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Author Topic: Stoke's BF experience  (Read 18500 times)

Offline QD MBE

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Stoke's BF experience
« on: March 19, 2009, 09:13:42 am »
Mods, I feel this is not a Generic SC/BF question, hence the new topic.

Stokey’s SUPERCHIPS Experience

I have been mulling over the various mapping choices for a while now. 

My requirements were to have the car “more driveable”.  By that I mean, more horsepower/torque, but not to alter the delivery too much.  I am impressed at the way the GTI Ed 30 delivers the usable torque/power so low down the rev range.

I happened to be passing Superchips HQ, and dropped in.  I spoke at great length with Jamie Turvey, toured the building and then handed my keys over to him. 

The process of adding Bluefin, took about 30 mins, and then away I went.   The drive back was ok, traffic was heavy, the car behaved faultlessly, although I was not happy with the power delivery. 

The map I was given was the low power in 1st and 2nd gears, to reduce wheel spin.  This has been spoken about on the forums for a while.

Drive home

All was a little vanilla up to 3500-4000 rpm, but then all hell broke loose, lots of torque, and urgency.  Not really what I was looking for, the delivery had been changed, and not the low down torque/poke I was after.

I spoke to SC Hq and they were as good as gold, I was to receive another map, which was to be emailed to me the next morning.  I was told to upload the BF drivers onto my computer.

That’s where the problem started; I am running a desktop and laptop with vista 64-bit operating system.  The Driver is not compatible, I tried running the software in compatibility mode, and that had no effect. 

Options

Live with the map, not an option, I don’t drive my car at 99% all the time, and a lot of the power was not accessible until the higher reaches of the rev range.  I stress it may suit others, you will have to make your own mind up on that one.  What is one mans pain, is another mans pleasure.

Send the BF back to SC to have the new map uploaded, not the versatility I was swayed by at the outset.

Buy a laptop, or retrospectively load XP onto my desktop/Laptop, not an option really, as 64-bit has been out for a while, and an innovative product such as SC BF should be “modern”.

Send the BF back to SC, and receive a refund.

I decided on the later, and after I had reloaded the stock map their courier collected the boxed handset, and I received a slightly tardy refund today.  I suspect that the refund was tardy due to the weekend, and Halifax being a bit useless.  Not SC hanging onto my cash at all.

I have spoken to SC and they assure me that they are developing a Driver for 64 bit. 

Postscript

Would I use SC/BF again?  Most definitely, I think the versatility of the BF is great, and a real plus point for me.  Their customer service was second to none.  Even when I was having trouble uploading drivers, they gave me some pointers, and work-arounds, but they did not work, and quite frankly I did not want to hack a “modern” product.

The only caveat I would place on that is finding a map that suits my needs, that the driveability of the Ed 30 is not compromised in any way. 

I have at the moment gone full circle, I had more horses and a whole load more torque, but the map at the moment (Standard) is far more suited to me. 

Some may say that 64-bit is not common, perhaps not, but it is modern software, and is becoming more prevalent, and I think SC should be compatible, and I hope in the future it will be.  I should have asked the question when looking to have it fitted.  Although I have bought other stuff, and it has all worked on 64-bit.

So a big thank you to SC for trying, and I hope we can do business again soon.  I must add that this piece, is not a slating in any way of SC, just highlights a few pitfalls, and I must add, I am not sure I would have had the same assistance post purchase at a Generic map dealer, or the offer of another more suitable map, or even a refund.

 :happy2:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2009, 11:20:47 am »
^^^^

Although I have never used them, I have a lot of trust in SC's customer and aftersales service. The only car I've driven with a SC remap is VWR's 300R and have never had any problem with the way it delivers its power but I think it's a custom map.

However, SC need to get up to speed with their computer compatibility - What about Mac users!!? :fighting:


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Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2009, 11:27:21 am »
VWR car is a custom map that they mess with all the time and it very  :evilgrin: when it want to be

Mods yes but way too many to stick in this little box

Phil Mcavity

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2009, 11:30:31 am »
Surprised you havent tried Revo maybe Dave???

Your experiances share those the same as Garethmk1's with his dislike of this map.
Maybe try revo and see if thats any better?. Give Jkm a call if i was you and see what Keith has to say, whether Revo's maps are not as aggressive.

As you say, pointless having all that extra power if it cant be controlled unless you like to drive at different speeds of course. :.But then your in the endless cycle of modifying what already is a great car to start with. ashamed:

I wouldnt mind just getting the downpipe added to mine, will increase the torque but wont upset the cars setup and the way it drives currently.

Nice writeup mate.

Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2009, 11:34:23 am »
yes Phil but if you add the down pipe then u have to map it to take care of the Lambda sencor next to the hi flow cat

Mods yes but way too many to stick in this little box

Phil Mcavity

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2009, 11:36:05 am »
Why would you need to map it, if you just want a hi flow exhaust ?? will it not be compatible with the lambda sensor?

Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2009, 11:39:14 am »
Why would you need to map it, if you just want a hi flow exhaust ?? will it not be compatible with the lambda sensor?

it is compatible but the gas going through the cat is going through quicker so is not getting the cat as hot as it was before so will set you emissions light off on your dash

Mods yes but way too many to stick in this little box

Offline RedRobin

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2009, 11:48:52 am »
....

Be very careful, Phil - It's a very slippery slope!!

I started exactly the same way! : -

1 - Milltek just so I could hear the engine better as a driving aid.

2 - Er....The rest is history and a very loooong story you all already know well.


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Phil Mcavity

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2009, 12:37:02 pm »
been a member of a mk5 gti forum for 2.5 years now, so i have good grip on my shoes Robin  :signLOL: :wink:

Offline The wheel man

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2009, 12:46:23 pm »
First off, good write up.  Info like this is always good to read and has actually helped me in my future purchase of a map.  I think that i may be in a slight minority on here but i want to feel an old school push (similar to turbo lag) when pushing through the revs.  as long as the usual 1k to 3/4k pull is still there i woulddnt mind if i diddnt feel tha map till i was pushing on.  Reason:  Well as i just ahve the std GTi with a K03, it drops off from 5k onwards meaning you drive it similar to a Diesel and although fast, not exactly challenging or exciting (in some cases)  The APR cat back has helped as i am sure the down pipe would, but a map is less reddies and will offer a bigger hit

From what you have described, the BF is a good one for this. Thanks :happy2:

APR cat back, ECS Insert

Offline RedRobin

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2009, 01:14:10 pm »
....

Personally I prefer a map which delivers its 'oooomph' in mid rather than higher range. In real life in the UK, I want most power and acceleration for overtaking. If I spent most of my time on unrestricted sections of the German autobahns, I would want power further up the range.


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Offline QD MBE

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2009, 01:30:25 pm »
....

Personally I prefer a map which delivers its 'oooomph' in mid rather than higher range. In real life in the UK, I want most power and acceleration for overtaking. If I spent most of my time on unrestricted sections of the German autobahns, I would want power further up the range.

Game set and match!  The SC Bfin map was almost like a 2nd carb coming on-line at 3500-4000 rpm.  Not my bag at all.  I would be interested to feel a stage 2 revo map, for delivery.

I am of the mind, that the enjoyable part of the Ed 30 is the way it delivers its power, if I had a touch more, i woul;d be very very happy.

The delivery is the important part, rarely will i go above 4500-5000 rpm in everyday driving, hence my not goingf down the Pod at the last meet.

As has been posted, each to their own!

 :happy2:

Offline john_o

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #12 on: March 19, 2009, 01:39:12 pm »
from what you have described you may wish to try the APR remap too  :happy2:
Red ED35 5dr DSG
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Offline Greeners

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2009, 03:11:48 pm »
....

Personally I prefer a map which delivers its 'oooomph' in mid rather than higher range. In real life in the UK, I want most power and acceleration for overtaking. If I spent most of my time on unrestricted sections of the German autobahns, I would want power further up the range.

Game set and match!  The SC Bfin map was almost like a 2nd carb coming on-line at 3500-4000 rpm.  Not my bag at all.  I would be interested to feel a stage 2 revo map, for delivery.

I am of the mind, that the enjoyable part of the Ed 30 is the way it delivers its power, if I had a touch more, i woul;d be very very happy.

The delivery is the important part, rarely will i go above 4500-5000 rpm in everyday driving, hence my not goingf down the Pod at the last meet.

As has been posted, each to their own!

 :happy2:

Not forgetting they developed this 'version' of the ST2 map after feedback from customers having traction problems during the winter months. The first map may now be better suited to the climatic conditions and your driving style Dave  :happy2: I may even look to change back to this version for mine  :wink:

Offline SO8

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Re: Stoke's BF experience
« Reply #14 on: March 19, 2009, 05:57:30 pm »
I'm with Red Robin re Superchips and Mac users !   I've been using a Mac for years as my wife is a photographer (and that's all many photographers use) and am amazed now, with so many more people using Macs that so many companies just ignore the fact they exist  :(

Regarding the maps Superchips issue I just can't relate my experiences to some of the comments ... mine comes on strongly with the newest DSG map at about 2,800rpm and keeps going to the redline. 

The previous 'older' stage 1 followed the existing power curve but with about 15bhp more up to 4,250 rpm then went into a 'Vtec' kind of surge to the red line.  The feeling was exactly the same as the RR curves on their site show and I still think I prefer the 'a little more of the same to 4K' followed by a nice increase thereafter to the redline. 

I would have thought this was what the original poster was after - more driveable generally with more power but a nice wedge nearer the redline if you need it ... no compromise low down at all; infact more power but not undriveable.

Are the issues people have had only on manual cars ?

I can see the appeal of 'lower' remap power in 1st and 2nd but it seems from what I am reading that this map is just not up to their other excellent efforts .....