There are two types of Audi enthusiasts: The Audi purist who simply accepts the car as is, and the Audi petrol head who gets an adrenaline rush from tuning and modifying the cars.
I probably fall in the first category of Audi enthusiast, but I do love the aesthetics of cars that have been modified with various kits and tuned to enhance performance. Browsing through Instagram, I’ve seen older Audi cars that have been fixed up really nice. They say that modifying your car is like getting a tattoo - once you start, you can’t stop.
If you’re someone who likes power and better fuel efficiency, chiptuning is something to look into. If you’re not familiar with chiptuning, basically what it does is alter the electronic control device, which makes it more responsive, increases horsepower, and allows it to run smoother. Depending on the vehicle, the control device can be linked to different systems in the car including the automatic transmissions system, vehicle stabilization system, fuel injection, valve support systems, the timing and ignition systems, and the speed governance system.
Companies like Racechip.com offers an external control device that you or a mechanic can install, which connects to the engine and the car’s existing control device. No other modifications are needed. It can also be removed before service appointments and doesn’t leave any traces if you decide to take it out and sell the car. According to the company, you don’t need any special tools and you don’t even need vehicle engine knowledge. They offer three different chiptuning devices (RaceChip, RaceChip Pro2, and RaceChip Ultimate) depending on the model of the car. Some models like the Audi A4 B7 2.7 TDI can take either of the three RaceChip devices whereas an Audi A3 1.9 TDI can only take the basic RaceChip.
There is another way to chiptune an Audi, called on-board diagnostic (OBD) tuning, which is more risky because it consists of altering the original software. This type of tuning can increase performance, but the chances of engine damage is higher because the motor protection functions are turned off. You also can’t self-adjust OBD tuning.
What has been your experience chiptuning an Audi?
More gadget review in www.mamaktalk.com
