A: ECU remapping is an engine tuning service which enables some of the restrictions put on a vehicle by the vehicle manufacturer to be lifted. Yes that’s right - what you may not have known is that vehicle manufacturers actually limit the performance of vehicles. This is to take into consideration sub-standard fuels and the possibility that vehicles may not be serviced on a regular basis and in accordance with the manufacturers recommended guidelines. ECU remapping unblocks some of these restrictions so that the vehicle being remapped can perform as was originally designed. More power, greater response and lower fuel consumption are some of the advantages that a remap will offer. What’s more, remapping a vehicle has no negative effect on exhaust emissions or the life of an engine. Each remap which Bromley Car Audio undertakes is unique and tailored to suit the specific vehicle which is being remapped. Connecting remotely to the ECU (Engine Control Unit) via the on-board diagnostics port also ensures that no hardware or engine components are altered in anyway.

A: The majority of tuning boxes on the market today will only increase the fuel pressure and injection periods. You will not get an even spread of power due to the delay in the tuning box circuitry processing sensor signals. This results in spikes in the power. With remapping, these problems are eliminated as the ECU processes everything along with adjusting the torque limiters and turbo limiters, which a tuning box cannot access.

A: The OBD port (On-Board Diagnostics) is essentially a plug in the vehicle which can be connected to which has a self-diagnostic and reporting capability. The OBD port enables the vehicle owner or vehicle technician to access information relating to the health state of various vehicle sub-systems.

A: ECU remapping is the modern term replacing that of 'chip-tuning', although the term chip-tuning is still widely used. Chip-tuning or 'chipping' refers to the actual process of physically modifying the ECU chip which was required before the year 2000 and before all cars were fitted with a standardised OBD port. From the year 2000, car engines were able to be tuned by accessing the ECU remotely. This safer and more effective form of tuning is growing in popularity.

A: We do not alter any hardware in your vehicle as all modern vehicles have an ECU. The ECU is a computer controlled device which can be accessed via the on-board diagnostics port (OBD) in the vehicle. The ECU controls many processes such as ignition timing, how much fuel and air are mixed together, when the turbo initiates in etc. These settings are stored as maps within the ECU. Here at Bromley Car Audio, our technician will access your vehicles ECU via the OBD port. From here, the technician will analyse the maps that are already stored on the ECU. Our technical department will then find the optimal settings for your vehicle and reprogramme the ECU with the new optimised maps. Your vehicle can be re-mapped in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the ECU. If at any time you wish to return your vehicle ECU to its original factory settings, this can be done as we always keep a copy of the original maps in the ECU.

A: ECU remapping will benefit both petrol and diesel engines. However, turbo diesel injection models (TDI) will show the greatest results from a performance and economy point of view.

A: The manufacturers are restricted by law to limit the power available in the engine map between 2000 – 3000 RPM. This was introduced to reduce emissions but the consequence of this is that drivers use more throttle to counteract the lack of power and in fact increase emissions. Manufactures also build in tolerances to account for people who may not have their vehicles serviced in accordance with the recommended service period. A way of doing this is to limit the power available through settings in the ECU. Additionally your vehicle will be restricted to take into consideration sub-standard fuels which we do not have in Europe.

A: Optimising your vehicle through remapping an ECU is a very straight forward process. Once you have contacted Bromley Car Audio, one of our accredited technicians will book you in, or if arranged they will travel to your location in order to carry out the remap. Our on-site technician will be required to retrieve an electronic file from the vehicle ECU which will then be optimised in line with the specific make and model of vehicle. Once that file has been optimised, it will be returned to the vehicle ECU. This process is carried out remotely via the on-board diagnostics plug so that the ECU itself does not have to be physically handled.

A: The entire remapping process is very quick and our technicians can remap your vehicle while you wait. The actual procedure of retrieving a file from the vehicle ECU, optimising the file and replacing it again in the ECU takes on average no longer than an hour. Before our technician finishes, they will check the remap by taking the vehicle for a test drive with the owner.

A: Whether you choose an ECO-Tune remap or a MAX-Tune remap, you will notice a marked improvement in your driving experience. Under acceleration the vehicle will be more reactive and provide improved throttle response. The smooth acceleration which a remap provides enables safer overtaking and better all-round performance. As the vehicle is being provided with more power earlier on in the rev ranges, fewer gear changes are required, which will ensure a more enjoyable and relaxing drive.

A: Our certified technicians will remap your vehicle in store. We do however, offer a mobile service which can come direct to your door, whether that be your home, office or any other location which is suitable. Contact us today to discuss any arrangements you may like to make.

A: The ECO-Tune remap service specifically focuses on providing your vehicle with more power in the low-to-mid rev ranges. This increased torque at lower rev ranges will in turn ensure that less gear changes are required which will increase your MPG at the end of the day. Fuel savings of up to 20% can be achieved. The MAX-Tune remap service concentrates on delivering more power to your vehicle within the upper-mid rev ranges. An increase in brake horse power (BHP) and torque will give your vehicle better pulling power, enabling faster and safer over-taking. BHP gains of up to 35% can be achieved.

A: At the present time we can only offer our services within London and surrounding areas. Contact us to find out if we can cater to your location.

A: Bromley Car Audio offer very competitive prices matched with the highest quality remapping files available today. Not only are our prices competitive but we offer standardised prices for standard vehicles. We like to keep things simple. It is worth noting that many remapping providers offer what seem like value for money ECU remapping services. However, a great deal of these providers are using stock files (generic library files). These files are not tailored to your vehicles specific requirements. Bromley Car Audio only provide tailored remap files and would advise against purchasing cheap alternatives.

A: Yes. If you are not satisfied with our work we offer a 14 day money back guarantee. You will be required to bring your vehicle back to Bromley Car Audio and we will remove the re-mapped file and replace your original maps. You will receive a refund of the full purchase price. For mobile services we will deduct a £40.00 charge from the full purchase price being refunded to cover technician time costs.

A: Yes remapping your vehicle is entirely legal and there is no law against this. Each remap which we carry out is done so within the manufacturer safety tolerance zones.

A: There are no risks to your vehicle, provided that your vehicle has been regularly serviced and that the main engine parts are in good working order. Remapping your vehicle will provide your vehicle with increased power which your vehicle was originally designed to handle. Where vehicles have very worn parts or engine faults, a remap will tend to highlight these problems. As a result Bromley Car Audio will not remap any vehicle which has engine problems or has not been regularly serviced in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines. Each Bromley Car Audio remap is tailored to the vehicle being remapped to ensure only the best results. Bromley Car Audio do not use library files which some operators do use in order to offer a cheaper service. Each Bromley Car Audio remap is produced within the safety tolerance zones of your vehicle.

A: Bromley Car Audio advises all vehicle owners to notify their insurer of any vehicle modification, as a remap is not easy to detect. Once a vehicle has been remapped it will benefit from increased performance and thus the insurer should be made aware of this. There are many insurance companies who insure modified vehicles without the premium being affected.

A: Yes. If in the unlikely event you are not satisfied with the increased performance and improved economy as a result of the remapping service, your vehicle can be returned to its original settings.

A: You can continue to use the same fuel that you have been using before and have no need to change the fuel type you use.

A: No your CO2 emissions will not increase. Vehicle CO2 emissions are linked to how much fuel your vehicle uses. For every litre of fuel your vehicle burns, 2.63 kg of CO2 are released into the atmosphere. This is not dependent on how you drive or indeed what you drive, but how much fuel your vehicle consumes. Indeed, with an ECO-Tune remap, we can help you to reduce your vehicle CO2 emissions by ensuring your vehicle uses less fuel.

A: Yes. We will not remap a vehicle that has engine problems. Please make sure you fix any mechanical or electrical problems before we remap your vehicle.

A: Our vehicle lists are being updated on a regular basis. If you do not see your vehicle listed please contact us for more information as we may still be able to remap it.