Simple question but I suspect not a simple answer.
My car is a bog standard August '96 UK Turbo 2000 and the only mod I can see is an aftermarket stainless steel exhaust. I love it to bits and its reasonably powerful - but more power would be nice. Well who wouldn't say no to a bit more?
However from the limited amount that I have read, it seems that my ecu can't be easily re-mapped without the addition of piggy back ecus or an ecu swap (feel free to tell me that I'm talking rubbish if thats the case - I'm new to all this).
So what I can I do to give me a bit more grunt? Will fitting a decent performance air filter help or even a de-cat and is there any scope at all for re-mapping? Or should I just be happy with what I've got and shut up?
I'd be grateful for your thoughts.
Steve

first depends on what you wanna spend, cause once u start there might be no stopping to get more lol, as for remaping your ecu you can remap to 290 on standard import ones not sure on uk spec maybee think about getting a td05 or a ihi vf323 or something, im sure someone else will put some more help posts as im in a rush atm

The problem you have is that its not wise to bolt on mods like turbo/intercooler/induction kit etc without supporting it with a remap.

As you have said correctly, early ecu's arent easily mapped and usually require an aftermarket ecu to allow programming, and thats where the money goes through the roof.

You can do an uprated turbo, intercooler, walbro pump and induction kit for around £500 if you shop around, and on a later car this would produce upwards of 300bhp with a simple map but if you have to add an ecu to that you'll be up to £1500 in no time.

Then you start thinking "why dont I buy a later spec car and save myself the hassle" which is often what people do in the end.

Others may be able to give more detailed advice on which direction is best, this is just what i've learnt in the few months of ownership so far.

Good luck mate

Decent decat and panel filter releases quite a bit more bhp..........certainly enough so you can feel the difference. Sounds great too

But DO hang on to your cats.........MoTs don't like decats

Mine had a TSL "Group N" full exhaust, lovely, nicely made, looks good, loud enough but not silly, I could feel the extra power, and it's STILL in place now even though the car has been rebuilt to 400/400.

Thanks for that. So the next question is, can I add a decat pipe and decent air filter without a remap? And will it make much difference without the remap?

I wouldnt be sure.

Put it this way, my missus bought a 2001 WRX with a full de-cat system and panel filter on it, no other mods or remap.

I added a 3 port boost solenoid + walbro pump then Duncan from Racedynamix came round to map the car. He said, based on experience, the car was producing LESS than 200bhp before he mapped it, and 270/270 after!

This may not be the case for all cars, but a remap is really the only way to unleash the full potential

Best to PM some respected mappers on here, ask if they think a remap would be necessary.

The general consensus on here is classics tend to run find on decat exhausts without a remap whereas the newages cars do require a rempa. I dunno if this is specifically a newage ECU thing but I had no issues running a decat on my 3rd Scoob (on 4th now) which was a my99 uk turbo.

Sell your uk turbo and with the money that you will have to spend on the parts, plus mapping, along with and this is me assuming your rolling on standard 15 year old suspension and 2 pot front brakes, save the time and money and put it Into buying a later spec uk car with the mods done or if your lucky a sti. Just my opinion but what ever you do I hope you enjoy it

You are right on the edge of the changeover between an MY96 and an MY97, you need to see which one you have, the MY96 will run a phase 1 engine the MY97 a phase 1.5 engine (intercooler is a big givaway) as the differences are important.

Tony

Very simple, get a z4 ecu off eBay they are rated at 260ps and will plug right in, the only downside is you HAVE to run it on vpower fuel as it's a jap ecu and they apparently were mapped for 100 Ron fuel, mine always ran fine on 99 Ron vpower tho with no det.

rewire your car for a ver.7 ej207 then go from there.