Not that I want to send you back down the path of indecision... But the gearbox is not really 'fragile' per se and most problems are not torque related.

The GM5L50E has several issues that are all related to operating pressures being too low as a result of premature wear. It seems that GM Powertrain used an alloy that is softer than usual when casting the valve bodies and pump housing. The impeller wears into the pump housing and the valves wear the valve bores - and both combined result in low pressures. This will happen on an unchipped vehicle as on a chipped one. The biggest factor in transmission longevity is the type of driving you do: all city with lots of accelerating /decelerating and the resulting large number of gear changes / mile will wear the gearbox quickly. All motorway driving results in less wear (obviously).

BMW strapped their 218hp M57 motor (=TD6) in front of the same gearbox. You won't get that much out of a re-map. It does make driving the RR much more pleasurable. 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s
(wife thinks I'm nuts - prob right, too)

depends who did the Map, JE and DMS offered maps in excess of that, with my old TD6 I was offered figures of an additional 50bhp minimum, and significantly more if you went for the stage 2.

benjj wrote:

On Monday I had my 2004 Td6 remapped by my local specialist using, I think, the Rapid Remap product.

I did a fair bit of searching online about it before going ahead (I've had the car for 15 months) and could only really find people who had used tuning boxes and other clip on products or else testimonials on the tuners websites from customers. Nobody seems to have written up a review unless they're trying to sell something (!)

I thought it may be useful to put here my general thoughts after having finished a few hundred miles with the new map.

I've had mine dynod (is that a word!?) before and after:

LR claimed figures for the Td6 are 177bhp and 390nm (287 ft/lbs) torque.
Before the remap mine scored 179bhp and 399nm
After the map mine went to 205bhp and 450nm (330 ft/lbs)

The testimonials I read said that the map trasnformed the car. I completely agree with this.

POWER

You can really feel the extra oomph. From a stand still it is noticably swifter at getting off the line. In gear acceleration is much improved with 30 to 50 and 50 to 70 in any gear hugely improved. Top end power (putting your foot down at 60mph+ is better too. Kick down feel relatively aggressive if you are giving it the beans which I quite like.

SMOOTHNESS

The extra power is nice, and it lasts much longer through the range, but the smoothness it adds is extraordinary. I would honestly estimate that on my 4 mile commute to work (up hill and down dale in the Yorkshire Dales) my car is now shifting gear perhaps half as much as it was. People online whinged about the std Td6 'hunting' for gears. Before the map it never really bothered me, perhaps because I happen to like the sound of a straight 6, but now I can see what they meant. The gearchanges themselves are also smoother.

ECONOMY

I have tried out a number of different 'styles' to try and get the best from the car, this is my experience (obviously it doesn't cover every driving situation, just what I've done since Monday):

*these are all readings from the computer, not proven at pump with calculator etc.*

Driving specifically with economy in mind on fast, open A-Roads: Before map 28mpg, after map 30-32mpg
Driving specifically with economy in mind in town - Before map 25mpg, after map 26-28mpg

Normal driving on fast, open A-Roads - Before map 24mpg, after map 26mpg
Normal driving in town - Before map 21-22mpg, after map 23-24mpg

I have yet to try motorway cruising, will be doing so this weekend.

DOWNSIDES

I honestly can't really come up with any yet. Obviously the remap cost money (in my case £325 for a special deal) and it will take a LOT of driving to make up that cost. However I see the added economy as a pleasant addition to the work done rather than the reason for it. The power and smoothness I now have is just what I wanted and the money I paid feels more then worth while. I have noticed that the turbo spools up quicker and is slightly (and I mean only slightly) noisier than it was before. I have not noticed an increase in smoke when you put your foot down either.

This is the first car I've ever had remapped so it was all new to me. I would heartily recommend it to anyone if they are sitting on the fence about it.

Mike C Im currently considering Simon to remap my TD6 too, after owning several BMW's and reading lots of good things about his work on bmw forums (never had anything remapped by him though), let us know if you do decide on a remap and we may be able to barter for a double map if he's coming down this way maybe?