V70: General 2014 D5 215bhp remap query.

[PennoXC70]

Thanks for the reply Paul.

I have spoken to BSR today and they confirmed that the ECU would need sending to Sweden to be decoded before it could be remapped, so not something that I am wanting to do.
Rica's UK outlet in Leeds advises that I would need to take the car to them too to have the ECU decoded/unlocked but it would be done in a few hours at the garage so only one visit to Leeds. Once this is complete I can then choose from three map options economy 230bhp, stage1 245bhp and stage2 at 275bhp, although he did say that he felt the 275bhp was optimistic and he hadn't seen car achieve this but it was higher than the stage1 map, also the stage2 did exceed at 536Nm advertised.
The remaps cost £420 (economy), £480 (stage1) and £520 (stage2) you can have your car remapped to any of these at the garage or if you purchase the iSoftloader (£90) you can load it yourself once the cars ECU is unlocked and revert to the cars standard map at anytime.
What is appealing to me is that if you buy one of the higher power level remaps you get the lower powered maps included, so for for just over £600 I would have the option of running four separate maps. Not really keen on the stage2 map as it seems a bit OTT, but for the additional £60 I would probably get it anyway.
Thoughts??

[volvocat]

I'm assuming, with a quality car of barely five years old, you'd want to have a fully main-dealer stamped service record?
If so, be aware that 3rd-party remaps can be over-written/deleted by Volvo software updates etc. so you could be faced with having it all re-done after a service.
But even independents use Volvo software so your 'bargain' re-map could still be at risk.
And if it is still in warranty, any claims could be invalidated by 3rd-party mods.
Also, some of the claimed higher-output mods could put excessive strain on components that may not be designed to take such power-hikes.
Polestar is still the safest and best option, being designed specifically for your car and, according to the prices you mention, not much more expensive, especially with the current offer.
Anyway, how fast do you need to go?!
I had a D5 XC70 (215) manual and it really shifted (I didn't get that one P*'d 'cos it was a lease car - all my others have been autos and wholly owned), but with P* it would have been plenty quick enough for anyone - so why take unnecessary risks?

[green van man]

Originally Posted by PennoXC70

Thanks for the reply Paul.

I have spoken to BSR today and they confirmed that the ECU would need sending to Sweden to be decoded before it could be remapped, so not something that I am wanting to do.
Rica's UK outlet in Leeds advises that I would need to take the car to them too to have the ECU decoded/unlocked but it would be done in a few hours at the garage so only one visit to Leeds. Once this is complete I can then choose from three map options economy 230bhp, stage1 245bhp and stage2 at 275bhp, although he did say that he felt the 275bhp was optimistic and he hadn't seen car achieve this but it was higher than the stage1 map, also the stage2 did exceed at 536Nm advertised.
The remaps cost £420 (economy), £480 (stage1) and £520 (stage2) you can have your car remapped to any of these at the garage or if you purchase the iSoftloader (£90) you can load it yourself once the cars ECU is unlocked and revert to the cars standard map at anytime.
What is appealing to me is that if you buy one of the higher power level remaps you get the lower powered maps included, so for for just over £600 I would have the option of running four separate maps. Not really keen on the stage2 map as it seems a bit OTT, but for the additional £60 I would probably get it anyway.
Thoughts??

The one word of caution I would say is reliability. Polestar is accepted to not affect reliability. Police V70's were polestarred but to a higher level than the option offered to us grunts, they are after all volvos racing organisation, a lot of police cars suffered from head gasket failier and my local dealer changed 2 engines under warranty in patrol cars.

The accepted route when I was into competition cars was keep going until it goes bang than back off a step as you found the limit, it was not a cheap route but in those days electronic remaps were unheard of.
It's your car and you will be paying the bills so only you can realy do the cost benefit analysis. I found the standard tune of my 175bhp xc70 left a noticable turbo lag when pulling off, polestar transformed it and flattened the torque curve very noticably. No its not and never will by a fararrI but now acceleration is relentless and I can break traction in 3rd gear if not careful. It's not so much the outright power or torque but driveability that is improved, and that improved driveability is very usable as it's still within the capabilities of the chassis.
I have had the high maintenance fun cars and am at an age where 1 hobby car is more than enough, all I wanted from the volvo was acceptable reliable performance, polestar has given me that and never let me down. When you can travel quicker along the A44 out of Llangurig towing a caravan than the 215bhp twin turbo xc70 in front of you I think I have enough driveability pity was there was no opertunity to overtake him with the caravan on the hook or a clean pair of heels would of been seen as I disappeared into the distance.

I did have a lad in a Scrooby challenge me coming off a roundabout on a quiet dual carrageway one time, could hear his turbo blowing off as he changed up, matched him to 95 and backed off as coming up on traffic ahead. Idon't have the polestar badge fitted so no external indication, surprised him that he could not burn me off and fair do's he tried hard.

Paul.

[PennoXC70]

Thanks for the replies again.

The car is out of any warranty now and it is 17 months and 31,000 miles since I bought it from a Volvo dealer so no real comeback.
Yes it is still Volvo service history, however questioning whether I will take it to Volvo in February when due as I read that at 6 years it will be due a belt change and the main dealer costs are looking like £1,000 so it may be time to shop around (opinion on this welcome).
Losing or having the remap over-written is a concern which is why the Rica remap and iSoftloader appeals as easy to reload if lost. I have been thinking of this since posting and probably the stage2 is pointless as I don't think that I would ever use it.
Just realised that a local garage installs Evolution Chips (again opinions welcome).
So my options as I see them now are:
1/ Polestar 230bhp £695.
2/ Rica options of running at 212bhp, 230bhp or 245bhp at £570.
3/ Evolution chips 245bhp £299. (not spoken to these yet).
I know that people rave about the Polestar, but in part that seems to be down to the changes to the gear shifts and warranty, neither of which affect me.
I also notice that while most (all) other remaps suggest an increase in fuel economy (general 10%) Polestar doesn't make any such claims, are they just being conservative?
Thanks again for the time taken in replies.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by PennoXC70

Thanks for the replies again.

The car is out of any warranty now and it is 17 months and 31,000 miles since I bought it from a Volvo dealer so no real comeback.
Yes it is still Volvo service history, however questioning whether I will take it to Volvo in February when due as I read that at 6 years it will be due a belt change and the main dealer costs are looking like £1,000 so it may be time to shop around (opinion on this welcome).
Losing or having the remap over-written is a concern which is why the Rica remap and iSoftloader appeals as easy to reload if lost. I have been thinking of this since posting and probably the stage2 is pointless as I don't think that I would ever use it.
Just realised that a local garage installs Evolution Chips (again opinions welcome).
So my options as I see them now are:
1/ Polestar 230bhp £695.
2/ Rica options of running at 212bhp, 230bhp or 245bhp at £570.
3/ Evolution chips 245bhp £299. (not spoken to these yet).
I know that people rave about the Polestar, but in part that seems to be down to the changes to the gear shifts and warranty, neither of which affect me.
I also notice that while most (all) other remaps suggest an increase in fuel economy (general 10%) Polestar doesn't make any such claims, are they just being conservative?
Thanks again for the time taken in replies.

A cam belt and aux.belt , tensioners etc job will not be £1000 , it might be if a service and some brakes are needed though .


By getting a non genuine software in the ECU you are forfeiting any volvo engine software updates which 3 or 4 a year are released .


If you go to a dealer for service your software is going to be either erased or corrupted if they try to do the free software updates which go with the service or it may NEED a software up date to alter something or fix some running fault they have found which needs it ..
Also any volvo support when you get engine problems , poor running lack of power , Engine light on etc will be void , as will volvo good-will support when the warranty has expired which is pretty good . What is the trouble shooting procedure like with these re-map companies ?

Polestar claim fuel consumption is not affected which is very true unless you use the power you have paid £700 for ..
same goes for the non genuine software , You are not going to pay £700 and NOT use the power are you, so expect a significant drop in mpg .

[zapcity1]

I've done quite a bit of research for this as I have 3x D5s, so my view for what its worth is this.

I've 2x D5s (a C70 and XC70) that can be mapped via the obd as they are older models.

Happy to do this using MTE software or one of the reputable companies, as it's a well proven process.

My other car is an XC60 with the 163bhp D5 engine (badged D3). This is exactly the same hardware as the 215bhp D5, so on paper it seems an easy gain of at least 62bhp.

Polestar option for £695 would be good value for me given the bhp increase and the gearbox optimisation which most agree is of great benefit. The aftermarket tuners can't offer this. I guess it's a harder sell when you only gain 15bhp or so!

Biggest downside for me using an aftermarket company, is the fact they need to bench flash the newer ECUs. This involves taking it apart and flashing it. I don't fancy letting someone poke around in the ECU given the expensive consequences. Liability for any ECU damage would need to be very clear before I'd ever go with this.

The old Shark website still has a really good explanation of what the process is and why it's required. http://www.sharkperformance.co.uk/ecu-removal/

In your situation I think I would go for the Polestar remap, and get your other belt services/brakes etc. done by a good independent garage. The money you'd save on the Volvo service costs would probably cover the extra for the Polestar remap.

I've still done nothing with my XC60, but if I do it will be Polestar.

Hope you reach a decision your comfortable with as it is a tough decision.

[scott8629]

Thread hijack.
My V70 is well serviced but now on 196K miles. Would this be wise move to polestar or Rica Map?

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by jamesmark

Thanks for the replies, I am not opposed to the Polestar map, but just question the minimal gains for the inflated price. But price is not a concern as it is only £700, However having had performance cars (Supra’s & 200sx etc) in past I do like to do things the right way.

My car if I am being honest will probably never see a Volvo service centre again, the garage I have used for years has served me well. He looked after my XC70 & Ford Focus, sorry I meant V50.

Final question really, the small gains you get from the polestar is it noticeable being on 15bhp and similar torque gain. Also I assume the MPG is better but not by much?

Again thanks for the help.

Mark

I am looking at getting my xc90 remapped with polestar which takes it from 200bhp to 210 and circa 420nm torque to 440nm torque. Sounds like nothing but as a package the 0-60 is cut from 10.3s to 9.9 so near half a second. Clearly there is more at work than 10bhp....

Modern cars have thousands of variables and my xc90 has around 25 control modules, an aftermarket tuner can remap all these, guarantee no loss of reliability and install for £300 odd quid, I don’t believe it.

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by volvocat

It is claimed mpg is unaffected (no better, no worse) which may be true in 'normal' driving but increased performance invites a heavier right foot which, in turn, obviously brings fuel penalties, so depends how you drive.
As for the relatively small gains on paper (on screen?), it's more a matter of how it feels and what it gives you in practice, so you really do need to try it in your car, on your regular routes - which is why they offer a 14-day trial period.
With the best will in the world, a V/XC70 is never going to be a sportscar but the idea of P* is to improve driveability/practicality, particularly in overtaking ability, hence the gains are mostly mid-range, rather than for racing hot hatches away from the lights!
I live in an area some distance from the motorway network, most A-Roads being single carriageway, long-distance lorries usually limited to 40mph and farm tractors etc. even slower so yes, in dealing with them more effectively I find the extra power noticeable - and very useful - used wisely, of course...

I concur with all these comments.
The power gains in using Polestar Optimisation initially seem poor value compared to other options available aftermarket. However, the keyword is Optimisation and how the engines are remapped and improve the day-to-day drivability.
There is layperson's argument why Volvo wouldn't just supply this Optimised remap as standard but people forget not every car is as looked after as those on these pages. Any remap will reduce the tolerances an engine can work at so having the comfort blanket of being manufacturer approved certainly helps.
I was lucky enough to win a Polestar remap for my 2011 V70 D5 with the T10 engine and cannot praise it highly enough. I am looking at an XC70 replacement and would not hesitate paying for Polestar next time.

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by scott8629

Thread hijack.
My V70 is well serviced but now on 196K miles. Would this be wise move to polestar or Rica Map?

I'm currently just over 205k with Polestar D5 T10 engine (ie. 205PS originally)