Gearbox tuning
TCU tuning: custom gearbox remaps
A remapped engine makes more torque than the gearbox was told to expect. A TCU tune rewrites the transmission control unit to match: shift times, shift pressures, when it changes gear, the internal torque limits and a manual mode that stays in gear. Every TCU file is calibrated by hand from your own read, to how you want the car to feel.
Supported
Gearboxes we tune.
Pick your gearbox for the details, or send the read and we will tell you what it is.
| Gearbox | Variants | Control unit | Fitted to | How it is read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZF 8HP | 8HP45, 8HP50, 8HP51, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP76, 8HP90 | ZF mechatronic | BMW F-series and G-series automatics | Over OBD with Autotuner, Magic Motorsport Flex or Bimmertuningtools QuickFlash. |
| ZF 6HP | 6HP19, 6HP21, 6HP26, 6HP28 | ZF mechatronic | BMW E-series and early F-series automatics | Over OBD with Autotuner, Magic Motorsport Flex or Bimmertuningtools QuickFlash. |
| GM 5L40E | 5L40E | Siemens GS20 | BMW six-cylinder automatics of the E46, E39 and E53 X5 era | With Bimmertuningtools QuickFlash, or with our own flashing solution: ask support or email us for access. |
| Mercedes 722.6 | 722.6 five-speed | Siemens EGS52, EGS53 | Mercedes-Benz five-speed automatics | On the bench in BDM mode, with KTAG or a similar tool. |
| VAG | DSG DQ200, DQ250, DQ381, DQ500, S tronic DL501 and DL382, ZF 8HP tiptronic | DSG and S tronic mechatronic, ZF mechatronic | VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Cupra | Ask us: the read method depends on the car and the unit. |
| ZF 8HP, other makes | ZF 8HP, including the licence-built 845RE and 850RE | ZF mechatronic | Jaguar, Land Rover, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and more | Ask us: the read method depends on the car and the unit. |
Calibrated by hand
Tuned to how you want it to shift.
Every TCU file is written by the tuner from your own read. Tell us how the car should feel, and anything in this list, or anything else you ask for, is set to match.
Shift times
Quicker, firmer changes, or smoother ones if that is what the car is for.
Shift pressures
Clutch pressures raised to match the torque the engine now makes, so the gearbox holds it instead of slipping.
Shift scheduling
When it changes up and down, in every mode, moved to suit the engine and how you drive.
Torque limits
The internal TCU torque limits removed, so a tuned engine is not cut back by the gearbox.
Unnecessary delays
The hesitation built into kickdown, downshifts and pulling away taken out.
True manual mode
In manual mode it holds the gear you chose and does not change up on its own at the limiter.
- A TCU tune is not required with an ECU remap, even at Stage 2, and it can be done on a car with a standard ECU.
- It is recommended whenever the ECU is tuned, to remove the TCU's torque limits and let the gearbox hold the extra torque.
Questions
Before you order.
What is a TCU tune?
A remap of the transmission control unit, the computer that runs an automatic gearbox. It changes how quickly and how firmly the gearbox shifts, when it changes gear, how much torque it will accept and how the manual mode behaves.
Which gearboxes do you tune?
Every BMW ZF 6HP and ZF 8HP, the GM 5L40E with its Siemens GS20 control unit, the Mercedes-Benz 722.6 with the Siemens EGS52 or EGS53, the common VAG DSG and S tronic gearboxes, and the ZF 8HP in Jaguar, Land Rover, Dodge, Jeep and other makes. If your gearbox is not on the list, ask us about your application and we will help you.
Do I need a TCU tune if my ECU is remapped?
It is not required, even with a Stage 2 remap, but it is recommended whenever the ECU is tuned. The gearbox control unit has its own torque limits and shift pressures set for the standard engine. A TCU tune removes those limits and raises the pressures, so the gearbox holds the extra torque and shifts the way the car now needs to.
Can the gearbox be tuned on a car with a standard ECU?
Yes. A TCU tune does not need any change to the engine ECU. Plenty of people only want the gearbox to shift faster, hold gears in manual mode or lose the delays, and that is done entirely in the TCU.
Is the TCU file custom or off the shelf?
Custom. Every TCU file is calibrated by hand by the tuner, from your own read, to how you want your transmission to feel. Gearbox work is never automated and never delivered from a library. Say in the order what you want, such as firmer shifts, a comfortable daily or a true manual mode, and the calibration is written around it.
How do I order a TCU tune?
Read the TCU with your tool, then submit it through your account like any other file: pick your vehicle, upload the read and choose the gearbox solution. Describe how you want the transmission to behave in the order notes or the job thread, and the tuner will ask if anything is unclear. Creating an account is free, and every account is reviewed before it is activated.
What does a TCU tune cost?
The price is shown inside your account, in the price list and on the order form, because it is read live from the catalogue. Jobs are paid for with credits bought by card through Stripe.
Send us your TCU read.
Order it like any other file: pick your vehicle, upload the read and choose the gearbox solution.
Gearboxes: ZF 8HP, ZF 6HP, GM 5L40E (GS20), Mercedes 722.6, VAG (DSG, S tronic), ZF 8HP in other makes