What Does It Mean To Have Your Car Re-chipped?

Re-chipping means to replace the brains of your car's Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with a new performance enhancing chip. You can buy these new chips off the shelf, but it should be pointed out that re-chipping invalidates the manufacturer's warranty.

Fitting a performance chip will release additional horse power from the engine and provide significantly better torque. Depending on how you drive, there may also be a slight improvement in fuel consumption.

Essentially what re-chipping does is optimise the operating parameters of the ECU to get more power without substantially affecting fuel economy, emissions or engine wear. Re-chipping is an easy way to improve engine response and performance without going to the expense of either fitting a larger engine or having the existing one stripped down and tuned.

Chips cost from £200 upwards and are usually easy enough to fit yourself. They are available for both petrol and diesel engines.