Blueboy's 181bhp C5

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 27 Jul 2003, 21:44

What have you done to your 2.2 HDI to get it upto 181bhp? The Superchips site claims to take it to 172bhp, where did the rest come from? I bet thats good to drive!
Ben

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 27 Jul 2003, 22:17

I took it to Van Aaken Developments last week and they fitted a removable tuning box to it. They said to me when I booked it between 170-180BHP, final figure ended up at 181BHP on the Dyno, 337ft/lb of torque from 2200RPM. On the first run, before the mods it showed 144BHP. Either I've got a very good example of the engine, or their dyno is a bit optimisitic (I put this to them and they said it was spot on and calibrated very regualarly) so I don't know. Anyway paper figures are unimportant, it has made a big difference to the performance of the car. It now pulls to 5000RPM before the power starts to tail off (up 500RPM on stock), and is a lot more responsive and generally driveable. I am most pleased that none of the fantastic refinement has been lost too. The mod is completely removable for servicing and dealership visits so there won't be any warranty issues, plus I can easily move it to another car as I'm planning a 2.2HDi Exclusive with the SE pack next year.
The main issue is that the stock Michelin Energy tyres were not up to the huge torque, and the traction control kept going mental every time I planted the throttle. With the TC off it is fairly easy to induce wheelspin in 3rd gear at 40MPH which is a little disconcerting. I have swapped them for Michelin Pilot Primacy which are better, but I really think some 16" rims are in order with sports tyres - if I decide to use this one for a second year I'll buy the VTR wheels and get some Michelin Pilot Sports on them.
The extra power does need some restraint though, the C5 is a big car and doesn't like being chucked round tight bends at silly speeds - I got it a bit sideways yesterday flooring it out of a bend with the ESP off but thats all part of the fun.

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 27 Jul 2003, 23:18

I was looking at tyres for the C5 2.2 last week. The C5 2.2 has 2 different sizes depending on the trim being SX or exclusive. The exclusive has 215/55 R16 and the SX has 205/65R15. Michelin don't make an energy tyre for the 16" wheels.
I enquired with my insurance company how much more it would be if I had a Superchip fitted, increasing from 110 to 140bhp. They wanted £170 more!
My 2.0 HDI 110 extra power compared to the 1.4 Xsara I drove for 2 years is welcome, and the pull of the turbo at 1800 rpm still hasn't worn off!
Ben

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 27 Jul 2003, 23:54

The C5's are all on 15's bar the Exclusive trim cars and the new VTR spec. Michelin don't do a Pilot Sport tyre in 205/65/15, only the Primacy which is the grippiest tyre they do in that size. If I go to 16" rims then I can have Pilot Sport which are said to be a good tyre. The reason I use Michelin's is because we are a dealer for Michelin Agricultural tyres at work and can order them at trade price, but I just phone the area manager and ask for a set FOC or threaten to start selling a different make.
My insurance premium went up £112, but work pay my insurance so it doesn't worry me.
I used to have a Xsara 1.4, 2001 Y plater. Not a bad car, but a bit short of power so I swapped it in a year later for a 1.6 16v which is well worth the extra £500 over the 1.4. I sold it to my sister in January as I wanted a C5 but I decided, largely due to snobbery, to wait until March for the new plate, so I got the Xantia as a cheap runaround for a couple of months.
How have you found your C5? Mine has behaved impeccably, coming up to 10,000 miles now and not a single fault, even anything minor like a squeak or a rattle. I had braced myself for a few trips back to the dealer with teething problems but absolutely nothing has materialised. I'm definitely thinking about an Exclusive with the SE pack next March, I fancy the electric leather and the Sat Nav to play with.

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 28 Jul 2003, 01:37

My C5 has recently crossed 11,000 miles, I've only clocked up 4,000 of them as 1000 other people did when it was a demonstrator.
The car was about £1500 cheaper than one in a different colour at another garage. However, it had 3 mildly kerbed alloys, scrapes on both mirrors, stone chip on (aluminium) bonnet and a couple of chips from the bumper. None of which are really noticeable.
The C5 drives well, I believe the suspension on the lower models isnt as soft as the H3+ models like yours, neither is it as flat in the corners, but is a good compromise.
Having driven the Mondeo TDCI 130 which is supposed to be the best car that size, I am sure I have made the correct choice.
As I am young and relatively poor, the option of upgrading to a fully specced 2.2 HDI isn't really there.
I do like the idea of a Superchip or similar, but the insurance company wanted £170 more per year.
I had the spheres changed for newer ones, and extra soundproofing inserted, the car is fantastic, in terms of faults, the rear head lining has come loose and what looked like a scratch below the ashtray has become a proper crack. A call to another dealer (as I don't want to be making random calls to my own dealer) showed the trim as being about £40, so thats not too bad.
My only concern is that I have always done brake and servicing work myself, but have yet to work out how to jack up the front when we live on a hill!
Am planning an interim oil change soon, thinking of some combination of ramps, axle stands and trolley jack to assist, together with the height adjustable suspension which is greatly useful for going over the ever increasing number of speed humps.
The Xsara is a great vehicle, I have no problem recommending one to anybody as it is a far better deal than a VW, Ford or Vauxhall. However, as the Xsara is worth so little less than a C5, that would be my recommendation for a pre-loved car.
I drove the 1.8 petrol and found it to be quite inadequate at low revs compared to the torquey at low revs 1.4 in the Xsara. Without a doubt, the only engines are to go for are the HDIs.
Lovely motor
Ben

Unread post by **RichardW** » 28 Jul 2003, 14:08

Before you go quoting 'flywheel' BHP figures from dyno runs as gospel, read what the guy at puma racing has got to say about 'inferred' flywheel BHP figures
www.pumaracing.co.uk
the only figure that is of any use is the figure at the wheels (which is actually measured by the dyno!) - anything else is pure conjecture! The rest of his stuff about tuning / gas flowing etc also makes interesting reading, and certainly debunks a lot of the myths certain publications put about!
Still, the C5 2.2 HDi with chip sounds like an 'exciting' prospect!
Richard

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 28 Jul 2003, 15:10

The figures on mine for at wheels were 121BHP before the mods and 154BHP after the mod was set up

bbrucez · Unread post by **bbrucez** » 07 Aug 2003, 17:44

Does the Van Aaken Developments mod cost around £500?
Any other benefits? e.g. smoother, better economy?
My rear Primacys are wearing on the outside!

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 07 Aug 2003, 23:24

Yes, the mod is about £500. Wouldn't really say its smoother becuase the 2.2 is silky smooth in standard tune, but its certainly more free revving whilst still being very smooth.
Better economy - not really. Still just managing 40MPG from it, often a shade under. Mine sees very little motorway use normally, on a motorway run if you keep it about 80MPH it will return about 49MPG with the cruise control on. I spend my days flying up and down country lanes in the main which does no good for a cars economy.
The big boon for me is the immense torque it kicks out. Plant your foot down and it pins you back in the seat. I was driving a colleagues 2.0 petrol Mondeo yesterday and it felt positvely dead - it just didn't pull, seemed to buzz along by comparison.

bbrucez · Unread post by **bbrucez** » 21 Aug 2003, 19:46

Interesting – thanks.
I used to drive my standard C5 along what is generally recognised as the best road in Britain for bikers (the A374 between Trerulefoot & Torpoint) and with the sport setting was quite a thrill as I could leave GTIs on bends.