Are there any cheap remap options??

[Reub]

Can't find anything decent out there on this.

Here's the story. I bought a 2003 B6 A4 AWX 1.9 TDi 130 with 110k miles for 500 quid a year and a half ago. I've been wanting to remap it since I got it but I don't want to spend a lot on it since the car's worth nothing. I'm thinking of buying a map online, so this just leaves the issue of how to flash the ECU.

Basically the question is: Does anyone know of a cheap cable that works for remapping 03 A4s?

Or is there any other way of going about this?

I don't want to buy a genuine cable as I probably won't keep this car all that long and my next car will probably be a BMW rather than VAG.

 

[pauldazzle]

It's not as simple as just buying a cable, you'll need specialist software plus the correct OBD2 cable to be able to flash the ECU. When I had my A4 PD 130 I bought a mapped ECU on Ebay with the immobiliser disabled which meant it was plug & play. I have VCDS so was able to enable the immobiliser again, but that wasn't essential.
Can't remember how much I paid for the ECU, but I think it around £130ish.

 

[Reub]

It's not as simple as just buying a cable, you'll need specialist software plus the correct OBD2 cable to be able to flash the ECU. When I had my A4 PD 130 I bought a mapped ECU on Ebay with the immobiliser disabled which meant it was plug & play. I have VCDS so was able to enable the immobiliser again, but that wasn't essential.
Can't remember how much I paid for the ECU, but I think it around £130ish.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant a cable that works with VAG COM.

If I bought an ECU with immob. disabled would the remote on my key still work? What is the likelihood of having my car stolen?

 

[Reub]

It's not as simple as just buying a cable, you'll need specialist software plus the correct OBD2 cable to be able to flash the ECU. When I had my A4 PD 130 I bought a mapped ECU on Ebay with the immobiliser disabled which meant it was plug & play. I have VCDS so was able to enable the immobiliser again, but that wasn't essential.
Can't remember how much I paid for the ECU, but I think it around £130ish.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant a cable that works with VAG COM.

If I bought an ECU with immob. disabled would the remote on my key still work? What is the likelihood of having my car stolen? Seems like a decent option...

 

[pauldazzle]

VCDS/Vagcom can't do remapping. My remote worked fine as did the alarm just the immobiliser was disabled. I wouldn't think an A4 B6 would be much of target for a car thief.

 

[Reub]

VCDS/Vagcom can't do remapping. My remote worked fine as did the alarm just the immobiliser was disabled. I wouldn't think an A4 B6 would be much of target for a car thief.

wtf.. Was absolutely certain that everyone remapped using VAGCOM... OK looks like ECU is the way to go. Yes I don't think anyone will be too keen on robbing my car either but it's just another thing to take into account. Thanks.

 

[pauldazzle]

VCDS/Vagcom is really useful, & it does many things, but you can't remap with it. I've owned 9 different VAG cars, & VCDS has paid for itself many times over.

 

[ashtec125sp]

don't go cheap, go to a decent tuner that knows his stuff,

"buy cheap buy twice" replacing engines isn't ideal