PANTHERA FAQ
frequently asked questions and their answers.
If CHIPTUNING and ECO TUNING are so simple, why doesn’t the manufacturer do it themselves?
Why do I save fuel when power and torque increase?
This idea contradicts what we normally learn in school, but it is easy to explain:
If we want to drive at 100 km/h in a vehicle with 150 PS, we set the throttle with our foot to, for example, 35%. If the vehicle has been power-upgraded to, for example, 180 PS, the engine throttle only needs to be set to 29% to drive at 100 km/h. Through this changed throttle setting, less fuel is injected, which in turn reduces consumption. In addition, a performance optimization makes use of the standard air surplus of around 20%. As a result, higher fuel efficiency can be achieved at lower boost pressure.
Of course, in practice it is a bit more complex, because you cannot run the engine on arbitrarily little fuel or arbitrarily much air. The secret lies in the right mixture, which can differ from engine to engine – even in identical vehicles.
How do I get TÜV approval for my tuning?
Of course at PANTHERA – we work successfully and trustingly with TÜV Süd.
Does the engine get louder?
At idle and during normal driving there are no differences in noise compared with the standard vehicle. After CHIPTUNING, when higher power is demanded, some vehicles may produce a minimally increased engine noise.
Will the vehicle tax increase?
No. On the one hand, the applicable emissions limits continue to be met or even improved after CHIPTUNING or ECO tuning; on the other hand, vehicle tax is based on displacement, not power.
Is the engine’s service life significantly affected?
No. Through CHIPTUNING or ECO tuning the engine is not subjected to greater load. If the available extra power (CHIPTUNING) is used permanently, a somewhat higher load can occur. With normal driving style, however, this is negligible.
1. Compromise – manufacturers’ marketing departments:
A manufacturer’s sales and marketing departments give the development department specifications for a newly developed engine. Performance reserves are planned in advance that can be used for a later facelift, a new model, or a parallel model in the future – or already today.
2. Compromise – global market:
When developing an engine/vehicle, car manufacturers have to take various mass-production and series-production issues into account. Manufacturers have to make compromises, so vehicles are not optimally calibrated from the factory and engine efficiency is lower. The results are higher fuel consumption and only average power output.
3. Compromise – manufacturing tolerance:
A manufacturer’s sales and marketing departments give the development department specifications for a newly developed engine. Performance reserves are planned in advance that can be used for a later facelift, a new model, or a parallel model in the future – or already today.
2. Compromise – global market:
When developing an engine/vehicle, car manufacturers have to take various mass-production and series-production issues into account. Manufacturers have to make compromises, so vehicles are not optimally calibrated from the factory and engine efficiency is lower. The results are higher fuel consumption and only average power output.
3. Compromise – manufacturing tolerance:
Reserves are built in for countries with lower-quality fuels (low octane ratings or contamination) and for local environmental conditions such as extreme heat, extreme cold, high humidity, and low air pressure. So an engine planned for 140 PS is actually developed for 180 to 200 PS.
4. Compromise – engine control software:
4. Compromise – engine control software:
Today, car manufacturers work with a large number of specialized suppliers. These suppliers are allowed to produce within an agreed tolerance range. There are both plus and minus tolerances. Thinking like a supplier, we would always produce a product so that it sits in the tolerance band that is cheapest for us as a supplier. Applied to production, an engine ordered with a compression ratio of 10:1 is actually delivered with a lower compression ratio of 8.5:1. The supplier is thus on the “cheaper and safer side”.
The supplier of the engine control software puts the finishing touches on the engine and also programs “on the safe side”. In its calculations it assumes that, in the worst case, all negative manufacturing tolerances and external influences could coincide. That inevitably leads to lower efficiency.
The supplier of the engine control software puts the finishing touches on the engine and also programs “on the safe side”. In its calculations it assumes that, in the worst case, all negative manufacturing tolerances and external influences could coincide. That inevitably leads to lower efficiency.
Questions and answers
Will my dealer/workshop see a fault during diagnostics?
No. No fault is shown on the diagnostic tool. All control functions and duties of the engine control unit remain intact, because PANTHERA always performs the CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING based on the manufacturer’s latest original software.
No. No fault is shown on the diagnostic tool. All control functions and duties of the engine control unit remain intact, because PANTHERA always performs the CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING based on the manufacturer’s latest original software.
Why do I save fuel when power and torque increase?
This idea contradicts what we normally learn in school, but it is easy to explain:
If we want to drive at 100 km/h in a vehicle with 150 PS, we set the throttle with our foot to, for example, 35%. If the vehicle has been power-upgraded to, for example, 180 PS, the engine throttle only needs to be set to 29% to drive at 100 km/h. Through this changed throttle setting, less fuel is injected, which in turn reduces consumption. In addition, a performance optimization makes use of the standard air surplus of around 20%. As a result, higher fuel efficiency can be achieved at lower boost pressure.
Of course, in practice it is a bit more complex, because you cannot run the engine on arbitrarily little fuel or arbitrarily much air. The secret lies in the right mixture, which can differ from engine to engine – even in identical vehicles.
Worth knowing – further questions and answers
Will the vehicle still pass the emissions test (AU) after CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING?
Yes, after CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING the emissions limits continue to be met. In many cases the values even improve.
Yes, after CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING the emissions limits continue to be met. In many cases the values even improve.
What is the benefit of a sports air filter?
A sports air filter improves the engine’s air supply and is generally recommended.
Soot emissions from diesel engines can be reduced by up to 30% through its use. Any power increase is only minimal.
We recommend using K&N sports air filters. These air filters increase airflow by about 40% compared with the standard air filter. K&N provides a warranty of 1,500,000 km on every K&N sports air filter. The filters are washable and can therefore be used for the life of the vehicle. Better combustion in the engine and the enormous service life significantly reduce the environmental impact. Valuable resources are conserved and money is saved as well.
A sports air filter improves the engine’s air supply and is generally recommended.
Soot emissions from diesel engines can be reduced by up to 30% through its use. Any power increase is only minimal.
We recommend using K&N sports air filters. These air filters increase airflow by about 40% compared with the standard air filter. K&N provides a warranty of 1,500,000 km on every K&N sports air filter. The filters are washable and can therefore be used for the life of the vehicle. Better combustion in the engine and the enormous service life significantly reduce the environmental impact. Valuable resources are conserved and money is saved as well.
I drive an automatic/Tiptronic vehicle – what do I need to consider?
Nothing. Panthera will make all essential changes and modifications to your vehicle so that you get an optimal power upgrade or optimal ECO modification. Any necessary adaptation of the transmission control unit is included in the purchase price. For mail shipping, please be sure to check in advance whether the transmission control unit is required.
Nothing. Panthera will make all essential changes and modifications to your vehicle so that you get an optimal power upgrade or optimal ECO modification. Any necessary adaptation of the transmission control unit is included in the purchase price. For mail shipping, please be sure to check in advance whether the transmission control unit is required.
Do I have to bring the vehicle to Panthera?
We recommend visiting us directly at our premises or one of our authorized dealers. If, for time reasons, an on-site appointment does not work for you, you can send the control unit to Panthera by post. Control units received by post are optimized the same day and returned to you promptly.
We recommend visiting us directly at our premises or one of our authorized dealers. If, for time reasons, an on-site appointment does not work for you, you can send the control unit to Panthera by post. Control units received by post are optimized the same day and returned to you promptly.
Which fuel should be used?
After a performance optimization (CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING), petrol engines should be switched to SUPER PLUS, Ultimate, or V-Power fuel. That way YOU get better power delivery and cleaner combustion!
After a performance optimization (CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING), petrol engines should be switched to SUPER PLUS, Ultimate, or V-Power fuel. That way YOU get better power delivery and cleaner combustion!
Can the CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING be reverted?
With us, yes. The standard data set is archived so that a return to the original condition is possible at any time. This is completely free of charge for you.
With our additional control unit: A return to the original condition is possible at any time within a few minutes and is completely free of charge for you.
With us, yes. The standard data set is archived so that a return to the original condition is possible at any time. This is completely free of charge for you.
With our additional control unit: A return to the original condition is possible at any time within a few minutes and is completely free of charge for you.
Do I need to go for inspections more often?
Maintenance intervals remain the same as for the standard vehicle. Depending on how the vehicle is used, we recommend slightly shorter oil-change intervals (approx. 10,000 km). Using a synthetic oil is always advisable in any case.
Maintenance intervals remain the same as for the standard vehicle. Depending on how the vehicle is used, we recommend slightly shorter oil-change intervals (approx. 10,000 km). Using a synthetic oil is always advisable in any case.
Do the brakes or tires need to be modified?
“Normal” performance optimizations are calibrated by us so that, as a rule, no further modifications are necessary. For additional tuning measures (supercharger / turbo conversions), it depends on the power increase and varies from case to case.
“Normal” performance optimizations are calibrated by us so that, as a rule, no further modifications are necessary. For additional tuning measures (supercharger / turbo conversions), it depends on the power increase and varies from case to case.
What changes with the insurance?
In almost all cases, insurers do not change the premiums, because for several years vehicles have been classified by damage classes and only to a limited extent by power. Therefore, from a legal perspective, the insurance classification of your vehicle does not change either.
In almost all cases, insurers do not change the premiums, because for several years vehicles have been classified by damage classes and only to a limited extent by power. Therefore, from a legal perspective, the insurance classification of your vehicle does not change either.
What is the difference between CHIPTUNING and ECO TUNING?
CHIPTUNING is about increasing an engine’s power within sensible and feasible limits. ECO tuning is about reducing consumption, with better driving behavior and lower pollutant emissions.
What about the factory warranty?
Officially, intervening in the engine electronics voids the factory warranty on the affected parts. That is why, in cooperation with Switzerland’s largest warranty company NSA, we additionally offer a Europe-wide warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance specifically for tuned vehicles.
CHIPTUNING is about increasing an engine’s power within sensible and feasible limits. ECO tuning is about reducing consumption, with better driving behavior and lower pollutant emissions.
What about the factory warranty?
Officially, intervening in the engine electronics voids the factory warranty on the affected parts. That is why, in cooperation with Switzerland’s largest warranty company NSA, we additionally offer a Europe-wide warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance specifically for tuned vehicles.
Which vehicles can be equipped with CHIPTUNING or ECO TUNING?
In principle, any vehicle can be optimized up to any mileage. However, the vehicle should be in good technical condition and service intervals should have been observed.
In principle, any vehicle can be optimized up to any mileage. However, the vehicle should be in good technical condition and service intervals should have been observed.
Do I need a TÜV certificate?
By law you are required to have modifications to your vehicle approved by TÜV. Anyone who does not have the changes checked by TÜV is driving without an operating permit.
By law you are required to have modifications to your vehicle approved by TÜV. Anyone who does not have the changes checked by TÜV is driving without an operating permit.
How do I get TÜV approval for my tuning?
Of course at PANTHERA – we work successfully and trustingly with TÜV Süd.
Does the engine get louder?
At idle and during normal driving there are no differences in noise compared with the standard vehicle. After CHIPTUNING, when higher power is demanded, some vehicles may produce a minimally increased engine noise.
Will the vehicle tax increase?
No. On the one hand, the applicable emissions limits continue to be met or even improved after CHIPTUNING or ECO tuning; on the other hand, vehicle tax is based on displacement, not power.
Is the engine’s service life significantly affected?
No. Through CHIPTUNING or ECO tuning the engine is not subjected to greater load. If the available extra power (CHIPTUNING) is used permanently, a somewhat higher load can occur. With normal driving style, however, this is negligible.
Does a vehicle become a smoke machine after conversion?
No. Because the applicable emissions limits continue to be met, there is no heavy soot output. Only during the break-in phase can diesel vehicles show somewhat stronger smoke, because the engine first has to adapt to the new conditions.
No. Because the applicable emissions limits continue to be met, there is no heavy soot output. Only during the break-in phase can diesel vehicles show somewhat stronger smoke, because the engine first has to adapt to the new conditions.