ECU UPGRADE, Wich one???
17 December 2009, 05:56 PM
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ECU UPGRADE, Wich one???
Hi i just wanted to no your opinion on these 2 ecu's, I have a 2004 sti litchfield type 25 and im looking to upgrade my E.C.U, i was looking at buying at simtec but now iv heard about a GEMS ECU, I dont no wich one to go for now please help! Does anyone run a gems ECU or know about them on here! Any help would be great many thanks!
17 December 2009, 06:01 PM
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GEMS have cold-start issues and require a lot of mapping to get around that. You should be fine on the standard one, unless you're going for a massive spec.
17 December 2009, 06:01 PM
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I did like the idea of having anti lag, Im lookin at running 450 bhp scooby clinic advised me to replace the ecu as they said it would run a lot better, Is this true?
17 December 2009, 07:17 PM
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Well your engine afaik still has the standard internals so 450bhp will mean a rebuild for you, the ecu can do 450bhp, dont go with all the "fancy" bits, proper anti lag will eat your turbo for breakfast, plus its more of a gimick than anything on the road.
Tony
Tony
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17 December 2009, 07:37 PM
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ecu
hello fella
dont know about the gems ecu but have heard good reports on motec standalone units r good may be aquamist unit aswell p.s ( lichey) you will probably nee something pretty tough to keep up with big bro as he tends to get well lubricated on work nightes out lol !
dont know about the gems ecu but have heard good reports on motec standalone units r good may be aquamist unit aswell p.s ( lichey) you will probably nee something pretty tough to keep up with big bro as he tends to get well lubricated on work nightes out lol !
17 December 2009, 07:42 PM
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Adam at scooby clinic said mine already has forged pistons, Appatrantly he spoke to ian litchfield who can get all the data up on the car, So all i need is ECU, front mount, bigger turbo, oil cooler, injectors, inlet hose, and a fuel regualtor, Im currantly running 350 bhp at the moment but want to get it up to 450! Its a lot of money to hand over in one lump so i want to do it in stages! I just though starting off with the ecu would be the best idea, As its also cheaper to remap an aftermarket ecu, I just want to make sure i get the right ecu from the start,
I have been told to get a solaris by scoobyclinic but they seem quite expensive also theres a simtek and a GEMS ecu up for sale secondhand wich sound pretty good
I have been told to get a solaris by scoobyclinic but they seem quite expensive also theres a simtek and a GEMS ecu up for sale secondhand wich sound pretty good
17 December 2009, 08:27 PM
#13
I would get all the bits you need, get them on the car, get it mapped with ecutek & then decide wether you actually need to change to e.g Solaris etc. If yours is a Licho Type 25, then Ecutek licence fee is already paid & all you have to pay for us mapping time from scratch. Save your cash & spend it on something else rather than another ECU IMO
Last edited by rickya; 17 December 2009 at 08:28 PM.
17 December 2009, 08:36 PM
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You really really dont need anti lag, if you want proper anti lag, be prepared to pay 1k every 1k miles for a new turbo, your twin scroll setup is far better at reducing lag than a single scroll set up is, if you just want pops n bangs, then that bit of overfuelling can be mapped in 
Tony
Tony
17 December 2009, 08:40 PM
#16
ALS and launch control is possible with OS mapping for your model year - not sure on Ecutek - sure JGM will know.
Std ecu is the best for what you need - aftermarket ecu's are great but you would be unlikely to gain any power and more often than not lose some nice bits like good cold starting, closed loop idling and knock control. (although Simtek is releasing these soon) I run Solaris and love it and it suits my needs now but I ran the std ECU to 545bhp with no real issues.
Std ecu is the best for what you need - aftermarket ecu's are great but you would be unlikely to gain any power and more often than not lose some nice bits like good cold starting, closed loop idling and knock control. (although Simtek is releasing these soon) I run Solaris and love it and it suits my needs now but I ran the std ECU to 545bhp with no real issues.
17 December 2009, 08:47 PM
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lictchfield t25 vs classic sti acl bearings kittens out marle oversized pistons hks filter fcd + fse yellow injectors lighter car 60x40 split diff what you putting your cash on (only entry level stuff ) sound your opinion tony boy
17 December 2009, 08:54 PM
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Always good to upgrade those pistons dont forget the rods, classic ones suck 
and upgrade the crank to the twin scroll nitrided/x drilled unit, better than the standard one as it gets the oil to the bearings better
Tony
dont forget the rods, classic ones suck and upgrade the crank to the twin scroll nitrided/x drilled unit, better than the standard one as it gets the oil to the bearings better Tony
18 December 2009, 12:05 AM
#21
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have to say i disagree with on thiis one duncan, dumping the maf is reason alone to get rid once your reaching 400's. yes the standard ecu is capable of running that high pwer, but doesn't mean its the best option. i run autronics on my calssic but had it been around at the time i would have gone down the solaris route. by far the best ecu on the market at the min features, spec, price wise. i havn't as much power as your talking about going but still crapped out two mafs during mapping before giving up and going mafless. just because you don't get any out right power gains, which i think you'll find you prob would get a bit of improvment, doesn't mean its not worth doing. power is no good without control
as far as launch control and antilag, its just pub talk. Launch control canbe out launch by a driver with enough practise, plus hard launches arn;t exactly car friendly.
Anti lag as alot of folks claim to have is extreamly mild indeed in 99% of cases, there's a reason why they rebuild wrc cars/turnos after each event, and they run full blown antilag. im nto exactly sure how the open mapping accomplishes this, but i know theres a product i've seen advertised on here that just kills the spark, make no changes to the ignition timing or fueling, that is seriously bad for your engine.
as far as launch control and antilag, its just pub talk. Launch control canbe out launch by a driver with enough practise, plus hard launches arn;t exactly car friendly.
Anti lag as alot of folks claim to have is extreamly mild indeed in 99% of cases, there's a reason why they rebuild wrc cars/turnos after each event, and they run full blown antilag. im nto exactly sure how the open mapping accomplishes this, but i know theres a product i've seen advertised on here that just kills the spark, make no changes to the ignition timing or fueling, that is seriously bad for your engine.
18 December 2009, 01:26 AM
#22
Back to the original question. The Simtek is streets ahead of the GEMS. The Simtek was developed by Andrew Leech and Steve Simpson, hence Simtek. Steve was formerly with Gems and a top Gems mapper and the Simtek was a further development and refinement from there.
Software is very good and intuitive so numpties like me can find their way around and the system represents real value for money from a capable and sophisticated ECU compared to what was availble just three years ago. The Solaris is also good but probably priced at a level above the Simtek.
Software is very good and intuitive so numpties like me can find their way around and the system represents real value for money from a capable and sophisticated ECU compared to what was availble just three years ago. The Solaris is also good but probably priced at a level above the Simtek.
18 December 2009, 02:17 PM
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i ve had 400 bhp ish with a standard bugeye ecu then went to a simtek along with a new engine running under 500 bhp (at a guess)
its hard to say what difference the ecu made but when i fit the fmic to my original engine I found the car wasn't so refined and could be a bit jerky comming on and off the throttle my new engine with simtek run's like stock - Im not sure if it warrants the cost of a new ECU but in fairness to the clinic if I was doing the work for someone I would recommend an ECU swap
edited to say , everyone keeps saying how bad anti lag is - I have it and when im in the mood nothing can touch a blast round the twisties with the anti lag swicthed on
Rich
its hard to say what difference the ecu made but when i fit the fmic to my original engine I found the car wasn't so refined and could be a bit jerky comming on and off the throttle my new engine with simtek run's like stock - Im not sure if it warrants the cost of a new ECU but in fairness to the clinic if I was doing the work for someone I would recommend an ECU swap
edited to say , everyone keeps saying how bad anti lag is - I have it and when im in the mood nothing can touch a blast round the twisties with the anti lag swicthed on
Rich
Last edited by WRX_Rich; 18 December 2009 at 02:20 PM.
18 December 2009, 03:54 PM
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Cheers guys your makin me change my mind again lol! I have no problem with the clinic mate i think there great! I always put my car in there, even tho its a 8 hour round trip! I no there not the cheapest but they do a quality job, So you pay for what you get! I think i got save 3k up and then make my final decision and do some homework inbetween then! Thanks for all your help guys
19 December 2009, 12:41 PM
#27
My spec is there for a reason (ie Time Attack) but it depends on what your power targets are as to what you need. If it wasn't for competing in TA I would have stuck at around the 400 mark. It makes for a much nicer road car IMO.
Fit a good turbo and follow good advice on supporting mods and it should be straightforward to reach that level reliably on a newage on the std ecu.
Tidgy - the classic MAFs are awful in comparison to the newage. Still, I can map the newage OE ecu to run Speed Density (ie mafless) if people are wanting to go down that route. Lots of other goodies aswell in that
Fit a good turbo and follow good advice on supporting mods and it should be straightforward to reach that level reliably on a newage on the std ecu.
Tidgy - the classic MAFs are awful in comparison to the newage. Still, I can map the newage OE ecu to run Speed Density (ie mafless) if people are wanting to go down that route. Lots of other goodies aswell in that
19 December 2009, 02:02 PM
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19 December 2009, 04:13 PM
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whats the difference between this and a classic? would nmake sence to do it, or do you have to simulate the results rather than a proper senced parameter (if that makes sence)