Car Remapping,
Explained Properly

Remapping is rewriting the software maps inside your car’s ECU — the lookup tables that control fuelling, ignition timing, boost pressure and torque limits. The factory sets them conservatively to cope with poor fuel, missed servicing and every market the car is sold in. A remap replaces them with maps written for your car, without changing any hardware.

A custom Stage 1 dyno tune is £449 including VAT for most BMW and VAG cars. BMW B58 and M models, Audi RS and the Porsche petrol range are higher. Gearbox tuning starts at £325, and engine plus gearbox booked together saves £125.

On a typical turbocharged engine, around 35% more power and 40% more torque on Stage 1. Naturally aspirated engines gain considerably less because there is no boost to work with. Our figures pages list real before and after numbers for every engine we tune, so you can check your exact car rather than take an average.

Yes, when it is done within the hardware’s limits and actually measured. We log air-fuel ratio, boost and temperatures under full load on the dyno while the map is written, which is the only way to know the engine is happy. A generic file flashed in without measurement is where the risk lives.

Yes. We keep your original file, so the car can be returned to standard at any time.

Yes. A remap is a modification and should be declared, the same as wheels or suspension. Not declaring it can invalidate a claim.

It is a same-day job. Most cars are with us around 3 to 4 hours covering the ECU read, the map, dyno runs and a road test. Locked post-June-2020 BMW and Audi ECUs need bench unlocking first and are booked as a 4 hour slot.

Stage 1 works with the car exactly as it is — no hardware changes. Stage 2 goes further and needs supporting modifications, which differ by fuel type. Our Stage 1 vs Stage 2 guide covers what each one needs.