[alcook]

OK. I promised a quick write up. I was hoping for a dyno comparison to go along with this but, the Hub Dyno I was going to use at AET Turbo's stunning facility in Yorkshire (they are good mates...) won't give accurate results with auto's due to the inconsistent up and down change... so I'll post a RR graph as soon as I can get some time to go further afield to a rolling road dyno.

Anyway... Bluefin

Unit arrives Friday and I open the box at 6 ish when I get in. As they only work Mon-Fri 9-5, I couldn't do anything initially. I did plug the device in and downloaded the live map to the device and then upload it on the Saturday. This was very easy and took only a few minutes to download from the car and seconds to upload to the Superchips servers..

After pacing about all excited for the weekend, I get an email Monday morning telling me the map is ready. I downloaded the map on late Monday afternoon. Had tea and planned the install at about 6pm.

I plugged the unit in and followed the very simple instructions. Ignition off. Ignition on. Apply Bluefin.

This is where I got a minor-ish issue.

The device needs the correct voltage from the OBD port. In the book etc it simply says turn ignition on with feet off pedals..... So I just prod the starter and on came the ignition and the map started to load. After 15 minutes with nothing moving I was a little flumoxed. So I left the device for another 10 minutes... nothing. A little timer wheel had stopped. So I unplugged the device and re-inserted. I then got an error... and all sorts of failure lights (DSC, DTC, Brake & Pump failure)... Heart skips a few beats. So I started the car..... nothing. The car turned over.. but wouldn't start. The Bluefin said the car was immobilised and would re-install the original map. It didn't. It went into a loop and I was buggered. 8PM with their office closed at 5. Started to crap myself a bit.

After a restless night I called their help department first thing and the guys were excellent. Truly excellent. They calmly explained that there is a second stage ignition that is engaged by holding the starter button in for 5 or so seconds. Unfortunately the book, site and device mentions nothing about this.

The helpline said I should hear a bong. Nothing. No bong or visual indication.

Anyway.. after holding it in for 5 seconds. I reapplied the original map. With the battery starting to fail (as I'd tried to get it going several times) the car started. Phew!!! I took her for a sping to re-charge the battery and ensure everything was OK. It was.

With the guys on the phone, I then re-did the procedure (with holding the button for 5 seconds) and the bloody thing worked first time.

So, I'm finally Bluefinned.

So after a few days driving the car, I can't comment on how accurate the 330 BHP or 500NM is, but I can confirm the gains are significant.

The car now feels totally more alive. As I'm doing a lot of town driving, the main noticeable difference is from the BHP gain. It really does pull and feel like a petrol car now (seems more free revving and smoother).

I've owned a few Scoobs in my time and I can honestly say it has the shove of my last 335 BHP Scoob but with masses more torque and overtaking ability. Probably now shaving a good few seconds off the 50-70 or 30-70 times.

Those that drive the auto boxes can testify to stunning and perfect mating of the gearbox. This hasn't gone, but the extra BHP & torque means some DS changes are a little more noticeable.

In standard D mode, the car changes quickly through to the higher gears but the improvement in acceleration here is simply stunning. In fact, the traction control is now kicking in a lot more than it ever did.

Not surprising really.

I now engage DTC quite often to give the rear wheels the freedom they need; and me the smile!

All 500 Ft Lbs are available from 1700-3500 revs. Keeping it in there isn't a chore at all and isn't an issue, especially with such phenomenal overtaking power now available... there really is no need to rev it to the redline anymore to squeeze the power out.

Previously the car could pull away (albeit slowly) from a 380 BHP Scoob in lazy D mode and at cruising speeds... Now? It would fair motor away as well as be able to stand up well to the low speed acceleration.

All in all.....an unbelievable amount of difference for such a small price. Sure you can squeeze a little more from the specialist maps, but this generic map for £380 offers excellent gains and really smooth application.

I haven't checked the fuels consumption as I'm too busy ruining every figure I collated before but I'll see how that goes once the smile wears off. Which may be some time.

I'm now actively looking for some scalps. I've already taken out some minor competition from a Focus ST and a older Scoob... Just need to find some big boys to play with.

I'm looking to go out with a few mates who can get hold of a V-Box, so I should be able to get a good set of figures on a local private road.

When I go out with my Scoob mates I'll also report back. I did this as stock and kept up easily with the faster boys in the group.. hopefully this will scare them a little more...

So.. Top Tips:

1. Make sure your box arrives early in the week.
2. Apply the map at Lunchtime. NOT in the evening when the help desk are away.
3. Hold and press the ignition button for 5 seconds before applying the map.
4. Don't panic if it goes tits up. The box is very clever and recovers easily and quickly.
5. Make sure you have no service lights lit as in the very unlikely event of something going wrong... this voids the Superchips £10k Guarantee. I read this with a sinking feeling but found I was OK.
6. If you're getting toward the bottom end of your Oil service period then change your oil. I had 3k left, but felt an Oil change was a very prudent thing to do immediately after the map.
6. Enjoy

[ed335d]

Nice write up! Still giving it some thought myself.

How does this affect your insurance?

[alcook]

Originally Posted by ed335d

How does this affect your insurance?

No idea. I've had it for the 'get your money back if you don't like it period' and now that I'm keeping it, the insurance is next.

But initial, exploratory checks indicate it will be peanuts...

[Jude1]

Good write up.

Sounds like a bit of a scary process to install, but all appears good now.

Jules.

[TMP]

Yeah, good write up, wil come in handy for future bluefin-ers

So Map n bluefin - all in for £380, that's seems a bargain! (Wonder how much for two maps - 330d and 520d map )

[dxb335d]

Sounds good Alcook. Looking forwar to the dyno session.

Yoy should have got the car (stock) to a drag strip then again after the performance install.

[Hotcoupe]

Sounds good, I'll be interested in the Dynograph on the Bluefin.

[PeteJ]

I think I would have started crying if I saw all the errors!!

Thanks for the write up!!

[dee9s]

hi there, i just had to join and post a huge thanks, the exact same thing happened to us this evening, our new bluefin stopped and we disconnected it and we got an error code, but thanks to your post i was able to follow all you did and hey presto, my other half is away in the newly remapped bmw 118d like a cheshire cat, thanks again , our car would have been immobile till monday morning if i havent got this forum, phew, regards Tracy

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by dee9s

hi there, i just had to join and post a huge thanks, the exact same thing happened to us this evening, our new bluefin stopped and we disconnected it and we got an error code, but thanks to your post i was able to follow all you did and hey presto, my other half is away in the newly remapped bmw 118d like a cheshire cat, thanks again , our car would have been immobile till monday morning if i havent got this forum, phew, regards Tracy

Glad it was sorted for you Tracy.

Alcook saves the day

[jjbirch]

i think you need a charger on the battery just in case to boast the volts up, they done this when putting my map on