22 Aug 2010
Hi all,
Today I had the first opportunity to see what the Bluefin GTI really could do, after several days of rain, and thought i'd pass on my experience and try to answer some of the questions i searched for when researching.
My original requirements were to have more usable and tractable power, whilst keeping the power/torque curve profiles to retain the same power delivery. Considered REVO and ChippedUK (Both great products with many great reviews and fans) but it was the whole Bluefin package that tipped it for me.
Anyway on with the review. Before you read on i want say I am 40 and most definitely NOT a boy racer!
The upgrade process is very simple and problem free. The map download from the GTI actually took about 10 mins (not the quoted 20) and the upload about 12 to 15 mins. The interface that you load into the PC is easy to use and the new map was received about 2 mins after the PC program had finished running. Tip – if you have a DSG you should let Superchips know on the phone, quoting the Bluefin serial number, before you use the returned map as it is a different map to the manual setup – They did this for me as I was on the phone to them.
Took her out for a first spin:
During normal driving the GTI felt much the same as before, easy to use, but with a little more urgency and responsiveness. The MPG was actually better than before on a mixture of roads…......…bonus (for example averaging 36mpg @ steady 75 mph against 34 mpg before).
So I got to a quiet straight and stopped at the lights, engine was up to temp, I snicked the DSG into S and waited for the lights to change…..red…..green….go! Slight wheel spin, but not excessive, and then gone. Up to 7000 rpm, into 2nd up to 7000 into 3rd wow this is quick. 60mph came and went, didn’t time it but the difference is huge. With a massive grin on my face i flew up the slip road onto the Dual Carriageway to see what she is like right through the gears.
Simply awesome!! It just pulls like a train, superb, the way the power is delivered is spot on. I cannot believe the transformation that can be obtained for so little money. Left a tail-gating AMG CLK Merc for dead, the driver looked completely shocked (When i had slowed down and he'd caught up!!)!
The chassis feels completely planted and puts the additional power down with no dramas at all, brakes seem perfectly adequate.
Some general observations:
a) I found that the S and D modes do behave slightly differently. In D it revs to C. 6500 rpm and in S max revs are up to 7000+ rpm.
b) The GTI doesn't want to drop into 6th at every opportunity anymore– which was my only misgiving with the DSG before the re-map.
c) NOTE: LICENSE WARNING You really need to keep an eye on the speedo as the limits arrive much, much quicker!! Very deceptive.
d) The combined mpg over this “exuberant” journey was 27mpg!!
e) This is what the GTI should have been!!!
Got a great insurance deal with Greenlight (£100 cheaper than my existing policy with a mainstream) and I felt they really understood what sensible modding is all about – again definitely recommended.
The final thing to mention is how professional and helpful the guys at Superchips were and how easy it is to do - even i managed it! Plus I got a 10% discount being a member of the forum without question.
In summary the Bluefin is highly recommended, 5 Stars, in fact i would say that if don’t invest in a good remap (any of the ones mentioned - but i can only speak for Bluefin) you’re nuts!! I definitely will not need the 7 day money back guarantee!
I hope this is helpful
UPDATE
23 September 2010
Well I think it is probably time for a quick update - no replies to the original post so hard to judge if this has been helpful or not but here it is anyway! .
The experience is still all good - no spurious noises or knocks, just the same smooth power delivery (and big cheesy grin!). DSG is running fine.
I use the GTI has a daily commuter between 100 and 400 miles and it is a joy, no problems at all.
The Fuel Economy figures on a mix of roads (Motorway 70%, B roads 30%) I find I am averaging around 34mpg if driven normally (Fairly rapid!) but if I drive carefully I have seen as high as 40mpg for the same journey!!
Just had the 40,000 mile service (With DSG oil and filter change £170) at VW and the car has a full clean bill of health. Swapped the map back to standard before I took her in and nothing was mentioned so I can only assume that it did not show up.
The normal VW map is still a good map but just feels dull in comparison to the Bluefin - have swapped back with no problems.
Cheers
Jon
