Opinions on engine modifications

[Zafiro]

I'm thinking about stage 1 for my car. Gives you another 30-40 hp and about 100 nm of torque improvement.
Tuning companies isn't a big thing in Sweden and in UK Ford is very popular. I know at least 10 different Ford tuning companies.
All you neeed is an app, the supplied Bluetooth OBD interface and a Smartphone. Plug it in you car, wait a minute and you have a new map.

Factory warranty is gone, on the other hand these tuning companies been existing for many years. Reading on various forums you shouldn't worry. Its not like we are talking about crazy tuning numbers.

People here modified their cars or know something about it. General thoughts about tuning.

 

[Centurion]

If you own a car with a reliable engine that's us tuning friendly, then a remap/stage 1 tune is an innocent way to add more power.

There are many tuning options that are reversible and can be removed before taking your car in for service.

 

[Zafiro]

If you own a car with a reliable engine that's us tuning friendly, then a remap/stage 1 tune is...

The ones I been looking at does this. This is the one of two I've been looking at:
Fiesta ST MK8 Stage 1 - Dreamscience

I had my car for more than a year now and 16000 km later not a single problem. I know people been driving with stage 1 for more than a year now and not a single problem so far. It seem like a good bet but as always you can be unlucky. I have almost decided to do it but my car already is quick enough so its not necessary.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

The ones I been looking at does this. This is the one of two I've been looking at:
Fiesta ST MK8 S...

Each tuning puts some strain on some detail that's not designed to carry such a load. Usually components are designed for 300 k km of use with the tuning this resource of some components is reduced, depending on the tuning with 5%, 10% etc. If you plan to keep the car only up to 100 k km or less, then a slight tuning should not cause any damage in this period.

 

[KiwiRob]

Each tuning puts some strain on some detail that's not designed to carry such a load...

The Mountune offerings are warranted by Ford and don't effect the existing warranty.

I've thought about stage one for my A6, which would essentially bring the power up to the 3.0 V6 tdi range, I doubt that would cause any issues with my cars driveline, since it can already handle it from factory.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

For me the only safe tuning is this that happens after the engine or said with other words of the exhaust system. Decreasing the backpreasure brings only benefits. Everything else that's achieved thanks to increasing of the pressure in the cylinder has negative effects somewhere. It's mainly the main bearings that struggle the most. In order to decrease the production costs the manufacturer puts main bearings made of materials so that to achieve the projected mileage with almost zero additional resource.

 

[Zafiro]

The Mountune offerings are warranted by Ford and don't effect the existing warranty.
.

Not anymore. Now they är like anyone else. At least for Ford.

 

[Cashmere]

Never driven an MK8 but I’ve had my MK7 ST for just over a year and I don’t think I’ve ever jumped into the car and wished it had more power. It’s so perfectly balanced from the factory.

One thing that has been transformative in my experience have been tires and brakes. When I go for a spirited drive on back roads, my friend In his Golf R is always surprised that I’m able to keep up with him in a fiesta

 

[martinbo]

One thing that has been transformative in my experience have been tires and brakes. When I go for a spirited drive on back roads, my friend In his Golf R is always surprised that I’m able to keep up with him in a fiesta

But that's the allure of the compact hot-hatch category - lighter weight, smaller footprint and resulting nimbleness means that a hot hatch can easily keep up with more powerful machinery on tight, twisty back-roads.
This is the very essence of the "EVO-ness" of the small hot hatch - the virtues of which were extolled extensively in EVO magazine's hey days. Cars such as the erstwhile Clio RS (the old manuals), Peugeot 306 GTI-6 and, still, Fiesta ST are typical of the darty-ness and adjustability in the finest FWD hot hatches for tackling a twisty B-road with. Sure, when the road widens and opens up and turns from tight corners to fast sweeps, it's a different story but that's just reality.

 

[Centurion]

One thing that has been transformative in my experience have been tires and brakes.

That’s why I will change from MPSS to MP4S before even considering a stage 1 tune for my M140i.

 

[Zafiro]

No, more power isn't really needed on a small hot hatch. Even at 50km/h the car is fun and mischievous. The steering is the best I've been trying in a modern car.
I have Michelin Supersport and LSD so traction isn't an issue, even with stage 1 I've read the traction is still good. But the need for speed is attractive these days , even had ecu flash on my bike and acceleration isn't what a bike lacks.
I have plans for driving on autobahn and a few laps around N-ring this summer and here is where speed is needed tuning a car and add more power is so easy today, you're doing it by yourself.

 

[Zafiro]

Stage 1 remap from UK ordered. Should be arriving next week.

 

[Zafiro]

Installed Ultima 2 today, stage 1. Another 30-40 hp and 100 nm of extra torque (new power 235 to 245 hp and 390 nm). Took about 10 minutes to do it all. You do feel a difference. Much quicker in all gears, also in-gear with 5th or 6th gear. Going to keep my eyes on fuel consumption and engine oil. My little gocart just become faster.