Magnum PI

Hi all,

Been looking at this, you can get it for the 1.6 Focus and according to the blurb, it gives an extra 9BHP & 14 Lbs/ft of torque. Costs £235

So it'll take it from 99BHP to 108BHP, so seeing as the 1.8 has 113BHP as standard, its claiming to make a 1.6 perform more or less like a 1.8....?

Has anyone done this to their 1.6 focus & do you consider it a good investment for your car?

if you have this re-map installed in your car, have you;

Noticed the claimed performance gains & how has this shown itself?...mid range pull?.....better acceleration?

Have you noticed the MPG improvement & smoother running claimed.

I'm just interested in the experience of others and whether its actually worth it or not for the money...

Thanks in advance people

Andy

Jeffers_RST

hello mate, i recently had a 1.8 focus (i know its not the same car) and i can honestly say i really didnt feel any difference. if there was anything it was so minimal it just wasnt worth it!
certainly didnt really feel much like a claimed "125bhp ish" car im afraid
never really payed alot of attention to the mpg as it was pretty piss poor to start with!
hope this helps

Magnum PI

Thanks for the reply,
This is exactly it, its where in the power band the 'extra' claimed performance shows up, if it's all at the top end and you have to be ragging the arse off your car whats the point.
if it's adding to the mid range grunt, where you use/need it, such as motorway driving from 50 - 80 Mph, then all well and good. As would be the smoother running/quieter engine..

I've watched a few clips on you-tube, and it would appear that turbo diesel cars take to the bluefin tuning better, such as 40BHP gains from a passat...

£235 is a lot to spend if its not that noticable, and best spent elsewhere.

At the mo, I've only got a K&N panel filter fitted,
so looking to do a few more little bits & pieces.

it's where to 'invbest' the cash lol

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Best bits to buy for the 1.6 are, a full exhaust (miltek or piper) with mani., set of cams from either shawspeed, or OCmotorsport, and then get it mapped, or a chip to suit the cams. would get you around 150bhp, for about £1500 if you try.

Jeffers_RST

Yeah exactly mate. Ive had a 1.6, a 1.8 and a 2.0 focus and all of them are the same in the sense that they seem to only be quick above about 3.5/4k. below that theres nothing, they seem so flat
i personally think for the money, there are better things you can buy for the money. like zetec-sam said the best things to put your money towards are a full system inc decat and manifold and a set of cams. zetecs like a nice cam kit newman cams seem to be very good value for money
ive got a bora tdi 130 and i got that remapped, yeah it was 400 quid but it took it from 130bhp up to 172 bhp and more torque than the old focus st.
hope this helps

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

For the gain it's cash spent elsewhere imo, as to the difference in the two, very little as standard (1.8 is 115HP) although it has better mid range grunt apparently.

15HP isn't alot in the real world, although the "Claimed" torque isn't bad for that remap.

Be very careful if you are looking at the modules, Superchips got a bad rep with the blue modules for older Fords which plugged into the ECU which caused more harm than good!

Martin

Magnum PI

Thanks for that, this is the 'plug & Play' variety, that plugs into the diagnostics port and uploads the remap

Jeffers_RST

bluefin i think pal

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Oh rite yes no thats fine, in fact that is the norm these days as many ECU'S are flash based, Dreamscience do a good one for the T5 ST, ST170 etc called "Stratagem" this includes a hand held programmer and multiple maps to upload.

It may be a thing of the past now with the modules I know they did them for other EEC cars such as the Escort and FRST.

Martin

GARY1978

dont do bluefin my 1.6 drinks fuel like a fish after fittin it and u cant notic the gains((

Jeffers_RST

have u thought about pluggin it back in and reversing it then mate?

Magnum PI

i have re checked the superchips website and looked at the power curves.

the extra 9 BHP is logged at 5700 RPM & the extra torque is shown at 4750RPM.

No wonder its drinking fuel if you have to keep the revs above 4750 in any gear to realise the extra power!!!! lol

Think im going to start with a full cat back stainless exhaust system & upgrade the K&N panel filter for a 57i kit.....

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Don't bother with the 57i, panel filters ftw!

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Don't bother with the induction cone, they can cause more trouble than there worth and don't really do anything, also they suffer from heat soak on these cars as well so can actually loose you power.

If you wanted to change the filter go for the said panel filter, you can wash these like the cones so last a lifetime as well.

Martin

Jeffers_RST

pipercross panel filters seem to do a good job. only thing a 57i did on my first focus was make a noise, yeah it sounded quite good but i was only 17

Magnum PI

I'll leave the K&N filter in then lol.

phil_focus

the trouble with open cones on the focus is the possition in the engine bay. most fit them where the original air box sits which has NO air flow at all as it completely enclosed on all sides behind the battery, inner wing, bonnet and gear box mount so only ever sucks in hot air causing running issues. i have come accross a 1.6 with open cone that failed its mot on emmisions 100% down to the open cone.

if i was to ever fit an open cone to my focus i'd relocate the battery either to the air box possition or in the boot (if i turn it into a track car) and then route the filter down low in front of the gear box. its the only decent place for it.

i currently run a k&n pannel filter with uprated cold air feed to the air box. i chopped the fins off the bottom and fitted a larger flexi pipe with a hose clamp and routed it to the lower grill. works ok imho.

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Imo the standard setup is far superior to a cone, plus it has a cold feed as well.

I would never fit a cone on without no other mods anyway as it's not going to do any good as the rest of the engine will still be restrictive.

Martin

phil_focus

without any other mods i do agree with you marty, it will make next to no difference.

however, if you want the factory look but a less restrictive system i'd fit the 2l auto air deflector, st170 snorkel (as its bigger and less restrictive) and mod the bottom of the air box to accept the st170 snorkel

Jeffers_RST

like said, because of where the cone filter will sit when fitted, it will just suck in hot air from the engine which is in front of it and it will lose power than offer any gains. the only way it might work is to run a cold air feed but even that may not be effective enough to make it work 100%

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

The only time they can be beneficial is when the rest of the engine is setup accordingly, just putting one on a stock motor causes more harm than good and a further hinderance is the heat soak.

Martin