RICA remapping newbie questions

**Lyfe** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 14:51

Hi Guys,

I'd like to ask the opinion of what appears to be an experienced lot of T5 drivers what they think of RICA remapping.

I had an issue with a couple of cylinders misfiring and drove to the nearest dealership only to find that it was a Volvo "Specialist". The misfiring turned out o be a false issue, but while I was there they started talking about what they've done with a D5 and the RICA remap.

I'm very tempted, mainly by the claimed improvements in MPG, but obviously, the only stuff I've heard of so far is a salesman and the RICA website.

after reading this forum, I've started treating myself to Esso RON98 and Optimax, rather than my vanilla Esso 95 that I've been using for years in my Y-plate new shape V70 T5. I've had some recommendations for Optimax for a while, but have never actually got around to trying it. 78.9 verus 84.9 my way. Still... a few extra MPG goes a long way to off setting that.

Anyway, I'd like to know...
Does the RICA really increase MPG?
Is it worth getting a non-standard airfilter - a K&N or something?
How much did everyone else pay for their RICA remap?
How much better are the Brembo discs and Ferodo pads than Volvo standard?
Do you need to declare discs and pads to insurance companies?

Anyway, I'm going to be hangging around these forums from now one, now I've found I'm not a lonely T5 fanatic anymore.

**Murphy** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 14:59

Hi there - welcome to the fold !

The Rica upgrade is an improvement to the drivability to the car. There are lots of options out there with various upgrades, but RICA is proven. Volvotuning recomend an ITG panel filter as a suitable upgrade aswel as the brembo brakes. Having owned my car for 13 months 12 of which it has been rica'd i am now fed up of putting 98 ron in it. It is inconvinient and the fuel consumption doesn't improve, but may get worse. The theory is that it will do more to the gallon but with a 25%+ power upgrade under your right foot it is hard to drive economically. The cost is up to £600 i believe.

Good luck with whatever it is you decide to do.

Andy

**Mrsmopp** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 15:00

Hiya!

I assume you have been to Volovtuning and spoken to them?

A fair few of us have chosen to RICA our T5's the drivability of the car is much improved and although I haven't seen a marked improvement in my mpg (partly due to it not running 100% at the moment) it certainly hasn't reduced.

Having just replaced my standard air filter for and ITG I would recomend the swap - however the standard air filter seemed good enough until I had the swap.

You will be able to get a discount of the RICA upgrade by being a member here - I cant remember how much I paid for mine it was a long time ago but I definately believe its a value for money product.

As for the brakes - the standard set up is perfectly adequate I have felt no need to upgrade but many other have done and there have been no adverse reactions to them.

If I were you then I would go for it.

Welcome to the forum - stick around we aren't a bad bunch!

x

**lance** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 15:14

I can only echo the above coments, It is possible to get slightly better consumption on a long run but only if you drive to speed limits and hold the higher gears as long as possible ,but that defeats the object of rica!
Brakes are down to personal choice ,Im very happy with my brembos and ferados !
Get rica!

**Lyfe** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 15:30

Many thanks guys.

Still unsure, but at least I'm confidently unsure

**Mrsmopp** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 15:31

Is there anything specific you are unsure about?

x

**Lyfe** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 15:59

I'm always a little unsure when moving into an area that I know nothing about.

I'm a tad concerned that it'll be an expensive upgrade that will affect the car at sale time, end up tempting me to write off unlimited numbers of tyres, the long term effect on the car and maintainance cost - although I dont intend to drive the car until the end of its life - and since I was thinking of RICA as a way of getting an extra MPG or so, most of the feedback appears to be that it doesnt effect MPG as much as the sales guys say it does.

Of course, a lot of that comes down to the way you drive. Strap a breezeblock to your foot and you always end up with less fuel and more grin.

I was very interested in Murphys opinion of RON98 getting upsetting.

At the end of the day I may well let fate decide - I have an outstanding invoice I'm not sure will get paid. If it does, it'll cover the remap costs quite nicely

Many many thanks for all the feed back I've received today. Shame none of you are my way *sob*

**Mrsmopp** · Thursday 10th February 2005, 16:03

We're here to help!!!

(now who sounds like a sales pitch LOL)

x

**Wobbly Dave** · Friday 11th February 2005, 02:59

If you cover my petrol then I am happy to come down to M'head and show you a RICA'd T5

I am sure you will not be disappointed

**mulletboy2** · Friday 11th February 2005, 11:41

Hope this isn't going to show my naivity of geography, but isn't Maidenhead in Kent, and isn't there a Kent mini-meet this saturday?

**GuyD5** · Saturday 12th February 2005, 21:12

Ummm .... I think it's Maidstone that's in Kent

**Babybadger** · Saturday 12th February 2005, 23:13

Originally Posted by Lyfe

Hi Guys,

I'd like to ask the opinion of what appears to be an experienced lot of T5 drivers what they think of RICA remapping.

I had an issue with a couple of cylinders misfiring and drove to the nearest dealership only to find that it was a Volvo "Specialist". The misfiring turned out o be a false issue, but while I was there they started talking about what they've done with a D5 and the RICA remap.

I'm very tempted, mainly by the claimed improvements in MPG, but obviously, the only stuff I've heard of so far is a salesman and the RICA website.

after reading this forum, I've started treating myself to Esso RON98 and Optimax, rather than my vanilla Esso 95 that I've been using for years in my Y-plate new shape V70 T5. I've had some recommendations for Optimax for a while, but have never actually got around to trying it. 78.9 verus 84.9 my way. Still... a few extra MPG goes a long way to off setting that.

Anyway, I'd like to know...
Does the RICA really increase MPG?
Is it worth getting a non-standard airfilter - a K&N or something?
How much did everyone else pay for their RICA remap?
How much better are the Brembo discs and Ferodo pads than Volvo standard?
Do you need to declare discs and pads to insurance companies?

Anyway, I'm going to be hangging around these forums from now one, now I've found I'm not a lonely T5 fanatic anymore.

I have had no complaints about the RICA upgrade, I had the 304 upgrade and its made the car a lot more fun and easier to drive in town. I find that the gearbox changes gears at the right time and doesn't always change down when overtaking , taking advantage of that massive torque. My average MPG has gone up by about 8-10%ish (still juicy in traffic) , but as I don't have tracs on mine , I should have considered the 280 upgrade. Check the torque figures on the 280 upgrade as this is what makes the RICA upgrade outrageous. I rarely use the top end of the engine, but the torque is jaw dropping. The 304 is recommended to use optimax and I have had no probs finding it, but I have heard that the 280 is a more sensible upgrade as you can use 95 ron.

Before you go RICA direction and you should...., do the following first. Stage 0 upgrade is always a good start.

1) Get the ITG filter, it breathes better and uses the standard airbox. K&N will use hot air induction and will make the car run hotter theoretically.

2) I would change the plugs to a decent set of iridium/platinum jobs - phone hamish @ Volvotuning for a recommendation , if it don't fire properly whats the point of the upgrade.

3) Change the oil and filter for a good fully synthetic oil, hamish told me, there is a very hot little turbo at the end of the engine, so crap oil will make a
big difference.

4) Check all your pipework ,any leaks will cause backfire, missing, drop in turbo pressure.

I don't think you need to notify the insurance about brake disks and pads unless you are changing the diameter of the front disks to police spec (302mm-standard are 280mm)