J0E Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 First off, I'd just like to get this out of the way... A "chipped T5" is absolutely NOT, in any way, shape, or form, a terror on the streets as so many of you kids made it out to be, even on 100-octane un-leaded. It's ok though, since my expectations honestly were not too high.Well the entire ordeal has been quite a long one, but the car's ECU is now upgraded. After placing my order in on June 18th, receiving the shipment on July 21s shortly before having to send BSR the program in the PPC since it initially did not recognize my car, and wafting for them to back to work from vacation, I finally received a new ECU program this morning, August 10th. Am I impressed? I go through the process of upgrading the ECU via the PPC and all goes well. I calmly drive down to some to some main roads were it's physically possible to drive faster than about 30 MPH, and all seemed normal. Absolutely no difference with the car driving it as Volvo intended: Normally, like the average house-wife would, which is a good thing. I turn onto a road where it's safe to open it up a little, and I begin to brace myself as I am about to unleash the beast within! WOT from about a 20-roll...not a significant difference over stock. The car still maintains its composure and pulls nicely to the top of first, about 47 MPH, I say no quicker than only one-tenth of a second over stock. As my boost gauge starts beeping like mad and warning indicator shines as I surpass the previous warning-level set at 12 PSI, I'm boosting about 16 PSI (1.1 BAR). Not too impressed overall, but the exhaust makes some nice and aggressive popping/burbling when I jump off the gas. I'll also note that there at 10 gallons of pure 100-octane race-gas I put in several days ago in preparation for going to track tomorrow as some friends had planned beforehand. I eventually make it to the freeway to see if the car accelerates harder in the range that BSR intended. I wasn't too impressed with the gains in first-gear, and the same can be said in second-gear. The difference over the stock ECU is really nothing to write home about. Yes, it does pull slightly harder, but nothing close to to the level some made it out to be. Boost in second: 16 PSI, same as first However, third-gear saw a much-needed improvement, as from the factory, 80+ acceleration was laughable. I'm now seeing about 18 PSI (1.24 BAR) at WOT in third-gear, and the pull is now about equal to my Mercedes after 80, which traps right around 98 MPH. I'd say that is a good estimate at what the Volvo is trapping right about now. Didn't feel like testing the 120+ acceleration (which is despicably slow stock) as it is really not that much fun doing so in this car. But overall, I am impressed in the improvement in 80-120 acceleration. Remember, I also have straight 3" pipe from the cat-back, to boot. As for all you guys claiming you can't get any traction when chipped...stuff! I was expecting to at least spin one of the tires going straight with the peg-leg of fury after punching it from a low-speed roll: Nothing. I stop and brake-torque it a bit from about 2200 RPM: Nothing. I brake-torque it as hard as I could, letting off the brake when the RPMs were no longer climbing: Nothing. And yes...I allowed the car to cool off after each futile attempt at a decent launch. All you kids out there that "can't hook" really need to replace the $19.99 snow-tires which your mom had installed at Sears 4 years ago. With actual P225/45-17 performance tires in Eagle F1 GS-D3 trim, arguably some of the best money can buy, there is no drama off the line going straight. Not a single chirp. Not a single squeak. It is not the tire-ripping, Earth-pounding, can't-get-any-traction-to-save-my-life, asphalt-shredding machine some of you make it out to be. And to dispel any thoughts of the car not performing at its best, I'd like to note that my car is in perfect mechanical condition. It just turned over 19,600 miles, and I doubt there are any FWD Volvos here with less miles or have been through a more rigorous maintenance scheduled. "Stage 0" is still factory spec.So was it worth the $900? Well that depends on how much $900 is worth to you. The ECU woke the car up, but it's really nothing spectacular. I never actually grinned ear-to-ear during the test-drive, if that says anything. But hey...maybe I'm just a big harder to impress? At least now my arguments on the abilities of T5s with a chip/exhaust are even more valid, if they could be any more as it is. No, the car will NOT "keep up" with a new M3, 350Z, S2000, Boxter S, C5, etc. If anything, I'd say it's about even with a stock E36 M3 now. The car feels like a solid mid-14 at ~98, and that's what I'm shooting for if I make it to the track tomorrow and it's less than 110 degrees. I'll hope for a 14.4 @ 98, be happy with a 14.5 @ 97, and come home laughing at all you kids for anything slower. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 As for all you guys claiming you can't get any traction when chipped...stuff! I was expecting to at least spin one of the tires going straight with the peg-leg of fury after punching it from a low-speed roll: Nothing. I stop and brake-torque it a bit from about 2200 RPM: Nothing. I brake-torque it as hard as I could, letting off the brake when the RPMs were no longer climbing: Nothing. And yes...I allowed the car to cool off after each futile attempt at a decent launch. All you kids out there that "can't hook" really need to replace the $19.99 snow-tires which your mom had installed at Sears 4 years ago. With actual P225/45-17 performance tires in Eagle F1 GS-D3 trim, arguably some of the best money can buy, there is no drama off the line going straight. Not a single chirp. Not a single squeak. It is not the tire-ripping, Earth-pounding, can't-get-any-traction-to-save-my-life, asphalt-shredding machine some of you make it out to be.BSR is torque limited in first gear to prevent wheelspin and trans damage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeskier8585 Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 and money says you have traction control better than our ghetto 97 tracs system, look man if you think your so good at luanching come out and launch my car, just try, wiht nice new toyo proxes t1-s i can grip well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenhoeve Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 As for all you guys claiming you can't get any traction when chipped...stuff! I was expecting to at least spin one of the tires going straight with the peg-leg of fury after punching it from a low-speed roll: Nothing. I stop and brake-torque it a bit from about 2200 RPM: Nothing. I brake-torque it as hard as I could, letting off the brake when the RPMs were no longer climbing: Nothing. And yes...I allowed the car to cool off after each futile attempt at a decent launch. All you kids out there that "can't hook" really need to replace the $19.99 snow-tires which your mom had installed at Sears 4 years ago. ←ME7 can be a pain in the rear.I have traction problems twice. Once off the line, and then again at 15-20mph when the boost hits. I have 215's,z rated, with decent traction.I'm going to the track this weekend too Joe. This will be fun. We both have cars in good running condition, with nothing but a chip and exhaust. Wager who's faster? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entuscan Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 BSR is torque limited in first gear to prevent wheelspin and trans damage←Well my BSR PPC stage2 tuning on my V70R AWD (old model)is a noticable gain in every gear.Even in first gear there is a lot more power and torque. Normally you can drive the car with 1 finger. Even flat out from a standstil the car is behaved. Tuned It's both hands at the wheel and keeping the sucker straight, there is some serious torquesteer going on. And my ride is AWD !! I'm sorta afraid of unleashing all the power in first gear ... might be to much, even though it's "limited". I try not to kickdown to first gear for the same reason ... well not to often offcourse, sometimes i can't resist There is more power everywhere in the revband. Also the pedalresponse is upgrade from 87% -> 100%, this takes a little getting used to at first (especially with the continous switching from stock to tuned and back again). But it does make the ride much betterI just love the upgrade, best money spent ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasso C70 Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 I noticed that off the line performance wasn't as good after installing the 3" exhaust. With the 2.75" I could spin tires (Bridgestone S-03) like crazy off the line, now with the 3" they barely chirp off the line, not until I hit my powerband in the mid/high RPM and then they brake loose. Also, what kind of Benz do you own? Cause I use to smoke the pants off CLK430's at any RPM and I had an Rica ECU upgrade, intercooler, K&N, 3" down pipe, 2.75" Cat-back, and I could run side by side with moms 04 SL 500 if not beat it by a bit. Now I can easily beat the SL. The AMG's are a different story on the other hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lax01 Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 No, the car will NOT "keep up" with a new M3, 350Z, S2000, Boxter S, C5, etc. If anything, I'd say it's about even with a stock E36 M3 now.I'm sorry, 350Z? S2000? Boxster S? all 14 second cars stock...E36 M3 is low 14s...looks like its time to sell the Volvo Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROB @ VMS Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Glad to hear everything went well with the download Joe. I too u wouldnt get much out of the bsr PPC. Never a fan on them cause iv never seen a fast bsr chiped car. As for the Me7 stuff its better than 4.4 and 4.3 could ever be. Im sick of people complain about it. Also the head design with the cars that have VVT are alot better than the older heads. Anyways joe all seems right but once you get a 3" downpipe on there and use a race cat this will change dramaticly. Then you can ask Bsr for some sort of update With the money you spent on that i could have tuned you for a Rica chip. i dunno whats sup with these chip companys joe they making some Bull SH*T maps and selling them. Also the 100octane was no good the let the ecu adapt with first. Start 93 and reset the ecu. If u really want a map that will get you going let me know, i have some tricks up my sleeve About wheel spin. I only lose traction at the top of first them im on my way. or launching hard at the strip. I dont ever break traction in every day driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johann Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 First off, ...←The car has probably been driven to lazy for to long.The turbo al clogged up, not rev happy.. You want butt dyno fooling torque development at a point where it doesn't bring anything? Turn up the wastegate actuator a few rounds to the point where flapper pin meets halfway the actuator hole. Maybe it brings a little more life in the car. Seriously, give it a few days. There's nothing to learn for the ECU but sometimes the engine loosens up a little. By the time it does you are used to the gain so you will still be disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0E Posted August 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 I noticed that off the line performance wasn't as good after the 3" exhaust. With the 2.75" I could spin tires (Bridgestone S-03) like crazy off the line, now with the 3" they barely chirp off the line, not until I hit my powerband and then they brake loose. ←Oh well. Full traction is a good thing, at least. It'll save me some money at least from not chewing up tires. Also, what kind of Benz do you own? Cause I use to smoke the pants off CLK430's at any RPM and I had a Rica ECU upgrade, K&N, 3" down pipe, 2.75" Cat-back, and I could run side by side with moms 04 SL 500 if not beat it by a bit. Now I can eat the SL for breakfast. The AMG's are a different story on the other hand.←'99 S500. Faster than a CLK430, but not quite as fast as a new SL500...I'd say right in between. After 80 is where the 4-speed Volvo falls short since it has to shift to third-gear. Before, the Benz was clearly faster at speed, but now they are about even. I glance down at the speedo after WOT at 80 in the Volvo, and 100 would come up around the same time as the MB. Obviously not definitive data, but they are closer now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0E Posted August 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 I'm sorry, 350Z? S2000? Boxster S? all 14 second cars stock...E36 M3 is low 14s...←Actually all 13-second cars stock...but what's your point? Are you saying a T5 with a chip/exhaust can or cannot keep up? If it's the latter, then we agree. I just mentioned some cars that a few people claim are no match for a lightly-modded T5, but are wrong. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasso C70 Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Oh well. Full traction is a good thing, at least. It'll save me some money at least from not chewing up tires. '99 S500. Faster than a CLK430, but not quite as fast as a new SL500...I'd say right in between. After 80 is where the 4-speed Volvo falls short since it has to shift to third-gear. Before, the Benz was clearly faster at speed, but now they are about even. I glance down at the speedo after WOT at 80 in the Volvo, and 100 would come up around the same time as the MB. Obviously not definitive data, but they are closer now.←Yeah, I would think you are even with the S500 cause that's pretty much where I was with very similar mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 I really can't figger out why Joe is still driving a Volvo..... Buy yourself a Porsche GT3 and never come back here :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ontheheel Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 yeah, let the ecu get settled in. it's not a night and day difference, but the car will get faster. when i had michelin pilot sports on my car, chip and exhaust, i could spin the tires off the line, and then again right after twenty miles per hour. and that was with my car running poorly as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 ....No, the car will NOT "keep up" with a new M3, 350Z, S2000, Boxter S, C5, etc. ←Well than your car is really slow because my previous yellow T-5R blew the stuff out of a brandnew 350Z on the Dutch highway! It couldn't keep up in any gear or at any speed. As soon as I floored it he was vanishing in my rear mirror pretty fast. And he was really trying as we where doing +200 km/h at some times. But what can you expect from a Japanese car with a modified V6 Renault-engine under the hood???Boxster?? Don't make me laugh, they are a joke and very easy victoms for a prepp'd 850 Turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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