Long term effect of remapping

[Jeo]

Hi all I’m new to the forum just bought my first 1er a 2011 120d – Love it but it needs a bit more poke. I’m thinking about a remap but after my last car (VW Scirocco) chain slipped and fubarred the engine I’m reluctant to do anything that may harm this car.

So couple questions on remaps

1. Long term are there any negative affects of remapping a car? (unwilling to risk totalling another engine)
2. Do they affect clutch/flywheel
3. Do they shorten life span of the turbo/other components?

Thanks all…

[rob180bhp]

Any remapping will have an affect on any engines lifespan and is always a risk, but it's long term risk verses reward

Do we all do it yes we do

Will it affect the clutch and flywheel yes ofcourse
Will it lower the life span of an allready poor chain design yes it will


Have it mapped but drastically reduce service intervals and hope for the best, I'm trying not to be too negative, but do your homework with regards to chains on the n47 engine and the car your bought then decide

BMW service history is junk on this engine as the intervalls are too long so I'd advise a decent aftermarket warranty before spending money on a remap


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[marco_polo]

Yes, making a drivetrain produce more torque can obviously shorten it's life. More wear, extra load, higher in-cylinder temperatures/pressures, etc.

However, the drivetrain will only be experiencing more torque than designed when you demand it, how many seconds per journey do you have your foot to the floorboards?

The next question is, what is the weakest link, what is it's life, and how much shorter will it get? It could be the differential, who's life drops from 150,000 to 120,000? Or a DMF from 120,000 to 80,000? Who knows?

Additional routine maintenance can help offset some ill effects, things like changing the diff oil and gearbox oil, shortening the engine oil interval by half, etc.

[Jeo]

Thanks for the great advice Gents

Yes I've got a 3 year warranty with Warranty Direct as I didn't want that timing issue that can effect these engines to catch me out.

Clutch and flywheel I expect to wear but was more concerned about the turbo + +other parts of the drive train

I drive about 15k miles a year and was looking to service once a yea but will do a mid year oil change.

Regarding diff oil and gearbox oil my cars on 46k is it worth changing their oil now?

[marco_polo]

More heat and more pressure certainly isn't good for turbo seals/bearings, no.

Yes, that's a sensible time to refresh the fluids, around 50k.

[ASB1960]

What is the warranty companies policy on remaps? I would imagine remap = voided and expect that in the event of a significant claim they may discover it.

[Jeo]

What is the warranty companies policy on remaps? I would imagine remap = voided and expect that in the event of a significant claim they may discover it.

Any modifications = no cover

[Jeo]

Yes, making a drivetrain produce more torque can obviously shorten it's life. More wear, extra load, higher in-cylinder temperatures/pressures, etc.

However, the drivetrain will only be experiencing more torque than designed when you demand it, how many seconds per journey do you have your foot to the floorboards?

The next question is, what is the weakest link, what is it's life, and how much shorter will it get? It could be the differential, who's life drops from 150,000 to 120,000? Or a DMF from 120,000 to 80,000? Who knows?

Additional routine maintenance can help offset some ill effects, things like changing the diff oil and gearbox oil, shortening the engine oil interval by half, etc.

Hi Marco I spoke to a local BMW specialist about gear and diff oil change but they told me the gear box and diff are sealed for life on a 120d. Have you ever heard that before?

[marco_polo]

Hi Marco I spoke to a local BMW specialist about gear and diff oil change but they told me the gear box and diff are sealed for life on a 120d. Have you ever heard that before?

No, they are definitely not sealed for life, sealed until death is more accurate.

The gearbox has a drain plug, which makes it very easy. The diff only has a fill plug so that oil has to be sucked out.

Read: https://www.bmsport.com/workshop/servicing/, etc.

We have guides on here, but sadly those pricks at Photobucket have messed up all the pics:
http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=25263
http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=77919

[jonners]

I went to Halfords Autocentre for a Gear Box and Diff Oil change. As by about 38-40k things started getting crunchy throughout the Gear changes. It's a lot smoother/slicker through banging through the Gears once again.

Anyway H A tried telling me that these units are sealed for life. And for some reason took quite a bit of persuading to do the job. Not sure why, but when pushed, they quoted me £70 for both Oils (parts and labour). Which I thought wasn't too bad.

The Drain Plugs are from memory a tenner a pop directly from BMW, I can't remember exactly how many are needed, but I was heading towards 30 quid for 3 of them, so decided to risk it and reuse the ones I had. So far so good.

[Jeo]

Ok let me try somewhere else Halfords is only round the corner from my office so will give them a try

[jonners]

Yeh the Guy behind the Counter phoned his Supplier, whom told the Guy at Halfords that it is a sealed for life unit, and that the Oils never needed changing, but for some reason the Supplier caved, and could source what I required, and Halfords took the job on.

I do have the invoice but sadly it is just basic to describe what the work carried out. Supplying Number Plate should help get you what you require though. I'm going to look at changing it again in another 2.5yrs. It's been about 6 months since the change already.

Hope you do get somewhere with this

[napes5]

Hi all I’m new to the forum just bought my first 1er a 2011 120d – Love it but it needs a bit more poke. I’m thinking about a remap but after my last car (VW Scirocco) chain slipped and fubarred the engine I’m reluctant to do anything that may harm this car.

So couple questions on remaps

1. Long term are there any negative affects of remapping a car? (unwilling to risk totalling another engine)
2. Do they affect clutch/flywheel
3. Do they shorten life span of the turbo/other components?

Thanks all…

A 120 diesel is never going to be quick, with a remap or anything...if you want something quick go for a 135i or something

[OneTwenty]

Hi all I’m new to the forum just bought my first 1er a 2011 120d – Love it but it needs a bit more poke. I’m thinking about a remap but after my last car (VW Scirocco) chain slipped and fubarred the engine I’m reluctant to do anything that may harm this car.

So couple questions on remaps

1. Long term are there any negative affects of remapping a car? (unwilling to risk totalling another engine)
2. Do they affect clutch/flywheel
3. Do they shorten life span of the turbo/other components?

Thanks all…

A 120 diesel is never going to be quick, with a remap or anything...if you want something quick go for a 135i or something

Depends how you define quick, I found my old 120d to be good at making fast progress across country, certainly up to legal speeds. They are not silly fast, but then sometimes that can be just a much fun.

A small lightweight 120d remapped to 210-220bhp will be certainly good fun, even as a diesel. Mega fast cars when I was a teenager never had much more than 220bhp (Cosworths, etc etc).

[napes5]

Hi all I’m new to the forum just bought my first 1er a 2011 120d – Love it but it needs a bit more poke. I’m thinking about a remap but after my last car (VW Scirocco) chain slipped and fubarred the engine I’m reluctant to do anything that may harm this car.

So couple questions on remaps

1. Long term are there any negative affects of remapping a car? (unwilling to risk totalling another engine)
2. Do they affect clutch/flywheel
3. Do they shorten life span of the turbo/other components?

Thanks all…

A 120 diesel is never going to be quick, with a remap or anything...if you want something quick go for a 135i or something

Depends how you define quick, I found my old 120d to be good at making fast progress across country, certainly up to legal speeds. They are not silly fast, but then sometimes that can be just a much fun.

A small lightweight 120d remapped to 210-220bhp will be certainly good fun, even as a diesel. Mega fast cars when I was a teenager never had much more than 220bhp (Cosworths, etc etc).

True, but they were light and petrol. a 120d is a heavy lump and what can rev to 4k rpm? They're meant for economy not driving fun