alex_pescaru wrote:

The test to see if chiped isn't made by comparison of the firmware with the original one.
Any modern ECU has a read-only counter which increments any time a new (any) firmware is written inside.
The information about performed official updates, for any car sold, are stored on LR servers.
Imagine if they read this counter and it says 3 updates and you only made 2 official updates at LR dealer garage...

Unless re-mapping becomes against the law, this willnever be part of the MOT test.

Unless...................... If the re-map causes the car to exceed it's emmisions level then of course it will fail.

France and Belgium have laws against any mechanical modification to all cars, EU pratt's in Brussels wanted to apply this law to the UK, but this would instantly kill a ££ multi billion industry so it will never happen.

I know the VXR brand manager for Vauxhall, and finding our if a car is re-mapped is very difficult.

When a car is re-mapped, the original file is read from the car. It then has certain parameters modified and then the file is down loaded back into the ECU. So as far as diagnostic equipment is concerned, it's the same file in the ECU and can't see the changes made, only the file version.

In the case of Vauxhall and Opel, they would have to connect the car onto their web based diagnostic's equipment called TISWeb. The engineer's at Opel in Germany can then look at the ECU map, and delve into the programming to see what has been changed. But this would only happen under certain circumstances, like an owner claiming a failure and stating they were driving normally, but the evidence showing otherwise.

My local Vauxhall dealer had an Astra VXR in with a blown engine and the owner said it just went bang. But the car was checked on TISWeb and the boost levels were alot higher than they should be so they knew it was re-mapped. But this is an extreme case and they would not normally go to this level unless they had reason to beleive otherwise. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........