Just bought a 98 V70 T5 auto with 87k miles. I'd like to chip it because you can get a lot of HP for not a lot of cost or wrench time. Has anyone experienced any problems that occurred after installing a chip? If so what brand did you get and what was the issue? If I keep the car maintained well should I expect anything to happen, I don't drive extremely hard, I'd call it "spirited".

 

I have no direct experience with the chips but I think the IPD chip is supposed to provide more power while keeping the engine reliable.

 

I chipped my 99 s70 awd. I am using the Speed Tuning USA ecu upgrade with their 12PSI program. I love it!!! If you don't have a boost gauge, get one so you know what your boosting now and what you are after your chipped. I have had no problems with mine, other then running rich.

Other companies to look into are, RICA (Around like $800 one of the best), IPD (Around like $900, but one of the best), Upsolute (Around $400), EST ($500??) and finally SpeedTuning USA ($325)

Like I said RICA and IPD are the best, but will cost the most. Do you plan on other upgrades? Because if so your going to want to redo your chip upgrade everytime you do. I am pretty sure if you go RICA it costs $100 everytime you need a re-tune, SpeedTuning USA is free re-tuning but you have to spend the cash to ship it to Oliver unless you live near him. So you will have downtime either way,unless you get a stock ECU to replace your tuned one while the tuned one is shipped out.

I recently went to the dyno and I wasn't happy with my Hp figures 164Hp, but my torque was great 238-240 ft-lb's of torque. The Hp was way less then stock due to drivetrain loss. So I don't know if I possibly have in the stock range of 190-193 Hp or over that. But the chip was well worth it, I love it!


Chip Tuner Websites
http://www.vptuning.com/ (This is your U.S. RICA dealer)
http://www.ipdusa.com (IPD)
http://www.eurosporttuning.com (EST)
http://www.speedtuningusa.com/
http://www.upsolute.com/

Other Websites
http://www.gaugepods.com (This is for your A-Pillar gauge pod, single or triple) Do not get the single from IPD is costs $15 more and is the same pod. It is $15 at this website.
http://www.egauges.com/ (This is for your gauge needs, boost gauge that is or any other gauges you want. As for a boost gauge get one that can read VAC and BOOST. Also for that one that you buy make sure it can read 30 vac and 30 boost.)

 

Oh also if your going to go faster your going to need to stop quicker, and your suspension should be upgraded somewhat. At least a strut brace to begin with for suspension parts. If not some awsome IPD sway bars!!! Best suspension mod you can do.

 

have u a guys taken a look at ppc from BSR? There are some really good gains from that unit...

 

I have, but it wasn't in my price range. Also I don't know many people who have it. Most have SpeedTuning USA, IPD and RICA. And most are very very happy with them.

 

Thanks for the responses. I don't want to spend a lot just for the name so I was thinking Upsolute because it's a reasonable cost and a lot of people seem to have it. I've seen the speedtuning one but I wasnt sure because it's pretty cheap and I haven't seen many people with them. From what you say the speedtuning chip seems pretty good, but you HP numbers seem pretty low even with the AWD. One thing that concerns me is that their website says no returns on their chips, I don't want to get stuck with something that doesn't work right. Most chip tuners say that as long as you don't beat on the car constantly it'll be reliable and get approx the same gas mileage but some people say that their chips throw codes and cause other annoying small problems, anyone experience this?

 

S70driver, I just did a quick calc and speedtuning's website claims a boost from 193 to 228 with their chip. Your number of 164 WHP doesn't seem too far off, it comes out to approx 25% drivetrain loss, not bad for an auto and AWD.