Disc300Series
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Anyone have an uprated P38 Diesel, care to share tuning tips.....
What's the best tuning mods for a BMW Diesel P38
- Thread starter Disc300Series
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SpudH
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Do a search for the thread 'chipping a diesel'
v8kenny
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The best tuning mod would probably be to fit a v8 
sorry...............................I'll get me coat..........................
sorry...............................I'll get me coat..........................
AWM
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I've looked into this over the last few months and it would seem the collective view is:
'Superchip' (or similar, there are various types).
ITG 'performance' Inlet Filter
Larger Intercooler
Probably in that order, although you would ideally want the chip to match the mods. Not possible if you buy the cheaper pre-programmed piggy back ones.
You can either put the components together yourself or go to the Land Rover tuning companies and pay them to do it.
There's loads in these forums and on the internet about it but be warned; everyone is an 'expert' about it, including myself...
'Superchip' (or similar, there are various types).
ITG 'performance' Inlet Filter
Larger Intercooler
Probably in that order, although you would ideally want the chip to match the mods. Not possible if you buy the cheaper pre-programmed piggy back ones.
You can either put the components together yourself or go to the Land Rover tuning companies and pay them to do it.
There's loads in these forums and on the internet about it but be warned; everyone is an 'expert' about it, including myself...
The quickest, cheapest, simplest, method to some extra power is to fit a chip, at least with one fitted it's won't be quite so embarrassing pulling away from a T junction!! I've got a PSI Power box fitted to mine and it makes a good improvement for the price paid, quick and easy to fit, about £100 from fleabay.
Performance air filter......why? it will cost a fair bit and the only thing you'll notice is more sucking sounds! which might give some the psychological notion that they have more power, but stick it on a dyno and a well placed fart would give a better increase of power!!
Larger intercooler...unless you can prove that the air entering the inlet manifold is still to hot (and therefore less dense) it will be another piece of bling that will cost a lot more than it will earn itself, if you are hauling heavy loads or using full boost a lot of the time, dificult to justify the cost.
Sorry m8 don't know where your loated but, the first thing i did was chip mine (£100 cash in hand) none of that VAT balls find your local ring him direct, and ask him about cash and no vat etc, what you got you got to lose> (apart for a load of wonga)
Next like you say Intercooler, make a heck of a difference on the Motorway, she just cruses now along them no sweat
I went to a guy they know what there doing, as usual cash in hand, they make the parts on site by hand, and fit them while you wait (book a time and day) cant fault them at all, and they have a lot of other goody's to stick on to your P38 pm me for details
Next like you say Intercooler, make a heck of a difference on the Motorway, she just cruses now along them no sweat
I went to a guy they know what there doing, as usual cash in hand, they make the parts on site by hand, and fit them while you wait (book a time and day) cant fault them at all, and they have a lot of other goody's to stick on to your P38 pm me for details
v8kenny
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Hey Dopey
I bet the owner of the company you were on about (yes, I did see your post BEFORE you edited his details out ) fair spluttered into his soup at lunchtime if he was reading it !
He'll be waiting on a chap on the door from vat man noo !
I bet the owner of the company you were on about (yes, I did see your post BEFORE you edited his details out ) fair spluttered into his soup at lunchtime if he was reading it !
He'll be waiting on a chap on the door from vat man noo !
AWM
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Geekfreek said:
Performance air filter......why? it will cost a fair bit and the only thing you'll notice is more sucking sounds! which might give some the psychological notion that they have more power, but stick it on a dyno and a well placed fart would give a better increase of power!!
You've done this have you?
If you reduce your inlet losses you will gain power. Assuming that you are using the existing filter box and ducting the question is; will your proposed performance air filter give you a worthwhile gain for the cost while still providing proper filtering? Since the majority of (respected) Rangie specific tuning companies all believe that an ITG filter element gives a worthwhile gain I'm inclined to believe them.
Larger intercooler...unless you can prove that the air entering the inlet manifold is still to hot (and therefore less dense) it will be another piece of bling that will cost a lot more than it will earn itself, if you are hauling heavy loads or using full boost a lot of the time, dificult to justify the cost.
How hot is too hot? A larger intercooler will cool the air more than the existing one and throughout the rev. range, this always means more power, since it always means denser air and hence more oxygen. The only issue is available space and cost vs. the power gained. There is also a trade off with pressure drop, see performance filter above, which helps to redress the balance.
Published data and real life comparisons show that these modifications work. What I can agree on, is that the chipping or the piggy-back box is the easiest and most bang for your buck but don't discount the worth of the other mods. if you want more performance.
In my humble opinion of course...
Andrew
Performance air filter......why? it will cost a fair bit and the only thing you'll notice is more sucking sounds! which might give some the psychological notion that they have more power, but stick it on a dyno and a well placed fart would give a better increase of power!!
You've done this have you?
If you reduce your inlet losses you will gain power. Assuming that you are using the existing filter box and ducting the question is; will your proposed performance air filter give you a worthwhile gain for the cost while still providing proper filtering? Since the majority of (respected) Rangie specific tuning companies all believe that an ITG filter element gives a worthwhile gain I'm inclined to believe them.
Larger intercooler...unless you can prove that the air entering the inlet manifold is still to hot (and therefore less dense) it will be another piece of bling that will cost a lot more than it will earn itself, if you are hauling heavy loads or using full boost a lot of the time, dificult to justify the cost.
How hot is too hot? A larger intercooler will cool the air more than the existing one and throughout the rev. range, this always means more power, since it always means denser air and hence more oxygen. The only issue is available space and cost vs. the power gained. There is also a trade off with pressure drop, see performance filter above, which helps to redress the balance.
Published data and real life comparisons show that these modifications work. What I can agree on, is that the chipping or the piggy-back box is the easiest and most bang for your buck but don't discount the worth of the other mods. if you want more performance.
In my humble opinion of course...
Andrew
.......
Geekfreek said:
Performance air filter......why? it will cost a fair bit and the only thing you'll notice is more sucking sounds! which might give some the psychological notion that they have more power, but stick it on a dyno and a well placed fart would give a better increase of power!!
You've done this have you?
If you reduce your inlet losses you will gain power. Assuming that you are using the existing filter box and ducting the question is; will your proposed performance air filter give you a worthwhile gain for the cost while still providing proper filtering? Since the majority of (respected) Rangie specific tuning companies all believe that an ITG filter element gives a worthwhile gain I'm inclined to believe them.
Hmmmm....feel the differance in horsepower did you?
I'd wager that a dirty 'bling' filter would be more restrictive than a cheap clean std filter. either way gains in power are, at the extreme, extreamly minimal.
Larger intercooler...unless you can prove that the air entering the inlet manifold is still to hot (and therefore less dense) it will be another piece of bling that will cost a lot more than it will earn itself, if you are hauling heavy loads or using full boost a lot of the time, dificult to justify the cost.
How hot is too hot? A larger intercooler will cool the air more than the existing one and throughout the rev. range, this always means more power, since it always means denser air and hence more oxygen. The only issue is available space and cost vs. the power gained. There is also a trade off with pressure drop, see performance filter above, which helps to redress the balance.
Perhaps the design bods at LR just happened across an old intercooler kicking around and though 'that I'll do for the diesels were making' or perhaps they did a few sums, calculated the space they had, included costs, and came up with what's fitted to the cars we have now!!
Yes, it is a compromise but the point is, it's more than adiquate for it's purpose, show me dyno proof that your £750 plus piece of shiny alli gives a significant (worthy of the cost) improvement in performance and I'll pop out and but a couple!!
Published data and real life comparisons show that these modifications work. What I can agree on, is that the chipping or the piggy-back box is the easiest and most bang for your buck but don't discount the worth of the other mods. if you want more performance.
It is the only way to make the 2.5 BMW diesel drivable, if you want more horsepower, go and buy a V8, it will probably be better on fuel too
What about a massive 6" stainless backbox???? will that increase power as well?? or would I have to upgrade to a basball cap and have Fiddy Cent blaring from my Alpine's
In my humble opinion of course...
Mine too...
Andrew
adamrharding
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Hi
Don't know if I am missing the mark but physics wise the colder the air the denser it is way down to 0 degrees kelvin, so no matter what the temperature of the air coming out of the turbo a bigger intercooler allows for an increase in pressure with little increase in heat which combined with a remap of the fuel feed in leads to more torque and hence BHP.
Inlet filter such as ITG allows more volume of air to enter the turbo , increasing its efficiency and as we all know the better the turbo runs, the faster you go as long as you cool it.
So to summarise more cool air into engine and modified fuel map leads to more power and torque, end of.
Sorry if this is teaching people to suck eggs but thought I might help
Cheers
Adam
Don't know if I am missing the mark but physics wise the colder the air the denser it is way down to 0 degrees kelvin, so no matter what the temperature of the air coming out of the turbo a bigger intercooler allows for an increase in pressure with little increase in heat which combined with a remap of the fuel feed in leads to more torque and hence BHP.
Inlet filter such as ITG allows more volume of air to enter the turbo , increasing its efficiency and as we all know the better the turbo runs, the faster you go as long as you cool it.
So to summarise more cool air into engine and modified fuel map leads to more power and torque, end of.
Sorry if this is teaching people to suck eggs but thought I might help
Cheers
Adam
everlatesparky
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Just chipped my p38 with a KingQuick chip.......................OMG power and accelaeration like you never known!!!
Not sure on 0 to 60 but its def less than the 2 weeks it was
Air filter thing next then intercooler when i get chance to make 1...dont hold your breath
power and accelaeration like you never known!!!Not sure on 0 to 60 but its def less than the 2 weeks it was
Air filter thing next then intercooler when i get chance to make 1...dont hold your breath
Hi
Don't know if I am missing the mark but physics wise the colder the air the denser it is way down to 0 degrees kelvin, so no matter what the temperature of the air coming out of the turbo a bigger intercooler allows for an increase in pressure with little increase in heat which combined with a remap of the fuel feed in leads to more torque and hence BHP.
Inlet filter such as ITG allows more volume of air to enter the turbo , increasing its efficiency and as we all know the better the turbo runs, the faster you go as long as you cool it.
So to summarise more cool air into engine and modified fuel map leads to more power and torque, end of.
Sorry if this is teaching people to suck eggs but thought I might help
Cheers
Adam
FFS, I'm not feckin stupid, all the above is correct, the point I'm trying to make is, it terms of power per pound spent, the filter and intercooler are uneconomical, the chip is the single best mod you will EVER find to quickly and cheaply increase the drivability of a 2.5 BMW Diesel powered Range Rover, bar NONE.
Wan't more power? then buy a V8, it's that simple, a bigger intercooler or different air filter will NEVER increase the BHP & Torque like the chip does.
adamrharding
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Look mate relax,
Chip/tune gives best bang per buck BUT are better still if you combine with intercooler or filter or both. By doing that your BHP approaches matches that of the V8 4.0 and trounces the torque of both the petrol 4.0 and 4.6. So BHP wise an upgraded DSE is better than both V8's
What more needs be said?
Cheers
Adam
One thing more needs to be said, you have just thrown the first gallon of unleaded over yourself and lit it.......and I'm sure the ranks of V8 owners will keep the fuel comming..............petrol of course!!!.
adamrharding
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Light the touch paper and stand well back
Don't get me wrong the V8 Petrol's are fine machines, but the benefit of diesel in the MPG and if you can afford to upgrade the torque is phenomenal.
I totally agree with you a chip or tune is the cheapest way to improve performance, only that if you want to go the whole way get the filter and intercooler first so that the chip/tune utilises them.
AWM
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Light the touch paper and stand well back
Don't get me wrong the V8 Petrol's are fine machines, but the benefit of diesel in the MPG and if you can afford to upgrade the torque is phenomenal.
I totally agree with you a chip or tune is the cheapest way to improve performance, only that if you want to go the whole way get the filter and intercooler first so that the chip/tune utilises them.
Spot on but don't waste your time arguing mate, it's a moving goal post - now it's petrol vs. diesel ffs...
