[Nintendofan]

The 320d sold in Australia seems to have less power and torque (115kW and 330 Nm) compared to the Euro spec 320d (123kW and 340Nm)? Why is this the case?

[VGR00]

Could be related to the low quality of the desiel fuel available in Australia.

[Scott_H]

Originally Posted by Nintendofan

The 320d sold in Australia seems to have less power and torque (115kW and 330 Nm) compared to the Euro spec 320d (123kW and 340Nm)? Why is this the case?

Why worry? You are gonna ECU it anyway right? You will end up with more than 123Kw

But yeah i would think it has to do with quality of the fuel, Europe has tonnes of diesel street cars, whereas the vast majority of diesel vehicles here are SUVs / trucks etc. So i would have to think the car has had the ECU set differently to cope with the local diesel.

[ed-320d]

It is to do with diesel quality in Oz. Diesel cars are still rare in Australia.
Powerchip offer a retune to 136kw/400nm for $1260.

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by ed-320d

It is to do with diesel quality in Oz. Diesel cars are still rare in Australia.
Powerchip offer a retune to 136kw/400nm for $1260.

That's not a bad gain over stock for the money. Are you thinking of doing it ?? Only reason I ask is because I think they physicly have to pull the processor out of the ECU to do it and I think your warrenty would be toast if you ever had an ECU problem.

[Nintendofan]

If the issue is with the diesel quality in Australia, then why do the other manufacturers (Audi, VW, Mercedes) offer diesel engines in Australia that are identical in output to their European counterparts?

[ed-320d]

Originally Posted by Nintendofan

If the issue is with the diesel quality in Australia, then why do the other manufacturers (Audi, VW, Mercedes) offer diesel engines in Australia that are identical in output to their European counterparts?

As I know VW/Audi has a 2.0l 4cyl diesel with 125Kw/350Nm which has been released in UK since the end of last year. That engine has not made it here, when I called VW Australia, they said they have no plan to bring that model of engine to Oz. Instead we got the 103Kw/320Nm diesel.

Same goes to Mercedes and BMW. They have a later model of diesel for Europe. BTW the new BMW 2.0 125kw/400Nm (unsure) is coming in the 520d and X3 2.0d.

[ed-320d]

Originally Posted by vgr02

That's not a bad gain over stock for the money. Are you thinking of doing it ?? Only reason I ask is because I think they physicly have to pull the processor out of the ECU to do it and I think your warrenty would be toast if you ever had an ECU problem.

I would do it if I can get it for $500 mark. Too expensive for me, although the price for the typical petrol "chip" cost around $2000.

According to Powerchip, I dont have to pull the processor out, they just change the paremeter in the current processor. The risk and benefit are, the parameter may get reset by dealer to default parameter. In that case I can get it reprogrammed again free of charge.


Ed

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by ed-320d

I would do it if I can get it for $500 mark. Too expensive for me, although the price for the typical petrol "chip" cost around $2000.

According to Powerchip, I dont have to pull the processor out, they just change the paremeter in the current processor. The risk and benefit are, the parameter may get reset by dealer to default parameter. In that case I can get it reprogrammed again free of charge.


Ed

OK ... Then what Powerchip are doing is a FLASH upgrade. In the document they sent me, it states the processor has to be de-soldered and replaced which I find strange (I have an Electronics Engineering background). Anyway the performance difference for the petrol engine is only 5% on engine power and torque therefore not worth the $1600.

Anyway .... Getting back onto the topic ...... I think I read in the latest BMW magazine someting about BMW offering the newer diesal and petrol engines with higher outputs once our fuel quality improves. Something to do with the amout of Sulpher if I recall properly.

[ed-320d]

Originally Posted by vgr02

OK ... Then what Powerchip are doing is a FLASH upgrade. In the document they sent me, it states the processor has to be de-soldered and replaced which I find strange (I have an Electronics Engineering background). Anyway the performance difference for the petrol engine is only 5% on engine power and torque therefore not worth the $1600.

Anyway .... Getting back onto the topic ...... I think I read in the latest BMW magazine someting about BMW offering the newer diesal and petrol engines with higher outputs once our fuel quality improves. Something to do with the amout of Sulpher if I recall properly.

I re-read the document they sent and I agree with you. There will be a need to remove the ECU and sent it to them. Dont know what happen if they accidnetally mixed up the ECU with other cars.
I was searching of Powerchip financial statement to see how viable they are. Apparently no such information avail to public.

Back to topic.. yes Bmw is bring their 125Kw/340Nm(Not 400Nm as I previosuly stated) diesel to australia in 520d and X3 2.0

[DC-IV]

Originally Posted by vgr02

OK ... Then what Powerchip are doing is a FLASH upgrade. In the document they sent me, it states the processor has to be de-soldered and replaced which I find strange (I have an Electronics Engineering background). Anyway the performance difference for the petrol engine is only 5% on engine power and torque therefore not worth the $1600.

Anyway .... Getting back onto the topic ...... I think I read in the latest BMW magazine someting about BMW offering the newer diesal and petrol engines with higher outputs once our fuel quality improves. Something to do with the amout of Sulpher if I recall properly.

I got a DMS upgrade for my 320d from harding performance in Brisbane. Apparently my cars peak power is now 155kw and peak torque is 410nm . I asked after picking up my car if the techs in the UK identifed my ECU as being the same as that sold in europe (120kw & 340nm) and he said it was.