Post
Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:27 am
A 'chip' can be a good investment, as long as you don't set your expectations too high.
The only gains a 'chip' can make on a normally aspirated petrol engine in good condition* is to narrow the parameters of the range in which the engine can operate, and possibly
change the power/economy balance a little.
I'm never likely to want to run any of my E30s in temperatures below -10, above +35, at altitudes above 1000m, or on fuel with a RON below 95, so the ignition and fuelling maps can be modified so as not to accommodate these conditions, with consequent improvements to power, economy and driveability. On top of this, as I've already said, the mixture can be adjusted away from the best emissions/economy point towards the maximum power point.
*This is the first thing you should be spending your money on. Make sure that everything is performing as it should when the car left the factory - most importantly, get the injectors rebuilt if they have done more than 50,000 miles. Only costs £10 each.