different hp outputs
 

Hi, does anyone know whether the engines that produce different hp but have the same displacement are the same? I particularly would like to know about the 7.5 3.0 tdi with 218 hp and the 272 hp and whether a simple ecu remap could get to the higher output

You can go up to about 270ps with the 218ps as the starting point.
The 272ps can be re-mapped to about 320ps.
The Bitdi is the best by far, it is a great engine and remarkably fuel efficient too - better than the 272ps by about 10%.

Word of warning, the 218 comes with a crap transmission - limited to about 400nm I believe. The 272ps has the dual clutch 7spd - not particularly good at handling a lot more torque either and very expensive to repair.

I am not a fan of the dual clutch in mine - it takes an age to select reverse and is quite easily tricked by quickly starting off again when slowing down - say lights change as you are just about to stop - it sometimes cannot get the clutch engaged smoothly enough. I do suspect that even with the 272ps engine, torque is limited at times - it pulls harder in 3rd than 2nd - the odd gears use the larger diameter of the two clutches.