Germany cracks down on aftermarket performance ECUs
04-13-07, 11:37 PM
#1
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Germany cracks down on aftermarket performance ECUs
Germany cracks down on aftermarket performance ECUs
Posted on Thursday 12 April 2007
When a manufacturer designs an engine’s electronic management system, it has to weigh up between several different objectives such as reliability, emissions levels and performance. In most circumstances, performance loses out to durability and emissions, meaning the final output of the motor can often be significantly lower than what the engine is truly capable of. In some cases, carmakers even use the same engine in different models with only a software upgrade to differentiate them, however, final output can be considerably different between each car. That’s why you’ll often see tuning companies offering software upgrades or ECU piggy back systems that can increase an engine’s output without physically altering any of the mechanicals.
These aftermarket systems often go unnoticed by even the vehicle manufacturer, which means the engine won’t void warranty even though the car is running at a higher state of tune. Further, some systems don’t even meet environment and regulatory standards but German authorities are now attempting to put an end to this.
The General German Automobile Association has imposed a rule where aftermarket chip tuners must have their products certified by the TÜV regulatory body or by an officially recognized expert. If they don’t comply, the operating permit of the vehicle will expire and will remain expired even if the chip is removed. The authority has also announced that any ECU upgrades must be notified to insurance agencies, which could mean higher premiums for those owners that modify their cars.
Having experienced the benefits of an ECU upgrade recently in a DMS modified BMW 5-series diesel while in Malaysia for the Formula One, we hope the new rules don’t catch on elsewhere anytime soon.
Posted on Thursday 12 April 2007
When a manufacturer designs an engine’s electronic management system, it has to weigh up between several different objectives such as reliability, emissions levels and performance. In most circumstances, performance loses out to durability and emissions, meaning the final output of the motor can often be significantly lower than what the engine is truly capable of. In some cases, carmakers even use the same engine in different models with only a software upgrade to differentiate them, however, final output can be considerably different between each car. That’s why you’ll often see tuning companies offering software upgrades or ECU piggy back systems that can increase an engine’s output without physically altering any of the mechanicals.
These aftermarket systems often go unnoticed by even the vehicle manufacturer, which means the engine won’t void warranty even though the car is running at a higher state of tune. Further, some systems don’t even meet environment and regulatory standards but German authorities are now attempting to put an end to this.
The General German Automobile Association has imposed a rule where aftermarket chip tuners must have their products certified by the TÜV regulatory body or by an officially recognized expert. If they don’t comply, the operating permit of the vehicle will expire and will remain expired even if the chip is removed. The authority has also announced that any ECU upgrades must be notified to insurance agencies, which could mean higher premiums for those owners that modify their cars.
Having experienced the benefits of an ECU upgrade recently in a DMS modified BMW 5-series diesel while in Malaysia for the Formula One, we hope the new rules don’t catch on elsewhere anytime soon.
04-14-07, 06:29 AM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
One, we hope the new rules don’t catch on elsewhere anytime soon.
I disagree with this line of reasoning. It's about time the manufacturers cracked down on this....it is long overdue. Engineers don't just draw straws or throw darts at a board to decide how to program engine computers. It is done for good reasons.....and partly explains why those engineers make big bucks.
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-14-07 at 06:35 AM.
04-14-07, 07:39 AM
#3
So, essentially, they are saying that once you buy the car, you can't do anything that is within your liking. If you buy an M5 and put all sorts of parts on it that make the car illegal, then the driver is going to pay the consequences by fines or by having the vehicle impounded. If someone wants to put an ECU mod on his new ride, so be it. If it turns out that the chip blew the engine up then that's the owners problem. It's not the states responsiblity or the manufacturer of the chips responsibility.
This desire to "nanny" everyone and everything has got to stop.
This desire to "nanny" everyone and everything has got to stop.
04-14-07, 08:38 AM
#4
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This is no different than what CARB already does in California.
If big governments could tax 'fun' directly, they would.
If big governments could tax 'fun' directly, they would.
04-14-07, 07:15 PM
#5
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My 2 cents, Germany if very strict on aftermarket parts b/c they do believe in quality (kinda ironic looking at quality reports, lol). Thus Ruf, 9ff, Hamman, etc go through expensive and stringent testing to make sure thier parts are as good if not better than OEM.
No cheap APC crap or e-bay crap.
No cheap APC crap or e-bay crap.
04-15-07, 08:41 AM
#6
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So, essentially, they are saying that once you buy the car, you can't do anything that is within your liking. If you buy an M5 and put all sorts of parts on it that make the car illegal, then the driver is going to pay the consequences by fines or by having the vehicle impounded. If someone wants to put an ECU mod on his new ride, so be it. If it turns out that the chip blew the engine up then that's the owners problem. It's not the states responsiblity or the manufacturer of the chips responsibility.
This desire to "nanny" everyone and everything has got to stop.
This desire to "nanny" everyone and everything has got to stop.
04-15-07, 09:29 AM
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My 2 cents, Germany if very strict on aftermarket parts b/c they do believe in quality (kinda ironic looking at quality reports, lol). Thus Ruf, 9ff, Hamman, etc go through expensive and stringent testing to make sure thier parts are as good if not better than OEM.
No cheap APC crap or e-bay crap.
No cheap APC crap or e-bay crap.
maybe they believe in their own product planning and strategy but quality? lol.
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04-15-07, 09:31 AM
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if emissions are the problem then require people to test their car for emissions.
dont use the government to restrict what people can and cant do with something they own just to please the manufacturers marketing and product planning groups.
dont use the government to restrict what people can and cant do with something they own just to please the manufacturers marketing and product planning groups.
04-15-07, 09:51 AM
#9
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CA and several states on the East Coast, and parts of those states, currently require bi-annual emissions teats. In my part of VA (not the whole state), you cannot register your car unless it passes a treadmill test every 2 years....with a sniff-pipe test for AWD vehicles that cannot use a standard treadmill.
04-15-07, 10:13 AM
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This is mostly due to the chips that raise boost pressure on turbo engines. Often with bad bad consequences (in terms of motor reliability). Take the chip out and all the mfg knows is that the engine blew up and they have to pay for it. So I sort of see their point here.....
04-15-07, 10:21 AM
#11
The problem, Stage3, is that even though aftermarket chips can damage the engine, and you and I both agree it is the owner's problem, not the company's, too many people are damaging the engines with aftermarket chips and THEN trying to make it the company's problem, not theirs. THAT is what has to stop....because of that, and the ensuing company expenses, we ALL are paying higher prices for new vehicles than we have to.
I can understand people wanting to mod their cars. But as soon as it is damaged, they throw their arms and blame somebody else.
I love it when people on the forums ask "will my exhaust system void my warranty?" and people answer "Only if the dealership finds out..."
04-15-07, 11:01 AM
#12
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If I were running a car manufacturer, I'd make it impossible for third parties to create 'chips' and bolt-ons with a certification program from the manufacturer. The add-on would also exchange data with the car so that even if the customer took the device off before taking it in for service the dealer would know.
Toyota/Lexus has made it pretty much impossible to just 'chip' a car like they do BMWs and Audis for example, because the ECU software hasn't been cracked. Yes you can put in something to modify air/fuel or you can replace the ECU entirely (standalone) but that's either a compromise or has many other complications.
If governments are serious about emissions they have to regulate car mods.
One thing that would be more effective and ultimately cheaper would be to provide incentives for people to scrap old cars or penalties for keeping them. Older cars (particularly pre early 90s) have HORRIBLE emissions.
Mexico city could probably drop its emissions by 1000 fold if they got all those awful old VW bugs off the street. The old VW bug is one of the most polluting cars EVER made and in Mexico city it seems like every other car is a lime green VW bug.
Toyota/Lexus has made it pretty much impossible to just 'chip' a car like they do BMWs and Audis for example, because the ECU software hasn't been cracked. Yes you can put in something to modify air/fuel or you can replace the ECU entirely (standalone) but that's either a compromise or has many other complications.
If governments are serious about emissions they have to regulate car mods.
One thing that would be more effective and ultimately cheaper would be to provide incentives for people to scrap old cars or penalties for keeping them. Older cars (particularly pre early 90s) have HORRIBLE emissions.
Mexico city could probably drop its emissions by 1000 fold if they got all those awful old VW bugs off the street. The old VW bug is one of the most polluting cars EVER made and in Mexico city it seems like every other car is a lime green VW bug.
04-15-07, 11:06 AM
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If governments are serious about emissions they have to regulate car mods.
One thing that would be more effective and ultimately cheaper would be to provide incentives for people to scrap old cars or penalties for keeping them. Older cars (particularly pre early 90s) have HORRIBLE emissions.
One thing that would be more effective and ultimately cheaper would be to provide incentives for people to scrap old cars or penalties for keeping them. Older cars (particularly pre early 90s) have HORRIBLE emissions.
04-15-07, 12:12 PM
#14
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This is mostly due to the chips that raise boost pressure on turbo engines. Often with bad bad consequences (in terms of motor reliability). Take the chip out and all the mfg knows is that the engine blew up and they have to pay for it. So I sort of see their point here.....
Only way they can catch this is by comparing checksums and CRC data.
04-15-07, 12:14 PM
#15
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TUV, DIN and GS are the three main standards firms in Germany, just like how we have SGS and Underwriter's Laboratories here. TUV and GS have standards for everything from cars, to skis, to scuba equipment, and even computers.