Pulled the trigger on a Bluefin - MK5 GTI

[Skilgannon]

Ok guys don't kill me for this. I have pulled the trigger on a Bluefin Remap device. Now hear me out, I run my own business and its a startup so it needs all of my attention. I just do not have the time to drive to r-tech or anywhere else and wait around to get it done.

So i have went with the easy option. I am aware of the fact that it won't be perfectly tuned to my car as its a generic map. But my car is completley stock, so its as generic as the map itself!

Seriously though, what are your thoughts regarding bluefin and what BHP increase am i looking at realistically? i'll be happy with 40 extra horses. I've been told that if you don't like a certain aspect of the map you can speak to them and they can tinker with it end send you a another one? is this correct?

I've researched other forums for vehicles with the same engine and the reviews have been decent. But you boys on here hate them, is it really that bad??

Cheers

[bonelorry]

The problem I have is that I would never be happy with it knowing there are better maps out there!

I am very busy also, I started a new job in April as a Train Driver which requires a Year of intensive training. After 4 Months commuting to Leeds everyday I am now back on shifts in Sheffield actually driving but under instruction.

The point I am getting at is that any days I have off are rostered and I don't get to choose them which means I cannot be flexible with any appointments, Booking my ED30 in at R-Tech has proven difficult but I am prepared to wait and in the end I am going on the 25th of October.

I am taking my car to Statller's for the Timing belt replacing in a few Weeks, They are Revo and GIAC agents and also have Rolling Road facilities. I could quite easily have rushed while its in and had a generic Revo Stage 1 but I would not be happy with it.

My car will be going to R-Tech, Not because its convenient...Far from it but I am happy knowing that my car will be getting 3 Hours from one of the U.K's best TFSI mappers. This will be the 3rd car I have taken there, Need I say anymore?

[AJP]

Another "I've just bought Bluefin, should I have bought it?!" thread...

I doubt your car will explode, but there's a recent thread here that might answer some questions:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=108606.msg1051767.msg#1051767

Superchips were once decent. Or maybe at that time one of the more desirable means of increasing boost 'safely'. Remember before chipping it was bleed valves and blown turbos. Things moved on with ECU software and the likes of Superchips. But things have moved on again today - so much more. I get the feeling Superchips/Bluefin are simply surviving on the back of their brand, rather than producing competitive software.

[Skilgannon]

Another "I've just bought Bluefin, should I have bought it?!" thread...

I doubt your car will explode, but there's a recent thread here that might answer some questions:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=108606.msg1051767.msg#1051767

Superchips were once decent. Or maybe at that time one of the more desirable means of increasing boost 'safely'. Remember before chipping it was bleed valves and blown turbos. Things moved on with ECU software and the likes of Superchips. But things have moved on again today - so much more. I get the feeling Superchips/Bluefin are simply surviving on the back of their brand, rather than producing competitive software.

Not at all. This was a well thought through decision. I know r tech and the likes are better as its custom. But at stage 1 from my research and the forum post you linked above shows its not the end of the world.

I got it for £280 fully reset not attached to any vehicle ready to be used. So I can't complain instead £290 plus fuel costs to get up and down the motorway I'm saving around £50 quid.

I think people in my situation awfully busy/lazy that just want a stage 1 map it's perfectly fine. Stage 2..... That's a different story for that I will never go bluefin.

[slix]

Another "I've just bought Bluefin, should I have bought it?!" thread...

I doubt your car will explode, but there's a recent thread here that might answer some questions:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=108606.msg1051767.msg#1051767

Superchips were once decent. Or maybe at that time one of the more desirable means of increasing boost 'safely'. Remember before chipping it was bleed valves and blown turbos. Things moved on with ECU software and the likes of Superchips. But things have moved on again today - so much more. I get the feeling Superchips/Bluefin are simply surviving on the back of their brand, rather than producing competitive software.

Not at all. This was a well thought through decision. I know r tech and the likes are better as its custom. But at stage 1 from my research and the forum post you linked above shows its not the end of the world.

I got it for £280 fully reset not attached to any vehicle ready to be used. So I can't complain instead £290 plus fuel costs to get up and down the motorway I'm saving around £50 quid.

I think people in my situation awfully busy/lazy that just want a stage 1 map it's perfectly fine. Stage 2..... That's a different story for that I will never go bluefin.

You bought it blank without any map on?

I'm pretty sure they will charge you quite a bit to send you a map to load onto it.

[Skilgannon]

from the seller:
"Was previously used by me but has been reset and wiped ready for new car data like a new unit.
My car was returned to standard map and remap given back to Bluefin before sale so this is ready to read your cars data and provide the remap with no further charges."

[unzippy]

You bought it, be happy and enjoy it the extra power

[Skilgannon]

You bought it, be happy and enjoy it the extra power

I intend to, Cheers mate 

[slix]

from the seller:
"Was previously used by me but has been reset and wiped ready for new car data like a new unit.
My car was returned to standard map and remap given back to Bluefin before sale so this is ready to read your cars data and provide the remap with no further charges."

Hmm I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that's not how it works.

[Skilgannon]

from the seller:
"Was previously used by me but has been reset and wiped ready for new car data like a new unit.
My car was returned to standard map and remap given back to Bluefin before sale so this is ready to read your cars data and provide the remap with no further charges."

Hmm I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that's not how it works.

Their website says that you pay to get the device reset which is around £250 i think so it can be used again on another vehicle.
I'll just have to see now. The seller is a fellow forum member.

[bonelorry]

I think you have underestimated just how much difference there is with all the various Stage 1 maps that are out there.

They are not just "all Stage 1 maps" and all have different characteristics.

You asked the question what people think then go all defensive when people slag off what you have purchased bearing in mind you have already admitted its not the best option 

[Skilgannon]

I didn't see anyone slag it off. And I didn't get defensive either. I was giving my reason as to why I went for this. As people have their own reasons going for a custom map. I and others have reasons to go for the other option.

I wanted to know the reasons why people don't prefer them, you know just because I like talking to people.

[FJ1000]

I've got a bluefin map and I'm happy with it. Picked it up for next to nothing on eBay (think it was £16) then paid the reset fee. I'm down in Surrey so miles from r-tech, and it's a second car, mainly used by my wife, so I made a conscious compromise.

For my main car, I've travelled all over the UK to get things done! But I wanted something more convenient for the GTi.

I took the car for a service at Tuningwerkes in Croydon last week, and the owner, Reuben, took it out for a test drive with me as we were listening for a knock from the suspension. These guys are APR dealers and heavily involved with VAG tuning, magazines and shows. I was expecting him to tell me that the bluefin map was crap and I should get an APR map instead. No - he said it seemed good to him, and he liked the torque delivery!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Madone]

Another "I've just bought Bluefin, should I have bought it?!" thread...

I doubt your car will explode, but there's a recent thread here that might answer some questions:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=108606.msg1051767.msg#1051767

Superchips were once decent. Or maybe at that time one of the more desirable means of increasing boost 'safely'. Remember before chipping it was bleed valves and blown turbos. Things moved on with ECU software and the likes of Superchips. But things have moved on again today - so much more. I get the feeling Superchips/Bluefin are simply surviving on the back of their brand, rather than producing competitive software.

As AJP has said this got thrashed out recently.

 I don't agree with generic maps not being good, every performance production car has a generic map and work fine, the bottom line being if you want the best from the HW you have to go custom. If you are happy with being 80% or so there get a generic map. I am going to RTech (currently on Revo) and want the max I can from my stage 2+ HW before thinking I need to go stage 3, also there are a couple of minor things I think could be improved with the Revo offering and I know RTech sort that out. If I didn't know about RTech I wouldn't be trawling the net trying to find anyone I could to do a custom map, rtechs reputation and results mean it's the next step up. If they didn't exist I am perfectly happy with revo and was with bluefin (esp at stage 1). The bluefin offerings above stage 1 weren't great and showed little gain over stage 1 relatively. But for some reason people like to bash bluefin, not sure why, it's fine for what it is and the convenience of being able to remove the map is great. 

[pudding]

I wanted to know the reasons why people don't prefer them....

Because not custom. 

Here's an interesting fact about generic maps - Apart from a few extreme climate countries, every single Golf GTI and ED30 in the world had the same generic map when it left the factory 

Bluefin Superchips, Revo, APR et al, they all do the same thing.  They take a decent, healthy car, map it on the dyno, tune it on the road until they are happy, then sell it as an upgrade.  It is no different to what the factory did.  Although the factory obviously has access to extremely expensive industry standard DIN measuring & tuning equipment, plus a huge team of ECU & software engineers.  Therefore you can guarantee consistency across all the cars, which is a benefit of generic mapping, especially where strict emissions targets are concerned.

I don't like this term 'generic' map because it implies lesser quality to a custom map.  All of the names mentioned above produce good results and are within 10-15hp of each other, that's where things can start to get bitchy.  HP chasers only focus on one thing, so I would stay away from the Facebook group if you don't like childish mud slinging   
These pre-written maps are safe.  Nothing wrong with that, because the vendor can't guarantee a customer's engine is in perfect health, so they err on the side of caution.  You wouldn't believe some of the bodges some customers turn up to mappers with.  Wires hand twisted together, MAFs unplugged or missing, boost hoses that pop off because of cheap crappy clamps, intercoolers hanging off the front with cable ties etc etc.  It's exactly these kind of people who slag off the tuners for giving them low numbers.  Anyway....

Custom maps push things harder because the tuner is 'live' monitoring all the key sensors and can see how the engine reacts to his inputs.  This gives a bit more scope for power & torque. 

Superchips have been in the game a long time and most people are happy with the results.  I had a Revo map in mine when I bought it and it drove really well!  Super punchy and smooth.

If you like how the car feels after you've flashed it, then it's done the trick.  Can you squeeze a bit more power out?  Of course you can, but when you've got a safe 250 to begin with, another 10-15 is not going to blow your skirt up.