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IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Han Chung on
Thursday, 26 March 1998, at 7:22 p.m.
I already saw a couple messages mentioning IPD upgrades and transmission break down. Are the two related to each other? What's the deal? Or are you guys/gals really too excited about the abundancy of uncontrollable power? I'm worried myself since I intend to get me one too.
Someone, anyone has anything about this phenomena?
Thanks
Han
97 855T Ipdeculess
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Terence Lui on
Thursday, 26 March 1998, at 10:21 p.m.
Hi Han,
I don't think they are related. Since most of the transmission problems I've heard about are from '93 GLTs, so that definitely has nothing to do with the IPD ECU. Also, the IPD ECU has all these safety features like lowering boost while shifting and the TME site claims that the stock transmission can handles more that 300HP, so the extra 45HP from the IPD ECU should not be a contributing factor to transmission failure. Besides, driving style(or should I say careless driving style) can destroy the transmission even with stock ECU. So don't worry, get the IPD ECU and enjoy!!!
Terence Lui
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Paul Elliott on
Friday, 27 March 1998, at 8:55 a.m.
Hi Terrence, Naturally, I couldnt agree more! What do you think of some of the Non IPD/TME units which folks are occasionally talking about? When they ask me, I invariably extoll the virtues of the IPD unit, and of the way they do business. I usually talk about how when you swap out the brains to your car, you need full support around the clock, and a company which stands firmly behind it. I tell them theyre not changing wiper blades here, so saving a few books palls in comparison to buying a well conceived, tested, and supported unit...and so on....you know how I feel.
Still, I have a touch of curiosity about the units from BSR, as well as another Swedish firm the name of which escapes me, plus those from Group6 and Martin Motorsports, which Steve Seekins talks about.
Some do a software only upgrade like the IPD unit, and some swap out chips. Interestingly in Europe, I've heard from folks who think much more highly of the other Swedish units than ours.
Anyhow, I was just looking for your perspective on this. Are we extolling ours because 'thats what we bought' or because it can factually be proven to be superior. And, of course, it would be pretty hard to imagine buying this crucially functional unit from a company without a strong US presence. The last thing you need to feel if you should have any problem whatsoever, is that you've got to contact someone in Europe in order to find a solution to a very immediate problem.
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Terence Lui on
Friday, 27 March 1998, at 8:22 p.m.
Hi Paul,
Well, I didn't really pay too much attention to other companies ECU upgrade since I've got my IPD unit already. But while I don't really know if they are all as good as they claim, the major problem I feel with these other companies' ECU is that non of them has a clear specification like what IPD/TME mentioned in their website and literatures about the ECU unit. I feel save and sure when I bought my IPD unit because I know what they change and improved over the stock ECU. But ECU or chips from other companies like Group 6 or BSR never clearly explain the specification. So I feel unsecure about these companies.
I have not update my homepage for a long time. But I will put up new pictures with my front DTM splitter and BTCC rear spoiler.
Terence Lui
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Tony Garver on
Friday, 27 March 1998, at 11:50 p.m.
Hi Terence,
What's your homepage address? I'd really like to see a picture of your 854 Turbo. I have a '95 854 Turbo myself with the ICU and exhaust from IPD. I have nothing but high praise. When I hit the lotto, I plan on buying IPD sway bars and Hockenheim R rims. Also, do you know where I can download some good 850 pictures?
P.S. In response to the top speed thread, 128 mph down the Glen Highway just north of Anchorage,Alaska following a '95 black RX-7. I had to back off for the Eagle River exit.
Drive Safely,
Tony Garver
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Han Chung on
Saturday, 28 March 1998, at 1:21 a.m.
Tony,
Smart man. Some things you have to let go and save it for later. So how does 128mph feel with the ECU upgrade? Did you feel like you could'v squeezed some more juice out of your 854? I felt like I could'v gone a bit more @ 135mph, but slowly with my 855 T ECUupgradeless. What kind of tires did you have?
Anyways, about the IPD ECU upgrade vs. all others... I think this is one of those "too good to be true" kind of things. For the money and performance quality, is 300 and some more hp's worth getting (probably cheaper than IPD's) and have to cross border (in this case water) to service or get customer support?
Maybe it's worth it and it's definately a gamble hoping that your unit is an apple not a lemon.
I'm leaning towards the IPD unit in this situation.
Oh, thanks for the trans. breakdown info.
Ciao.
Han
97 855T... ECUpgradeless...
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Terence Lui on
Saturday, 28 March 1998, at 12:52 p.m.
Hi Tony,
My homepage is at the link below.
My 854T page
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Andrew Sundjaja on
Saturday, 28 March 1998, at 12:49 p.m.
I would like to share my experience with all of you. I have a 94 850 turbo, with ECU upgrade that bought directly from TME instead of IPD during 1995. And last month, my transmission is broken down. The problem is my transmission would not shift out from 1st gear. Finally I brought my volvo to the dealer. Dealer spent more than 3 weeks to find out what's going on in my car. There is no way they can find out you have change your ECU, becuase it is impossible for them to test out. And finally, they replace the whole transmission in my car, not only the transmission, as well as the computer for tranmission. I am not sure whether my ECU is identical with IPD. I believe the best idea is put Syntheic oil into the tranmission, then it will not shift that'hard'. Sorry for the spelling, my English is not that good! Hopefully this info. can help all of you.
Andrew
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Paul Elliott on
Sunday, 29 March 1998, at 11:52 a.m.
Andrew, it may be impossible for you to know for sure, but do you have any feelings about whether your TME ECU contributed in any way to the demise of your transmission? My tranny has been behaving well, and I have the original aTF in there. But, I've only driven about 10,000 miles with the new ECU, and the tranny only has a total of 20,000 miles on it. Considering the new horspower output of the S and C70 of 236 and torque of 243, and the fact that rumored r models with 265 hp will exist, all using our same AW50-42 transmission, it tends to make you believe that this tranny can more than handle the power increase. Especially considering that our upgraded ECUs have that 'protection' feature of momentary drop off in boost during WOT shifts....
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Bill Matthews on
Sunday, 29 March 1998, at 7:44 p.m.
Paul,
All each of us can do is provide anecdotal evidence (no statistical relevance) but my 94 855T has 60k miles on it of which 45k are with the IPD ECU and Exhaust system. Your milage may vary 8^)
Bill Matthews
Hockessin DE
94 855T
73 1800ES
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Andrew Sundjaja on
Sunday, 29 March 1998, at 9:12 p.m.
I think you guys are right, I do think I can't sure to say the ECU is casusing the problem. Actually my car has about 65000 mile before the transmission broken down. Luckily, I bought the extent-warranty and save me over at least $2500. I guess it (tranmission) depends on what kind of driving style you are. I drive my car pretty hard. I change or upgrade the car with IPD sway bars (front & rear),Bilsten suspension(spring & shock), cross-drill rotors (with Brembo Caliper at the front), as well as the down pipe. I believe my driving style will mainly contribute to the problem. Anyway, hopefully the new transmission can last longer :) !
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by David on
Monday, 30 March 1998, at 9:00 a.m.
I am thinking of possibly leasing a V70 T-5, and would like to upgrade it with the IPD ECU. WHen purchasing the ECU, does IPD require that you send in your original ECU? When I turn the car in afterwards (as I'm not sure if I would like to buy it) I would like to pull out all the mods that I made and put it back to stock.
Also, anyone have any experience with Volvo leasing? I have read that they were rated #1 by J.D. Power...any insight would be apreciated.
Thanks
Dave
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by pat on
Monday, 30 March 1998, at 9:31 a.m.
I'm leasing my V70T5. I was going to buy it and then made a spreadsheet comparing buying vs leasing. If the end goal is to own the car after three years (our goal) , leasing comes out cheaper assuming you invest the money you would have used to buy it. So I leased. At least the money's closer at hand. We got 15000 miles/year (irrelevent since we'll probably buy it) and I think a cost factor of .02666. I also setup the auto-payments so it's worry-free.
I've considered the ECU and other things, but the car is plenty fast as it is. It's really a matter of how aggressively you drive. Other's have upgraded their ECUs,exhaust,etc and they have nothing but praise and good comments. $1600 for the extra performance seems a bit much. I say $1600 becuase some say you need ECU and new exhaust and others don't. It already has a SS exhaust so to spend $600 for another exhaust seems crazy. And a slightly louder one. I'd rather upgrade the stereo. It seems $800 can do more for the sound system, the $1600 can do for performance. Living near boston there aren't to many open roads for WOT. What I do know is that whenever I've said to myself, I'm going to be the first one out from this light, I have been. Almost everytime, easily. The other problem is our newborn. My wife hates it when I do this because she says I don't shift smoothly enough and our daughters head jerks back. But I can't tell from where I'm sitting. I think she's jealous because she can't shift that fast.
My first upgrade to the car will probably be handling and braking via sway-bars and cross-drilled rotors. I'll only reconsider the ECU if the next rumored R versions come out. And someone makes a FULL sport exhaust system, not just cat-back.
Good luck!
pat
Re: IPD Motronic Upgrade....[850/1995] posted by Terence Lui on
Monday, 30 March 1998, at 4:41 p.m.
IPD has a core charge of $1000 when buying the ECU. They will refund the $1000 when you send your stock ECU back to them. So if you don't mind spending $2000, you can keep your stock ECU. Actually, I would recommand you to buy the IPD ECU, return your stock ECU to them and get the $1000. And when it's time to say goodbye to your car, sell/trade your IPD ECU with someone with a stock ECU. Hope this helps.
Terence Lui
'95 854T with all the stuff.
Re: 850 ECU upgraded... Survey.[850/1995] posted by Han Chung on
Saturday, 28 March 1998, at 11:41 a.m.
O.K. let's take a little survey...
Can you post your experiences with your own ECU Upgrades(any company)? Please describe upgrade cost and vendor and some specs...max hp, torque, etc.
Also a briefly explain pros/cons.
Thanks
Han
97 855T ecupgradeless.
Re: 850 ECU upgraded... Survey.[850/1995] posted by asz on
Monday, 30 March 1998, at 11:32 p.m.
Ok Han,
I have a 96 850 R with an IPD ECU Motronic upgrade. The minute I received the upgrade, I rushed out to my car and put the sucker in..it took about 3 minutes. I did not notice a difference in Econ mode other than a slight hesitation at take off...the hesitation leaves once the car has warmed up though. In Sport mode, the car is awesome. The first time I really punched it, the tires were screaming and my heart was pounding. I could not beleive the difference! I mean, just imagine yourself transforming an already quick vehicle into a race car in 3 minutes. Ok, it's not a race car, but it's the next best thing. My brother has a 95 3000 GT, it's not a VR4 but the 225 hp version, and I was beating him before the upgrade..now, Im giving him a car length start and Im walking him down. Do you know how good it feels to be driving a "brick" and smoke a sports car? The thing is, his car has a Borla exhaust, a Random Technologies Hi-Flo Cat, K&N Filter Charger, and a Jet Performance computer upgrade and Im still beating him with everything stock, except the IPD ECU and a Borla cat-back exhaust. Han, if you want your 855T to become the Millenium Falcon, get the IPD ECU Upgrade...I think the minute that see and feel the difference, you'll be happy that you got it! I know that I am.
Re: 850 ECU upgraded... Survey.[850/1995] posted by Han Chung on
Tuesday, 31 March 1998, at 12:52 a.m.
thanks for the info. are you thinking of getting bilstein shocks? what are you doing about the springs?
ANYONE ELSE?