Mystery device fitted to car..what is it?

[Tonyclio]

My son has just purchased a 2013 BMW X5 and we have subsequently found a device hidden away in the engine bay.

Unfortunately the previous owner had passed away (purchased from the estate) so unable seek information on the device.

There are no names or codes on the device, but it lights up when door open and but no change when engine started, so it is active.

It looks like a professional fit and seems wired into the fuel management system. Could be a security device but loath to touch anything in case we disable the car.

Any sensible thoughts/suggestions welcome!!

 

[Sash]

Google suggests a Throttle response controller…

 

[Tonyclio]

Wow thanks!!

 

[R3k1355]

Double check it's not wired into the injection harness, cos you don't want a dogshit tuning box on there.

 

[Tonyclio]

Double check it's not wired into the injection harness, cos you don't want a dogshit tuning box on there.

Hi, it is wired into the injection harness so we are loath to touch it. At least we know this is not an alarm my so he is not going to be left stranded f it fails.

 

[Advikaz]

tuning box

 

[Mr Trailer Man]

Looks similar to one of these.

TDI Tuning | BMW X5 30d MHEV CRTD4 SENT TWIN Channel Diesel Tuning Box Chip

An innovator in custom tuning systems for a vast variety of vehicles. Get up to 40% power and 20% MPG. With over 15 years of experience in the tuning industry.

tdi-tuning.com

As said, some sort of tuning box to turn it into a raaaami whip and smashing RS3's brotha.

 

[charltjr]

From the lights on it, looks like it’s in economy mode, so the car probably drives like s**t with it on anyway.

Needs to be notified to insurance too, it’s not subtle so will jump out at anyone who lifts the bonnet. I’d bin it unless he wants the extra powwwwwer.

 

[Advikaz]

Not all of those box’s are s**t tbf

 

[Tonyclio]

Will try and find more about it with a view to removing it.

 

[Rich-D]

It appears to be a Spider Chiptuning "Performance Pack" tuning box, with various different "maps", E is economy, 1, 2, 3 & 4 are increasing power levels and R is race. I would at least get it off E and onto 1 for a start as it is reducing throttle response in E mode so it will drive like crap.

Looks like you set the map (green light) with the S +/- buttons and then can also adjust the level (blue lights) with the P +/- buttons, I assume the C restores it to the default setting, so maybe just press that, but get it off E.

They're easy to remove though, it will be plug & play with either 2 or 3 connectors into the car's sensors, depending on how advanced it is, a better one will have 3 plugs and be reading/adjusting the boost, not just fuelling like a cheaper one.

Found this >>>

 

[Rich-D]

Not all of those box’s are s**t tbf

Agreed, some are better than others, they get a bad rep generally, but as with most things, there are good & bad ones.

I ran a JB1 box on my Golf R for about 3 years, it was faultless and had it on a rolling road, it made 365bhp & 367lb/ft, a very healthy increase over stock!

 

[Tonyclio]

It appears to be a Spider Chiptuning "Performance Pack" tuning box, with various different "maps", E is economy, 1, 2, 3 & 4 are increasing power levels and R is race. I would at least get it off E and onto 1 for a start as it is reducing throttle response in E mode so it will drive like crap.

Looks like you set the map (green light) with the S +/- buttons and then can also adjust the level (blue lights) with the P +/- buttons, I assume the C restores it to the default setting, so maybe just press that, but get it off E.

They're easy to remove though, it will be plug & play with either 2 or 3 connectors into the car's sensors, depending on how advanced it is, a better one will have 3 plugs and be reading/adjusting the boost, not just fuelling like a cheaper one.

Found this >>>

This is great. Really appreciate all the effort everyone is going to on this topic.

 

[Rich-D]

This is great. Really appreciate all the effort everyone is going to on this topic.

No worries