C70 D5 - Just done an MTE remap

[dme123]

Well I've noticed some clutch slip since the remap, in the usual places when it starts to go. I can drive around it at the moment but I gather it is not unusual for a remap to expose the weakness in a worn clutch. It's going it to get it done at Bridgend Volvo Specialist who will check the DMF at the same time.

It is a testament to the improvement to the driveability of the car that I'd rather just pay and get the clutch done than even bother trying to see what it would be like mapped back to standard I suppose, but the advice that the car does need to be in tip top condition to deal with the additional power does seem to be correct.

ETA - I did a 60MPH long motorway run with no traffic for 300 odd miles the other week and got over 63mpg from the car. It was bloody tedious but I was impressed that it was possible.

[iantowil]

I did wonder whether clutch slip would rear its head - how many miles has your C70 done? I guess it's also the weight of the car that puts a fair bit of stress on the clutch.

Hope the clutch change goes well. Keep us updated and thanks for this update also - mine wouldn't do 60mpg with a 60mph tailwind.

[dme123]

Just done over 60,000 miles now. I never bothered with a 60MPH long run pre-remap so I really don't know if it could have managed it or not. I don't think a D5 auto could!

[iantowil]

Mine's done 66k, and my main concern was the clutch wouldn't hold up. Keep us posted how the clutch job goes.

My C70 is a 2008 D5 manual, and at 60-65mph, I can squeeze very low 50s mpg, and that is everything it has - 60mpg is just a dream for me, so it seems you might well have gained abit there, which is nice indeed!

[dme123]

That 63 included a couple of "I've lost all patience" booting past people and the odd bit of traffic. Also the M50 route into South Wales is quite hilly, which doesn't help. I honestly believe if I had an unimpeded and flat trip at 60MPH it could get over 65mpg.

Gets low 40s at speeds you'd actually want to do though!

I suspect the clutch was quite worn anyway, I've spoken to the guy at the volvo garage who has a similar map on his and has done 10s of thousands without clutch issues. I guess maybe I'd have got a fair bit more life out of the clutch without the remap though as it has to do a lot more work.

Quote for clutch is £600 if the DMF checks out OK, £1000 if it doesn't. Par for the course on a modern car.

[dme123]

Clutch replaced for £630 including the concentric slave cylinder. Flywheel checked out OK. Just had to get used to the low bite point but it does seem the car isn't quite so easy to stall anymore too and the clutch bite feels nicer.

[iantowil]

Glad it worked out. Keep us posted, and if you ever have a spare half hour when passing Port Talbot steelworks, would love to see how it performs.

[dme123]

Just an update to say I've now done 11,000 miles in the 5 months since getting the car remapped and no further issues. Fuel economy average is 43MPG with a couple of tanks at 50MPG+. I did some very rapid long night time motorway journeys over Christmas with speeds well into three figures and still averaged low 30s from it. Not even been heavy on front tyres.

[Darranna]

David are these remaps recommended for the cars equipped with an Auto box?

[don kalmar union]

These MTE calibrations are suitable for both manual and auto.

Price is sill as mentioned some months ago...

£395 including VAT with a fully refundable deposit of £155 for the Softloader interface that you need to connect car's OBD port to your laptop to carry out the initial read-out that I need to send to MTE in Stockholm for them to assemble their work and to install it when I finally email it back to you.

Don.