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Beco90

Member Since: 10 Jul 2024
Location: South Wales
Posts: 35

Remote remaps - Bell Auto Services, Alive or Empire?

Hi all, I’m considering a stage 1 remap for my 2011 2.2 TDCI Defender to provide a bit more low down power and reduce the irritating kangaroo-ing effect in the lower gears.
. I’d like to use either BAS, Alive or site sponsor Empire, however I’m in South Wales so a good 4+ hr drive away from all of them, so I was wondering about their remote remap options and the tools they sell to do so. Some of these tools also offer some diagnostic functions.

I was just wondering if any other forum members had experience of the remote remap tools of any of these three tuners and if you had any feedback?

Were you able to carry out appropriate diagnostic checks with these tools prior to applying the map to make sure that the all of the engine systems were in good condition before hand? This seems the main advantage of visiting the tuners in person to me - they can use their full diagnostic equipment and experience of the engines in person to give the engine a clean bill of health before applying the map. I’d really want this reassurance before the map was applied.

I realise I could find a local agent for any of the above, but my experience of them in the past hasn’t always been great and I’d prefer to just deal directly with the remap companies, albeit via their remote tools rather than in person.

8th Jul 2025 11:33am

wyvern

Member Since: 14 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2147

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red

We have had BAS tunes on both our 2.2’s a few years ago, and the results have been great. (we had a tune on our previous 2.4 which was very good too... ) - so a happy customer. We only had the remap and not gone for 2nd stage tuning as yet.

Obviously you can take the vehicle to have the remap done on site and have a health check prior to installing the remap, however if you are happy that your vehicle is running well and the latests updates have been made to the ECU, then you can have BAS remap your vehicle remotely at home on the drive.
Talk to BAS and they will explain the process and may be able to undertake the factory updates before the remap is undertaken (but not 100% sure - so discuss with them to confirm)

The remap does as you describe, smoothes the power delivery, improves the lower revs and bottom ‘grunt’, allowing more pull in the mid range, which for our 110 camper is very useful in the mountains and the desert.

BAS provide you with an OB2 connector to store your remaps and original settings on, which links to your phone and allow you to see and clear any faults, remove/re-instal your remap if needed and monitor the various settings of your engine.
I cant speak for the other tuners as I have not used them but Peter (BAS) is well known on the site and has published lots of info on his remaps on the forum for all to see.
(I have no links other than being a happy customer)

hope that helps !

Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126

8th Jul 2025 12:10pm

Chicken Drumstick

Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 921

Re: Remote remaps - Bell Auto Services, Alive or Empire?

Beco90 wrote:
Hi all, I’m considering a stage 1 remap for my 2011 2.2 TDCI Defender to provide a bit more low down power and reduce the irritating kangaroo-ing effect in the lower gears.
. I’d like to use either BAS, Alive or site sponsor Empire, however I’m in South Wales so a good 4+ hr drive away from all of them, so I was wondering about their remote remap options and the tools they sell to do so. Some of these tools also offer some diagnostic functions.

I was just wondering if any other forum members had experience of the remote remap tools of any of these three tuners and if you had any feedback?

Were you able to carry out appropriate diagnostic checks with these tools prior to applying the map to make sure that the all of the engine systems were in good condition before hand? This seems the main advantage of visiting the tuners in person to me - they can use their full diagnostic equipment and experience of the engines in person to give the engine a clean bill of health before applying the map. I’d really want this reassurance before the map was applied.

I realise I could find a local agent for any of the above, but my experience of them in the past hasn’t always been great and I’d prefer to just deal directly with the remap companies, albeit via their remote tools rather than in person.

4hrs is not so much really. We did a 3 hour each way to Alive last month for a remap.

I'd guess any remote map will be on the safer side, as opposed to a proper dyno map, as they won't be able to see the results and tweak accordingly.

8th Jul 2025 1:08pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8318

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

I know of a BAS map on a vehicle at 20miles, currently on 114k miles. Drives well, pulls well.

We had a vehicle in, 2.4 that drove really really well, pulled from nothing, slight issue was it kept doing head gaskets. It was not a BAS map, Sent the map to BAS, they sorted it for reliability trucks been superb since. The point being some tunners just chuck loads of fuel in and this in turn gives other problems.

Had a BAS map on my 130 prior to m57 change, transformed itsndriveability with the map, again 2.4

Had an alive map on a 07 2.4 softtop I converted a while back, drove well, slightly aggressive with the power delivery for my liking.

If i was mapping I would go with BAS. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

8th Jul 2025 6:58pm

barbel jim

Member Since: 12 Dec 2012
Location: Northants
Posts: 1446

You won’t go wrong with either BAS or Alive. Both were suppling maps to Landrover on new 2.2s. I had an Alive stage 2 on my 2.2 when I had it , did 60k miles no issues. Ring both, see what they say they can do for you

8th Jul 2025 7:47pm

jaygti

Member Since: 04 Nov 2012
Location: essex
Posts: 402

https://www.alivetuning.com/authorised-dealerships/
Just put your address in and you’ll get an authorised Alive dealer near you that can remap it for you. 2002 td5 90 county hardtop

8th Jul 2025 8:39pm

Beco90

Member Since: 10 Jul 2024
Location: South Wales
Posts: 35

Thanks all - lots of positive feedback for Bell Auto Services.

As you suggest best thing to do is to give them a call and discuss options!

8th Jul 2025 9:05pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17850

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I've had a BAS map on my 2.4 for over 250,000 miles. It transformed the vehicle and made driving it far more pleasant. Pete Bell has also provided outstanding after sales support and advice (when the vehicle was behaving oddly, which was nothing to do with the map).

If I need a remap for another he will definitely be getting my business (and I believe that he's developing remaps for Grenadiers, so this may be sooner rather than later).

8th Jul 2025 10:50pm

hank

Member Since: 12 Sep 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2347

I note you are based in South Wales. I am in Newport. If you want to have a spin in my 2.4 with BAS map you are welcome. I can show you the BAS tool as well. It has been worth its weight in gold to me over the years and BAS himself is ultra helpful > 110 XS Double Cab

9th Jul 2025 9:04pm

Landymatt

Member Since: 31 Dec 2018
Location: York
Posts: 204

Another thumbs up for BAS, I used the remote option where he sent me a dongle in the post which I paired to my phone. Pete helped me through a couple of things that I’d got wrong. 2.2 Puma, has been faultless other than EGR valve and current drain which aren’t the map’s fault.

9th Jul 2025 9:08pm

Minch90

Member Since: 15 Sep 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 242

Another BAS 2.4 happy driver here. Had it for about 3y and love it. Pete makes the whole process very easy 2.4TDCI 90 - everyday brilliance
S3 V8 Lightweight - in the garage being ignored #newchassistime
S3 lightweight - 2nd car 24V fire risk with a full tilt and the windscreen down
S1 80" - first car fun - 75mph in neutral downhill once #wobblesallround

10th Jul 2025 12:36pm

Beco90

Member Since: 10 Jul 2024
Location: South Wales
Posts: 35

hank wrote:
I note you are based in South Wales. I am in Newport. If you want to have a spin in my 2.4 with BAS map you are welcome. I can show you the BAS tool as well. It has been worth its weight in gold to me over the years and BAS himself is ultra helpful

Thanks Hank - that’s a very kind offer. I’m just west of Cardiff on the edge of the Vale of Glamorgan. I used to work in Newport until quite recently, so would have been very handy. Would be nice to meet up with a fellow local LR enthusiast so I might DM you if that’s ok?

Really appreciating all the other feedback, particularly on BAS - very reassuring! Just got to decide whether to go for the 150 or 170 map next…

10th Jul 2025 2:12pm

wyvern

Member Since: 14 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2147

You can get both and swap between them as you feel the need ... but after having the 170 there is no going back unless the fuel is of poor quality.

10th Jul 2025 3:25pm

Landymatt

Member Since: 31 Dec 2018
Location: York
Posts: 204

I chickened out and left it on 150… I didn’t upgrade the intercooler or anything so was worried about over-stressing something, especially when towing the odd heavy thing

10th Jul 2025 6:49pm

BobGFish

Member Since: 09 Jan 2025
Location: Zug
Posts: 34

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Indus Silver

I recently did a BAS 170 remap on my 75K 2.2. I did the intercooler and two of the three hoses. Still working out how to do the elbow hose that's buried deep. It was easy enough to do and has improved the drivability of the car a lot. Pete is responsive to questions. I've only done 500kms so far. You can see any errors before doing the flash and can restore it to previous. You can use the app to monitor data from engine etc if required. Thumbs up from me.

15th Jul 2025 4:35pm

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