Ya, and don't you think it they manufactured fault IMS bearings that blow $20,000 engines they would make it right? Come on....what kind of a question is that. Even though it is Porsche, they still have bean counters and cut costs. Just not as much.

 

Has your engine "ACTUALLY" blown up?
Do you "PERSONALLY" know anyones who has?
Mine has not.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet and more importantly do not pass it on unless you actually KNOW what you are talking about.

I'll stick by my opinion that there are little to NO gains from chipping a na engine.

 

I agree with you. All chipping does is moving some performance characteristics around in the RPM range.

 

The excerpt below is from the Porsche site in regards to their Sport Chrono Package. I drove my neighbors 997 with this option, and when you press the button, you feel the items referenced on Porsche's site (immediate throttle response, sportier tuning, etc.) and it certainly feels faster. I'm 99% sure it is faster. Now, I don't believe they quote different HP specs for their cars if you have the sport chrono option or not, so maybe it is true that whatever they are doing doesn't increase power, but it sure as heck feels like it. And...the ECU flash I just did feels almost exactly the same as this sport chrono option. Maybe there is someone on this site from Porsche that can give a more technical description of what happens when you hit the sport chrono button, but I'll say that it was definitely a worthwhile mod in my opinion, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
-----------
From the Porsche web site:

As an option, for both models we offer the Sport Chrono Package which enables even sportier tuning of the chassis and engine and guarantees even more driving pleasure.

Selecting the ‘Sport’ button on the centre console activates ‘Sport’ mode, which makes throttle response significantly more immediate, adjusts the rev-limiter to a harder setting, tunes the engine dynamics for performance driving and activates the optional sports exhaust system.

 

lol, this will never happen my friend! hate to burst your bubble but many of these HP claims are hot air

 

I agree with your opinion that those combined things don't net the huge individual gains they list. Yes, the engine on my 99 blew / IMS. And, yes, I do know others with the same issue; just different levels of destruction. On it's newer models, Porsche actually did away with the IMS due to these issues.

I'm not arguing with your opinion on gains, but just mentioning the fact that porsche does not always do the right thing ALL the time when it comes to performance or standing behind it's design or flaws. Have a good one.

 

My engine is in very good shape compressions and leak down test are great this is with all the mod on my turbo! Pushing 800+ to the 4 wheels! Have not seen or heard of any blown engines around my circle!

 

My thoughts... ECU tuning and the Porsche Sport Chrono Plus option are both probably doing the same things, increasing and broadening the power curve of the engine. This is probably why the Sport Chrono Plus option feels faster but does not change the maximum HP or TQ rating. It is the midrange punch that makes it faster.

 

The sport chrono also tweaks the throttle response to make it "feel" faster but not it is NOT if you really want faster sell the n/a and buy a turbo. Then you can ECU away as long as you can keep it cool there are real gains to be had there.

 

There's lots of stuff to do....ECU, intake, plenum, pulley, headers, high flow cats, mufflers, etc etc. They all add up to just a little bit more power and fun. Is it worth it? Maybe...maybe not...but with the above listed upgrades, you're getting close to supercharger price at way less power increase...do whatever you can afford or makes you happy

 

Glad you're loving the tune Mike! Make sure you give us a ring when you come around to this side of town.

 

Blah, Blah, Blah, why can't yall be happy for a **** that he got a few HP out of a few hundred $$????? Man some of yous need to stop drink'n that haterrade.

 

I was told by Steven at Rennsport Ecm are where you will get the most benefit. It small in the neighborhood of 10-15. The rest hardly works. If you want big gains save up for forced induction or a different car like a Gt3.

 

imo its better that people are honest with him rather than he mistakingly believe he can get another 80hp or whatever out of the 996 and waste a ton of money

 

I don't know why people are obsessed with the numbers. When you installed coilovers, did you also install a g-force meter and measure yourself going around corners and then compare that measurement to what other people got, or did you just enjoy the modification for what it is?

These various modifications alter the characteristics of the vehicle in one way or another. But I don't see why the raw dyno numbers themselves matter, other than to substantiate claims by the producer that they increase the raw end-power of the vehicle. Obviously if it claims to make power, it's nice to see the numbers, but the difference between 5 hp and 9hp and the real world cost between the two isn't really worth calculating and tabulating.

Personally, I think that increasing performance in certain low spots in the powerband is more important and more enjoyable than seeing an overall @ the wheels gain in power. Furthermore, a dyno performed on one car doesn't mean that the same modification added to your car will yield the same results.

For the record, my 996 has intake/headers/cat bypass/exhaust/coilovers and lots of other minor things that I've installed mostly because I enjoy installing them and enjoy the sound/feel/appearance of my vehicle in the way that I've chosen to modify it.

That being said, still curious about the ECU and how it will make my car drive differently. Not really concerned about how much HP it makes @ the wheels as much as I am about how the driving characteristics of my vehicle might be improved by tweaks to the software.