Just wanted some advice on beefing up the performance of my car... My goal is to get + 50 - 75 hp and Torque. What would be the most cost effective way to go about that. The car has about 110000 on it and is all stock.

 

No cost effective way. Im still working on getting that from my GLT.
But here is some starters:
To Start the best aftermarket volvo sites are eurosporttuning.com and ipdusa.com

Start with and air intake system - I think that add about 5-8hp (Your torque will go up with the hp)'
Next get a exhaust system - that will add 10-15hp
Now you need to boost the psi, your running 5-7psi on a 13g low pressure turbo (2 ways to do this)
Cheap - Get a Manual Boost Controller($20) and set the psi manually* Note you will need a boost guage so that you dont over boost
Expensive - Get a ECU tune($400-$800) This is best and your car will run great.
Either way you want around 10-13psi - You will gain about 20hp (2-3hp for each pound of psi increased)

Also do a stage 0

Also note as you open stuff up, other things may need to be upgraded.

 

Those numbers are all wrong
An ECU flash will gain you almost 30 HP on these (LPT)engines.
A downpipe will add 10-12 hp
Exhaust maybe 5-7 hp with the above two included
A CAI again maybe 3 hp TOPS
Stay away from an MBC as the ECU on a 99 and newerwill just dial it back without it being reprogrammed first
You can get an honest 40-50 hpafter that is becomes VERY expensive

 

speedtuningusa.com will do your ecu for 325, ive heard good stuff from them.

 

SpeedTuning USA is an ok cheap ECU tuner. You hear good things because they are cheap and put up some ok power increases.

I have an ECU upgrade from them. However if I did it again IPD USA, BSR PPC and or RICA all the way. Might cost an arm and a leg more but totally worth it.

Your more then likely going to run RICH from an ECU upgrade from ST USA.

 

Before you buy from speedtuning usa check out this post from Volvospeed.com
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index...owtopic=101785

I would never buy from them.

 

Tech that link seems broken.

 

HMM I just clicked on it from my last post and it didn't work.

 

Ok I guess you need to be a member to see the entire post but here is some of the problem with the company.
Copy and paste from the site.

I bought into the group buy from speedtuning for the speedtuning chipped ECU.
I sent them the ECU in an oversized box filled and wrapped in bubble wrap. The ECU I sent was the original one from my car, working perfectly.
The ECU I got OVER ONE MONTH LATER- it showed up in just an envelope- no bubble wrap or anything.
I called Oliver. He said send it back.
He got it and like I said it was not working.
He said to claim the insurance. He said there was $100 insurance on it (which clearly is not enough to cover the ECU AND the $255 for the chip).
I went to three local post offices- all of which said there was no insurance on the package.
He told me he would get involved if they would not pay. I have tried for the last two weeks to get the post office to pay- they continue to say no insurance is available.
I asked Oliver several times via e-mail to either A: Refund my money ($255) plus the $75 cost of my spare ECU or B: Source a replacement ECU and chip it and send it to me.
I have waited two weeks to hear from him and he will not return e-mails (which I prefer so there is no he said-she said).
He says I have to call. So today I call and he refuses to do anything for me (while yelling at me and not allowing me to talk) and will NOT refund any of my money or send me anything until I source an ecu and send it to him.
I have a MAJOR problem with sending him anything else because he clearly did not deliver on the first deal- it didn't work, was not properly packaged, and was not properly insured. Please read my feedback if you have any doubts about my credibility- I buy and sell a lot on here and have never had an issue even close to this magnitude of being completely ripped off.

So at this point I am out the ECU to my car (Oliver has it) and am out the $255 that I sent. I was leery of sending a certified check for this reason- since we did not use pay pal I have no course of action at this point other than to contact the post office and try to go through their mail fraud division.

I urge everyone on here to NEVER purchase from speedtuning and NEVER participate in a group buy that does not take pay pal.

Group buy post:
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index...howtopic=96053

PLEASE NOTICE: NO WHERE IN THE GROUP BUY DOES IT SAY NO REFUNDS and also note the shipping was $20...more than enough to cover the correct amount of insurance.

This is how Oliver ships ECUs- in express mail envelope. Please note how badly the envelope gets damaged since the ECU is so bulky to be in such an envelope. The postal service sticker is shown to prove this is Olivers package.



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That is one of many posts about problems with speedtuning.

 

Well I will say Oliver is shady and I wouldn't do business with him again. If I was going to get an ECU upgrade it would be from a more respected company, IPD USA, BSR PPC and or RICA.

Oliver sent or was going to send my ECU to the wrong address. And he charged me another fee to print out another shipping address label. Something like $17 and he would not budge on this. This made me angry.

He also charged me for a re-flash because the stealership whipped my ECU out. Charged me $50

I bought through a groupbuy so the cost was less then $325. However if the stealership ever whips my ECU out again I won't go back to ST USA to have it reflashed. Not worth it.

 

I agree did he send yours back in an envelope like I posted?

There was another post there about someone that sent the ECU in metal box with lined and packed with foam. He refused to send it back without major payment for the shipping. He also sent the guys box back in the package like I posted and never said anything about the box till the guy asked about it.

That is no way to package an ECU in an envelope.

 

To be honest I forget how he shipped it back to me.

I believe I have constructed a box with my roommate and used bubble wrap and I think it came back in that but not sure.

 

Oh ok but I think we made the point about them now. LOL

 

Well it still comes down to personal preference and what you can afford.

I cannot deny the extra ponies under the hood. They are great.