I didnt i told them I had it and they added £16 I think. Im with Admiral
Tuning Box Issues
I was all revved up and ready to order a tuning box for my Antara 163ps having lifted off the engine cover and discovered how easy it would be to fit it myself - then I telephoned my insurers to inform them of my intentions and to ask what additional premium there would be to pay - having checked with their underwriters they informed me that if I fitted the device myself or indeed if it was fitted by a garage, I have to provide my insurers with a document from a certified engineer that the installation has been done correctly before they will agree to cover my modified vehicle!! Have any other members had this experience and if so, how did they resolve it??
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I jnformed my insurer, who is Hatings and they added £15 to my premium after checking the web site and the chip I installed
jul3s said:I jnformed my insurer, who is Hatings and they added £15 to my premium after checking the web site and the chip I installed
Liverpool Victoria + £16 (I assume admin fee)
Hi Jul3s,
Do you mind telling me which chip and why that particular one??
Do you mind telling me which chip and why that particular one??
Hi, thx for your reply can you confirm which chip you used, price & why that one??
chrisg said:jul3s said:I jnformed my insurer, who is Hatings and they added £15 to my premium after checking the web site and the chip I installed
Liverpool Victoria + £16 (I assume admin fee)
£16 !! The robbing barks quoted me £50.
hi david7 can i ask you which chip you have purchased and what you hope it will be of benefit for?
i have been looking at them especially the fuel efficiency side of it1 did say 15 percent better m p jG
i have been looking at them especially the fuel efficiency side of it1 did say 15 percent better m p jG
Hi Dave & Cherie,
My first dilemma is that I haven't yet decided which tuning-box to go for (there are loads to choose from and all claim to give oodles more hp/torque plus better mpg). Some have chosen the basic Racechip box at around £100, alternatively there is a TDI Tuning box at £289 (all of these boxes intercept the data from the ECU at the diesel rail and basically fool it into delivering more fuel or so I understand) There are however those who admonish going down the ECU remap route and a popular method is the Bluefin which is a handheld device that you plug into the diagnostic port of the car, remove the existing map and replace it with a map which you download via the internet from such as Racechip. My biggest problem is that before installing any of these devices, you are obliged to declare the modification to your cars performance to your insurer - mine said it was acceptable BUT whether the device was installed by me or a garage, they would need a document from a certified engineer confirming that the installation had been done correctly before they would consider adding this to my insurance cover - the extra premium would equate to around £36 per annum. Hope I haven't confused you AND I do know that most of the tuning boxes can be self-adjusted to target more mpg or better torque etc.
Dave7 (David)
My first dilemma is that I haven't yet decided which tuning-box to go for (there are loads to choose from and all claim to give oodles more hp/torque plus better mpg). Some have chosen the basic Racechip box at around £100, alternatively there is a TDI Tuning box at £289 (all of these boxes intercept the data from the ECU at the diesel rail and basically fool it into delivering more fuel or so I understand) There are however those who admonish going down the ECU remap route and a popular method is the Bluefin which is a handheld device that you plug into the diagnostic port of the car, remove the existing map and replace it with a map which you download via the internet from such as Racechip. My biggest problem is that before installing any of these devices, you are obliged to declare the modification to your cars performance to your insurer - mine said it was acceptable BUT whether the device was installed by me or a garage, they would need a document from a certified engineer confirming that the installation had been done correctly before they would consider adding this to my insurance cover - the extra premium would equate to around £36 per annum. Hope I haven't confused you AND I do know that most of the tuning boxes can be self-adjusted to target more mpg or better torque etc.
Dave7 (David)
I put the basic racechip box in my '58 antara, cost about £117 and took 5 minutes to fit (after picture here on the forum)
I did not do it for the extra 33% Bhp, even though it is nice to have. I did it because it has given an extra 2 miles to the gallon and according to my last two brim to brim measures, I am getting 39.5 miles to the gallon, which has given me approx 2 miles to the gallon better than before.
I do 80+ miles a day and this average is slightly worse than what the on board trip computer calculates at 40.9 miles per gallon. (Other posts mentioned that there would be a difference)
The extra 2 miles per gallon has already made it pay for itself and now it is a 195 bhp tank, which I do enjoy driving
I chose the racechip as I am a novice and I wanted to give something a go that was inexpensive and easily removed if it failed. It has been serviced with it on and over the last 12 weeks can only say it is an improvement to the car
I did not do it for the extra 33% Bhp, even though it is nice to have. I did it because it has given an extra 2 miles to the gallon and according to my last two brim to brim measures, I am getting 39.5 miles to the gallon, which has given me approx 2 miles to the gallon better than before.
I do 80+ miles a day and this average is slightly worse than what the on board trip computer calculates at 40.9 miles per gallon. (Other posts mentioned that there would be a difference)
The extra 2 miles per gallon has already made it pay for itself and now it is a 195 bhp tank, which I do enjoy driving
I chose the racechip as I am a novice and I wanted to give something a go that was inexpensive and easily removed if it failed. It has been serviced with it on and over the last 12 weeks can only say it is an improvement to the car
Hi Jul3s,
I know Grumps has the basic Racechip box on his and says it's great!
How did you go on with the insurance - did they ask for an engineer's report that you had fitted the box correctly??
Dave7 (David)
I know Grumps has the basic Racechip box on his and says it's great!
How did you go on with the insurance - did they ask for an engineer's report that you had fitted the box correctly??
Dave7 (David)
Nope,
As posted above, Hastings is my insurer, I told them what I was doing, which supplier and the reported gains(as per the web site.)
They went away and sent me a letter stating that my premium had increased by £15 and stating the changes to the BHP which is on my insurance documents and the word modified by owner
thats it, no report needed from an engineer as no structural changes made to the car
didn't even question it
As posted above, Hastings is my insurer, I told them what I was doing, which supplier and the reported gains(as per the web site.)
They went away and sent me a letter stating that my premium had increased by £15 and stating the changes to the BHP which is on my insurance documents and the word modified by owner
thats it, no report needed from an engineer as no structural changes made to the car
didn't even question it
The tuning boxes are the cheaper method and from my experience with the racechip box i have its been very good for the money. If I could justify the extra cost i would go down the bluefin road but to be honest after reading about them it might be a safer way to do it but im not sure you are getting anything more for your money.Dave7 said:Hi Dave & Cherie,
My first dilemma is that I haven't yet decided which tuning-box to go for (there are loads to choose from and all claim to give oodles more hp/torque plus better mpg). Some have chosen the basic Racechip box at around £100, alternatively there is a TDI Tuning box at £289 (all of these boxes intercept the data from the ECU at the diesel rail and basically fool it into delivering more fuel or so I understand) There are however those who admonish going down the ECU remap route and a popular method is the Bluefin which is a handheld device that you plug into the diagnostic port of the car, remove the existing map and replace it with a map which you download via the internet from such as Racechip. My biggest problem is that before installing any of these devices, you are obliged to declare the modification to your cars performance to your insurer - mine said it was acceptable BUT whether the device was installed by me or a garage, they would need a document from a certified engineer confirming that the installation had been done correctly before they would consider adding this to my insurance cover - the extra premium would equate to around £36 per annum. Hope I haven't confused you AND I do know that most of the tuning boxes can be self-adjusted to target more mpg or better torque etc.
Dave7 (David)
Hi Grumps,
Many thanks for your interest in my 'Tuning Box Dilemma' - to dip my toe in the water so to speak I think I will get a Racechip Box same as yours for around £100 (I believe we both have 163ps Antaras!) Could you please confirm that when you fitted the Racechip box no dashboard warning lights appeared or anything untoward like that. Also what was the exact procedure - some sites say you must remove the ignition key and close/lock the doors before proceeding to fit the box AND as the box is from Germany, were there any proper fitting instructions AND were they in English?? I would very much appreciate your advice and sorry to be a pain!! Thanks
Dave7
Many thanks for your interest in my 'Tuning Box Dilemma' - to dip my toe in the water so to speak I think I will get a Racechip Box same as yours for around £100 (I believe we both have 163ps Antaras!) Could you please confirm that when you fitted the Racechip box no dashboard warning lights appeared or anything untoward like that. Also what was the exact procedure - some sites say you must remove the ignition key and close/lock the doors before proceeding to fit the box AND as the box is from Germany, were there any proper fitting instructions AND were they in English?? I would very much appreciate your advice and sorry to be a pain!! Thanks
Dave7
Fitting is very easy just remove the plastic engine cover this just uncoils by pulling it at the corners. I remove the four screws and remove the top of the air cleaner box/ intake pipe to make it easier but some members say they can take the engine cover off without having to move the air cleaner box/pipe. You also need to remove the oil filler cap to remove the engine cover.
Once the cover is off locate the multi plug and connect one end of the tuning box harness to it and connect the check light supplied with the tuning box. You use this to make sure have the harness connect properly. Once the light is connected you switch the ignition on and the check light should illuminate. If everything goes to plan switch the ignition off and connect the multi plug you removed at the start to the other end of the tuning box harness where the check light was connected. So basically you removed the plug and connected another piece of wire which has the tuning box connected to it.
That's about all you have to do. Tidy up the wires and use some cable ties and find somewhere to locate the box itself. I normally place it behind the air cleaner box that way it's easy to get to if you want to adjust it plus their is plenty of room and a couple of places you can use to attach cable ties to hold the box in place.
That's it replace the engine cove etc and your all set. It sounds complicated but I can remove or refit it in 5-10 mins early.
I have some pics and more info on this thread HereEdited by: Grumps
Once the cover is off locate the multi plug and connect one end of the tuning box harness to it and connect the check light supplied with the tuning box. You use this to make sure have the harness connect properly. Once the light is connected you switch the ignition on and the check light should illuminate. If everything goes to plan switch the ignition off and connect the multi plug you removed at the start to the other end of the tuning box harness where the check light was connected. So basically you removed the plug and connected another piece of wire which has the tuning box connected to it.
That's about all you have to do. Tidy up the wires and use some cable ties and find somewhere to locate the box itself. I normally place it behind the air cleaner box that way it's easy to get to if you want to adjust it plus their is plenty of room and a couple of places you can use to attach cable ties to hold the box in place.
That's it replace the engine cove etc and your all set. It sounds complicated but I can remove or refit it in 5-10 mins early.
I have some pics and more info on this thread HereEdited by: Grumps
When fitting the race chip, has anyone had dashboard lights coming on ?
Nope and I have played about with the settings on the box.chrisg said:When fitting the race chip, has anyone had dashboard lights coming on ?
Hi Grumps, I would be very interested in any settings that you have experimented? thanks
The box comes with a preset setting off the top of my head I can't remember what my one was but it was just a case of removing the cover on the end of the racechip and turning the screw one click at a time. Again I would need to check but I think I added another 3-4 clicks which makes so much difference to the torque. It was trial and error some worked better than others.chrisg said:Hi Grumps, I would be very interested in any settings that you have experimented? thanks
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