I just purchased an 02 s60 2.4T AWD and I'm looking to get a modest boost in power. Nothing major...20-30hp or close to it. Not trying to go out and be fast and furious. Just want some more power. Whats the easiest/best way to accomplish this? I've searched the forum for 2 days and can't seem to find what i'm looking for. I'd prefer not to change the turbo. I'm thinking maybe some air intake mods and or exhaust upgrades; with chiping the ECU as a final option. Any ideas appreciated. Budget is $1000.

How do you guys feel about the speedtuningUSA chip?

S60 2.4T Stock 200 / 285
Chip 235 / 365
$325.00

This is right in my budget. Would I see mileage improvements if any?

 

Ok one do a STAGE ZERO. Go into the GENERAL FORUM part of this forum and look for WEBSITE LINKS thread. You will find it in there under some Volvospeed links.

That will cost around $300-$500 to do fully.

If you don't want to do that then...

An exhaust upgrade wont really put more PSI out to make Hp, but you will gain Hp though. But not 20-30 for sure. A 3" downpipe mandrel bent to a 2.5" mandrel bent catback system with a Magnaflow muffler will add some nice power and sound really nice. If you have a local shop custom make this, I bet you could get away with $8000-$1000. Oh by the way you will see the most gains from the new downpipe.

Air intake mods are ok. EST makes a intake kit, but it still sucks in hot air which is bad. You wont see but about 1-5 Hp gain if that. Stock airbox setup is the best, just get a K&N panel filter.

An ECU upgrade will give you the biggest boost in power over all. Look into BSR ($900), RICA($900), IPD($800), Upsolute($425), Inmotion($200-$400), SpeedTuning USA ($325). An ECU upgrade will raise the stock boost on your car to a higher boost level. Lets say 8PSI to 12PSI. Which is a big difference believe me. And if you do an exhaust upgrade then an ECU upgrade your going to see a huge difference.

 

I was just looking at speeptuningusa but its a chip. Are the others chips or replacement/reflashed ECU's?

 

Yeah so what if it is a "chip"? I have an ST USA ecu upgrade and love it. You send your ECU to Oliver or drive to his shop. If you send it in to him, he will do his thing and then send it back. If you drive to his shop he will remove the ECU do his thing and put it back in for you. Simple as that. Plus if you don't plan on many more upgrades it is a decent cheap ECU upgrade.

I believe IPD reflashes and so does RICA.

 

So I can't install the chip myself? I'm a competant mechanic, I mainly build off-road toys but I'm good with tools. I'd rather not have to send off my ECU.

 

No you cannot do an ECU upgrade yourself.

You have to have the ECU sent out to wherever you are getting your upgraded ECU from. They do their upgrade and send it back to you. Then you just put the silver box back in the car and drive again.

 

Funny, they fail to list that in the FAQs on the STusa page. I can't have my car down that long, or take the chance of it being lost in the mail. Any where in NC to get this done? I'll hand deliver it.

 

Dude you can overnight it to Oliver and he will send it back to you the same. I mean it was like a one or two day turn around. Wasn't bad at all.

You can drive to Olivers, if you want to drive to Maryland.

I sent mine to him and got it back almost NEXT DAY. I also drove down to his shop to have it chipped again when the dealership wiped out my ECU.

 

Ok, i'll look into it. It just seems to me that if it can be done that quickly then it can be done by anyone. The chip systems in the vehicles i'm used to are plug and play. Trying to adjust to the Volvo world. Thanks for the help.

 

Nothing is easy for Volvo. Or is cheap.

If you want Plug and Play go with BSR. EST sells the BSR unit. You can switch bewteen their upgrade and stock. You plug it into your car and go. I don't believe you have to send them your ECU. Talk to Frank at EST.

 

yeah, I looked at the BSR unit. For 3x the price it doesn't make the torque numbers i want. I'll be researching the stUSA chips.

 

Unless you dyno your car stock and then with the ECU upgrade you wont know what your making and what you will be making after the upgrade.

Also is your car an automatic? Your going to loose power also by about a 25% drivetrain loss. But your torque should go up.

 

Not planning to dyno it. But with the numbers they claim I should notice the difference.

 

Well I would dyno it. You would be surprised.

I have an ST chip. 12PSI version stock I should be at 193 Hp I dynoed with the ecu upgrade 164Hp. I should have around 205-210 Torque stock. I have with the ecu upgrade 240 Torque.

Yeah so believe me there is about 25% drivetrain loss.

Good luck.