I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: BBR Starchip
I was planning on getting something like a BBR 180 after my suspension is sorted, but I have noticed they offer to install their Starchip without any other modifications. It still provides some results of approx 8bhp and 12lbft torque, plus economy (i daily mine) and other driving aids others have mentioned with the 180 and 200.
Has anyone had this done and can comment how much of an improvement it is? I quite like driving my car on the edge and there will always be someone faster so wondering if this will provide 80% of the experience for 50% of the cost?
On the mods, £714 incl VAT assuming you need the programming device seems very expensive to me too.
I’m not sure how noticeable 8hp would be - back to back before and after you might notice. In your position I’d continue to save towards the Super 180 package (+24hp/18lbft according to website).
I’m with Reggie747 on this.
8bhp for a big outlay seems negligible.
I’d put the extra £500 in and go for the 180 to get another 16bhp on top of the Star Chip.
Unless it is out of date the fitting link says £600 fully fitted. Click where the spanner is.
On suspension I need some re bushing and I’m probably going Meisterr crd. Clubrace also suggested but there have been a lot of comments about firmness and the car will be 95% or more a road car with a couple of times a year on track with my brother for fun.
For me cars like this are to be driven and break up my working day a treat. I still do less than 8k a year.
Ah got it, thanks! In your position I’d still save for the 180 package, as I know I’d do the first step, and spend the months that follow thinking about the second step anyway, probably at greater expensive both in terms of ££, time and emotional energy haha
Oo that does seem to be a popular suspension choice, I’m assuming for good reason! Hope that works out well. As predominantly a road car sounds like you’re making the best decision!
Great stuff! Many of us years on still get excited about taking our cars out for a run which is just as it should be
I have a broken spring and a couple of shocks starting to leak.
When you add up to standard replacements it’s not far off the crds and I will track at some point even if not in anger.
You are probably right about the 180 and I should maybe sit on my hands but my country road blasts probably can’t be much faster.
It is interesting to see that it’s hard to find any reference to anyone doing just the chip. It might just be underated because many people love numbers.
The mid and end box exhaust is mostly to sound nice but also provides a few hp and torque gains because its less restrictive to the stock system. Biggest gain from the exhaust in hp and torque is the inlet manifold.
The ECU remapping is done two ways - one if you have the equipment to flash the ecu or two using a dedicated professional equipment (basically a laptop with hardware and software which is completely different hardware to the previous method). they do the latter on their dyno so the tuning is done onto your car. I’m not really sure how you would tune the car for DYI job without a dyno. If you have done this before fair play but I personally would rather get someone who knows what their doing to set the car up properly. Thus 500 squids for dyno time, the technician time and flashing the ecu is not as bad deal for me… just imho.
Have a talk to Autotronix in Sheffield, my car has been tuned to 180 by them around 3 years ago.
Can’t comment on price as the work was carried when the previous owner had it. A receipt shows other work was involved (exhaust and manifold) maybe it was necessary to gain that extra bhp, who knows.
I believe that is the company that works with Roddisons. I will be speaking to him as well but I do like the looks of the extra toys you get with the BBR tune and they are not far from me.
I can vouch for Autotronix. I purchased my own IL Motorsport decatted exhaust manifold and had Clive at Autotronix install it and map it on his dyno with EcuTek software. It all came in under £900 and achieved 184 bhp on an NC1.
Yes I believe the car went to him initially for some other work then Autotronix did their bit.
I’m contemplating going to Roddisons soon too, he has done work for me on my previous NC.
The problem with the chip is not the chip itself but rather your reason for thinking about it.
If you want the 180, go for it. There is never a good reason not to go for what you really want.
Today the chip is available. Maybe in 6 months, something else will be available (probably actually). Will you then revisit your decision and ruminate over whether to make another change?
I once faced a similar conundrum over getting a modified exhaust on my 370z (about 10bhp increase, but the reason is the sound, as the standard exhaust in the standard z is not that great tbh). For years, I regularly thought about it and thought that it wasn’t worth the money.
Then one day I sat as a passenger in a Z that had the mod in question and within 10 metres, it was clear that I had been in the wrong all along. Next day, I scheduled a garage appointment and I have never looked back since.
I guess what I am trying to say is, work on clarifying what you want first. Test drives cars if you have to. BBR can then provide all sorts of packages (and even hybrids of packages) to suit your needs
