depending on the level of power required , it is also possible to fit a switch inside the car to disable the unit if the extra power is not needed .
Our units are also safe to run on all vehicles fitted with particulate filters.
We offer excellent customer service and offer installation at our approved workshops or help for anyone wishing to self fit . We offer these units for almost all of the modern range of diesels and also for a specific range of petrol turbo cars as well as diesel vans and 4x4’s .
Q. Could the unit damage my engine ?
A. No , our units are specifically designed to run within the manufacturers safety limits and tolerances , the extra performance is easily within the capability of the engine and gearbox. The service intervals of the vehicle will not change however it is important that they be done on time and using original manufacturers parts , it is also very important to regularly check the engine oil level and top up if necessary with the correct oil as most modern diesel engines are designed to use some oil to increase the lifespan of the engine .
Q. Is the unit difficult to fit if I wanted to fit it myself ?
A. Generally not , most can be fitted by one of our trained technicians in less than 20 minutes , however some require items like intercooler to be lifted off the top of the engine to get the connectors on to the injectors underneath , this is not a job we would recommend to someone with no mechanical experience , most kits though are very simple to fit , we can give you advice depending on your particular car. The important thing is to make sure the unit is not fitted close to any high sources of heat and that all cables are safely tied to avoid getting caught in moving engine parts .
Q. Is it legal to increase the performance of my engine?
A. There are no laws against increasing your cars performance, your insurance company however require that you inform them of any modifications you make to your vehicle including changing wheels or fitting sports exhausts, it is your own choice if you wish to do this however many of our customers who have informed their insurance companies of their performance upgrade did not incur any additional loading on their policy or at worst had to pay a small sum for the increased cover , this is a small amount to know that if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision that you will be fully covered.
Q. Will my vehicles emissions increase and therefore my vehicle may fail its MOT test ?
A. No any increase in emissions is negligable, some kits even reduce emissions!
Q. Chip tuning or Tuning Box which is best ?
A. It’s a personal choice really, both should give similar results. For some people a Tuning Box is preferable if their car is under warranty as the unit can just be removed for servicing and re-fitted afterwards. Chip tuning also gives excellent results and means that the method of tuning is invisible to the eye, one downside is that if the vehicle dealer has to install updated software from the vehicle manufacturer the chip tuning will be erased and will have to be re-done.
Q. Payment, Taxes and Postage options?
A. Payment is accepted securely online through the Google Checkout system which accepts all debit and credit cards, Google Checkout will automatically detect which country you are purchasing from and add VAT (Anywhere inside Eurozone) or for countries outside the Eurozone no VAT will be added as taxes and duty are payable to your local customs at your local rates upon delivery. Shipping options will also be given by Google Checkout, for UK there is only one option of Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day Service. For anywhere outside of UK there are two options, Royal Mail Airsure(usually 3-10 working days) or TNT Express(1-5 working days), the TNT service is generally very fast and is more expensive but both can be subject to local customs inspections/delays for which neither the carrier or ourselves have any control over.