I'm trying to hunt down a 2nd hand simtek/alcatek for my version 6 as it already has an ecutek map but I'd like to gain the flexibility and toys.

I've had a couple of quotes around the £800 all in price range, and could proberbly sell my current ecu for £100 but I'm interested to know what a 2nd hand simtek would be worth, and if anyone has one kicking about??

Another thing is, do I have any other options? I know that esl is only for 97/98's and I think an Apexi is for pre 97 cars??

Any help or pointers would be good, and if anyone has something for sale please let me know.

Dave.

 

ESL used to be for MY93-96 cars... But now is for MY97/98 too. And MAFless too. But not for MY99/00.


Apexi is for all 3 phases! Old tech, but does the job and nice features on the Commander...... If you can get one these days!


Best bet is to see if you can get a 2nd hand Simtek. If so, the seller will hopefully sell it at a keener, lowish price (because of the AlcaTek release). But you must ensure it's a 'later' version, or otherwise it won't adapt to the AlcaTek upgrade. You need to find out the correct serial numbers' 'from-to bracket' to be sure....

Which leads me onto... Then, when AlcaTek upgrades finally get off the ground, send it off for the upgrade which will only cost £60! Then get it fitted and mapped!


That's what I'd do if I were in your situation.

 

thanks joz, thats kind of what i've heard but didnt realise there was an old/newer version of the simtek so thats definately something for me to look out for. Doesnt seem to be many around tho so might have to bite the bullet and get one new from the mapper.

What sort of serial numbers should I be looking for?

 

Bear with me, I'm off to do a search....

 

Post #67... SimTeks from 2007 to 2012 An announcement

"The first 99 ECU was in October 2007, so again, they will all be fine."

So make sure you get a post-Oct 2007 one then!


And...

Posts #26-29... KS3 advice

 

thanks, can I ask tho, wtf is a toucan apart from a large bird?

 

...With a comical, almost disembodied, huge bill (pardon the pun)!


It's a muti-function, touch-screen LCD add-on display.

It monitors all the various engine sensors, etc. Like a Apexi Commander, but a lot more sophisticated.

If you read all of that SimTek/AlcTek thread above, all will be revealed.

 

Should you buy AlcaTek outright, serial number for the MY99/00 AlcaTek is:

E1S99 – covers MY99-MY00 Series 5/6

http://www.simtekecu.co.uk/

 

Toucan (and Puffin, Penguin, Kit-Kat, etc) info here:-

http://www.jti.uk.com/toucan/


Toucan demo...

 

And is this new update/upgrade available or is again postponed?




Jura

 

I believe it's currently postponed. Check AlcaTek's FB page for updates...

 

£1500 is out of my range at the moment. I need to sell some parts off the car 1st which I've upgraded but its early days so wont have an idea about budget for a few weeks. My main question is what people think I should pay for a simtek if I can get one, assuming a mapper will charge around £300 to map it.

 

Well, a MY00 Simtek is £1074 (inc. 2 maps - if required).

So, if you subtract circa £300 map and £60 AlcaTek upgrade from that, then you wanna be spending no more than c.£700 to make it worth your while, going second hand.

But you wanna build-in some worthwhile 'savings/hassle' margin, so c.£600 at the most, then.

 

Thing is, i'm not planning on going for big power. Im only running a VF28, blitz decat exhaust, panel filter, pump, 3 port and top mount so is a simtek really going to be worthwhile?

The aim is for 300+ in bhp and torque but nothing that will stress the gearbox etc too much so maybe I should stick with an ecutek remap for now and see how it goes?

 

Ahhh, now he says!

Not worth it. VF28 good for the 310-330 bracket. So EcuTek, despite its annoying 'alter, flash and wait' trait, isn't gonna be troubled in trying to eek the bhp. Esp. as if you'd be happy with 300 anyway.

Only thing is the 'fragile' MY99/00 MAF - MY99/00 ones are best to be treated as service items, and a good practice is to replace regularly. Say every two years. Luckily, the replacement cartridge is 'only' around £90 or so.

That said, post-2006 manufactured "green stripe" ones are a lot more robust than the pre-2006 "green dot" types.

 

I agree mate, which is why i'm not running a maf-wrecking induction kit and sticking with the airbox and panel filter. Havent looked at when mine was last changed so thanks for reminding me

 

Cool - glad you're all clued up on the MAFs.

 

As joz says no point as simtek will not gain you any extra power . Stick with your ecutek remap & your std airbox and you wont have any probs with the maf .I have not had to replace a maf in 3 yrs yet.Your vf28 should be producing 300+ bhp now ,with the mods you have already . Depending on who mapped it.
Regarding your gearbox I have a std uk box like yours and have a paddle clutch and it is holding up fine .

 

I have a v6 dccd box, not a uk box. Will that handle more?

 

Me'hi'can , interesting info in post #40...

How far to push

...Although it doesn't specifically single out the DCCD boxes.


Why not email harvey, to see if he knows anything further re. the DCCD boxes?

 

Yes it will ,as it is from a type r which run 276 bhp std and can rev to 8000+ rpm . It has really short ratios for quick acceleration,so it should be fine for 300+ bhp opposed to the uk box which can let go when running slightly more than the std 215 bhp.

 

I have a v3 type r and my box was fine running 330bhp, they all whine a bit, but i think thats more lack of sound deadening than anything else.

I'd forget simtec been there done that, i would never run an ecu that does not have knock correction, all it takes is some dodgy fuel and you get a £3k+ rebuild bill, stick with the OEM ecu, they are very capable at your level, launch control will knacker your clutch and drive train, and antilag kills VF turbos, you can have pops and bangs mapped in on over run, and i was in a bug wrx a week or so ago that has launch control and antilag on a oem ecu via open source mapping, but not sure if your year ecu can do that as well, take a look on www.romraider.com

 

V6 sti box has a different gearset to the uk box. The evidence I've seen suggests it is much stronger - good for 400bhp / 400lbft. Just be careful of the change to 4th gear as the synchro is weak on that one. But that is as much to do with how the 'box is treated as the power running through it.