Recently I seem to keep coming across references to "chipping" a car for boosting performance -- what's this about, and can it be done usefully on th S2K ?

Also, I just saw an advert for a very cheap "+15BHP" device that you apparently fit in minutes, "piggybacking the ECU" -- are these any good?

 

The general concensus on your second question is "no", I think.

With regards to the first, you will find that the majority of chipped engines are turbocharged, as the performance gains are quite large - on a normally aspirated engine like ours the gains aren't quite so good, although it can still be done

 

Following up on this I doubt you'll get much of an increase from chipping as the engine is already in a high state of tune. Mugen ECU seems to be the best way to go if you follow this route but then you need to pretty much replace the induction system with Mugen bits as well plus you need to change the exhaust.
I'd talk to an expert before starting.

 

Considering the F20C is already developing 120bhp per litre, any NA tuning gains are going to be tweaks not big gains.

Forexample, with most VAG group engines, a simple chip will liberate 10's of horse power, but because we're in an already high state of tune, it's going to be minimal. At a rolling road day, the guy with the greatest horsepower was the only stock car there

Admittedly, other people have managed NA gains, but just don't expect any cheap or quick wins.

 

Those Ebay things are very dangerous, stay clear.

Do a search on ECU's - big subject. I think the J's is the best one, or you can go for a new ECU, like the AEM. With a good map they can free a fair few ponies.

There is a fair bit of room left in the S engine IMO, the right mods can give good results.

It wont be cheap though!

Chilled, most of the new VAG stuff is turbocharged, hence the big (30-40 bhp) gains from a Remap.

MB

 

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

 

Cheap gain? Remove the cat. 10BHP

 

or learn to drive........

 

The S2000 is fast enough for it's chassis IMO.

Of course you could always change that too.

I have to admit that if I was going to mod my S, which I would never bother doing, it would be in the handling department. The car isn't ideally set up for our B-roads and this is where you can make the biggest gains