ECU remapping, formerly known as chiptuning, involves modifying or tuning the software of your Engine Control Unit (ECU) to achieve increased performance, improved drivability, and even lower fuel consumption. At Llandow Tuning, we strive to deliver the perfect balance of all these benefits.
With over 21 years of experience, we're proud to be one of Wales' most trusted tuners. We've been providing custom, tested remaps for a wide range of vehicles, ensuring every tune meets your expectations.
Every Llandow Tune is a Custom Tune Tailred to your vehicle not an off the shelf or bought in solution which you will find from every other tuning center in Wales
Unlock significant BHP gains and enjoy a more exhilarating driving experience with enhanced power delivery and seamless performance.
Unlock greater torque and power output across the rev range, making towing, overtaking, and daily driving effortless.
Enhance fuel efficiency with precise adjustments to your engine's parameters. Customers report gains of up to 5 MPG, saving money on every journey.
Enjoy sharper throttle response and a more connected driving experience with remapping designed to suit your style.
The process begins with connecting to your car's ECU using specialist tools. These tools extract the original software calibration, which contains all the parameters and settings that control your engine's performance. This step is crucial, as it provides a blueprint of your car’s current setup.
We might read the ECU via the internal diagnsotic port (OBD) or we might need to remove the ECU to access it within our fully equipted electronics lab. Full ESD precautions are followed
Once the original calibration is extracted, it is carefully analyzed by experienced tuners and software specialists. We typically use WINOLS for this process. Analyzing and identifying the maps is a critical step. Most modern ECUs contain around 10,000 to 50,000 maps and switches, and understanding what they do and how they impact the engine is what makes the difference between how much power the engine will produce and how safe it will be.
A new, optimized version of the calibration is created based on the desired outcomes. Whether the goal is increased horsepower, better fuel efficiency, or a smoother driving experience, the calibration is customized to suit your vehicle and your preferences.
The kind of things modified might include:
The modified calibration is then uploaded back to the ECU. This process ensures that the new settings take over, effectively reprogramming your engine's behavior.
Once the new calibration is installed, the vehicle is thoroughly tested to ensure everything runs smoothly and as expected. We use dynos, data log the engine's performance, and, if needed, make additional tweaks to perfect the tune and deliver optimal results.
We also provide a full after-sale service to ensure your engine continues to perform at its best. Whether you need additional advice or adjustments, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
WINOLS: The software used to modify the calibration on your engine ecu
Vehicle undergoing dyno testing at Llandow Tuning Wales
Exhaust Gas Analysis - Emission, AFR and Gas Analysis
Vehicle Datalogging and Analysis
Off-the-shelf tunes are pre-made software calibrations that are designed to work across a wide range of vehicles of the same make and model. While this may sound convenient, OTS tunes come with significant risks, including:
Custom tuning is designed specifically for your vehicle. At Llandow Tuning, we create bespoke calibrations tailored to your car’s unique characteristics and your driving goals. The advantages of custom tuning include:
Stage 1 refers to a software-only remap that requires no physical modifications to the vehicle. It is designed to safely optimize the engine's performance within the limits of the factory components.
Stage 1+ builds on the foundation of Stage 1 but may require minor hardware changes, such as upgraded air filters or a performance exhaust. These changes allow the engine to breathe better and deliver slightly more power. On diesel vehicles, Stage 1+ will also require a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) to be disabled or removed.
Stage 2 introduces more significant hardware modifications alongside a custom remap to make the most of the new components. These changes often include an upgraded intercooler and the kinds of modifications associated with Stage 1+, such as an induction kit. On petrol vehicles, Stage 2 will typically require removing or replacing the catalytic converter, as it is a significant source of heat and restriction. However, we can work around this as all our maps are completely custom.
Stage 3 tuning is a more extreme level of modification that typically involves replacing or upgrading major engine components, such as turbochargers, injectors, fuel pumps, or even engine internals. A Stage 3 tune is tailored to these upgrades to ensure the car runs reliably with significantly increased power. However, in our opinion, Stage 3 is not really suitable for a daily driver due to its high-performance focus and the potential impact on reliability.
If an issue arises, the first step is to bring the car back to us. We will assess the vehicle and create an action plan to diagnose and resolve the problem.
For Stage 1 tuning, our remaps are designed within safe tolerances. If the remap itself causes an issue, we will fix it. However, tuning does not make a car immune to problems—wear and tear still apply.
In 21 years of experience, we have never seen a Stage 1 remap applied by us cause hardware damage.
That said, high-mileage vehicles (e.g., 100k+ miles on a turbo) are more susceptible to pre-existing weaknesses. We diagnose such cases for free, but we do not cover worn-out components.
For Stage 1+ and above, tuning exceeds factory parameters, increasing mechanical stress. At this level, there is no warranty as it falls under motorsport use.
Example – Golf R:
Any car over 100k miles is inherently riskier to tune. Even without tuning, wear and tear will take its toll. Vehicles used aggressively will see parts degrade faster.
If tuning is for practical reasons (e.g., improving torque in a van), we may tune even at 180k+ miles. However, for high-performance cars driven hard, we will only assist in identifying issues, not provide a warranty.
Let’s be frank—for a £350 remap, we are not providing a full warranty on every part of the car, except, of course, where it is directly related to something we've done wrong. Our priority is to ensure you have confidence in our tuning, and in the unlikely event of an issue, we will assist as follows:
The responsibility for vehicle wear and tear remains with the owner—whether the car is tuned or not. As with any mechanical component, parts will degrade over time, and tuning does not prevent natural wear.
However, should you not accept our findings, we will obtain an independent assessment of the vehicle, its modifications, and any issues that have arisen. Their findings will be used as the basis for determining the next course of action.
Performance tuning involves optimizing various aspects of the engine calibration to extract more power, torque, and efficiency. Whether it’s a petrol or diesel engine, we can fine-tune multiple areas to suit your driving needs.
At Llandow Tuning, we offer custom tuning solutions tailored to your requirements. Whether you're looking for a safe and efficient Stage 1 remap or a more aggressive Stage 1+ or Stage 2 tune, we can adjust the calibration to match your goals—within the limits of mechanical reliability.
Manufacturers don’t always release vehicles at their full performance potential. There are multiple reasons why a car may be software-limited from the factory:
Higher octane fuels allow for ignition timing adjustments to increase power safely. We can:
Turbocharged vehicles can see major gains from proper boost adjustments, such as:
Modern ECUs have multiple torque limiters in place to protect components such as the turbo, gearbox, and clutch. These limits are based on various parameters, including:
ECUs have evolved significantly over the past few decades. A Lucas 14CUx ECU from 1990, for example, had only a handful of maps and relied on basic airflow sensors from Bosch and Hitachi to determine fueling needs. These early ECUs were relatively simple in terms of function but were not as easy to modify as modern ECUs.
The process of tuning them required a deep understanding of electronics and software at the hardware level, as dedicated tuning tools and software were not yet widely available to enthusiasts. Unlike today’s plug-and-play tuning solutions, modifying these early ECUs often meant physically replacing or reprogramming EPROM chips and working with limited diagnostic feedback.
In contrast, modern ECUs from manufacturers such as Siemens, Continental, Bosch, Denso, Hitachi, and others can have anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 individual maps, each controlling different aspects of engine performance.
Some high-performance cars, like the BMW M5, take this complexity even further—running a dedicated ECU for each bank of cylinders to ensure precise fuel and ignition control across the entire engine. This level of control allows for highly optimized performance but also means tuning requires a much deeper understanding of how all the systems interact.
Because of this complexity, every remap we create is custom-tailored to the vehicle and the driver’s requirements. We carefully analyze how all the maps work together to ensure the best balance of performance, efficiency, and reliability.
Some tuners simply resell off-the-shelf tuning files developed by others. While these may work, they are not customized to your car and often fail to maximize performance.
Even reputable brands like REVO and APR create quality tunes, but they assume all vehicles behave identically, which is rarely the case. These dealer network tunes are installed by tuners who cannot develop software themselves.
Some tuners develop their own software, with varying levels of quality. A few are highly skilled, but many make changes without fully understanding the consequences.
At Llandow Tuning, we offer a different approach. Our background in electronics, software development, reverse engineering, and advanced software engineering gives us a unique advantage.
We don’t just modify maps—we understand the logic behind ECU programming, allowing us to create bespoke solutions tailored to your vehicle.
We are not aware of any other tuner in Wales with our level of experience and skillset who has been independently tuning cars for as long as we have.
Our goal is to provide custom, high-quality remaps that ensure the best balance of performance, reliability, and drivability.
A well-executed remap can dramatically improve performance while maintaining reliability. However, pushing an engine beyond safe limits increases wear and risk of failure. We can help you find the right balance.
If you have any questions about tuning your vehicle, get in touch—we’d be happy to advise on the best solution for your car!
Many remaps on the market are generic, one-size-fits-all solutions that fail to maximize your car’s true potential. A proper custom calibration ensures better performance, drivability, and safety.
At Llandow Tuning, we create bespoke remaps based on real-world testing and development, ensuring your car gets the best possible tuning—not just a basic file upload.
Even if your car has already been remapped, a true custom calibration offers multiple advantages over generic files:
Unlike many generic tuning solutions, our custom remaps are designed for maximum performance without compromising longevity. Get in touch today to find out what your car is really capable of!
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