Unichip advice please

[clio sport]

Ive just had my quote given to me by Powerstation to have a Unichip fitted to my cup. The price is £465.00 +VAT.

Firstly is this price reasonable and second is there anyone else on here that has also had the chip fitted to their car.

Also anybody had work done by these guys because by the looks of the website they look pretty professional but you can never tell until its to late!

 

[Matty]

I would say its rwasonable but I would check first with Dastek importers, email them at mailto:info@dastek.co.uk">info@dastek.co.uk

Powerstation and Owen Developments have both been recommended as knowing what they are doing on a scooby site. Although I believe someone on here had a problem with Owen Developments (do a search under unichip) and so Id say try Powerstation.

Considering non programmable chips are costing £350 now like at BB or Ktec I would say this price including RR set up and fine tuned to the individual car is worth it. Plus any future mods can have the unichip reprogrammed rather than changed.

 

[Dash]

See your post of Sept 2003 http://forum.cliosport.net/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=6&TopicID=50918&SearchPagePosition=2&search=Unichip&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Thread&forum=0&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Searchhere might be some answers also.

 

[clio sport]

Thanks matty by what ive read in the past never heard of anyone getting it done for less than £500.

James i checked that out already but i dont know how to pm him unless i find one of his posts - any tips.

Also whilst youre reading this is there any other way of getting my membership sorted out other than having to print an application form out as me or any of my neighbours have a printer, and paypal seems to be more expensive. If i gave you my details online and posted you the cheque would that be ok? Thanks.

 

[Adams_16v]

lol iv had a quote from them today as well. iv seen cheaper but they have been recommended by some happy customers!

 

[clio sport]

Adam let me know if youre going to have it fitted too then we can try and blag a better price by having it done on the same day - say that youve recommeded me to them.

It may work - £500 all inc. sounds like a fair price!

 

[JAY172]

£500 sounds ok.my mate payed more than that i think.

 

[Matty]

Shame Im not ready for mine yet as could have joine dyou and tried getting cost down even more.

Only replaced cambelt 10k ago and dont want to mod engine anymore till it needs doing again. Then will go for cams, verniers, head work and possible 2 litre bottom end all in one go. Plus unichip of course.

Just gonna keep my eyes peeled for parts till Im ready for the whole cabudle.

 

[Adams_16v]

velos do it for £400 but my mate had problems with his there. dont think they are great with renaults!

ill let u know mate yeah! from people iv spoken to, they have been highly recommended!

Craig

 

[RB_172]

I had mine done at Millway Racing.

It cost me £470 inc VAT.

We did loads of test runs trying out the viper id just got, compared to the standard airbox etc. Took all day pretty much. Nice guys, was very happy with the service.

 

[007]

Anyone know if there are power advantages with the Unichip over then non-mappable ones?

Just wondering if a standard superchip or a Uni chip is the way to go for my car - will only have a filter and de-cat so im not sure there will be any advantage to a Unichip

 

[Matty]

Any programmable chip is gonna be worth it as set to the car not some variable that it is thought all cars posess. As everyones car is different, programming and rr set up will get the best out of the chip on your motor. And worth it now non programmable chips are only 100 quid less. In the long run it is cheaper as new mods can be accomodated unlike a preprogrammed chip which will need replacing on further states of tuning.

 

[Joethrelk]

Does anyone know of any tuning companies that do unichips up north i live in carlisle and we dont have much up here. I know of a place that specialises in minis near me that do them but i dont know if id trust them wid my 172.

 

[philip]

Quote: Originally posted by RB_172 on 03 February 2004


I had mine done at Millway Racing.

It cost me £470 inc VAT.

We did loads of test runs trying out the viper id just got, compared to the standard airbox etc. Took all day pretty much. Nice guys, was very happy with the service.



Best of luck. depending how much youve pushed the car since having Millway tamper with it, your car is either dead or dying. Has it been consuming more oil lately, any puffs of white smoke from the exhaust under full acceleration?

 

[Adams_16v]

o.k so where do u recommend to go for a proper job! i dont mind travelling as long as they are gonna fit it properly! iv heard a lot of bad things about a few different places, not good! i like my car ;0)

 

[philip]

cant recommend anybody as such, I can only recommend avoiding the two Ive used: Millway and Owen developments.

The one my mechanic is now using is based in Essex, I can get you details if you are interested.

What I can recommend though is that you call a few Unichip dealers in your area and ask them exactly how they map the cars, eg do they measure the airf/fuel ratio at the exhaust, do they measure it at the lambda sensor, do they actively look out for knocking before it leads to detonation etc, etc,

If they are forthcoming with the information, recognise the potential problems and come across as being sound then use them. If they just tell you dont worry mate weve done loads of them and do not provide you any more info, etc, look elsewhere

 

[Adams_16v]

ok fella cheers!

 

[Rick_172]

joetherelk - if you go to the Dastek homepage, it has a list of dealers who can chip your car... should be one nr you i would have thought. www.stormengineering.co.uk

 

[Woof]

How much does chipping add to your insurance?

 

[RB_172]

Quote: Originally posted by philip on 04 February 2004

Quote: Originally posted by RB_172 on 03 February 2004


I had mine done at Millway Racing.

It cost me £470 inc VAT.

We did loads of test runs trying out the viper id just got, compared to the standard airbox etc. Took all day pretty much. Nice guys, was very happy with the service.



Best of luck. depending how much youve pushed the car since having Millway tamper with it, your car is either dead or dying. Has it been consuming more oil lately, any puffs of white smoke from the exhaust under full acceleration?

Erm no, cant say as Ive seen any smoke. Are you going from past experience here? Should I have it checked out by someone else? Just had my 12000 mile service and renault didnt report anything strange going on.

 

[Neil82]

RB_172 did they say anything about your unichip? (Renault garage)

 

[philip]

RB, if Millway setup the car for maximum power without properly checking for detonation (as happened with mine) your car will be detting every time you are at full throttle. In time that will damage the piston rings and cause you £££. It happened to me. My car has now been fully fixed and improved at major £££ but it has been an expensive lesson!

I would get the car checked by another unichip dealer and I would have a long chat with them about the need to cehck for detonation etc.

 

[BenR]

It wouldnt of been proper detonation phil, that would kill an engine within seconds....aki to hitting an rising piston with a sledge hammer.

More like pre ignition, knock.

 

[RB_172]

Neil82cup,

No, not a thing.

philip,

ok, just need to find one near me then! (around the chelmsford area)

BenR,

anything I could look / listen out for to see if Ill be/I am having problems?

 

[clio sport]

Quote: Originally posted by Adams_16v on 03 February 2004

velos do it for £400 but my mate had problems with his there. dont think they are great with renaults!

ill let u know mate yeah! from people iv spoken to, they have been highly recommended!

Craig

PM me if you decide to have it fitted within the next month or so then we can arrange a date. Or anyone else for that matter!

 

[2 live]

yeah im on the market for a chip/ecu upgrade too



im lookin at 1 in the next few weeks if poss, poss could wait a bit longer for the right price

 

[philip]

Ben you should have seen the state of the piston rings on all 4 pistons. All 3 rings were completely mashed. They were sent back to Renault for investigation.We were very lucky to catch the problem early and the bores were perfect. Apparently its a common problem and most cup cars need to have their pistons replaced every season.

RB, my mechanic + cup race team is based in essex off the M25 and his Unichip garage is that way too. If youre interested PM me and Ill send you his details.

Cheers, P