ECU options?

[evopwr]

Hey guys would liks some opinions on ECU options,


Currently have my entire wiring loom out of the engine bay and contemplating if it is worth upgrading to a different ECU.

Currently I have ECM v3 lite installed. Also have a SD kit (air temp and pressure sensors) and a wideband that I am yet to install...

Would like an ECU that has boost control capabilities.

Would also like to keep OEM functions such as idle speed control etc...

Don't want to spend too much (like everyone else lol)!

What are the options? Keep ECM lite? Upgrade to late model evo? Or standalone is the way to go?




cheers
Alex

 

[4piknup]

I think you have 2 options. Pretty sure you can upgrade from lite to full easily. You would need to get a ecu from usa and wire it in though.
other option is to go the late evo ecu. Sell v3lite.

Or, ask your tuner. Who tuned ecmlink for you?

 

[evopwr]

v3 full is not an option because:
a) ECM does not support this function for evo1-3 ecu's, and
B.) it is not feasible to get a US ecu and then get v3 full. may as well get a standalone!

I don't think it matters what the tuner recommends, it would be subjective purely on what he/she likes/stocks/is sponsored by, as opposed to what I'm actually after.

regarding late evo ecu's, are these fully programmable?

It doesn't appear that a standalone is much more expensive considering I have most of the auxiliary items already (wideband and temp/pressure sensors).

Just a quick ebay search shows up a motec m48 for around $1.5K which is not too bad???

 

[evo-gsr]

The factory late model ecu is capable of all those things and more...I dont understand why people want to waste money on aftermarket when this is the case. You can get a late model ecu for 200-300 $ and plenty of people can tune them.

 

[evo-gsr]

And...if your tuner wont let you decide what ecu you want to use...in your car....you need a new tuner.

 

[4piknup]

I thought ecmlink would upgrade from lite to full for a couple of hundred. Plus a usa ecu, maybe $500.
But if its a platform you are used to, and the tune will port straight across, thats worth something.
v3 will run eflex now.

 

[4piknup]

http://www.ecmtuning.com/index.php?cPath=25

$125 to upgrade.
should be able to get a usa ecu for another say $150 shipped.
Maybe $100 for baying, caps (if not done already) and wiring.

Not a bad choice.
of course the later ecu has a lot more processing power.

 

[evo-gsr]

For 375 (your total above) you would easily buy a late model ecu swap a few wires over and be done....
And money for Jds left over!

 

[evopwr]

anyone have more information regard late model ecu swap?

which evo model is best to use?
mods required?
any other tips & tricks?

cheers!

 

[evo-gsr]

Evolutionist has posted heaps in his thread about all the things he encountered while doing the swap.
Which model to use, will depend on what options you wish to use and how well your tuner knows each ECU as some tuners are more switched on than others.
I used an e6 ecu in mine with sd...only required a couple of the wires/pins to be swapped.
If you google it there are plenty of threads that document this.

 

[evopwr]

will suss it out, thanks.

and finally, how is it then flashed? via obd2 and evoscan software?

 

[evo-gsr]

Yes thats how its done.

 

[khubner1]

if you want full flex i think you want and e7 or e8 if you currently dont require eflex any evo 6+ will be fine

i have a haltech in mine but thats because i needed features none of the evo ecu's offer

 

[4piknup]

But not having to tune again or learn a new platform is worth something.
But, your ecmlink is saleable to recoup costs.

Dont get me wrong, im changing to a late ecu. Id say the later the better. A evo10 is no good as it has canbus stuff. A evo9 has strange plugs that will need extra expense, some of the e8 plugs are the same as the e9 (rs?) some are same as what you have now.
I know jamo has some e6 in his shed.

download merlin guides (both the 7-9 and the 10) for a bit of a read

 

[4piknup]

And. You still need the cords for evoscan/ecuflash. How much are they $100 or something

 

[evo-gsr]

if you want full flex i think you want and e7 or e8 if you currently dont require eflex any evo 6+ will be fine
i have a haltech in mine but thats because i needed features none of the evo ecu's offer

Dont start confusing people again.....Eflex is a fuel....and its fine on an e5 or e6 ecu..I know because I use this in mine...
Now if you want a "flex fuel" setup which means you can run any mixture of fuel then you will need 7 8 9 ecu as well as a flex sensor. They are two completely different setups.
If your going to stick with 98ron then any of the 5-9 ecus will be fine as mentioned.
Hope that clarifys it for the OP.

 

[khubner1]

Dont start confusing people again.....Eflex is a fuel....and its fine on an e5 or e6 ecu..I know because I use this in mine...
Now if you want a "flex fuel" setup which means you can run any mixture of fuel then you will need 7 8 9 ecu as well as a flex sensor. They are two completely different setups.
If your going to stick with 98ron then any of the 5-9 ecus will be fine as mentioned.
Hope that clarifys it for the OP.

that wasn't the goal as you said if you want to run a true flex fuel setup where you can run a mix of 98 or e85 you'd need and e7-9 as the e4-6 are not yet coded to support a flex fuel setup

 

[4piknup]

And...if your tuner wont let you decide what ecu you want to use...in your car....you need a new tuner.

even the nobbers here that import late evos, and have a 4wd dyno, and offer performance upgrades, DONT know/use evoscan/ecuflash over here.
And they have ditched the proton dealership also.
We still waiting, waiting, waiting.....

 

[evo-gsr]

The joys of living in the west!^

 

[BYBY5L]

Hey bro, when ya ready to go a new ecu, and if ya decide a later evo ecu, hit me up, I'll drop by and help ya if ya worried at all. Very easy to do, plus I have evo scan and the cable.


Kyle, what features did you need that the evo ecu don't offer?

if you currently dont require eflex any evo 6+ will be fine

Your statement is....hmmm, not quite accurate let's say, lol
This is why it confuses people, e flex is Caltexs brand of fuel, where fuel flex is the ecu's ability to use a sensor to read the ethanol content and adjust fuel delivery accordingly,
Let me edit it for you:
If you don't require fuel flex any evo 5-6 ecu will be fine to run e85 (e-flex)
If you want the fuel flex tune then only 7-9 will work (sensor required)