TCU tuning
ZF 8HP TCU tuning for Jaguar, Land Rover, Dodge and more
The ZF 8HP is not only a BMW gearbox. The same eight-speed is fitted to Jaguar, Land Rover, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and more, and it can be tuned the same way: shift times, pressures, scheduling, torque limits and a true manual mode, calibrated by hand from your own read. Ask us about your application and we will help you.
Supported
What is covered.
| Gearbox | Variants | Control unit | Fitted to | How it is read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar and Land Rover | ZF 8HP45, 8HP70 and others | ZF mechatronic | Jaguar saloons and SUVs, Range Rover, Discovery and Defender | Ask us: the read method depends on the car and the unit. |
| Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and RAM | ZF 8HP and the licence-built 845RE and 850RE | ZF mechatronic | Charger, Challenger, 300, Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and others | Ask us: the read method depends on the car and the unit. |
| Maserati and Alfa Romeo | ZF 8HP | ZF mechatronic | Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante, Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio | Ask us: the read method depends on the car and the unit. |
| Other makes | ZF 8HP | ZF mechatronic | Anything else with an 8HP: ask us about your application | 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.
- The read method depends on the make and the control unit, so ask us before you book the car in and we will tell you which tool reads yours.
- In a BMW? The BMW 8HP has its own page: ZF 8HP TCU tuning for BMW.
Your car
Ask us about your application.
Tell us the car, the year and what you want from the gearbox, and we will help you with the read and the calibration.
Questions
Before you order.
Can you tune an 8HP that is not in a BMW?
Yes. The ZF 8HP in Jaguar, Land Rover, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and others can be tuned too. Ask us about your application and we will help you.
How do I read a non-BMW 8HP TCU?
It depends on the make and the control unit. Ask us before you book the car in and we will tell you which tool reads yours.
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.
Other gearboxes: ZF 8HP, ZF 6HP, GM 5L40E (GS20), Mercedes 722.6, VAG (DSG, S tronic)