Shaun

Try reading the signature of the person that posted it.

matth76

Lol thanks Shaun. Doh, I didn't realise. Duncan, I've just left you a voice mail (probably a rather long one - not good at leaving voicemails ). Duncan, no worries if tomorrow is not available though as it is very short notice. Thanks again for all the responses.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Bob remapped my 07 STi (no hardware changes from PPP spec) and the car made 348bhp and 380ft lbs of torque

It's constraints on the boost you can use on the Hawks pistons that limit how far you can go. A number of reputable sources say no more than 1.35 bar or you risk the ring lands cracking. Beyond that I'd get some proper forged ones in there.

A well mapped PPP hawk is a very good real world performance car. Spools from nothing and very easy to make rapid progress in.

Been there, seen it, done it. Now on 470bhp/480lbs on a fully forged APi engine lol!


Ns04

matth76

Thanks for your reply. Do you know if Bob Rawle has a website? He's based in Swindon isn't he? Does he have access to a rolling road, where he does his mapping? Does he normally use an open source or an Ecutek map? Only so I can get an idea of the cost for his custom map.

Pramas

bob is ecutek , good guy from all accounts, but if u require open source id say duncan from dynamix whos on here, both those seem to be the top guys in there relevant field

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Bob's website

http://www.brdevelopments.com/

You won't find a more capable Subaru mapper.

When choosing a mapper, the reputation an experience of the mapper is CRITICAL. Do not base your decision purely on price!

Ns04

matth76

Thanks, no I agree totally with going with the best recommendations and reputation. Ive been stung before and want to get as much info and reviews as possible, hence this thread. It's been a hard decision choosing who to use as my potential mapper but it doesn't matter how long it takes as long as I research it fully. I think I now have a shortlist of two or three that I'd like to use, who are based in the south or south east. I was just curious how much Bob may charge for a remap, but the cost wont put me off. I just like to know what to budget for.

Do you know if Bob is solely a mapper or does he service/ fit parts and do his mapping sessions include a rolling road power graph?
Thanks again for all the info guys. I appreciate it.
Ps My car sounds a lot better with the straight through (standard bore stainless steel) centre pipe fitted today by H&S. Absolutely no drone at motorway speed or even any lower speed. Just a bit more "burble" noticeable at low speeds or accelerating. Big thanks to Hayward and Scott.

skinner

Bob rawl is a mapper he has a few parts in his garage like filters but nothing majour he charged me £280 for my map but the car had been mapped before by jgm so the licence was payed.He live maps on the road and gives you a print out of what power your car is he you can do this on ecu tec you enter the car weight the weight of the people and how much fuel you have.I think he would meet you at a roaling road if thats what you wanted but its not necessary.Ive had a few questions after the map and Bob has answered them withing a few hours by email he is verry helpfull and been mapping imprezas a long time.If you look on his web page it tells you all about him.

matth76

Thanks for the info Skinner

Pramas

As has been said, the rep of the mapper is more important than the software he uses to achieve end result, with that said ill only trust car to either duncan from dynamix or bob rawle.
Pay the cost and save a bomb by engine not blowing up ( iam sure theres alot more worthy mappers, jollygreenmonster springs to mind, just those 2 my personal choice )

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Top guys in their relevant fields would also include [ in no particular order ]
Pat Herborn, Steve Simpson, Richard Bulmer, Paul Blamire all who have been mapping for years and have proven results at all levels of Subaru specific tuning.

There are many others of course, but the above are all used by APi at some time.

Open source is an out of date rip off of Ecutek and no properly licenced Ecutek dealer will have anything to do with it.............

David APi

matth76

Thanks for your reply. I didn't know that, is this really true that it is an out of date copy? I assume an Ecutek map can be applied to an ecu that has already been mapped using Opensource? Are there any limitations of Opensource? I've only heard good things about Opensource.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Bear in mind that it is a rip off of a genuine set of software. If there was a major problem with the software Ecutek being licenced, is a proper product that warrants its quality [ and by default the mapping 'agent' who installs it] Any Tom, Dick or Harry who downloads open source from the 'net can get loose on your car and do whatever they wish.

See if they offer a warranty, much the same as Microsoft will if you use their pirate copy.

EcuTek 3 will overwrite opensource - but you cannot put opensource, to my knowledge, on a Tek3 car. [ why would you ? once the Tek licence is paid for there is no ' advantage ' in opensource.]

David

jura11

iTrader: (7)

No its not out the date and have all features which have EcuTek(ALS-Anti lag,LC-Launch Control,Dual boost maps or switchable boost maps)

Yes,EcuTek licence can be applied on car which has been mapped before with OS(Open Source) or Open Source remap can be applied on car which has been mapped before EcuTek.

Limitation of Open Source don't exist,but OE ECU have limitation,due this more people switching to aftermarket ECU,due boost control(OE ECU can control up to 1.5-17bar if you want more,you must have aftermarket boost control such as Apexi AVC-R),switchable maps,live tuning/mapping,dual fuel maps etc.


Jura

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

Never had a problem overwriting ecutek maps on anything other than the new hatches. Works just fine and dandy

Love the way that ecutek are nearly catching up with the open source software that you incorrectly call a copy, pmsl. Plenty of things that ecutek does well and plenty of things that non ecutek software does well but both rely on good data and good mapping on the same data tables.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

I think the real issue here is that ANYONE can map using open source. you download the software, buy a cable and a laptop and off you go. There is NO assurance that the person behind the laptop has clue one about what they're doing and no comeback if things go belly up! If you get a corrupt/bugged version of the software, no one is going to want to know and they'll be no official support.

Ecutek dealers will have a proven track record as a mapper, licenced software, with support of the people who developed the code and will also have some insurance and accountability if tweaking with someone else's car results in a blown engine!

If a car already has the ecutek map licence paid, you're only paying for the mappers time, so just get it done by an Ecutek dealer and have them put RACEROM on here, hey presto: Launch control, flat foot shifting, autoblips on down shifts, dual maps, mafless running etc .... I can't see why anyone would entrust 000s of pounds worth of their hard earned to unlicenced tuning software and to someone who at best is charging you to learn their trade (or experiment) or at worst just plain doesn't know what they're doing! (the latter is not aimed at anyone on here).

The most important thing though is the mapper's skill and experience: software is nothing without the user. Going down the offical route just a) makes it much less likely you'll get a cowboy b) helps remove the variable of software stability from the list of things that could go wrong! c) Means there is reliable support there if there are issues.

matth76

Hi Duncan, just to let you know I'm free next Monday (2nd May - bank holiday) for a mapping session, if you're still coming down to Sussex? I emailed you earlier just to confirm along with my address details. Please let me know if you need anything else. Look forward to it No worries though if you can't make Monday.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

Yep all good Matt. Will reply to your email when I get home

Butty

iTrader: (2)

I've never heard of such a warranty with Ecutek and even if someone tried to use it, there'd be so many wriggle out clauses that it would be worthless.
Ecutek carries just as much risk as Open Source work and the mapper isn't any guarantee that it will be a good job done.

matth76

How easily detectable are either types of maps, especially by main dealers for warranty purposes? I assume they are easily detectable and will make my warranty void which I'm fine about. I currently have the generic Prodrive map. Thanks again for all the replies and help.

Shaun

It's very unlikely they would check the ROM files..... but they could find out if they really wanted to.

If you're ultimately concerned about the warranty then wait until it runs out, as I assume that is one of the reasons you bought the car from a main dealer.

There is always a risk and it depends on how much you want to accept.

matth76

No the warranty itself isn't that brilliant. They only offer a max claim limit of £300 which is pathetic. Nissan's mfr extended warranty allowed up to £1000. The main reason for using a main dealer was to trade in my wife's car.

14N-FR

iTrader: (3)

Very easily is the answer as my warranty claim was cancelled due to Subaru finding out I had the car remapped.

Subaru UK requested a copy of my ECU's ROM file and found that my VCN (vehicle calibration number) was different to the one they copied from the car when it was sold to me.

The VCN increases by '1' every time the ROM file is accessed, so they can find out how many times the ROM has been accessed by anyone other than them.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

On the hatch yes ^

matth76

What about the hawkeye?

14N-FR

iTrader: (3)

I have a Hawkeye.

Shaun

If that is the "quality" of the warranty you have I would be saying "who gives a ****". You have surely answered your own question.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

+ 1 on this.

The hawkeye doesnt have the same complexity on there as the hatch. it is possible to put back to 100% std and they would never know.

14N-FR

iTrader: (3)

I am not trying to stir here, but I was unable to revert my ECU to standard. It was tried.

The VCN number kept increasing with every ROM access.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

Interesting ... what software were they using?