I have saved up some of my hard earned green and want to get an upgraded ECU for my 1994 850 Turbo w/ auto tranny. There are many brands claiming many different things. My car is a daily driver and I do run it hard when there is clear road ahead of me. I use synthetic fluids and keep the maintenance right on the clock or even ahead. I would like to get an ECU that will incerease HP and Torque without destruction of fuel economy and reliability. So I ask all of my peers on the brickboard that have an ECU upgrade to share their insight with me, please. I have just seen too many advertisements claiming that their product is the best. The problem that I see is not everyone can manufacture the best product, as there has to be some difference. Thanks in advance.

Prospero

Well, again I thank everyone for sharing his or her wares. There is compelling evidence all around. I will have to get down and personal with the vendors of the ECU's and see what they are made of. Support will be important as I do plan on making mods in the future. Price will of course be a factor as well. I am still undecided thus far and will have to sleep on it. IPD seems to have the one feature that may end up saving me $2k with the auto trans boost-lowering feature when shifting. Paying the extra few hundred now may be a big payoff later on. Now if the other manufacturers offer the same thing, then I will go with them. I hate to see a company make too much profit on a product. Especially in this case where they keep my OEM ECU as well. Thanks again all and I will catch you on the flip side.

Prospero

Echoing the previous writer's comments - I just installed a PowerChip and I hold everyone responsible for not making the improvements clear. I've been wasting my time until now and consider the last year of my life to be lost!

Anyhow, it's a balance of priorities. I find reliability to be important. That's why I went PowerChip with their ability to tailor chip for the car and its current mods. They run similar power to TME (215kW vs 220kW for TME), however torque is limited in mid range to 410Nm (TME 430Nm) to keep combustion pressures lower (reduced knock risk). This is achieved by using 11psi boost vs others who use 14-15psi.

I must say that the TME system of downloading the upgrade rather than rechipping is very attractive, however I haven't heard bad stuff about rechips.

Try PowerChip at www.powerchip.com.au

By the way, their customer service is mind blowing, awesomely good!

Prices in Aussie pesos - A$1.00 = US$0.565

Which is best is a matter of opinion. Some will say the one with the most HP and torque is the best. Others will say those which increase performance without harming the reliability. Others will say what ever is the cheapest. Others will talk about customer service.

I have the IPD chip on my 94 850 turbo. For me it was cheap because I purchased it second hand. But, knowing that the automatic transmission in the 850 is a weak link, there is one feature of the IPD chip I felt was good. Just before the car shifts, it backs off on the amount of boost. You can feel it when it happens. The reason behind this was to ease the strain on the transmission.

If you are concerned about reliability, I would check to see if the other chip/ECU programs do the same.

One last comment. Once it is installed, you will kick yourself for not doing it sooner.

Hi,

Fianally I found a site where they know more than the coulor.

Probably I own the same car,....but I live in the Netherlands , Europe.

Can you tell me if and where the chip is sold?

And if I can get it how to install etc.

It would help a lot

Thank you

Alexander

Alexander,

I bought a TME ECU upgrade from IPD 18 months ago and have been very pleased. TME is a Swedish company; their website is:

www.tme.se/

Perhaps you can buy it directly from them.

The ECU boards are just behind the windshield washer reservoir on our '95 in a black box with what looks like a covered wire loom coming out of it towards the front of the car. Remove the hold down clips (one on each side of the box, unlatchthe holddown lever and pull out the correct ECU board..one it for the Transmission. put the new one in and push the holddown lever back in place. I'm sure TME or IPD will have some installation instructions.

Good Luck,

Steve

I have a similar question except is their any difference if you have

a manual transmission? IPD lists two different ECU upgrades for 98s

with manual transmission. That tells me they have been very good

at making sure they have all bases covered for the various ecu/tranny

combinations. I wonder if the lower volume chip vendors have done

as many manual transmission cars.

Anyone with a manual tranny have a chip upgrade that they recommend?

Thanks

I now have a PowerChip EPROM fitted. Awesome difference to power, torque and driveability. All at 11psi boost (not excessive). Raises power to 215kW from stock 184kW (850R). Same program specs for V70 although chips vary by model. Chips also vary by transmission type.

Try their link - www.powerchip.com.au

Prices are in Australian dollars and they do export a large part of their production. Note A$1 = US$0.565 at present.

IMHO all major companies have about the same chips. I have used IPDS, Rica's, PES', as well as a custom one. Right now I have a PES chip. With the Volvospeed discount it is by far the cheapest. Something like 580. I would not get a Rica chip if you live in the states. If your in the UK however go for it. Their US support is not that great. IPD also has a very good chip, just a little more costly.

I am putting in an exhaust this spring and if I can't find an exhaust manifold, I will spend my green on chipping. I am looking a manifold, downpipe (3"), high flow cat (3"), and a 2.5" cat back. And as mentioned, if I can't find a manifold, I'll dish out for a chip/ecu upgrade.

Since you mentioned that you hvae used the IPD, Rica's, PES' and a custom one, could you please give some words on your experiences with them (i.e. performance, longevity if applicable, distributor's customer satisfaction, etc)?

As I said they are all about the same. None have ever set off any lights or anything like that. Well, the custom one did but that was after I replaced the cat. Rica is good and offers discounts but its hard to get support in the US. IPD is good but they have the highest price of all. They offer very good product support though. PES I have only been using for a few months. They offer discounts and so far I have had no problems. PES seems to have a little more high end power then the ipd, despite the lower HP claims. I have used not driven a car with a Rica chip in about two years but from what I remember it felt like the most torque gain. The catch is that it wants 98 octane or 95 by US standards.

"As I said they are all about the same. None have ever set off any lights or anything like that. Well, the custom one did but that was after I replaced the cat."

So does that mean if I go with a 3" high flow cat, I'll set off warning lights?

"Rica is good and offers discounts but its hard to get support in the US."

"I have used not driven a car with a Rica chip in about two years but from what I remember it felt like the most torque gain. The catch is that it wants 98 octane or 95 by US standards."

I liked Rica's numbers, but I figured I would have a problem with the high octane gas. The highest I can get in my area is 94. And with the current high prices of gas, I'm trying to get those 1-3mpg fuel savings already.

"IPD is good but they have the highest price of all. They offer very good product support though."

I believe in IPD. But their prices (in my opinion) are unwarranted.

"PES I have only been using for a few months. They offer discounts and so far I have had no problems. PES seems to have a little more high end power then the ipd, despite t;e lower HP claims."

Up to this point, I've narrowed down my options for ecu/chip upgrade to either the PES or Wetterauer (sorry about the spelling). But, with the Wett coming in at about $800US compared to the under $600US PES (with 10% discount) unless I hear from people with experiences to tell me otherwise, I'm probably going to go with the PES.

Thanks a lot for all the info. It was greatly appreciated. Keep me filled in on how the PES performs. I'm looking at another 3-4 months before I put in my chip (if I put in a chip).

Well, you wanted to hear from a Wetterauer guy so here I am! I've had my Wett chip in my '95 850 turbo for about a year and a half and have had no problems with it at all. Just insanely good fun from increased boost. The advantage to the Wett chip in my opinion is that they give you the stock ECU program on another chip that will plug back into the ECU mainboard if any problems arise. It's also good if say, you wanted to sell your car and need to return it to stock condition. The IPD chip is needlessly expensive and unless you have money to burn, I won't bother getting it over another chip unless you value product support that much. The reason for the high price is probably because they have to import it from TME in Sweden and THEN tack on their profit. So you're paying for two layers of profit when you're going with IPD. Give Wetterauer a good look, as well as PES. I've had good customer service with the Canadian distributor of Wetterauer in Alberta. When I bought my chip at the time, the Canadian distributor's price was lower than the US distributor if you can believe that!

New piping and a cat-back exhaust will not set off any check engine lights unless stuff was not put back on properly. Your quest for a new manifold and high-flow cat might be pushing it a bit. All I can say is that it might or might not set off any lights...Charles might have an answer for you--he's had experience with a variety of modifications on the 850.

Good luck with it all.

Just would like to add to everything, you may consider getting a used ECU for your car from a junk yard. Will be about 350 dollars. Not only will this allow you to keep a stock ECU for problems or if you want to sell the car but it also keeps down time down when you mail off the ECU. Just another thought.

I have access to one for cheap that came from a 95 854 Turbo with auto trans. Would this be compatiable with my 94 854 Turbo with auto trans?

Sin, customer support is probably most important if you have other mods. Company I used managed to tweak my chip to adapt to my mods. Also provide 6 year written warranty at present. I note others have complained about getting after sales support for their chips - a nightmare for sure.

Prospero when do you have a new engine and transmission and turbo replace on your car ? you currently have 167,000 on the car

just like to know at what millege the motor and trans when out??

Thanks

I too have the same car and same year