Advice On Performance Chips- PSI Power Box

What a brilliant website this is!..I made my first post yesterday,and had a brilliant response from some very kind and helpful members...here goes on my second post...
Has anyone got any first-hand experience of fitting power chips to the P38 2.5 DSE ?...I would like to know if they provide any significant increase in power....are they considered worth the price (around 400 quid)...and most importantly, do they have any negative impact on reliability/excessive wear.
Look forward to your views and advice.
Thanks again Boys!

desertrover said:

What a brilliant website this is!..I made my first post yesterday,and had a brilliant response from some very kind and helpful members...here goes on my second post...
Has anyone got any first-hand experience of fitting power chips to the P38 2.5 DSE ?...I would like to know if they provide any significant increase in power....are they considered worth the price (around 400 quid)...and most importantly, do they have any negative impact on reliability/excessive wear.
Look forward to your views and advice.
Thanks again Boys!

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A re-map of the engine ECU would be a better bet than an after market box if you can find someone that does re-mapping. Certainly better than an aftermarket box that plugs in and just modifies the ECU signals.

Plenty of people do re-maps for Transit diesels but have not seen the same offered for the BMW 2.5 but then I have not looked very hard If you look for a re-map, look on BMW and Opel forums as the same engine is used in the BMW 525d and the Omega.

Having said all that, my P38 has a power box fitted, it came with the car. I does boost the power at the expense of plenty of black smoke on hard accelaration indicating over fueling. Still it passed the French MOT smoke test It is also economical, since I serviced it now doing around 25mpg avarage and 30 cruising on the motorway (brim to brim figures)

I can't see any reliability issues as long as servicing is done regularly with good quality oil and coolant levels are maintained. There are more powerfull versions of this engine I believe than the 136 Bhp which is standard for the P38.:welcome2:

The PSI or Tunit or Diesel Bob plug ins all work well giving definite benfits to MPG and driveability. i can't imagine driving mine without my PSI powerbox which was in it when I bought it.
However, there is an unconfirmed (as in a lot of the cases seem to have chips but that doesn't take into account age or the abuse the car has had in the past) link between blown headgaskets and chipping. The 2.5 BMW is running at the top of the performance spectrum for non common rail engines even as standard so when you add in more fuel it runs hotter.
You need to make sure your coolant system is in top shape if your going to really use the additional power. If you're driving style is more relaxed with little flat out driving then you will reap the benefits in no time with the chip paying for itself quickly through an increas of 2-3mpg. At that you will have a more drivable car without risking the overheating.
If you have some money to spend then the Jeremy Fearn route is probably the best where they will reprogramme the chip and put in a better intercooler to give some safer substantial increases.

I have just bought a PSI Powerbox (£305) and I bought this over a chip at about the same price, J.E.Engeneering www.jeengineering.co.uk and Bel Auto in York who both do chips.

The PSI Powerbox gives the car a real boost in power, it makes a real difference.

I went for the Powerbox because its easier to fit, and a guy (Pete) at York (Bel Auto Services) www.bellautoservices.co.uk who offered a chip said there was no real difference between them.

The Omega has the M51 engine and has about 160bhp so I would not worry about any damage to the engine.

I also think that PSI Powerbox would not make a product that will screw your engine.

Pete also mentioned when I suggested adding a larger intercooler, to forget it as it will screw the enigine, he said it was a bad idea. Also JE Engeneering have stopped doing the intercooler mod, I think that tells you there have been problems doing this. But they both do the chips with no mention of problems.

http://www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk/BeamEnds/38aRangeRover/Fuel/index.html The top two are genuine PSI Powerbox units, just different for the year made. The later models had an improved fuel system.

www.psipowerbox.com

i would like to know his reasoning to say a bigger intercooler is a bad thing, if you go over size you can get a pressure loss but you still end up with cooler inlet temps which is always as good thing.

arron beast unleashed said:

i would like to know his reasoning to say a bigger intercooler is a bad thing, if you go over size you can get a pressure loss but you still end up with cooler inlet temps which is always as good thing.

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I don't know the reason why, I did'nt go into detail as I did not want to go down that route as its not cheap, that's just what I was told by Pete at Bel Auto Services, and he knows his stuff. He was incredibly honest, even at the expence of me buying a PSI rather than use his chip. He had loads of work on, and just said there was nothing between them and this would be easier for me.

JE Engereering also mentioned to me that they do not (at the time of asking, 1 month ago) do the cooler upgrade anymore, even though there is a price on their website.

Thanks for your advice fellas.....Seems like its gonna be a PSI Power Box then!....I'll let you know how I get on once it has been fitted.
Cheers,
Ian

to be honest if i were you i would go for a live remap, i had the psi box on mine for a while a didnt like the way in which the power was delivered. instead on being a constant torque curve from low down you end up with all the power surging in at around 1700rpm and nothing before. its a bit more expensive but well worth the extra cost.

i have the psi powerbox on my p38 and i am more than satisfied with it,power is normal at low revs,ideal for pootleing about,but when you need the extra power its there instantly,i took my p38 up the main drag which is a long long straight dual carriageway and was pleasantly surprised at how much more grunt it has got compared to pre psi.

gemsdad said:

i have the psi powerbox on my p38 and i am more than satisfied with it,power is normal at low revs,ideal for pootleing about,but when you need the extra power its there instantly,i took my p38 up the main drag which is a long long straight dual carriageway and was pleasantly surprised at how much more grunt it has got compared to pre psi.

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you need a proper one

nathan5346 said:

you need a proper one

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oi nat,:brick::multiply::your_wrong:

gemsdad said:

oi nat,:brick::multiply::your_wrong:

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:hysterically_laughi

Well Desertrover, I have been researching this topic for a while now ( see dazed and confused) I have opted for the intercooler upgrade for my classic as well as an allisport chip. They fit the intercooler and chip, then modify the tuning to compensate. I had previously blanked the egr valve, washed out the intercooler, changed the fuel pump and pipes, but no difference. Once my old girl has been modded, I will let you know. Unfortunatly, they are booked up solid, so I cant get her in until the end of next month.

Thanks for the advice chaps....I'm more confused than ever now
I won't be doing anything for about a month anyway, so I'll keep an open mind until I arrive at a decision...re-map or chip!?!?
Keep your views and experiences coming on this, as it will help me and others contemplating this power upgrade.

I is definately true that the Power Box plug in produces no power benefit at low revs with the change being a real kick at about 2000rpm on mine.
A good re-map will change/optimise the fueling throughout the rev range and possibly also make the injection timing earlier. As far as I can see the plug in box just modifies the exisiting fueling signals to increase/prolong the standard fueling without any real intelligence. the plug in box also seems to screw up the fuel consumption calculation by the on board computer.
I would guess that there is no need to change the intercooler for a re-map giving a modest power hike to say 160bhp, running the aircon fans continuously would probably produce a similar temperature drop as a bigger intercooler unless you go really huge.