TheSamba.com :: View topic - OFFICIAL: Boxeer.com 2.0 TDI CR engine review thread

Thu Aug 03, 2023 9:04 am

“How fast are you driving to get that mileage? Our ALH in a fully loaded 2wd camper at 70 mph hovers around 30 mpg. Thats with AC on too. Have seen as high as 36 -37 mpg tooling around on the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah parkways. 25 seems kind of low.[/quote]

Normal highway speeds usually 60-65mph with AC running sometimes. With the old wbx’r engine it was typically 16-18 hwy so it’s still a big improvement. Other 2wd westy’s owners I know are getting around 30. My speedo is off by about 3-4mph at 60 so the actual mpg is a bit higher. Mid 30’s is really good!

Thu Aug 03, 2023 9:09 am

0cean wrote: valvecovergasket wrote: i genuinely dont know why anyone would pick this over a FAS kit.

again, the relative lack of real world feedback tells you everything you need to know :lol:

My build is the last of the Subaru EE-20's and alot of years later im still getting support from Greg. This is not an accurate statemant from my experiance and others that have this conversion. Not all users of this conversion are wanting to deal with the Samba Peanut gallery. They are more then likely to busy getting there camp on. :lol:

I think people need to remember, this is not a 100% plug and play project. All the hard lifting is done in this conversion, yet work still needs to be done and things will need to be modified. This is normal for the scope of work of this size. Remember your putting in a modern engine and drivetrain into a 35-40 year old van with the drive train in the opposite direction of 95% of the vehicales on the road. Its not cut and paste and one of the worst conversion senerios. Lighten up and give some respect for a person even trying to support such a big undertaking.

Some of the problems stated are normal conversion issues. The hard start in cold may be resolved by gas warmer if i understad correctly. Dont quote me on that, yet talk to Boxeer directly.

Agreed that it is certainly not plug & play and I got that from the start. Problem is that it is marketed as such.

Thu Aug 03, 2023 9:47 am

0cean wrote: I think people need to remember,.....

....that everyone has their experience and they are ideally free to share their experience so folks can be informed as much as possible.

Thu Aug 03, 2023 12:56 pm

vanis13 wrote: 0cean wrote: I think people need to remember,.....

....that everyone has their experience and they are ideally free to share their :x experience so folks can be informed as much as possible.

True! Which is the main reason to write a report on my experience.

And I forgot to add a few more bits of info about this kit. There is no solution for cruise control. If you order with AC compressor, you will have to install a smaller accessory belt to bypass compressor or risk frying it if the AC system isn’t hooked up and functional. I was sent a new compressor, thankfully. When bypassing the compressor you will also bypass the power steering. I drove 1000’s of miles without PS before my AC was finished and, with a heavy syncro westy, it’s not fun to muscle thru turns or parking. The tach hack was another project which requires complete disassembly to make changes to the circuit board and the purchase of $100+ Dakota Digital obdll unit. I tried to get glow plug and CEL warning led’s to work but gave up due to problems with the supplier support. Then there is the open K&N style air filter that does not filter out dust! I threw it out and built a custom snorkel with a Top Spin pre filter and a Van Cafe Subaru conversion air box. Others have gone with a double filter Donaldson which I think is a fine solution for less $$.

Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:58 pm

vanis13 wrote: 0cean wrote: I think people need to remember,.....

....that everyone has their experience and they are ideally free to share their :x experience so folks can be informed as much as possible.

True! Which is the main reason to write a report on my experience.

And I forgot to add a few more bits of info about this kit. There is no solution for cruise control. If you order with AC compressor, you will have to install a smaller accessory belt to bypass compressor or risk frying it if the AC system isn’t hooked up and functional. I was sent a new compressor, thankfully. When bypassing the compressor you will also bypass the power steering. I drove 1000’s of miles without PS before my AC was finished and, with a heavy syncro westy, it’s not fun to muscle thru turns or parking. The tach hack was another project which requires complete disassembly to make changes to the circuit board and the purchase of $100+ Dakota Digital obdll unit. I tried to get glow plug and CEL warning led’s to work but gave up due to problems with the supplier support. Then there is the open K&N style air filter that does not filter out dust! I threw it out and built a custom snorkel with a Top Spin pre filter and a Van Cafe Subaru conversion air box. Others have gone with a double filter Donaldson which I think is a fine solution for less $$.

Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:38 am

vanis13 wrote: 0cean wrote: I think people need to remember,.....

....that everyone has their experience and they are ideally free to share their experience so folks can be informed as much as possible.

That's abosolutly right and i aprechiate to OP sharing. The issue is I keep seeing bias and attempts to steer away from this kit for another vender. Have to wonder how much is "Experience is involved" compared to interest from other business. Im not saying the orginial poster thoughts of the conversion are bias at all,yet i Have to wonder why this thread is filled with a bunch of none constructive leading away criticism. Its unusual as alot of the compaints are normal conversion issues with such a large project. No ones kit is perfect, yet this kit is critisized like crazy.

Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:46 am

0cean wrote: . No ones kit is perfect, yet this kit is critisized like crazy.

Seems like it's a clarity/communication.

Seems folks expect the kit to be more/different then what they got - that would be bad clarity in marketing/communication. I can't speak to this since I don't have this kit.

Then for apparently everyone but you 0cean, communication with seller/creator is difficult. That I CAN speak to since that has been my experience.

0cean you also mentioned "another vandor" bashing the kit. That is not apparent to me from this thread. Can you be specific in your example?

Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:56 pm

Sun Aug 13, 2023 2:44 am

vanis13 wrote: 0cean wrote: . No ones kit is perfect, yet this kit is critisized like crazy.

Seems like

Then for apparently everyone but you 0cean, communication with seller/creator is difficult. That I CAN speak to since that has been my experience.

0cean you also mentioned "another vandor" bashing the kit. That is not apparent to me from this thread. Can you be specific in your example?

Comunication:
I think some people expect instant responce and dont realize the vender is not Amazon. I have had to wait a bit for a responce also, yet im not going to bash a company because imn being patient. L

Example
All you need to do is look at all the stearing away to differiant conversions. Nothing wrong with talking options, but this is the venders thread. Not the place for this type of talk. I hear alot of complaining about normal conversion issues being brought up (nit picking) and then saying but go with this engine conversion instead. (Usually old conversions that are out of date).

Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:51 am

0cean wrote: , but this is the venders thread.

How so? The initial post was by some guy that hasn't been in the samba since 2021.

I bet many would love and appreciate if the vendor took active communication in this thread.

What folks, even those with the swap, on here are citing product and communication issues. What they are NOT saying is "This is an awesome swap! Get it!"

..... Seems that most consistent love and good support statements like that are for the FAS followed by the Small Car. I really like how the new Small Car owner posts and responds on here.

And your experience is different, you don't even have the swap being discussed. Yours is the prior EE-20. Maybe vendor has more affinity for that. He certainly loved it when he and his family stayed at my house at the end of their S America trip with that platform Too bad that wasn't viable. It seemed better/easier in some way.

.... Maybe those with the new product are having valid issues you can't appreciate/see with the different product you have.

0cean wrote: [My build is the last of the Subaru EE-20's and alot of years later im still getting support from Greg.

It would really be great to see communication from vendor on this product like he has had for his rear seat lounger mod product.

Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:49 am

RoryGirl wrote:

I've been following Chad's channel for a long time!

What a cool build! He seems to go all out with everything he does. And dang that whole automatic gas peddle setup... seems complicated. I hope the automatic transmission can handle the new motor!

With that being said, I really like how small the wiring harness is compared to the stock engines.

Excited to see more Vanagon content from him!

Sat Oct 14, 2023 10:20 pm

I now see boxeer splash ads on the forum....guess that means the owner has recently interacted with the samba...I wish he would also (rather?) interact with the community and post up/respond to some of the items written about his product.

Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:59 am

vanis13 wrote: I now see boxeer splash ads on the forum....guess that means the owner has recently interacted with the samba...I wish he would also (rather?) interact with the community and post up/respond to some of the items written about his product.

I see in that ad they have a new 180hp using the 1.4 TSI motor? would love to konw more about that setup. It isnt on their webiste.

Fri Dec 29, 2023 7:43 pm

So what ever became of the OP and his Boxeer conversion? I have some interest in this but wanted to know what long term findings he has.

Mark

Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:42 am

Mark Lewalski wrote: So what ever became of the OP and his Boxeer conversion? I have some interest in this but wanted to know what long term findings he has.

Mark

Have you tried PM?

It is an interesting situation with reports of those speaking anything but completely satisfied being cut off from any help and the help that was given was sparse to start with.

There are several posts on here about folk's experience. Seems like mreuter is especially active and providing independent solutions for folks ostracized from Boxeer.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=740963&start=120

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=750286&start=180

Somewhere in there you will find my writing about Greg as he and wife stayed at my home on the way back from their S America trip. I REALLY liked those guys and Greg is Super smart. you'll find my experience of visiting Boxeer a couple years ago. As a VW accessory manufacturing the guy (way less complicated that Boxeer) that brought the Land Rover mirror brackets to the US, I have away different approach to customer service/interaction and I hope (and seems to be written about) that the way some failures from a bad production run was handled was much appreciated by the users.

Let us know what you find. It would be interesting to see a chronicle of the experiences and decision making of someone considering going into the Boxeer tribe.

PS, I'm in Tampa area for the winter with my van. Would be fun to meet up and say hi!...I'll also send a PM Andy 505-304-5306

PPS, If I ever move to FL with my van, will I have to change my name to Mark? :P

Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:57 am

Just finished installing. Absolutely lovely so far.

Make sure you or whoever is doing this install is a top notch vanagon mechanic and you will be satisfied. Takes a lot of thought and care to install properly, but the kit itself is super high quality and has a ton of thought put into it.

Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:33 am

e.facchinei wrote: Just finished installing. Absolutely lovely so far.

Make sure you or whoever is doing this install is a top notch vanagon mechanic and you will be satisfied. Takes a lot of thought and care to install properly, but the kit itself is super high quality and has a ton of thought put into it.

Glad it's looking good for you! Nice to see such a report as it's different from others.

Please share who did your install? Likely others going this direction would like to have such a good experience.

See you joined a few days ago and this is your first post. Looking forward to updates on either direction. And we love pictures!

Welcome to the samba.

Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:49 am

e.facchinei wrote:

"Make sure you or whoever is doing this install is a top notch vanagon mechanic and you will be satisfied." .

"this is the most streamlined Vanagon conversion kit on the market."
-Boxeer website homepage

So....which is it? Apparently it can be easily, effortlessly, and without fail installed by someone who's never changed their own oil- as it's THE MOST streamlined conversion on the market. I say that with confidence having seen folks that had never changed their oil buy their first set of tools from harbor freight and install Bostig conversions using only the included directions, no profession and "top notch vanagon mechanic" and then run them for thousands of trouble free miles. So since this is apparently marketed as easier and more fool-proof then the Bostig conversion.....

Am I just reading that wrong?
:D

Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:08 am

Related, but not. We have customers bring us all sorts of aftermarket kit. They purchase and then realize its above their pay grade. What's also common is how much massaging most aftermarket stuff takes to actually install properly.

Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:18 am

vanis13 wrote: e.facchinei wrote: Just finished installing. Absolutely lovely so far.

Make sure you or whoever is doing this install is a top notch vanagon mechanic and you will be satisfied. Takes a lot of thought and care to install properly, but the kit itself is super high quality and has a ton of thought put into it.

Glad it's looking good for you! Nice to see such a report as it's different from others.

Please share who did your install? Likely others going this direction would like to have such a good experience.

See you joined a few days ago and this is your first post. Looking forward to updates on either direction. And we love pictures!

Welcome to the samba.

It would be great if the OP wrote who did this great install with contact info for them ....Otherwise it looks like a plant/troll writing something untrue :(