Custom Tune help. please
Discussion
Right as some who have read my other threads know I've been tuning the car a bit see here. Now I have done the majority of engine tuning via Elkparts and the ECU has been mapped via Speedparts, I've just emailed to see where to go now as I've added a few new pieces of hardware and they have advised me they cant supply a higher tune than stage 3 (which I have) and that I should go for a custom tune.
So this explains the thread. What other ways do I have other than swapping over to Maptun? I have had the stage 1 and stage 3 tunes by Speedparts and they where great. I have the original ECU as well (for backup) Is there any companies that can remap the ECU on saabs? I.e on a rolling road or with a list of the parts fitted? I have not as yet done an ECU that is 'not off the shelf' I.e stage 1 or 3 so this is unfamiliar ground.
Other questions I have are what are the pitfalls of re mapping a stage 3 ecu? Would you recomend any one? Have you done this??? (prays) What sort of costs are involved with this sort of custom tune?
I aim for a lot higher stage of tune in say 3 - 5 yrs time so something that can be upgraded as and when hardwear is added woould be great. I have looked at the Maptun site, but as yet not contacted them. (next port of call) to see if they will supply an ECU alone as I have already been aquiring the hardware.
So any help greatly recieved.
Olly
So this explains the thread. What other ways do I have other than swapping over to Maptun? I have had the stage 1 and stage 3 tunes by Speedparts and they where great. I have the original ECU as well (for backup) Is there any companies that can remap the ECU on saabs? I.e on a rolling road or with a list of the parts fitted? I have not as yet done an ECU that is 'not off the shelf' I.e stage 1 or 3 so this is unfamiliar ground.
Other questions I have are what are the pitfalls of re mapping a stage 3 ecu? Would you recomend any one? Have you done this??? (prays) What sort of costs are involved with this sort of custom tune?
I aim for a lot higher stage of tune in say 3 - 5 yrs time so something that can be upgraded as and when hardwear is added woould be great. I have looked at the Maptun site, but as yet not contacted them. (next port of call) to see if they will supply an ECU alone as I have already been aquiring the hardware.
So any help greatly recieved.
Olly
Hi Olly
If you want to have a go yourself, then look here
www.ecuproject.com
The lead to connect to your ecu can be bought on ebay for about £12 , usb bdm adaptor.
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/deltawave_computer_W...
There are modded bin files uploaded to the website which will drop in fine to suit your hardware.
Another option which Ive not used myself, but can suggest JZW, he is a respected saab tuner and was the last time I looked very active on the ecuproject.
http://www.jzwtuning.com/
His tunes are much much cheaper, and will perform better than a lot of the so called pro tuners bin files.
I think he operates an ecu for ecu basis, the tune can be tailored to suit exactly what your after.
Have a look here
http://www.genuinesaab.com/
Good tech section.
The home/diy side of tuning is not for the faint hearted, I dont profess to know a lot about it, but I know how to plug things in etc. The regular poster on the ecuproject are pretty awesome and their advice is top notch.
Ive been running home grown bins in my Saab for two years, and nothings melted yet.
Its currently in the 280/290bhp region.
Good Luck
Wow thank you.
I have spent a little while reading but my pc at the moment is playing silly buggers and wont let me sign up to the ECU project. So I'll be aiming to get that sorted later on but I'm amazed at what I've seen so far I think I'll be able to use this and in a safe, productive way.
Have you used the ECUproject to remap your ECU? would you mind telling me how hard it was and what your running mods wise? How has it been etc. Either here or via pm. Iwould be very interested in your experience to date.
Again tahnks you a million I will be buying you a pint one day if this soes to plan.
Olly
I have spent a little while reading but my pc at the moment is playing silly buggers and wont let me sign up to the ECU project. So I'll be aiming to get that sorted later on but I'm amazed at what I've seen so far I think I'll be able to use this and in a safe, productive way.
Have you used the ECUproject to remap your ECU? would you mind telling me how hard it was and what your running mods wise? How has it been etc. Either here or via pm. Iwould be very interested in your experience to date.
Again tahnks you a million I will be buying you a pint one day if this soes to plan.
Olly
Hi Olly,
Make sure you have a read on UKsaabs in the performance section, what you are doing has all been done before.
Also try here
http://trionic.mobixs.eu/
This is the support website for the ecuproject, Not sure whether your T5 Saab or T7
Programming your ecu is quite specialist, and not something you should consider without a lot of reading, and some reliable support using the ecuproject. Remember if you alter any of the various aspects of your bins in your car, you run the risk of engine damage !
So take your time ...
Your far better off emailing JZW and discussing what you want from your car, and getting an upgrade from him.
Check out his posts on the website once your in, he is very well read !
Jak Stoll has some nice stuff, and I think he posts there too.
http://www.jakstollperformance.com/
Worth a read - Pricey ! http://www.maptun.com/
If I can think of any more reading I will pass it on...
Just please dont get carried away trying to do it yourself, it will end up in expensive tears.
Oh that looks lovely,
I have been in comunication with John at JZW at the moment I have explained what I want etc and where I am/ where i want to be. Although the idea of self tuning the ecu is great I prefer the tried and tested. I dont want 15 seconds of glory and then an AA lorry.
Thanks for all the advice so far I will keep you updated as to the outcome and where I aim from here.
I think the general info at the mo is to buy a BDM cable ??? and then John will email me the relevant Bin to compliment to hardware I have at the moment.
If this goes to plan then every time I do more hardware I can increase the ECU mapping and without the incured cost of sending to Sweeden.
Thanks again mate I owe you a few pints now and a run int the Saab!
Olly
I have been in comunication with John at JZW at the moment I have explained what I want etc and where I am/ where i want to be. Although the idea of self tuning the ecu is great I prefer the tried and tested. I dont want 15 seconds of glory and then an AA lorry.
Thanks for all the advice so far I will keep you updated as to the outcome and where I aim from here.
I think the general info at the mo is to buy a BDM cable ??? and then John will email me the relevant Bin to compliment to hardware I have at the moment.
If this goes to plan then every time I do more hardware I can increase the ECU mapping and without the incured cost of sending to Sweeden.
Thanks again mate I owe you a few pints now and a run int the Saab!
Olly
The bdm cable link I gave you, its from a guy in Germany
You will need to read up on soldering in bdm headers into your ecu, sounds complicated but all the instructions are on the ecuproject. Lots of pictures.
Adds a bit of a twist to tuning your car, feel like you have done it yourself.
Rather than rely on unreliable posts on Saab forums, have a good chat with John and discuss what you want, for any hardware mods he will keep you right.
You can waste a lot of money, when most of the power gain is in the software swap and a decent 3" downpipe.
I have a place in mind for you in Sweden who does hardware, I just cannot recall what it was called, it will come to me eventually.
Little things like a 3.5 bar fpr I bought new from Ebay.com in the USA for £20, probably £100 here.
Keep you posted
Ok I've ben reading for hours and can see month of reading but I like the idea of the self tune. I have been in contact as I say with John and will be back in touch with him. I've told him what I want and what I'm after etc and think we'll be able to pull something interesting out of the bag.
I tried the link for the BDM but it is not working or he has sold it so I'll keep an eye out for it. I love the look of T5 car PC. I think that would make a very interesting addition to the car. I will be investing in another second hand ECU or 2. I am unwilling to jepordise the OE one or my Stage 3 one on the off chance I mess it up. So I'll buy some more ECU's the thing I wike the look of with the T5 carPC studio is the many pre programed tunes thet can be swapped between.
So have you done this yourself to your ECU? Was it daunting? I have an old Vaio laptop that I think will be used exclusively for this if I start going down this route.
I love the idea of knowing that I did something else to it myself, so I think a lot of reading will be in order.
The other thing I may get off JZW is the intercooler for the 9-3. It is massive!
Thanks again mate
Olly
I tried the link for the BDM but it is not working or he has sold it so I'll keep an eye out for it. I love the look of T5 car PC. I think that would make a very interesting addition to the car. I will be investing in another second hand ECU or 2. I am unwilling to jepordise the OE one or my Stage 3 one on the off chance I mess it up. So I'll buy some more ECU's the thing I wike the look of with the T5 carPC studio is the many pre programed tunes thet can be swapped between.
So have you done this yourself to your ECU? Was it daunting? I have an old Vaio laptop that I think will be used exclusively for this if I start going down this route.
I love the idea of knowing that I did something else to it myself, so I think a lot of reading will be in order.
The other thing I may get off JZW is the intercooler for the 9-3. It is massive!
Thanks again mate
Olly
Found it....
used to sell on ebay, I have the intake pipe & intercooler from streetgear, both are good quality and well priced.
http://www.streetgear.se/
I have just had the intake pipe off him about 2 weeks ago. It needed a lot of tidying up on the inside of the throttle bend as there was a nasty overhang that seemed to be holding debris from its construction. 4 hours with files and sand paper had it smooth as glass and when fitted it has made a difference.
I am interested in the intercooler. How is it to fit? what do you have to remove to instal it, do you have to take of the bumper? The one from JZW looks insanely big in his gallery and with the conversion rate it seems a very well priced piece. did you notice much/any difference on the Streetgear IC?
Sorry for late reply just returned from a weekend in Scotland enjoying the roads!
I really hope I braked soon enough when I saw a bloody camera van on a bridge, 30 miles north of the Borders.
I am interested in the intercooler. How is it to fit? what do you have to remove to instal it, do you have to take of the bumper? The one from JZW looks insanely big in his gallery and with the conversion rate it seems a very well priced piece. did you notice much/any difference on the Streetgear IC?
Sorry for late reply just returned from a weekend in Scotland enjoying the roads!
I really hope I braked soon enough when I saw a bloody camera van on a bridge, 30 miles north of the Borders.
My Streetgear pipe was good quality.
The front bumper, headlights , radiator have to come off to get the intercooler out. I paid someone to do it.
If the Jz one is a good price then his reputation is good, mine from streetgear was a lot thicker cored and taller. As for telling the difference it was done as a package so it all made a difference.
One thing Ive just done is replaced all the black rubber vacuum hoses/signal lines for the bov , boost control valve & fpr. And also modified the evap pipe as per here...
http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=2&...
My black pipes looked in good nick, they clearly were not as the car is pulling like a beast now !
2m of silicone 4mm pipe on ebat for about £4, money well spent.
I replaced all of my vacume lines when i replaced the old recurculating dump valve with a Forge BOV. I also did the rest when fitting the boost gauge. I wanted to just replace everything with blue lines so inadvertantly replaced parts that are prone to failure.
I'll have to give Streetgear a shout did it come with the required hoses or do you need them seperately? I have also toyed with the Neobrothers Viggan upgrade IC. As this come with a nice set of Maptun hoses that will conect to an uprated IC at a later date.
By the way mine is a T5. Can't remeber if I'd put that before.
I'll have to give Streetgear a shout did it come with the required hoses or do you need them seperately? I have also toyed with the Neobrothers Viggan upgrade IC. As this come with a nice set of Maptun hoses that will conect to an uprated IC at a later date.
By the way mine is a T5. Can't remeber if I'd put that before.
It came with a silicone black hose, so not a nifty blue jobby but perfectly functional.
My ic from streetgear performs well, I have nothing to compare it too, but my intake temps relative to the outside temp is reasonable. ie At 13c outside , the intake was 19c.
Ask Jz for the live sid option when you upgrade, allows you to see all the engine data - masses of it !
Ooooo that sounds interesting think I will. Having had a look at all the pitfalls of the Ecu project and my god given ability to mess things up I think I'll just send the ECU to JZW. His prices seem spot on I just need to convice the other half not to divorce me on the off chance that I end up with a shinny new intercooler and packages from the states.
Any idea what the cost for packages to and from the states would be? He did say ha could Email me the map, but I'd have to use the cable and programs. This seemed a good plan until I saw a few threads saying you need 15v here and 19v there I'm a bit worried on the entire thing and as you say expensive tears should it go wrong.
So what info can it give me on the T5 SID?? It sounds like worth while upgrading to him just for the toy function of it lol.
I've emailed Streetgear for a price and availability. I'd aim to do the job myself on the fitting front.
I wish I'd not started modding her again, lol.
Thanks for all your info matey.
Any idea what the cost for packages to and from the states would be? He did say ha could Email me the map, but I'd have to use the cable and programs. This seemed a good plan until I saw a few threads saying you need 15v here and 19v there I'm a bit worried on the entire thing and as you say expensive tears should it go wrong.
So what info can it give me on the T5 SID?? It sounds like worth while upgrading to him just for the toy function of it lol.
I've emailed Streetgear for a price and availability. I'd aim to do the job myself on the fitting front.
I wish I'd not started modding her again, lol.
Thanks for all your info matey.
Edited by Ollyc on Wednesday 1st September 09:31
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