Hi!
It is easy to read and write map a file to an ecu via OBD.
A good OBD read & write tool will set you back around £2.5k with hardware and software for 80% of all cars on the road today. Updates will be around £1200 per year
http://shop.obdtuning.de/afterbuy/shop/storefront/start.aspx?shopid=14355 Next is the remapping software to tune and alter the files, this alone will set you back around £3k, then you will have to pay for updates, Map setting files and checksums which will be around £2k each year to keep you upto date. The best software for this is from Dimsport
http://web.dimsport.com/site/?DS=&lang=enNow the bit your MasterCard cannot even help with!
Knowing what to do with a stock file to make the car perform better.
I started off in a Superchips dealership for 3 months, and then went on to a local company who tunes the older cosworth. K-Series, and XE engines in dyno cells
http://www.wilcoxengines.demon.co.uk/rollroad.htm .
I also spent a summer with the Ford Rapid Fit BTCC Mondeo Race team in1994.
Now with this knowledge I had to teach myself and learn how to alter and produce remap files for the newer cars as they came on to the market.
Knowing what are the engines safe working limits. How much boost and fuel to keep the ratio correct, then where to the advance timing to make the most of the mixed boost and fuel. Then we go on to the "drivers wish†the throttles response speed /pickup setting in comparison with the throttle valve opening, there is so much information in a good remap file.
You can start will just adding a bit more boost and fuel, write it back to the car and you will have more power this is a very basic starting block. But you will need to know how to find a boost and fuel map, you will have to look and 1000s of lines of hex text which can be converted on to 2d and 3d multi axis maps, and then by eye you will need to find point out the correct map areas to alter.
Sometimes there are 3 or 4 of the same map setting in each file. And for some of the newer car there can be over 100000 alterations to the map file.
It can take around 10 years to become a good tuner and to write files to trust on customers cars. We are now writing top quality +60bhp +140NM remap files for the new BMW 635d £40k+ & 3.0TDI Q7 +45bhp & +125NM. 5 years ago I would never thought I would be at this stage. I was happy with the XEs, mk2 Golfs, Cosworths, etc...
To start playing you can find the WINOLS free demo remapping software on Google and have a play, I can send you a factory map file to play with.
Then a rolling road to test and play with your files start from £15K 2wd 500bhp non braked upto a £125k full blown 2000bhp quad braked 4wd dyno cell.
Nick
