159 3.2 Tuning

This

http://www.autodeltashop.com/product...roducts_id=524

or this

http://www.autodeltashop.com/product...roducts_id=543

I am seriously considering the second option.

Banny

Go for the second option, you know it makes sense

I have got the cash burning a hole in my pocket.

Trying to convince my wife it is a good idea!

Have told her we could drive to London, drop the car at Autodelta, fly from London on a weeks holiday abroad then pick the car up. Also promised to decorate the living room next weekend - that should do the trick

Banny,

The supercharger option has to be interesting - it's an awful lot of money though for something that will destroy any transmission warranty you do have... I'd certainly want to try Jano's s/c brera to determine the effect before putting my money down.

Of course the Autodelta price is without VAT, and do you know what it will do to your insurance and other costs - I'd expect servicing to be more frequent and specialist...

Strangely enough Mango's has some relationship with Autodelta for the supply of their parts, may be worth checking in with them...

I was thinking of a remap and filter job on the brera - or trade it in for a GTA to be modified and an panda 100HP.

Simes.

Simes

The car is less than 2 months old so warranty could be an issue, but I would guess that it is covered by Autodelta anyway.

As for VAT I can claim it back, plus I get tax relief on the cost, £5,395 less 40% tax is £3,237, so it doesn't seem that bad although it still is a lot of cash.

I am getting on a bit in age (40!) so insurance isn't much of an issue unless it went absolutely through the roof.

When I was at Mangoletsi's considering buying a diesel I asked about a remap and they did mention that they use Autodelta for that type of work. I will give them a call about it.

The way I see it, and how I justify it to the missus(!), is I got £8,500 off the price of the car new, I am keeping it for a few years and I deserve it before I get too old to enjoy it!

I am just doing some research on t'internet about the pros and cons but it does seem a good idea knowing you've got all that under your right foot

Banny

Originally Posted by banny69

Simes

The car is less than 2 months old so warranty could be an issue, but I would guess that it is covered by Autodelta anyway.

As for VAT I can claim it back, plus I get tax relief on the cost, £5,395 less 40% tax is £3,237, so it doesn't seem that bad although it still is a lot of cash.

I am getting on a bit in age (40!) so insurance isn't much of an issue unless it went absolutely through the roof.

When I was at Mangoletsi's considering buying a diesel I asked about a remap and they did mention that they use Autodelta for that type of work. I will give them a call about it.

The way I see it, and how I justify it to the missus(!), is I got £8,500 off the price of the car new, I am keeping it for a few years and I deserve it before I get too old to enjoy it!

I am just doing some research on t'internet about the pros and cons but it does seem a good idea knowing you've got all that under your right foot

Banny

The joys of being self employed, and using a car for business.

I'm 37 but if a remap added 10% on my last car's insurance - some of the companys price increases based on power gains - and what a gain you'll get! I'd also seriously look at the dampers/brakes. I'd go down for a day and have a test drive and a chat with Jano before comitting.

I'd also check the warranty terms that AD offer - I think you may find it's 12 months. The warranty angle is one I'd play though Mangoletsi as if they will be your servicing dealer you'll be able to sort something out. Given the transmissions themselves are still relatively new (less than 3 years old) andI'vealredy had problems with mine - I'd really be sure of this before you spend..

Simes.

The Q4 transmissions 3 diff setup look to be over-engineered for the humble power of the 3.2 IMHO so doubt if they would be the weak link.

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

The Q4 transmissions 3 diff setup look to be over-engineered for the humble power of the 3.2 IMHO so doubt if they would be the weak link.

but what about the gear box? I wasn't aware Alfa overengineered anything Still a nice idea though if you've got the dosh.

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

The Q4 transmissions 3 diff setup look to be over-engineered for the humble power of the 3.2 IMHO so doubt if they would be the weak link.

That's not my point - I've had a new diff,a gearbox and a new dual mass flywheel on a bog standard car (albeit factory faults) - with work requiring Alfa UK inspection. If there is a sc on the engine - all alfa will say to any transmission problems is blame the supercharger and invalidate the warranty. Hence my point about discussing this with Mango's first.

SImes.

Originally Posted by banny69

Simes

The car is less than 2 months old so warranty could be an issue, but I would guess that it is covered by Autodelta anyway.

As I understand it (and I'd be grateful if anyone would correct me if they think I'm wrong) the Autodelta Warranty is for 1 year only and just covers the 'parts' that they fit. Hence, if you do this modification and say the gearbox then goes the problem you may face is that the Warrantor for AD says its an Alfa Warranty issue and Alfa say the you've modded the car so their Warranty will no longer cover you

The Supercharger option is very 'interesting' though - I just think its a shame Alfa don't officially sanction AD in a similar way that Mercedes does with AMG

Originally Posted by mr.orange

Go for the second option, you know it makes sense

What He Said !!

Originally Posted by Kevin Slegg

The Supercharger option is very 'interesting' though - I just think its a shame Alfa don't officially sanction AD in a similar way that Mercedes does with AMG

Maybe we can help with that...a few international Alfa Clubs writing to Alfa Romeo might help...as there is no official tuner for alfa romeos

Question for Simes: If you had the remap do you think Alfa would have tried to wriggle out of the warranty on your diff, gearbox and flywheel?


I've spoken to both Nigel at Angel Tuning and Jano at Autodelta.

Autodelta provide a 12m warranty on the work and 2 years on the physical supercharger. So I guess I'd be stuffed by Alfa if anything major broke (gearbox, engine etc) - not good on a 2 month old car.

Also, Jano suggested upgrades to suspension (£1,338) and brakes (£990) - I would agree with these, but on top of the cost of the supercharger I could buy another car! They would need to keep the car for a week too.

Nigel says he hasn't done a 3.2 JTS yet but he can do it for £470 - more than the others on the website. Reckons will get an extra 20 bhp or so. Also suggested stay clear of any other upgrades due to warranty issues. Although this doesn't compare with the extra 88 bhp from the S/C it is a hell of a lot cheaper and won't invalidate my warranty with Alfa (unless they check the ECU?).

As the model has not been out very long and I have read of problems, I'm thinking I should protect my warranty in case anything goes wrong and go for the remap. I would then be in a position to consider the S/C later down the line.

I also spoke to Mangoletsi in Knutsford. They are 'partners' with Autodelta and will arrange for a remap to be done at their showroom. Basically they get orders for 4 or 5 remaps and get a technician to come up from London to do them all in a day.
They can also arrange for the car to be shipped to London and back for the supercharger work.

The work is still not Alfa authorised so the warranty could still be at risk.

Hmmm...why are things never straight forward?

...or you could just sell it while it's worth something and buy a faster car. Unless you have money to burn what's the point of trying to make it go much faster than it's designed to ? I know from bitter experience the cost of overtuning cars, you invariably make them more unreliable (a bad thing on an Alfa) and what you gain in power you lose in drivability. I'd stick to a simple remap like the man said or sell it and buy a second hand E39 M5 or Audi RS6, both of which were designed to go fast.

Wormus,

After looking at the options I agree with you.

I am going for a straightforward remap. By the time you've coughed up for the supercharger, brakes uprated and suspension upgrade it's around £7,500 plus VAT. The insurance goes up, warranty is voided etc.

I could get the remap and buy a 2nd hand Mini Cooper S for not much more - in fact my wife wants one anyway to replace her Clio (which I hate driving).

Cheers All

banny,

Alfa wouldn't have noticed the re-map, similar for insurance - I've had work done on this basis before by main dealers. But a s/c would be another matter.

I'm very tempted by the re-map and sport filter direct from AD or via nige -
I just wouldn't want to be first, or go it alone. I had contacted him a few months ago thinking about it but got the same information - 470 - havent done one yet.

Have you tried V-Power yet - now the engine's run in (13K) it seems to thrive on it I'm showing 24+ MPG on mixed A roads and motorways at the moment just going with the flow... This drops not surprisingly when hoofing it.

If you're interested we could always try a group buy (I'm in bolton) the AD remap claims up to 5% better economy plus some power + torque - do you have more details on what Nige offers - Mango's charges are over the top 555 for the 3.2 AD remap - they seem to be putting a nice margin on top of list....

My annual bonus is due next month - so cashflow is shall we say not a problem at the moment. and would be nice on my run to lemans for the 24hr next month.

I don't know how many nige needs to give us any form of discount espeically on travelling? Any other takers in the area?

The free sport flow filter has always improved things on my other alfa's it fits in the stock box and lets the engine rev smoother.

Depending on what nige offers I may just order it direct from AD.

let me know...

SImes.

Simes

Spoke to Nige at Angel Tuning. Says he can remap both cars for £400 inc VAT each (reduced from £470). Also says a free flow air filter for £40 per car is worth having.

If we want it done he says it will be first week in June or thereabouts.

I've decided to go ahead with it and have the remap and filter

What about you?

With regard to the insurance company, I've heard that sometimes the first thing they do is check the ECU. I will find out from Nige if this is a problem (i.e. can it be detected), if so I will notify my insurance company just to be on the safe side.

Banny

Originally Posted by banny69

Simes

Spoke to Nige at Angel Tuning. Says he can remap both cars for £400 inc VAT each (reduced from £470). Also says a free flow air filter for £40 per car is worth having.

If we want it done he says it will be first week in June or thereabouts.

I've decided to go ahead with it and have the remap and filter

What about you?

With regard to the insurance company, I've heard that sometimes the first thing they do is check the ECU. I will find out from Nige if this is a problem (i.e. can it be detected), if so I will notify my insurance company just to be on the safe side.

Banny

Banny,

Sounds good to me - including the filter provided it's a dry filter (i.e. doesn't need oiling) - oiled filters are notorious for trashing MAF's.

Now we just need to sort out when - I'm leaving for Le Mans on the 13th in the evening (driving the brera) and would want it done at least a week before then if it's before - I'm not back until the 19th.

Thanks,

Simes.

Simes

I will give him a call to arrange it ASAP and let you know. I will also ensure it is a dry filter.

Banny

Sorry for butting in - but with the Angel tunning re-map what do you get i.e. with the AD one you get 6800rpm in 1st - does the Angel one also do this?