View Full Version : Cost efficient ways to soup up horsepower for xc70
jyhoonh
06-09-2003, 01:32 PM
What is the cost effective ways to soup up horsepower for the 2003 XC70? I believe it comes stock w 209 HP, but is there anyway to get it closer to 250 in a cost effective AND performance efficient manner? Input please from all self-ascribed gearheads!
Welcome to the forum, jyhoonh! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
There are lots of threads here on this topic, and the best way for you to read the accumulated knowledge is to do a couple of searches using different keywords such as ECU upgrade, chip tuning, exhaust systems, etc., etc.
Here are a couple of threads to get you started:
Performance upgrades - ecu flashing, Anyone use ipd usa programming? (http://xc70.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=1543)
Tuning for your xc? (http://xc70.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=764)
Hiro's XC
06-09-2003, 07:35 PM
The only real way is to do the chip flashing. You could mess around with the boost manually but are asking for trouble. I won't eve go into the procedure as I say if you can afford the car you can afford the chip. If you had a $1000 740, that would be a different story. Good luck.
Jason
littlewaywelt
06-10-2003, 06:40 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Hiro's XC @ June 09 2003,22:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"if you can afford the car you can afford the chip."[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Perhaps you could explain this to my wife. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
LOL I like that one littlewaywelt! There's also the implementation issue. I would have some explaining to do if the ECU was shipped to the west coast for an upgrade. Suppose the trouble&strife suddenly wanted to go on a trip? "Sorry dear, the main computer is away for a couple of days being flashed." http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif
One development that is interesting is that Scott Hart of iPd is now saying that the exhaust system that comes on the XC70s is so good that it doesn't really need to be replaced by a "sport" exhaust. So a simple chip upgrade will now work pretty efficiently by itself. That reduces the cost of an upgrade considerably. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif
Hiro's XC
06-10-2003, 08:15 AM
Trouble&Strief! LMAO! That's a good one wiz! I mentioned that about the exhaust a while back. Also, since you commute during the week it is possible the wife would never know! There have been a lot of tests and there is little gain from changing the exhaust on most european cars. NOW, The is not always the case, but you gain considerable noise in the process.
Example, (OT) this weekend the X5 and Z3 guys got together in Chicago for a GTG. My friend Drex who lives down the block from me is a Trauma surgeon and has a 4.6is X5 and an S54 powered (new M3 engine) M roadster. Both have aftermarket exhausts and compared to the factory ones they are WAY to loud. There was several stock ones too and I could barely hear them leave (5 houses away) Drex, could be heard for 1/2 a mile. Not something you could live with on a day to day basis IMO.
Now if I could afford a new 996Carrera http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif THAT car NEEDS a new exhaust. It is a CRIME to bury that beautiful exhaust note. If you have seen the porsche cup cars you will know what I mean.
Jason
http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif of course in cockney rhyming slang (http://www.fun-with-words.com/crs_example.html) the "trouble & strife" = the wife... http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
littlewaywelt
06-10-2003, 11:02 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wiz @ June 10 2003,13:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif of course in cockney rhyming slang (http://www.fun-with-words.com/crs_example.html) the "trouble & strife" = the wife... http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Thanks for explaining that. I wasn't sure, but guessed at the meaning. Since we only have one car, I can't imagine how I could possibly explain this to my wife.
"...oh yah it's in the shop AGAIN. sorry that I forgot to tell you. The service guy said it's gonna run slightly less than 1k, but they only needed one part from the car which I sent to them. We should have it back in a few days. In the mean time. Drive the loaner."
three days later the cpu arrives at home and coincidentally, my body is found a day later in the potomac. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif
jyhoonh
06-10-2003, 01:13 PM
Back to the subject boys. So how much will a chip and service run me around? So for my 2003 XC70, will there be any strain on the existing transmission as a result of the modification? How does the chip change the horsepower of the 2003? I know it is currently 208 HP, so what I can realisitcally get up to?
littlewaywelt
06-10-2003, 01:40 PM
Did you check out any of the links?
GeorgeXC70
06-10-2003, 02:16 PM
Welcome ot the site jyhoonh!
I think somewhere on this site it said close to 250HP. Good luck and tell us if you decide to do it.
Hiro's XC
06-10-2003, 02:18 PM
No matter what you do you will end up with somewhere between 245-255 HP. IPD has not got any software for the 04 cars yet, and maybe for the 03' cars. I don't know if there was a lot of electronic changes as well from 02 to 03. Drive train will not be an issue. If you followed the links to IPD's sight and then e mailed them they will send you a PDF file that gives the scenario. The 02 drive train was the same as the T5 AWD car and that has held up to 280hp without issue. Again this was covered under a few threds available in the search. Do a little research and you will have all the answers you need.
Oh, and "drive it like you stole it" once ou change the ECU and it will last about as long. This car was not meant for constant high output. You will shorten its life a lot. Like any car.
Jason
zcat3
06-10-2003, 02:34 PM
The 2003 and 2004 2.5T are basically the same. Scott Hart told me that TME hopes to have the ECU upgrade for this platform done in the next month or so. The price for the ECU programming will be around $800. There is no installation charge as you merely pull the computer and ship it to them and then plug it back in when you get it back. Scott said they hope to achieve 250HP/300TQ using 91/92 octane fuel.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jyhoonh @ June 10 2003,11:13)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Back to the subject boys. So how much will a chip and service run me around? So for my 2003 XC70, will there be any strain on the existing transmission as a result of the modification? How does the chip change the horsepower of the 2003? I know it is currently 208 HP, so what I can realisitcally get up to?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Did you search the archives as I suggested earlier in the thread? All these questions & more are discussed there, as well as in the material on the iPd site and other tuning sites. Your MY2003 isn't that different from the MY2002 so these firms will have solutions out quicker than they did for the '02. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
OK guys, I did it last Friday. I flashed the chip and it is supposed to be 240 bhp now (up from 200 from MY 2001). I intended to do a SAM upgrade but on the spot the tuning specialist who had been highly recommended by my Volvo service owner offerred a customised reprogramming of ECU which I went for. I did some 800 km since that on a weekend trip. Is it like night and day? Well, it is not a T5 but I think it is close. It is certainly more effortless. I suppose 0-100km is about 8 secs now (with GT) but the benefits are really visible at the 3rd gear and higher. Acceleration from 120kmh to say 180kmh at 5th is quite noticeable (unlike previously...). I am not sure what the torque is but SAM claims they dial it up to 370Nm while my tuning specialist was more conservative claiming it is about 340NM which anyway would be only 10Nm less than R GT.....
I paid an equivalent of US$550
What is quite striking is that even with spirited driving on rather narrow country roads (cruising at 120-140kmh and frequent full power overtaking up to 180) the fuel consumption was quite moderate i.e. under 10 ltrs/100 km. I am off for a long vacation now and I am leaving the car at home but I hope I would be able to write more about the fuel consumption once I drive a little more when back at home.
On another note, I also had front shocks (still trying to find rear that would fit :-( ) replaced with S80T6 shocks - good improvement in handling and roll control, virtually no "diving" when braking. I would very much recommend this with the ECU upgrade.
Both of the above certainly put a smile on your face :-) (and I already started to be a little bored with the XC....)
Now can not wait to get the rear shocks replaced and VST strut brace and suspension stuff installed...
emil you are the man!! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif It sounds good and you may have done well to avoid the SAM upgrade as I have been reading about problems with some of their flashing work. You got a great price for the upgrade too! Enjoy your vacation and post back when you get some experience with the upgrade. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
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