Towing

[boland4548]

We recently purchased our 1st caravan, a Compass Connoisseur 490/4, our tow car is an Audi A6 Avant 1.9 TD, the manufactures engine power is rated at 115 BHP, and the torque at 250Nm.
As the caravan is a bit in the heavy side, rather than change vehicles to a gas guzzeling 4x4 we decided to get the engine remapped, (not chipped, which is basically a waste of time & money), the remap has pushed up the power to 150 BHP and 360Nm, still well within the ability of the engine.
With the van hitched on the back we hardly know that it is there, even going up a steep hill, passing lorrys and other slow moving vehicles swiftly, poses no problem at all, usually not even needing to change down a gear, we have also noticed that we are now getting another 5 miles per gallon, because there is less need to change down a gear to overtake or to get up an incline, this has to be the very best £200 we have ever spent.( this is recouped after driving 10,000 miles) driving without the van, the acceleration is now phenomenal, especially 30 to 100 MPH, just like being on the plane taking you on holiday as it zooms down the runway for take off. so don't change your car, get a remap and save a fortune.

 

[Lutz]

Before following Boland's suggestion, I'd recommend reading various other previous threads in this forum on the subject of remapping as they contain some serious reservations.
I'd just like to say that if the matter were so simple and without any hitches then there's no reason why car manufacturer wouldn't already have done it.

 

[Steve L]

Hi Lutz.
Motor manufacturers are usually very conservative with the BHP of their engines to allow for production tolerances. Therefore they quote a minimum BHP figure. for example my Rover has a BMW diesel enine rated at 115BHP standard and by their own remapping BMW increased that to 130BHP in post 2003 models.
If bolands is quite happy with the outcome and the fact that there will be no warrantee against the engine and drive train, and he has informed his insurance company of the modification, then it's his choice.

I'm in the lucky position to have a brother-in-law who is a BMW senior technician. He is going to put my car on their rolling road tuner to see what he could get out of the motor. Then depending on what the insurance say, I might go the re-mapped route myself.

 

[Lutz]

I fully agree that it's his choice regarding potential loss of warranty coverage and so long as his insurance company has no objection, but what is easily overlooked is whether the brakes, the clutch, the gearbox and the tyres are also up to the job of handling the extra power without further modification. After all, he has had his engine power increased by a sizeable 35bhp which is over 30% and not just the extra 15bhp that you mentioned on your Rover.

 

[Gafferbill]

35bhp and an extra 5 mpg………that must be some magic wand!
You would need a magic wand to get that much extra energy from burning that much less fuel....

 

[ProfJohnL]

I am with you on this one.
I am always sceptical of claims like "you don't know the caravan is there", that always rings alarm bells to me. If close on doubling the weight of a outfit makes no diffrerence to its acceleration or handling, then I question the ability of the driver to understand their outfit, and how to tow safely.

 

[Dustydog]

No gain without pain.
5mpg extra

Just think of all that extra 110 Nm of torque going through the Dual Mass Flywheel!
They'll be trouble ahead, never mind getting the Insurance.