I love the extra power i got with my TXS Unichip Stage II, but I'm ready to go to the next step. I think my best bet is to go with one of the replacement ECUs available. The question is which one? I'm not interested in the cheapest one. My preference is to get the one that works best out of the box and is the easiest and most flexible to program and adjust with or with out a dyno.

BTW, my TXS Stage II Unichip is officially for sale, $650 including shipping anywhere in the USA.

Manuel

email me or call me if interested in my Unichip
white95r@hotmail.com
678-354-5343 x 325 9-5 est

Manuel let me direct you to the Motec M4 pro, will work with all of the stock sensors but wide band lambda is an option (600) you can do anything with it and you get data logging. Motec has an umprecedented reputation. Total cost should be about 3 grand, Prodrives Pectel ECU is about 2700 those two are fabulous options.

tifosi77 - While I won't and simply can't argue the superiority of the Motec over the previously mentioned ECU options I have to ask you a few questions. Does the Motec come with a plug and play wiring harness adapter like the Link? Does it come with a base map for the WRX like the Link? And I know the learning curve on the LInk is fairly steep but I would imagine, from what little I know of the Motec, that it's a MUCH steeper learning curve?

I personally think the Link is a good "starting/introductory" ECU for people getting a stand alone for the first time for some of the simple reasons I have stated. Granted it's pretty far from the idle solution though :). Just wait a couple of years until someone releases software TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC to alter the factory ECu and maps. I know DeltaDash can do it but it doesn' sound like they are going to give that power to the end user anytime soon... just like the unichip dealers... [sigh]

I guess I feel like the Link is fine as long as you dont mind spending a good amount of quality time fiddling with it. I would even agree with David's assessment that it is somewhat of a "beginners" ECU replacement due to its plug and play nature and relative simplicity.

I also think that enough people on here have enough experience with it that there is no danger of feeling like you dont have enough information about the unit.

The other units - AEM is not yet available and msrp is $1800 anyway, and the Prodrive is just a minor step up from the stock ecu. Many, many people in the UK have the Prodrive ECU and I have not heard great reviews of it. One of the major automotive publications in the UK, "Car," even said they thought the car felt better without it.

my 2c

JaMa

I am not wanting any more "solutions" that involve tremendous amounts of time experimenting with maps, settings, etc. I guess what I want is simply not available :( I thought that the Unichip would have been the ideal way to go, but the fact that is not user programmable, makes it cumbersome when you add or change mods, etc.

Yes you can get a wire harness for the motec, I have heard that the Motec is easier to tune than the link. You can find base maps for the subaru (I know of at least two people that could give their base map) and you should not be getting a stand alone without a professional (at least for the initial tune). www.motec.com.au look at the specs for the M4 pro you will see why this is the solution I will be using.

Tis the nature of the beast JaMa ... I think if either you or I had any ecu we would be fiddling with it just as much.

Now my results with the link have been friggin stellar. Where JaMa has had some issues. I even believe you and yoru friend have about the same setup? if I recall? and his link is working pretty good.

Anyway ... what I'm getting at is Link is a programmable ecu. Its only as good as its tuner LIKE ANY ecu. Link has had some software issues with releasing ... but the verision I have right now is pretty stable and I like it.

_I_ chose the Link because I a too got the impression after reading about it that it is a more 'beginner' ecu. It was raved from many people that I talked to as being easy to just sit down and tune...and it is. I dl'ed their software and was sold almost instantly.

My ONLY OTHER ecu I would replace it with is a Tec3. However, the difference in cost and simplicity is what drove me to the Link.

and right now there is a Link powering a 375 hp car ... and in time will be powering my 350+ hp car.

I think the AEM is the way to go...the only extra piece you need is the laptop. I dont think you want to rewire your whole car with a DFI or motec. If you do , plan on tuning your car as a new everyday habit. Link is good but i dont feel like shipping my factory ecu out and waiting for it to come back. I actually like driving my car, dont you? AEM- take old ecu out and plug the AEM in. 5 minutes. load the software on a computer. 5 minutes. If you dont know anything about computers in general, read the dictionary that AEM supplies you with the unit. Its the best instruction manual I've ever seen. Dont plan on getting any directions for the other units. You buy them and your on your own. Another thing i dont like. Spending MUCHO dollars for dyno testing. Plus its a waste of time. AEM has data logging and real time graphs. Have someone drive your car and you can tune it in the passenger seat. I think the AEM has an O2 senser extention, so you can read that in real time also. Just need the O2 sensor thingy.:lol: I think I just talked myself into buying it..:lol:

well there is that "secret" thing coming out, which is believed to be the DeltaEcu where they reprogram your ecu. i think i might just go with that. hope that helps

Cheers,
Kirk

Originally posted by NJ WRX 63
Link is good but i dont feel like shipping my factory ecu out and waiting for it to come back. I actually like driving my car, dont you? AEM- take old ecu out and plug the AEM in. 5 minutes. load the software on a computer. 5 minutes.

You do not send your ECU in for the LINK, they have 2 units, one you can buy and "wire-in" to your stock ECU or a plug and play, remove the stock and plug in the LINK. The LINK is also software driven, load it to a laptop and off you go. And the LINK is available now and tested on many scoobies, whereas the AEM has yet to be released for scoobies and costs much more. LINK can be had for $1300 - 1400 while the projected price for the yet to be released AEM is $1800.

Originally posted by subywrxwrblu
well there is that "secret" thing coming out, which is believed to be the DeltaEcu where they reprogram your ecu. i think i might just go with that. hope that helps

Cheers,
Kirk

Except hasn't DeltaDash already said that they are only going to give the re-program option to authorized dealers only ?

from what i have read (someone correct me if i am wrong) it is going to be like the Unichip where, yes you are correct, that only authorized dealers are going to be able to tune it. But i read that is it supposed to be more stable because they adjust the factory Ecu. The dealer also will not be able to tell if you have a custom tune, Ken C from Rally Performance (http://www.rallyperformance.com) has a thread around here some where that talks about it. Sound sgood so far. Even though you can't tune it the stabability sounds the best. just my 1 cent.

Cheers,

Kirk

Originally posted by subywrxwrblu
well there is that "secret" thing coming out, which is believed to be the DeltaEcu where they reprogram your ecu. i think i might just go with that. hope that helps

Cheers,
Kirk

The deltaecu isn`t a secret. The "secret" is

DOH!!! no teasing! i thought thats what the secret was :( oh well back to the guessing game, thatnks for ruining it :lol: :p


Kirk

:lol: but seriously that does sound pretty neat.

What happens though when you change a few things and your car doesn`t run anymore? Is there a reset to default option?

Anyways the countdown continues ...


Bill

here's the real secret:monkey:

Originally posted by jjunior887
here's the real secret:monkey:

Ha,ha :rolleyes:

Its tough for something to live up to this kind of hype. But in this case I`m pretty sure it will be all that and a bag of potato chips. :)

Bill

screw this i am just going to get a Vic 20 and plug it in :lol: hows that for an option. But you are right if you get other sutff more tuning, so i guess i would go with the Link, there is alot of support here on I-club and its not a bad price for a Stand alone.


Kirk

Originally posted by gossamer_monster
:lol: but seriously that does sound pretty neat.

What happens though when you change a few things and your car doesn`t run anymore? Is there a reset to default option?

Anyways the countdown continues ...


Bill

:rolleyes:

and how long is this "countdown" supposed to last :rolleyes:

it'll prolly suck like that "ginger" scooter thingy :rolleyes:

sour grapes all the way, at least if i knew what we were waiting for it might be easier :rolleyes:

Originally posted by kensington


:rolleyes:

and how long is this "countdown" supposed to last :rolleyes:

it'll prolly suck like that "ginger" scooter thingy :rolleyes:

sour grapes all the way, at least if i knew what we were waiting for it might be easier :rolleyes:

Yeah, it's like a private joke or something.... :rolleyes: I don't even know if it's an engine part or a set of wheels :D

stickers

Your totally off, it's being sold right now in the vendor classifieds http://forums.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=216268 and you thought you knew something, ha! and the whole vishnu stage 0 only gives you 40hp

Guys, try doing some searches, there are EXCELLENT threads asking and asnwering this same question numerous times.

First off, when it comes down to it, there are very little differences between ecu's in their respective price categories.

1. LINK is a total plug in for the WRX...absolutely no wiring needed, total install is about 20 minutes. My old car ran a 11.88@118 with it, so it is MORE than enough ecu for what 99% of WRX owners do with their cars.

2. MOTEC, TECIII, Pectel, etc. all offer very similar levels of performance. Out of those three, Electromotive is the best bang for the buck, and offers the best ignition system out tehre at any price range. Feature wise, they are all nearly identical, and resolution is not significantly different from one another. Price is a big difference here, going from $2400.00 for a complete TEC3 setup with all needed, to about $5000 for the Pectel. Big issue with any of these is install...plan on about 14-25 hours total install time including tuning, which considerably adds to price if you are paying someone to install/map it.

With any of these, you are FAR better off finding out what is sold/isntalled reguarly by dealers/shops local to you....any of these ecu's has their quirks, and at somepoint,y ou will need replacement sensors, advise, remapping. So, it is far more effective to run what those local to you run..not what the "guru's of the internet" recommend.

lastly, if you are not up for basically constant monitering and fiddling with various settings on any given week, none of these are really for you, and the Unichip and Prodrive ecu are probably your best choices. None of these are foolproof, and all require fiddling and considerable mapping time to get them operaring at their peak levels, niot to mention an experienced tuner.

As for the Prodrive ecu, I see no point in comparing it to what teh British press had to say....their setups and gas are different than ours.

I can tell you that I personally drove in a car this weekend that had one with a VF23, Supra pump, and some other carefulyl chosen mods on stock injectors, and at a modest 12 psi of boost, the car was damn quick...and I am not exxagerating at all.

adam
www.z1auto.com
Z-1 Performance

Motec can operate in closed as well as open loop so you will not have to tune it everyday.

Another in 3 months
http://www.turbofast.com.au/autronic/autronic.html

Kenisington,
Thank you for cleering that up. My comment was per reading the article in the SCC magazine about the link. (the white AVO WRX). Is that programable via laptop? This is getting confusing! Im about to get the AFC and call it a day. I feel like im in whole other world with this car. Im coming from a 2000 pound stripped civic with a N/A JDM 1.8 with a spoon computer. Its weird power in this car end where my old power band began! Oh...by the way it 6:00am thats why im spelling things wrong
Nick

yes, you can program the LINK via laptop, there are other options check here (http://www.link-electro-usa.com/) for the details of a accessories and options. The only problem with a BC and S-AFC (which I am currently running) is that there is no timing control. I am leaving all kinds of power untapped. Haven't been able to find a timing device for under $700 (LINK).By the time you buy that your almost at the cost of a LINK and it's harder to tune and you get no data logging. At this time the LINK is what I am saving for.

BTW - I am by no means an expert or a tuner, nor do I play one on TV. I simply read a lot and try to sift through the info. Do a search on Jack Handy, that's one of my favorite sources here on i-club.

Originally posted by kensington


BTW - I am by no means an expert or a tuner, nor do I play one on TV. I simply read a lot and try to sift through the info.



AND you stayed at a holiday inn express last night! ;)

Jorge (RiftsWRX)
www.ProjectWRX.com

hahaha...!:lol:
thanks kensington....timing...i forgot about this!
so you wouldnt recommend AEM?
the thing is ..im going to have a laptop holder thing in my car...i like to know what is going on at all times!! AF mixtures, boost, ..everything...
Nick

i just don't know anything about the AEM b/c it has not been released for scoobies yet, and unlike many other people on this board I do not have friends tuning the hell outta supras or hondas (which I think AEM has units out for). Plus, I'm poor, so unless the AEM has some really cool feature or purpose the LINK is fine for me.

I think I'll wait 5 years until my warranty is up and then maybe Boostmonkey will have their own standalone ECU with a real monkey running it and a Timex Indiglo to control the timing... He might look something like this... :monkey: ...well, on cold mornings anyway.

Soooo many options... I'm very interested to see what the AEM can do. Sounds like the cats meow if you ask me.

JC