synergy2 good point and bad

iv read loads on here and other forums about the synergy2
good points

fual eco up
power up
torq up

bad points

eats injectors
can find fault that with out it dont exist ie injectors fuel pump ect
insurance up
over fueling problems
fual rail conection problems
maf problems

now i would like to hear your view good and bad please and if you can add what car year ect it would be good to no thanks

Hi,

I have no bad points to report. OK, I'll add the word - yet.

At my mileage (95K) the injectors could need a re-furbish at any time I suppose.

I've driven over 12K since fitting the Synergy - that's including 2 return trips to Austria and a lot of short journey commuting in UK.

Even if I had to 'refresh' the injectors this week I would not be removing the Synergy.

As for insurance - well you can't insure a BMW for the same as a Fiat panda!

Singvogel.

Straight up, I'm not intimately familiar with the Synergy. But with that in mind, I have used similar devices.
In my Saab I used a "tuning box" that was supposed to be microprocessor controlled etc. but generally just overfueled the motor by manipulating the input to the ECU from a sensor.
The early boxes, and some are still being sold, are a resistor in a Maplin project box with a pretty sticker. I can't, in all honesty, justify the price for such a device. They are string close to the cost of a remap with no effort.
By the way, my Saab had £600 worth of damage to the inlet system due to that "box".
On my last diesel, I went for a superchips device as they backed it up with an engine damage warranty.
There are thousands of variables in a modern ECU that all culminate in the engines performance. My common sense screams at me that by manipulating only one of them, can't be as good or as safe as a proper remap.
Google remap vs tuning boxes and decide for yourself. Just don't take a y individuals word for it, especially if they have invested in one as ego invariably stops people admitting that what they got is less than ideal.

divetheworld said:

Google remap vs tuning boxes and decide for yourself. Just don't take a y individuals word for it, especially if they have invested in one as ego invariably stops people admitting that what they got is less than ideal.

Click to expand...

Very true, divetheworld.

Very few folks will admit - "I've been a fool - what I've done was stupid, and I wasted my time and money."

On the other hand some folks are put off for life by one bad experience perhaps years ago, on a vaquely similar product. (I don't mean you, by the way)

Some people won't ever go back to Manchester for example - "I went there once and it rained." (Only joking, Mancunians.)

I've had fingers burnt a few times in the past, with gadgets that were supposed to work miracles.

Perhaps what we need is a Synergy Poll.

On the upside, I found much improved torque. Much more drivable.

On the downside, it blew two injectors, and after that I removed it. I didn't notice any improvement in fuel economy, and I wasn't heavy on the right foot.

I figured that if I wanted a performance car, i'd buy something more than a Freelander. The TD4 in its standard form is fine for my needs, ie plugging across muddy fields to the fishing, and for winter snow.

I bought a Dastek box for my 2001 TD4 Auto that was off a 2001 TD4 the same as mine and when fitted it just overfuelled, clouds of smoke and not much difference. I have thought about getting it re- mapped again but at the mo am getting 32mpg,no smoke,smooth running and its getting me thinking the same as Divetheworld. I know Sing is totally happy with his synergy but not sure that there would be much to gain for me at the mo.Would love to be proved wrong on this though.

I have recently tryed a synergy 1 synergy 2 and a synergy 2a with mixed results. All 3 devices work by fooling the ECU wich as I say gives mixed results. A lot of people buy these units to use the peirburg MAF when all that is really needed to do this is a £10 temperature sensor and thats using a genuine bosh sensor there are otheres that will do the same for a £.

I should add, the Bluefin I fitted to my 2.0tdi Audi seemed great. After two years or so I removed it and the reduction in power was not significant. Bluefin claim 30bhp and similar torque improvement but in all honesty, it just smoothed out the delivery and made it more drivable.
The Audi had 170bhp in contrast to the FL 109 bhp so I am sure it would be much more noticeable and welcome on the FL. I just struggle with the £250-300 and what I get for it. If it simply extended the useable power over the rev range, I'd be happy.
The user programmable units like the bluefin are cool for cars with a factory warranty in case the stealers re-flash the ECU in a service. That's a similar advantage to a tuning box. But since owning one, I'd save my cash and consider a standard map job from a reputable and local firm.
I still think the TD4 has more to give as the M47 motor had more in the 320d. Why can't I?
Some companies do a trial for free, where they remap the ECU with a timer that expires after 48hrs. If there is somewhere near enough that do that, I'd jump at it.

Brent

Think a lot are missing the point of the synergy. . . .Rover Ron did the initial work into the crap BMW maf sensor drifting outa spec his gismo kicks it back to a correction ,go on his website and have a good read , now you can go out and spend yer dosh on say a remap or some fangled gismo , but if yer maf is outa spec then yer wasting yer time

Righty ho,

I'm just back from taking a few visitors on a quick tour of several distilleries today. Glenfiddoch, Glenfarclas, and Glendronach on the way home.

Thanks to the RonBox dash-switch I tried running with the Synergy switched off for a while on the twisty valley roads around Dufftown.

I am happy that I spent the money - the Freelander is no sportscar, but with a Synergy2a+ set on Nr 8 (and the Pierburg MAF, as my original was well out of spec) it can perform more like the BMW E46 320D. It is fun to drive with the Synergy - very capable.

With the Synergy off - the performance is OK but pick-up is un-remarkable.

Set to 'Eco' it lacks any urge at all - but rolls along at a steady speed quite comfortably. Great for motorway cruising.

This is what I wanted. I can fully understand it wont suit everyone.

Yer pays yer money and takes yer choice!

Singvogel.

i have not tried the synergy and I do not think i will I am happy with the way things are do not know why but my freelander will go upto 117 mph even though I have a big full lenght roof rack on and big light on that but I value my license so no more 117 mph I keep to the speed limit most times any way I had one of those "maplin" boxes and all id did was to over fuel and when on a important mission blew the turdo hoses

You must make sure you fuel system is up for synergy. My hp pump must of been on its way out with perished o-rings. I fitted the synergy unit then diesel started dribbling out of the pump when engine was cold. All fixed now with my pump refurbished

I've got a synergy 1 on my Rover 75 diesel, same M47 diesel as the Freelander.

118, 700 miles on it, I've put the last 24k of those on the engine, it's had the synergy 1 on for 23,500 of those.

No injector issues (yet) good fuel economy boost, hopefully even more now I've cleaned the EGR up again, brilliant throttle response.

If I took off the ron box I'd sell the car, it's a totally different motor.

If I ever resolve the drive train problem with the wife's Freelander it's getting a Synergy 2a

Insurance hardly notices the box, what bit I do pay for it the better fuel economy covers

Don't buy **** plug on boxes, do buy ones that have been researched and proved to work is my view There are other good boxes out there, not just the synergy, there are also some right ****e ones. I've added your box to the ****e list, thanks

Oh, and if your MAF goes, it's about the same cost to get a synergy 2 and pierburgh as it is to get a Bosch, except the pierburgh isn't likley to go south quite as quickly

I'm in two minds too about whether to fit a Synergy or have a full remap. My problem is that I have a 320D beemer too and everyone I speak to recommends Simon at Emaps for the BM. I could get a discount and have them both re-mapped at the same time...

When you read what the respected guys in the re-map world offer it's hard to ignore what they offer. On the other hand the MAF issue is the only thing that is holding me back.

I had a "proper" tuning box on my old P38 and it transformed that car with no side affects so I have experience.

Decisions, decisions.

stewart09 said:

I'm in two minds too about whether to fit a Synergy or have a full remap. My problem is that I have a 320D beemer too and everyone I speak to recommends Simon at Emaps for the BM. I could get a discount and have them both re-mapped at the same time...

When you read what the respected guys in the re-map world offer it's hard to ignore what they offer. On the other hand the MAF issue is the only thing that is holding me back.

I had a "proper" tuning box on my old P38 and it transformed that car with no side affects so I have experience.

Decisions, decisions.

Click to expand...

I understand and can see clearly what you're thinking. I considered a full remap too before rejecting the idea as 1. I needed a new MAF anyway, and 2. I liked the idea of being able to change from 'eco' to 'power' at will. A 3rd point, of much less importance, was selling it on at some point - hopefully well into the future

Depends what you use your Freelander for of course - and I need it be different things on different days and different journeys.

S.

Yes Singvogel I understand all those points (thanks btw) but i'm stll undecided. I have my eye on a Synergy +maf on ebay at the moment. I'll see what it gets up too then decide whether to take the plunge or not

The abillity to switch between eco and performance is enticing though.....

stewart09 said:

I'm in two minds too about whether to fit a Synergy or have a full remap. My problem is that I have a 320D beemer too and everyone I speak to recommends Simon at Emaps for the BM. I could get a discount and have them both re-mapped at the same time...

When you read what the respected guys in the re-map world offer it's hard to ignore what they offer. On the other hand the MAF issue is the only thing that is holding me back.

I had a "proper" tuning box on my old P38 and it transformed that car with no side affects so I have experience.

Decisions, decisions.

Click to expand...

Has anyone suggested both yet?

The guys with the most power on the Rover 75 / MG ZT owners forums are doing just that, with a few other mods, typically de-cat and EGR bypass, they are getting 170 BHP out of the M47

Maybe a little much for a Freelander but as the torque goes up in line with peak power I'd be very tempted if I could afford both