OldDan

Just a debate on another forum really, why don't these high powered tuner cars use Megasquirt over Omex/DTA/Pectel blah blah etc etc.

It's a cheaper alternative and does everything other ECU's do... or is ithere more to it than that?

Discuss! I use Omex 600 because the person who mapped it knows it like the back of his hand. And we've seen good results with Omex and Jenveys.

cossie04

iTrader: (1)

Sorry, but what is Megasquirt?

OldDan

It's a DIY ECu you build up yourself.

Here you go mate - http://www.megasquirt.info/

cossie04

iTrader: (1)

Oranoco

I was told that Megasquirt was extremely crude system but I have since been told on here that this isn't the case so I too would like to know the answer to this question.

Alex_86

iTrader: (2)

surly its because they must read

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Why dont more people drive Skoda's ?

OldDan

So thats how it is Tony.

foreigneRS

i would say that it is mostly because they do not want to stake their reputation on something that may not be a reliable piece of hardware (if not built properly). even if they map it perfectly and then a transistor or something overheats due to not being soldered in properly and melts the engine the finger would be immediately pointed at the tuner that mapped it

Billy_RS

iTrader: (5)

If a Ferrari was only a few quid more then a Evo what would you buy?

OldDan

But that doesn't explain anything.

JamesH

iTrader: (21)

Surely the fact it's DIY is enough to put most tuners off?

PGT

good question - serious answers required

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

i think hit the nail on the head , the ecus are perfectly capable of doing the same job as most other ecus on the market and has a massive following of people that are constantly writing code for it but finding a reliable build sorce is very difficult

PF Dave

Couple of obvious points that spring to mind:

Support: You need something updating on your Pectel T2 or need something new in Descpro etc. you can contact Pectel direct who make the product and get it sorted. (Just using Pectel as an example here), Who do you contact that you can trust if you're stuck with Megasquirt?

Build quality / Components: Megasquirt is a great bit of kit, and I was very impressed with a certain 3-door mapped by someone on here as it goes. BUT, the quality of the ECU itself, the components etc. Is it tested under extreme conditions ie. a race / rally car, is it waterproof? Is it reliable - That depends largely on who has soldered the connections LOL

Experience: If your tuner has used Pectel or Omex or DTA or whatever for 10 years and knows it inside out, they probably won't be over eager to switch to something new that's at the lower end of the market and perceived as the 'value' type ECU. I know I wouldn't be overly keen on it especially as most of the top tuners out there don't have time to do a Sudoko puzzle let alone learn how to build / install and map a new ECU...

There are plenty more reasons but that's just a few I can think of off the top of my head.

HTH

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

ah colins 3 door mapped by the dougster that proves it works on a good powerd car but like we have both said build wise its hard to find a good one

OldDan

So other than the build quality, it's just as good as the other ECUs ?

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

yes they are there are a couple of suppliers that will sell a full tested system think alex f will do them to

Alex_86

iTrader: (2)

why drive a skoda when you could walk?

make more sense in Norwegian


edit:

why did you asked if the ms is waterproof?
surly the others ain't any more waterproof

tough think MS is tested allot in the US, as it aint that big in Europe yet.
surly it tested in street racing drag racing tracks.

and if a resistor goes to heaven in the other ones?

surly some tuners dont like it because its allot cheaper then many other after marked ecus, as they look at it as cheep rubbish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interne...y.27s_Internet

some on that thing i think could help

Garage19

MS is great but you do have to get pretty involved to get the best from it.

There is a great forum for back up which i have never had to wait longer than a day for someone to answer my question on.

Also if you bought a unit from efiextra - phil ringwood, he supplies very good support.

It is true that MS isn't built with automotive specific technology but it has lasted in some severe environments, desert racing etc. All down to how you mount it and wire it.

If you want a cheap ECU that uses surface mount technology and the same conectors as Motec you can't go far wrong with a VEMS unit.

It is based on MS but has been developed into a comercial product.

It even has a built in wideband and EGT controller.

A 4 cylinder unit is £340

Doug.

xr-stu

exactly.

i would imagine its because people view megasquirt as cheap and nasty to a certain extent because it is specificly aimed at the low budget customer, therefore is RC developments and MAD started using it, alot of their more well off customers might decide to go elsewhere as they dont want a poormans budget POS ecu on there escort cossie or evo...

the tuning industry is just like fashion in that sense, most people who can, will have the most expensive things on their car just so they can put it on their spec list and put stickers on their car telling everyone so.

COMEDY DAN

Beacuase they are crap, just like megasquirt.

Crap budget rubbish and I know 2 very reputable mappers who wont even bother entertaining mapping because it is so garbage.

End of.

Stavros

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_ejaculation

Hope this helps

Stav

Garage19

Skodas won a shit load of rallys and everyone know skodas are now just vws with out the over inflated price tag.

Just like MS really.

Dan - have you ever mapped MS or any other system for comparison?

I would love you to have a drive in colins 3dr and then a marelli managed 3dr blindfolded (if that was possible) and then tell me what car is running what management.

marky_g

U get what u pay 4.....nuff said

Stavros

not in the modified car world, not by a long shot

Garage19

Well i tell you what then...

You come over and i'll convert your car from MFI to efi running MS and insted of charging you a grand i'll charge you five grand just to make you feel better.

In no way does your above comment relate to the car tuning industry.

Garage19

Beat me to it.

Have you not come across VEMs before... being into jap stuff. I know alot of 200sx boys are running it.

marky_g

just saying i wouldn't use it, who said my car was still mfi?

its a universal statement

seeings as i no so little about car the "modified car world" all leave u do it

Maxfield

I know someone who uses megasquirt on BMW's and swears by it.

StuarTurbo

From what i understand Ms is is a DIY system with Users Wrighting code and helping each other out , It very much self learnt

From my point of view i think building your own ECU and then mapping it using your own computer is rather talented and its something that i really want to look into and learn , and surely doing something like this will give you an emormouse sence of achievement , like building your own engine or gearbox ,

Maybe it this reason that more "tuners" dont use it posibly they dont want owners fiddling with their maps or like the fact that the ECUs that they use are seen as a bit of a "black art"

Shings

Diy is for Diyers...

Why would any self respecting tuner/engine building etc want to start messing with DIY stuff...

Tuners are there for when the damage it your self brigade fuck things up or sensible people want something doing.

Also you go to your tuner with your £50 bits of electrical gubbins... he knows chances are you're a messer and will fuck about when you leave... he also knows you aint got a pot to piss in or you'll be using something tried and tested with proper back up that you cant mess with.

Say he does map your car but it needs a new turbo.. they're £1000 for the right thing for the job- I can just see it now...

Its ok mate ( because I am a messer diyer internet geek ) I'll go back to my home forum and ask on there for the best thing for my car (baring in mind the tuner will no doubt know anyway and told you) and then when I have had numeruous polls about the differenet turbo's I'll host another one to find out where I can get it for free/peanuts or I'll get ripped off on ebay.

MS hasn't stopped people using omex/dta/autronic etc its just allowed the people at the other less affluent end of the modified car scene play with their cars a bit more.


Jake
Feel free to pull all my reply apart and argue the toss as much as you like chance are I wont look back at this topic.

StuarTurbo

[quote="Shings"]Diy is for Diyers...

Why would any self respecting tuner/engine building etc want to start messing with DIY stuff...

Tuners are there for when the damage it your self brigade fuck things up or sensible people want something doing.

MS hasn't stopped people using omex/dta/autronic etc its just allowed the people at the other less affluent end of the modified car scene play with their cars a bit more.

quote]

I Agree with the DIy thing is for DIY-ers

But why would it be for the less afluent , maybe the more talented or more interested , or people that want to know how their cars are put to gether and built , not just thrown a blank cheque at a tuner

COMEDY DAN

Agreed.

fuzzy

most of the time you dont even get what youve paid for
megasquirt is widely used by tuners on our bmw e30 site. there view is that its up to any job if set up properly and it isnt more widely used because a lot of tuners are scared to vary of the tried and tested tuning route.
its beyond my capabilities so i dont know personally.

AlexF

You clearly no very little about the automotive industry!

And just to make you feel better I now sell MS at £670!!

AlexF

MOST tuners won't touch it because MS is much more customiseable than other ecus...

You can have what you want - and modify the software and hardware to make it happen.

That means you need MORE knowledge to map a MS car than you do a Emerald, DTA, Motec etc etc etc.

Alex

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

Interesting thread.
Regarding tuners not wanting to differ from what they know etc... Doesnt that theory go out the window when mappers state they dont want to touch it.

When someone who primarily maps cars of pretty much ever type and on every managment won't touch it, I assume its for good reason.

I too was always led to believe it was crap but then a few on here seem to strongly disagree with valid points.

Still dont think id have it on my car.

AlexF

Not sure what your saying there!

But in terms of not wanting to - most(some?) tuners use a base map and modify from there! They don't know how to take the spec of the engine and work out what sort of figures for fueling and sprak are needed just to get it to start.

Alex

Stavros

ROFL@Alex.

Ill sell maegasquirt to you, with no electrical or mapping knowlege, no proof of talent or previos work, but in a flashy box, with a flashy website full of flashy words, and charge you 3500quid.

There you go, im just like most tuners these days

You get what you pay for